Every person new to or interested in scrapbooking has questions and concerns, of course you do! Whether you're brand new to scrapbooking or you're a layout guru, we've compiled 10 secrets that will make storytelling easy, fun, and rewarding.
Secret 1: Scrapbooks don't have to be about the "perfect" vacation or event.
There is no such thing as the perfect vacation, though, it's true, every once in awhile one comes close. Realistically, we are real people with real experiences and sometimes, hopefully not often, the event we had been so looking forward to ends up being a bit of a disaster... Let me give you an example.
When I was in high school, my parents took two of my sisters and me on a Christmas vacation in the Oregon woods, where I grew up, way up the McKenzie River. The first night there, a storm came through and the power in our little, rented cabin in the forest went out. Luckily, there was a fireplace. We were snowed in, so our supplies were limited. There was no cell service, no electricity, no anything. In the fear of running out of wood, we started using our coloring book sheets in the fireplace and all slept downstairs to keep warm. The next morning, power still out, we decided to leave. We were cold, annoyed, and we'd had it. We got into the 4-wheel-drive van and ventured through the snow, but slid right into the ditch up the embankment. My parents, bless their hearts, decided to walk to the nearest town to get help and told us to go back down to the cabin, eat some breakfast, and wait for them inside. We went our separate ways, opposite directions. When my sisters and I got back down to the cabin, we realized that we had locked ourselves out. So, we waited. In the snow. We waited for our parents to return- red-nosed and hungry.
Above is a photograph from the Christmas-Vacation-Gone-Awry. My youngest sister (left) is crying. My older sister (middle) is getting hit in the head with a clump of falling snow, mid photograph. I (right) am holding the snowman's hand.
At the time, we were cranky and miserable. However, looking back on it now, that memory is special and funny and shows the resilience of my family and our unique bonds: the perfect story to scrapbook. Even the events that seem to be under the powerful rule of Murphy's relentless law are worthy of being remembered and shared.
You can find reasons to share all stories when they're with the ones you love and part of the "Book of You."
Secret 2: Scrapbooking is about remembering and honoring people, pets, places, and things.
Nowadays, there are a lot of ways to remember the things that we do. Convenient social media tools like Facebook and Instagram help us document and remember our lives online, but there's something special (and remarkable) about creating an homage to a memory with our own two hands, then giving the gift of memory to our friends and families, or keeping it to pass down later. In French, "to remember" is "souvenir," something we take with us from every event in our lives that we can physically hold dear. Scrapbookers preserve memories now for future generations. What should I scrapbook about, you may ask? Anything you want to remember.
Secret 3: There is a brand for every need.
No matter your personal style, there are thousands of scrapbooking products to choose from. Whether your taste is simple and cutesy, like Doodlebug Design Inc.'s collections, or something with an ornate, retro-vintage feel, like Graphic 45's designs, the options are vast.
Not only are the products vast when it comes to design, they are vast when it comes to the materials and tools you can actually use in your scrapbooks. It may seem like there are a million things you need to get started, and while many products are essential to scrapbooking, many are not. The problem isn't where to find things, but rather, how to choose from all that's available.
Scrapbook.com has an article about what items are necessary to get started and which ones are optional upgrades, so you can fit your supply-stock within your budget. You can find that article here. Also, Scrapbook.com offers a variety of free classes and free articles. These resources can help you make wise choices if you're just walking into the world of scrapbooking, or perhaps give you some more ideas and direction if you're a seasoned scrapbooker.
Secret 4: Some tools and supplies just won't be for you.
What you put into your albums and how you embellish (aka: decorate layouts with buttons, glitter, stickers, etc.) is up to you. Completely. If your style is simple and clean, it's reasonable that flamboyant papers and supplies won't appeal to you- and that's ok. Just like the clothes that you buy for your personal wardrobe, the supplies that you buy for scrapbooking will reflect your style.
The more you learn, the easier it will become for you to choose supplies that you'll enjoy and ultimately use. If, before purchasing, you have questions about how a certain tool works, or if it was a good investment for others, visit our community forums or read the product reviews on a select product at Scrapbook.com to see what others have to say. Our superstore has a vast selection and we make sure to fill our product pages with photos, videos so you can see the products, other peoples' projects made using the product, and reviews, so you can know as much as you can about a product before purchasing!
Secret 5: Scrapbooking is good for your health - literally.
It's no surprise that crafting makes us happy. Just spend an hour or two being creative with your hands, and you'll probably realize that your mood is better than it was before. Just try it. Though we crafters have claimed this for years, now we have firm evidence that this is actually true. We recently conducted extensive research surrounding how health and creating with one's hands relate to each other and the results were so exciting. Scrapbooking really is good for your health and has numerous mental and physical benefits.
