Scrapbooking is becoming more and more popular because it not only allows you to show memorable moments in an eye-catching way but it has therapeutic properties and can be done to release stress as a past time as well as being a way to express your ideas and artistic side.

The substance to scrapbooking is the pictures and items that you have collected from a moment in time that you want to capture forever. Whether it is a day out with the family or the birth of your first child having those treasured pictures and memorabilia displayed in this way will give it a unique and tangible memoir.

The photos are probably the most important part of any project but you will also need an album to display those photos in. It is down to each individual which size scrapbook you choose, the most popular being 12 x 12 or 8 x 8 because there is a vast amount of beautiful paper available for these album sizes.

Depending on how many pages you intend to create it is always worth purchasing some additional refills because once you get started you will not be able to stop. The refills will protect your pages and keep them in prime condition.

Because scrapbooking involves a substantial amount of cutting a good pair of scissors is a must. Never purchase cheap ones as this is one item you really need to spend out on as they can mean the difference between a perfect cut and a tatty looking page.

The paper itself can be purchased from most craft shops and online. You will need to purchase a variety of designs as no page should be the same, you will also need various contrasting papers for matt and layering and other variations of scrapbooking.

Adhesive is also essential, there are many different types of adhesive that serve different purposes, for instance the type of adhesive you use to attach your paper may not work with vellum if you decide to use that as well. Your adhesive collection will grow as you move on to more complex projects and before you know it you will have an adhesive for every occasion.

The most important thing when purchasing any scrapbooking materials and supplies is to make sure it is acid free this will make the pages last longer and stop them from deteriorating over time.

Above all do not rush your projects, if you have a photo and can not think how to create a page for it set it aside and try something else, an idea will come to you when you least expect it and before you know it you will be creating the perfect scrapbook page.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Rubber Stamping and Scrap Booking Tips including where to find the best bargains

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Scrapbooking as a hobby has been around for decades but, today, the ideal way to scrapbook is to encourage each individual to be creative in the Scrapbook Themes that they use. Gone are the simple black and white scrapbook pages; now colored and textured papers can be used to enhance your carefully chosen photos. And lovely themed stickers and other creative embellishments are woven in to create a truly unique, ‘one-of-a-kind’ memory album.

There really is no limit to the types of Scrapbook Themes you can use in your scrapbooking projects. Whether you choose to highlight one specific event or you decide to compose a large, family album covering years of memories – the options are many and the choice is yours.

FAMILY SCRAPBOOK THEMES

For your own personal scrapbooks, you may choose to create family album sections for your Scrapbook Themes. Each occasion can be given its own scrapbook album section: seasons, holidays, birthdays, family reunions, sporting events, etc.

If a family album is too large of a project to tackle, consider creating Scrapbook Themes specifically for each child. A baby’s ‘firsts’, including their first smile, a lock of hair, first words or baby booties are excellent additions to a baby themed scrapbook.

As the children grow older, the family Scrapbook Themes could include such things as: awards, graduations, certificates and other accomplishments that can be inserted into protective covers to showcase and protect these precious memories for years to come. Make sure to include photos of your child with school friends and special teachers as well.

INDIVIDUAL SCRAPBOOK THEMES

Individual Scrapbook Themes make great small albums and are perfect gift ideas. Themes like a baby’s birth, graduation, marriage, promotions, retirements or other momentous occasions make wonderful unique and memorable gifts.

You can easily and inexpensively make a small gift with a ‘brag book’ accordion style scrapbook album. Purchase coordinating stickers, rubber stamps or charms to make your Scrapbook Themes more tangible. For example, for a wedding scrapbook, you could include such items as the couple’s wedding invitation and newspaper announcement which will be cherished mementos. Use paper doilies, lace, gift wrapping paper and pressed flowers to embellish the pages in keeping with the theme of the scrapbook.

WHEN SELECTING SCRAPBOOK THEMES

Scrapbooking is more than just a fun (and addicting) hobby – it is a way to preserve precious memories. But you do not have to choose Scrapbook Themes just because they are common or can be purchased in a pre-packaged kit. It’s more important to choose the memories that you feel are worth the extra effort of preserving in a scrapbook that will last a lifetime and then determine from that what the scrapbook theme should be.

