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[iamgrumpy]

Ok So since I have nothing else to do with my days when not going on interviews etc and since we have a pile of photos just sitting here from our trip in May I figured I would attempt to make a small scrapbook for us to have.

Here is where I need help...never scrapbooked before, have tried before and just had no idea where to start and gave up. But I really want to try and complete at least a small book or even a few pages and see how it goes.


How do you get started? is there a scrapbooking for beginner's course somewhere I could take?

Or is there anyone willing to fly to orlando, to teach me how to do this? Ok so that one not as feasible but figured i'd try for comedian as well as beginner scrapbooker

Anyone willing to tutor me? thanks!

[eff051102]

Sometimes scrapbook stores will have Scrapbooking 101 classes. I have taken
2 from a local store and found them very helpful. I also went to a friends CM
class and while it was fun I felt lost. I would check around for some free classes.

[iamgrumpy]

Thanks KJ being new to Orlando I will have to try and find somewhere boy I wish Disney would offer a class I know how to get there

What brand paper do you all recommend? How many pages do you tend to put in each book?

That will give me an idea of at least a starting point

[Cam22]

First of all, scrapbooking is closely related to your personality and whatever expresses you is great. My first book is hilarious as I had no idea of what to do. For the next one I googled scrapbooking and began to get ideas from what others had already done.

I have done several small 8 x 8 books and each has around 20 pages. I shop mainly at Hobby Lobby because that is the main craft store in town where I get stuff by SandyLion and Karen Foster. I've also found some really neat paper at a huge scrapbook only shop in my Dad's town made by World Win Treasures. Creative Imaginations, and EK Success.

Each scrapper's styles call for different embellishments. I love using matting and photo corners to set off my pictures, making them pop from the pages as the most important element. I also use a lot stickers, especially the 3-D ones as well as borders to divide elements on a page.

To get some ideas of page design, check out the Challenge thread here. The folks here are very creative, but many of the ideas are easily doable. and for getting started.

[stretch2864]

Congrats Amy for taking the "plunge" into scrapbooking! I would check out the phonebook and see what you have for scrapbooking/crafting stores in the area. Stores dedicated to scrapbooking are almost certain to have classes, and the people working there are always more than willing to help you with whatever you need. My first scrapbook was of course a WDW album. I bought one of the 12x12 Sandy Lion albums, and one of the DCWV paper stacks as well as some Disney stickers and embellishments. Other things to get me start included a Fiskars paper cutter, a scissors, a glue stick (although now I like the 3M photo corners which have double sided tape), and of course my photos. As I started working on the album, I started see what kinds of "looks" I liked on my pages and started buying more paper and embellishments to make my pages look the way I wanted. I bought quite a few scrapbooking magazines and books in the beginning to help me get ideas as well.

Just remember-there is no right or wrong way to scrap. Your album can be whatever you want it to be. As far as size, I like to use most of my photos, so I end up adding additional pages to my album. Have fun! I hope you will post pics of your endeavors!

[iamgrumpy]

Thanks Cam!! That helps a lot! I will be reading this forum a lot I am sure and getting ideas of where to start i am sure in the challenge forum but its late and I am heading to bed so i can get creative in the morning LOL.

[chezp]

I seem to recall buying lots of scrapbooking magazines for ideas, as the idea of going to a class is not me - I want to see lots of ideas and take the ones I like away with me, so that's how I did it.

[Shell_of_the_South]

allearsnet had a great series of articles on scrapbooking written by the owners of Mouse Memories - which is a scrapbooking store in the Orlando area:

Scrapbooking Magic! What in the World IS all of this Stuff?

Check out the articles, and maybe you can visit their store since you are so close!

[Gin7274]

I have ordered a lot of stuff from Mouse Memories. Check them out on the internet and see what they're store hours are.

[KMB733]

Your first scrapbook can be a little scary. Not knowing where to being. The best place to start is sorting through your pictures. This is what I do before I start gathering materials. Once I've sorted what pictures I want to use, I go through them again to decide how I want to put them in the book. Since your doing a Disney scrapbook, I usually do a section in the book for each park. Its your book so you can organize it anyway you want. Then I like to make a list of stickers I want to look for and paper I might want to use. Now comes the best (and most expensive part) I head to my local craft store and pick out what I need. Michaels has a great selection of Disney stickers, and they are having a huge scrapbooking sale this week.

[Nala]

The first one is always scary! There is so much stuff out there that it can be overwhelming. I agree that a class would be helpful to get you started. There are also books and magazines that are a great source of information.

In the "for Dummies" book series, there is actually one for scrapbooking. DH picked up a mini version of it for me some time ago and it really had good, basic information in it. Most of the magazines seem to have very advanced layouts in them, but can give you ideas that will help get you started. You will not only get ideas from them, but also information on products and how to use them.

I use different brands of paper, as like everything else in the scrapbook world, there are tons of them out there. Just make sure any paper you use is acid free. While there aren't many rules to scrapbooking, that is one of them and it is a biggie!!!

As others have said, you will need a few things to start. Paper, adhesive (I am a big fan of glue sticks) a cutter and of course, your photos. You may also want to get some letter stickers for your titles on the pages.

Journaling is also something to think about. You want to have your pages tell the story of the photo. It can be a line or two or more depending on what you want the reader of your book to know about your memories you are capturing. Not every page needs it, but it is nice to have some here and there to document things like date, place and anything else you want to include. This can be done in your own hand writing (which I think is a nice personal touch) or printed out from your computer (which I do most often because my hand writing is SO bad!)

Something else you may want to try is to purchase a scrapbook page kit. My local store has many of these for sale and I have also seen some on the internet. They include paper and embellishments and a layout idea sheet. You just put the pieces together and add your photos. It is a great way to get used to using different elements on a page.

As others have said, check out the layouts posted here. Another good site is Two Peas in a Bucket. They even have a Disney layout section with tons of great ideas.

And of course, if you have a question, ask it here. My fellow PassPorters have always been a great source of help and inspiration and I am sure they will be for you too.

Good luck and have fun!

[skateycat]

hey, amy, i have no advice for you since i also have tons of pics in drawers, boxes, and online. am enjoying reading about your journey into scrapbooking and figure once you get it down, you can help me!!!! he he he

[iamgrumpy]

Thanks Everyone Well we are heading out to hit Joanne's Michaels and Walmart just to look and see what is out there and see if i get a feeling what I am drawn too. I found 2 stores in my area that hold classes and will be checking them out.

I also looked through the challenge post and wow you all are awesome! I will have to work hard to even be half as good

Alright Heading out to the stores to browse.

[trixiedixie]

Hobby Lobby has a huge sale this week - PAPER!!!
I have been scrapping and I am running out of my fav colors!

Scrapbook Memories on Public TV or the BYU channel on Direct TV is where I learned most everything.

Dont get me started on Cricut as it is wonderful

Glue, scissors, paper trimmer, pens, paper to mat photos and paper for layouts
Decorative scissors jazz a lot of items inexpensively

Good luck and you can do it!!!

[iamgrumpy]

Ok Sooo We went to Michaels just to look and now I am heading back there as we forgot to get 2 things, and decided to get another. Yep just looking turned into a cart full of scrapbooking supplies!

This is addicting already!