If you're curious as to just what health benefits you could see from crafting, check out our Crafting Makes You Healthier and Happier article. You'll also find links to other studies and articles about the subject too! Now, if only we could get our physicians to prescribe cardstock and glitter...
Secret 6: It's ok to experiment and it's absolutely ok to make mistakes.
There are very few veteran scrapbookers who are crazy-in-love with their first layouts. That's because skills, techniques, and new materials always keep layouts improving. Mistakes in scrapbooks happen, just like they happen in life, and can usually be rectified. A tear, a pen smear, or a cutting error can be covered with a new piece of paper or cardstock. Parts of a layout can be reconstructed if you really don't like them or if they get damaged.
Be comforted that there is no one to check your work, so find humor in every mistake, then keep going. Hey, this is paper we're working with, not stone. These are creations, not commandments.
It's hard to accept mistakes and not be self critical or overwhelmed, trust me, I know. If you are feeling overwhelmed, remember your first day of school or on the new job. All of the information felt overwhelming and like you'd never quite grasp it. But then, after a few weeks of slowly learning a new skill set, suddenly each day was routine and became second nature. That's how scrapbooking is going to be. As you get involved in scrapbooking, you will see amazing layouts designed by scrapbookers at all levels of expertise. There has always been and will always be layouts to learn from. The focus should be off of the comparison of your abilities to another's and on appreciating the work that's available to learn from! Consider scrapbooking to be an adventure and a good thing to do- just for YOU.
If you're ever looking for inspiration, or how-to do something, we provide you with some great (and free) tools to help you learn and be motivated! Take a look at our classes and be confident that you can create beautiful things.
Secret 7: You can't choose every photograph.
Some of us may have the "challenge accepted" mindset, but, realistically, we can't choose every photograph- and for sure you don't have to cram 25 photos into every layout. Pick your best photos and use those. If you feel like they are all fantastic, choose the ones that make you smile or laugh, or that touch your heart. Photos that make it into scrapbooks should be there because they are significant to you and your family, not because you didn't know which one to use. Remember, layouts are all about stories within significant photos and memorabilia. Photos not used in scrapbooks can be labeled, sorted by year, and placed into photo-safe albums or archival-quality boxes.
If you're struggling to choose which photos you'd like to use on your own, a great way to choose is to involve family members in the decision making. More often than not, they've experienced the events and their impressions can be an important tool to utilize. Involving them also helps them support you in your passions and can make the scrapbook all that more memorable and meaningful to all of you.
Secret 8: Scrapbooking takes time - but only as much time as you have to devote to it.
It is possible to scrapbook quickly and do so well. To do so, it's essential to define what you want to accomplish and when you need it to get done. Some scrapbookers only want a single album that contains a lifetime of memorabilia, photos, and stories. On the other hand, some scrapbookers want scrapbooks that they continuously add to with events, milestones, and moments from everyday life. The latter spend time regularly working on albums that line the shelves of their homes. The time you devote to scrapbooking is up to you, and it's totally acceptable to create within whatever time frame fits into your life.
Secret 9: Scrapbookers need a place to work and somewhere to store their items.
You'll find scrapbooking a lot more enjoyable and a lot more convenient if you have a space set aside for your projects and a place to put said supplies and projects. There are a lot of options available for storing your supplies. Check out some of our free Scrapbook.com exclusive classes for information on the most innovative and effective crafting storage solutions. There are scrapbook totes, storage bins, containers, albums, and more. You can choose the method that best fits your lifestyle, space restraints, and budget. After you have an idea of what to do with your supplies, you'll need a place to do that. Some scrapbookers work at a kitchen or dining room table with a tote packed with necessary supplies and tools next to them. Others have cubbies, desks, or even entire rooms dedicated to their craft. Choose an area that you can come back to as often as you'd like to get creative. We have a great article on your crafting space- from how to envision what you need then how to go about getting that! You can find that here. It's really worth the read!
Secret 10: Scrapbooking is ultimately an investment in nostalgia.
Like any hobby, scrapbooking is an investment in time and money spent. However, the time and money you spend scrapbooking results in a priceless treasure and is totally up to you. When you invest in scrapbooking, you're not only investing in nostalgia and memory for yourself, but also for others, and for generations to come.
Which secret stood out to you? What is a secret that you know that other scrapbookers might want to know. Leave us a comment below so we can all learn from one another! Thanks so much for stopping by and don't forget to share this article with your friends. You can check out more of our fun articles in our Articles Section. We have all sorts of articles on a variety of subjects from how to choose the right adhesive to cute quote graphics you can share with friends. See you soon!