For more ideas on Scrapbook Themes and other Scrapbooking Inspiration visit: www.Scrapbooking-For-Fun-And-Profit.com in Audio and Print Versions.

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I’m not a scrapbooker, at least not the way scrapbooking is done these days, but I am a card designer, which means that I have PAPER, lots and lots of paper, and I can’t seem to keep track of it.

Recently I’ve found myself purchasing doubles, triples, sometimes even quadruplets of the same paper. It’s not because I’ve fallen in love with it that I need to have it all, it’s mainly because I didn’t have an easy way to view what I already have.

Let’s face it, scrapbooking and card making can cost quite a bit of money, but when you’re buying duplicates repeatedly, that can blow your entire crafting budget. I had decided I needed to put a stop to this quickly.

I don’t live in a palatial home, so any space I can free up is considered prime real estate. I started my organizing process by taking all my paper and placing it into one big giant pile. Then I began separating them by colour scheme and project. If I knew that I was going to use a certain paper for making Christmas cards, then I’d place it in a my Christmas paper pile, regardless of the colour.

Then I got the Ziplocs out. These clear plastic bags have come a long way from keeping my sandwiches fresh. They now come in all sorts of sizes, even large ones big enough to store 12 x 12 scrapbooking paper. Now I realize that I can purchase scrapbook paper and supply holders at any craft store, but these items can become quite expensive to buy, especially when you need to purchase more than one. Using clear plastic bags is a great alternative that can do the job just as well, and is much more cost effective.

This has worked out great for me because now I when I’m looking for something red to accent a card, I just flip through my Ziplocs to get to the red section. Keeping my paper stored in easy to see containers has freed me from the massive paper chaos. Now things are organized and my concentration is on creating.

Scrapbooking with ribbon is a stunning way to add pizzazz to your scrapbooking layouts but to those of you who haven’t used it before, it can be a little daunting. How do you attach it to your page and make it stay there? The truth is it is easier than it looks and once you know how, you won’t be able to stop!

There are many methods, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the more common are:

1. Liquid glue – This is an effective method of making sure your ribbon stays permanently attached to your page but it is not necessarily easy to use. Liquid glues are often messy and can take a long time to dry. A wet ribbon on your page can be cumbersome when trying to move on with your design.

2. Xyron Create-A-Sticker – If you want your ribbon to lie flat across your page then the Xyron Create-A-Sticker product range may be just what you need. To use one, simply feed your ribbon in the top and pull it out the bottom. As the ribbon passes through this nifty little gadget adhesive is attached to the bottom of your ribbon. You can now attach it to your page as if it were a sticker. This is one of the most popular methods but if you do not want your ribbon to lie flat, you may need to try a different way.

3. Brads – Otherwise known as split pins, these simple office supplies eliminate the need for any adhesive. To attach, position the ribbon on your page and poke a small hole through the ribbon right though to the back of the page. Feed the brad through the hole and flatten the arms of the brad on the back of your page. Again, if you do not want your ribbon to lie flat, you may need to try a different way.

4. Stitching – There are many different ways to sew ribbon to your page. For those with an aptitude for sewing, you can stitch all the way along both edges of the ribbon either by hand or with a sewing machine. Alternatively, you can just place a handful of stitches in a few strategic positions. Another popular method is to cut a small piece of ribbon (perhaps 2 inches long) and sew it to the page with a handful of stitches in the middle of the ribbon. This leaves the ribbon securely attached to the page and allows you to tie the ribbon into a knot or bow. For those not keen on sewing, stitching can be too finicky and time-consuming. However, if you do take the time to employ this technique, the results can be simply stunning.

5. Cut your paper – Cutting holes in your page to accommodate the ribbon is effective for ensuring your ribbon is placed exactly where you want it. One way to achieve this is to cut a series of slits in a row and thread the ribbon through them to create a weaved effect. Alternatively, punch two small holes and thread your ribbon through. This allows you to either keep the ribbon flat or tie a knot or bow. To avoid tearing your paper, be careful you do not place your cuts too closely together and that you are using a strong paper.

While there are other methods available for attaching your scrapbooking ribbons, employing a combination of the techniques listed above throughout your scrapbook pages will give you wide variety of looks and keep your scrapbooking albums looking fresh.

