Another former CM consultant here..and my two cents! About This Page:

[wdwlovers]

Hey, I just was talking with a friend who has decided to give scrappin a try and this is some of what I shared with her. I thought I'd just post it here as well. I still use alot of CM products, but also shop anywhere I can find scrappin stuff!



Let me start off by saying...I made my first album about 4 years ago. I look at it today and shudder! I know so much more now and often think about redoing it, but I also like having it so see how far I've come in my creations.



First you need to gather all your photos and memorabilia. Decide what size album to work with and start to organize page layouts if possible. This way you have an idea of what papers, embellishments, etc you want/need. There are many different size albums and manufacturers, it all depends on what you like. Buy some scrap magazine for ideas. Some of them are more advanced than others though.



Second, crop your photos. Even if you just crop off some extra space in a photo, it can make a huge difference! A corner rounder is a nice thing to use as well. There are many products out there to cut circles, ovals, etc. You can make mats for behind the photo too. I always find it helpful to cut all my photos and papers and lay them out on the page to see how it will come together. Once you've decided on the layout, add some stickers or other embellishments. Stickers are a great way to add to your pages. I love to use them if I'm making a quick page. If I am using a more advanced layout, then I'll use rubber stamping, fibers, metals, etc. Whatever you'd like to put on there!



The next part is what I consider to be most important--JOURNAL!!! Journaling tells the story of the photos. Many people worry about their handwriting not being good enough, but that just adds a personal touch in my opinion. You can also print off wording from your computer using different fonts, etc. Also using journaling boxes or ruled paper is helpful. I know lots who wait forever to journal and then when they finally do, the journaling doesn't have that special something. Even if you just write a caption under the photo, that will help. I personally think that someone should be able to look at my album and not have to ask me who's in the photo, where we are, what we're doing, etc. That's what journaling is for. And after awhile, things start to get hazy in my memory, so I like to get it down asap!



Just remember to keep it simple if you are starting out. Have fun with it!Don't worry about how someone else does their album (although it's nice to get ideas). Be proud of what you've done! You've created a family history book that your family will certainly love!



Alright, I better stop. I hope this helps someone.

[LilMarcieMouse]

<font color="blue">This is really great I hope you don't mind but I'm going to sticky it up so it will stay for a bit to help any new preson who might join us here. Thanks for sharing it. </font>