When it comes to making your scrapbook, there are a lot of important things you need: photos, cardstock, scissors, and ribbons. But perhaps the most important part is the thing that holds it all together - glue. Without glue, your scrapbook is just a pile of stuff. That’s why it’s important to pick the right kind.

There really is no best glue or even best type of glue to use when putting together your scrapbook. That’s because we’re all different and want different things when it comes to our books. Here are a few things to consider when choosing glue. Continue Reading »

A quick online search for “scrapbooking scissors” will give you a picture of how many different types of scissors and cutting tools there are for scrapbookers. Knowing the basics of these tools will help you know which scissors are the best choice for your needs. This can help you save time by not struggling with the wrong scissors, and save you money because you won’t buy anything you won’t use.

Exacto knife. Sure, Exacto knives aren’t exactly scissors, but they can be helpful when it comes to setting up your layouts. Exacto knives are useful for cutting thicker materials with more precision than scissors and getting sharp corners for shapes and lettering. Just be sure you have a cutting pad to protect your surfaces. Continue Reading »

You have parties for birthdays, anniversaries, or even to check out the latest jewelry or other products. Why not get your friends together for a scrapbooking party? Besides having an excuse to have a party, there are some real benefits to having scrapbooking get-togethers with your friends.

New ideas. No matter how many sample layouts you look at or books you read, sometimes you just hit a wall and can’t come up with anything else. Having a scrapbooking party with your friends will let you see their ideas, and they can see what you’re working on and give you pointers. Sometimes a fresh perspective is enough to get you out of that slump and get you moving again.

New products. Let’s face it, as much as you would love to spend all your time online or at a store checking out or testing new products, you’re just too busy. Having a scrapping get together is a great way to learn about, get opinions on, and even try out new supplies and tools. It not only saves you time, it can also save you money because you’ll end up not buying a product that doesn’t work well or that you just won’t use. Continue Reading »

There are some great scrapbooking books on the market that can help you get started. You can also learn a lot from online articles and message boards, but words and pictures can only do so much. Trying to learn how to scrapbook from looking at pictures of completed layouts is like trying to learn to paint by going to an art gallery.

If you’re serious about getting started in scrapbooking, there are some great DVDs out there to give you the boost you need. By actually watching someone put a layout together, you can learn subtle arts and techniques you need to be a successful scrapbooker.

The Art of Scrapbooking: If my husband can scrapbook…so can you! is a great example of exactly what scrapbooking DVDs should be about: technique. This instructional DVD is for beginners and teaches you how to use a variety of different products. It doesn’t focus on creativity and layout design; that you can learn from books and articles. It teaches you the stuff you really need to see to understand and it makes it easy for people who are just getting started.

A DVD doesn’t really need to be about scrapbooking specifically to help you perfect your layouts. An Altered Journey with Tim Holtz is an instructional video on various inking and stamping techniques that can be used in scrapbooking and other art projects. Even though the DVD’s main focus isn’t scrapbooking, it gives you some amazing techniques you can use and might just help you out with your non-scrapbooking related projects are well. And if you like it, he has several other instructional videos to continue your learning process. Continue Reading »

I love to hang out on my couch and floor. I can play on my computer, listen to music, pretty much do anything all while being comfortable. The one thing I can’t do is scrapbook.

While you might think one of those lap desks is going to suffice, or that carpet is a perfect place to set up layouts, you will soon find that this is not going to work. You need to have a place set aside to store your supplies and do your work. It doesn’t need to be big, but it should have a few essentials.

Scrapbooking requires a flat, hard, and preferably large surface. You should have a desk or a table that you can work at. This will give you room to spread all your stuff out, and give you a solid working surface. That way you can cut and trace precisely and glue accurately. Continue Reading »