Visit http://www.stickersnfun.com to discover 1000s more free scrapbooking ideas to inspire you to create your best pages. Here, Jennifer Gormly, an avid scrapbooker and writer, shares her secrets. Don’t forget to sign up for her free newsletter so you don’t miss out on any of them!

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Rubber stamps can be used for all kinds of crafts and not just for card making. They are fun and easy to use and will add a professional touch to your cards.

Having a good range and variety of different themed stamps means you will have the opportunity of creating a card for almost any occasion.

The most common type of stamp available is the wooden mounted stamp. These stamps are normally mounted on beech wood with the image clearly printed on the top so you can see exactly where and what you are stamping.

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis try to choose a stamp that has grooves along the side and is wood mounted as this will possibly make it easier to work with.

When inking your stamp it is important to lay your stamp on a table and place the ink pad over the image using lots of light tapping, this way you will be able to see your area of coverage.

When you stamp the image onto the paper place the stamp ink side down and press firmly. Keep one hand on the stamp and use the other to press all around the edges of the stamp to leave a clear and crisp image.

You can then cut the image out and mount it onto your card using 3D foam or alternatively you can stamp directly onto the card itself.

Rubber stamps are a great investment as they will last a lifetime and can be used for all your card making ideas, scrapbooking, childrens crafts and even school projects.

If you are using your stamps for embossing, once the image has been stamped sprinkle the embossing powder over the image and gently tap the excess off. It does not matter how much you pour on as any excess can be kept and re used.

To emboss the image you need to use a heat gun, hold the heat gun approximately 2 inches away from the image and try not to over emboss the image. Always take care when using a heat gun.

The cost of stamps can vary in price. Smaller ones will probably cost around $5 and the larger ones can cost anything from $10 – $25 depending on the detail of the image itself.

A stamped image can be used in so many ways, you can decoupage it, colour it with gel pens, water pencils, use as a background, add embellishment and so on.

One of the tips I have found when purchasing rubber stamps is to check the depth of the rubber, this is important because the more depth the better the image quality will be and accordingly the more detail it will show.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Rubber Stamping and Scrap Booking Tips including where to find the best bargains

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Finding time to scrap is difficult for even the most devoted scrapbooker. Our busy lives just do not leave us enough time to relax and play so it is most important that we take advantage of the times that we do get to ourselves to indulge our passions. By employing a few simple techniques we can achieve more in less time. Give them a try and you’re sure to be creating more pages in less time.

1. Be organised! No matter what your scrapbooking style, the single most effective method of saving time is by being organised. Make sure you know where all your supplies are and that they are easily accessible. That way you don’t have to go searching through everything every time you scrap. How you organise your supplies is up to you, but I recommend organising by type (eg paper, stickers, ribbon etc) and then by colour.

2. Use multiple photos. If you use more than one picture on each page you will need fewer pages to complete your album. You will also find it takes less time to embellish each page as the photos take up most of the space and serve as embellishments themselves.

3. Use pre-made alphabets. Alphabet stickers and die-cuts are great for creating titles and adding journaling to your pages without having to cut out all the letters yourselves. If you use a lot of letters you may like to consider purchasing a personal die-cutting machine like a Sizzix or a Cricut and several alphabet dies.

4. Use scrapbooking sketches. Sketches provide an easy to follow template and take the guesswork out of planning your pages. They serve as a map and prevent you from wasting time figuring out how to fit everything on your page.

5. Finally, don’t be a perfectionist. Scrapbooking is not about creating the perfect page design. It’s about treasuring the important memories in your life and being able to relive them and share them with others for many years to come.

Visit http://www.stickersnfun.com for 100s of free Scrapbooking Sketches as well as 1000s of free scrapbooking ideas from Jennifer Gormly, avid scrapbooker and writer.

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Gone are the days of flipping through boring old photo albums. Today’s photo album tells a story and it’s a lot of fun to put together and to look at. You can have a scrapbook for every occasion in your life. In fact, why not spice up your memories with scrapbooking paper.

If you haven’t yet given scrapbooking, a try you should. But I must warn you, it can become addicting quite quickly. After all, its fun talking those pictures that are so near and dear to you, and turning them into a memory that will last a lifetime, and be enjoyed by all. Choosing the right paper, what to say, what little stickers you want to use, and even what type of scrapbook to use can be a lot of fun. After all, it’s your personal touch from start to finish.

Until you get into scrapbooking, you’d never dream of just how many different types of paper are on the market. We’re not just talking about color or texture. When it comes to scrapbooking there is themed paper for every occasion you can think of. Christmas, wedding, birth, party, pet, new car, vacation, the list could go on and on, but one thing is for certain. You can spice up your memories witch scrapbooking paper that compliments the event.

There is no shortage of scrapbooking supplies. In fact, there is so much on the market you can go crazy trying to decide what you are going to buy. Crazy scissors, fun little sayings, all kinds of great stickers, letters, and then there are all those terrific scrapbooking papers.

The scrapbooking paper is really the foundation upon which you will build your page so why not spice up those memories with just the right paper. Sure sometimes a plain colored piece of paper is all you need, but not always. Have you got a piano player in your house why not keyboard paper? Christmas – Christmas tree paper with big red balls might be what you are looking for. Or how about cake paper for that very special birthday party?

You can buy themed paper for just about any occasion you can think of. Not only do they help with your creative juices, they also can really simplify the process after all why worry about it when you can buy complete prepared pages. All you need to do is put it together and add those photos.

You can add stickers to any page finishing off the theme with a little fun. Just like themed paper there are all kinds of theme stickers – baby showers, birthdays, weddings, holidays, sports, music, kids stuff – I think you get the idea. They are perfect for the finishing touches to your page. No need to be able to draw, no cutting out, just peel and stick. So while you spice up your memories with scrapbooking paper why not add the finishing touch with the right stickers?

If scrapbooking seems a bit daunting at first not to worry, once you get started you’ll find creativity you buried long ago finding its way out. Before you know it you’ll be cutting, pasting, and designing all kinds of great looking pages. Its fun, it’s easy, and it’s catching North America by storm. Why not give it a try and find out for yourself? Just one thing to remember – when you spice up your memories with scrapbooking paper you spice up your world. Are you ready for a little fun?

Terry Fitzroy is a professional writer and author with over 30 years experience in scrapbooking, scrapbooking paper, and scrapbooking supplies. Find more information at Blackberry Paper.

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One reason for the popularity of rubber stamps is their versatility with a variety of crafts, including scrap-booking, cards, and paper arts. However, certain types of rubber stamps are a little more limited in how you will probably want to use them. Here are some of the ways that you can use a religious rubber stamp around your home, church, or school in an expressive way.

There are several ways that you can use religious rubber stamps in your home. You probably would not want to use a stamp to decorate furniture or walls. However, there are many other ways that you can use one for decorating. One way to use this type of rubber stamp is to decorate that special area of your home that you use for religious study. Decorate plain white cloths for end tables used to hold scriptures. You could also create or decorate covers for your prayer journals or other books for study and reflection.

Another way that you can use a religious rubber stamp is to create or decorate bible carriers and covers. You can also use it to decorate or create book covers for school books and other books of interest. This will give you an excellent opening for religious conversations outside the home or church.

The decorating of wedding accessories, such as Wedding invitations, announcements, programs, and napkins, is a way rubber stamp crafts can allow a couple to express their faith and devotion to their religion as well as each other. It will also give guests an idea of what to expect at the wedding ceremony.

Religious rubber stamps are also great for decorating Sunday school materials such as attendance charts, bible study games, and prizes. They can also be used to decorate bulletin boards or church announcements. Baptism certificates or church membership certificates could also use the personal touch of a religious rubber stamp.

Finally, a stamp with a religious theme is great for thank you notes or just a post card to let someone know you care. A religious rubber stamp combined with a powerful scripture verse can often brighten one’s spirits and help them renew their strength. This rubber stamping idea would also be great for get well cards.

If your considering purchasing a religious rubber stamp, but worry about its limited use, with a little creativity, you’ll find your stamp can be used in a wide variety of applications. By purchasing an aesthetically pleasing, high quality stamp, you’ll find many uses for it for years to come.

Looking for rubber stamping tips? Amy Wells writes about current rubber stamping trends. Visit http://www.squidoo.com/rubberstampcrafts/ for more rubber stamping how-to’s.

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Are you fond of collecting and working with art rubber stamps? Would you like to own some more interesting and rare designed and themed rubber stamps? If your answer to both the questions is in the affirmative, collecting rubber stamp sets can be a great way to unleash your creativity, and add versatility to your projects.

Besides individual and theme rubber stamps, there are an amazing amount of rubber stamp sets available,from a number of rubber stamp companies, such as Close To My Heart, Stampin Up, and more. Popular rubber stamp sets include floral and contemporary design sets, animal and bird sets, season sets and a lot, lot more. Having a set with a particular theme gives you the ability to layer your stamps, and create a unique and distinctive look.

Some of the more popular sets are those which are card-themed, giving you the opportunity to create lovely cards with touching messages printed on them. Additional popular types are ready-made background rubber stamp sets for scrapbooking, including ancient paper-like rubber stamp sets, that provide a large background stamp that will fit the size of your scrapbook page, allowing you to decorate the inside to your heart’s content.

Another popular type are ornamental stamp sets, which often include not only a set of decorative stamps, but also include colorful envelopes, which you can make yourself in minutes, and mailing labels, which you can customize to your preferences.

Stamp sets are incredibly versatile, as they can be used as a group, and broken up and used as individual stamps. If you have a specific project you’re working on, such as cards, or a scrapbook, having a set will insure that your project has a unified theme, which will enhance the quality of your work, will still allowing for your own finishing touches. Good types of unified theme stamps to start off with include alphabet stamps, or large background stamps. Both of these sets can be used for a variety of applications.

Also, some of the large stamp sets are a great value, as you get many more stamps at a much lower price than you would get if you purchased them separately. With a few quality sets, you’ll have the backbone for a great rubber stamp collection, which you can then customize with individual stamps. If you haven’t already, you may want to consider investing in a few rubber stamp sets to round out your rubber stamping collection.

Amy Wells is a rubber stamping enthusiast. Find Rubber Stamping ideas, tips, how-to’s and more at: http://www.squidoo.com/RubberStampingIdeas, you can find a variety of rubber stamp sets at: http://www.BuyRubberStamp.com.

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Have you considered using exotic Asian rubber stamps? If you’re looking to lift your rubber stamping projects out of the ordinary, these stamps are known for their unique designs, colors and figurines, that are not found in other stamping lines. Chinese and Japanese stamps bring the Orient right to your pieces of art!

Asian rubber stamps give you access to a whole new bank of images and ideas. Quaint designs like the Chinese flautist, the Chinese Coin, figurines of lovely Japanese girls, the Maneki Neko of the traditional cat, which is the symbol of luck, and other designs, are unique to Asian culture. If you are looking to communicate a specific idea in your scrapbooking or card-making, these stamps may meet your needs.

Stamps with an Asian theme can bring a bit of glamour and interest to almost any project, whether you are creating a personalized scrapbook page, a bookmark, or anything else you can dream up. Some of the most popular stamps are those depicting Oriental lanterns, bonsai art, Geisha Girls, Sumo wrestlers, the amazing Phoenix and even the most important figure of the Ultimate, the Buddha!

Another popular category are stamps that have words on them in the form of Chinese or Japenese characters, such as “Peace,” or “Love.” Almost all Asian rubber stamps also come with the translation of the word in English, which gives you a double benefit. How? Well, you can either keep the whole piece as it is, or can trim off the English translation, to make a brand new rubber stamp out of it. So you have an Asian rubber stamp and an English one as well. With these rubber stamps, you end up getting two rubber stamps for the price of one.

Wood-mounted Asian rubber stamps are extremely popular, but so are foam-mounted rubber stamps. There are also many un-mounted Asian rubber stamp designs for those of you who prefer the storage ease of un-mounted stamping. Some of the popular stamp companies that offer a wide Asian rubber stamp line include: StampMagick, Cape Arago, and Bunch of Fun.

If you love rubber stamping, and haven’t explored Asian stamps, you owe it to yourself to check out the diversity and creativity on display. Using these stamps in your work allows your projects to stand apart from the crowd and be truly unique. Rubber stamping with Asian themes is a great way to express yourself.

Amy Wells is a big fan of Asian Rubber Stamps. Looking for stamping supplies? Find discounted Asian stamps and other high quality rubber stamps and supplies at: http://www.BuyRubberStamp.com

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