I haven't read too many posts lately about the new rage - scrapbooking!  While digital scrapbooking is the wave of the future, there's alot to be said about the huge and tempting array of papers for projects, too!  Scrapbooking is similar to storytelling, but with a visual and tactile rather than oral focus.  I've made both traditional scrapbooks to preserve personal and family history like the 50th birthday scrapbook for my hubby and a scrapbook for my mother before she passed away.  I've also worked on a digital scrapbook that records our 'Blues Cruise' - a week-long cruise through the Caribbean with 24-7 blues music.  After I'm done the actual scrapbooking, then comes my all-time favorite: embellishments!  Anybody relate to that word?

Now, there has to be other Artella members that have scrapbooked even a little....or a lot?  We can exchange some of our pages or techniques/tips.  We can all learn something new!

- chameleon

Hi Chameleon!  I love scrapbooking, too.  I've been doing scrapbooking for about 10 years.   Its one of my favorite things to do.   I'd love to learn new techniques and I would also like to know about great websites for supplies. 

Jessie K. 

I am definitely a scrapbook fan. I belong to a scrapbooking club that sends a nice fat kit to my house every month. It includesa nice array of gorgeous papers, tons of embellishments and even a candy bar! They also include a great newsletter that you can access on the web. You can even request a "mini-kit" if you don't want to go the full route. As a result, I have an embarrassingly huge stash of papers that can be used for collage and other art projects, not just scrapbooking. I am slowly getting acquainted with digital layouts. It just does not come easy to me, so I'm not as comfortable with that part yet. But I love the supplies and the magazines that highlight the artsier types of layouts. It's fun to make creative use of your photos, whether you put them on a canvas and embellish with gorgeous papers and paints, or use them in a traditional album.

Isabella--I'd like to hear more about your scrapbook club that sends you a kit every month--that sounds like something I'd enjoy.

Jessie

Hi Jessie! I sent you a personal message with all of the details and contact person. Let me know if you did not get it. Check it out!

Isabella

Hi Everyone!

I haven't heard much about scrabooking in the Cafe for a while but one of your posts caught my eye today and I thought I would stop in for a chat. I'm as new to creative scrapbooking as I am to most everything else creative and artistic. Having said that, I also throw myself right into everything I love and embrase it wholehartedly.  Some of you may already know this, but I'll put it here anyway in case you don't alrelady know about it. I have been posting websites in my blog where you can get freebies. Many of the websites are digital, but some are not and there may be one or two hybrids. I have also actually printed out some of the digital papers and embellishment without any problems. In fact, I printed out a couple of Annamarie's for an Art Journal I'm working on and they came out beautiful. Check out my "Glitter Girl" Blog at http://artellacafe.com/blogs/glitter_girl/default.aspx.  I just finished redesigning the blog with all of Annamarie's freebies. I hope you can find some cool stuff at the websites I've listed.

Hugs,   Julie

Hello friends,

I just knew there had to be more scrappers out there!  Glad to hear from you, Jessie, Isabella, and Julie.  I've only scrapbooked for about six years and started when I worked on a scrapbook for my mother in 2002 before she passed away from alzheimers.  A tip I would like to pass on is that even though you may not have a whole bunch of photographs or information to make a scrapbook, it can still be done!  For my mother's album, I garnered alot of images with accompanying info from the internet.  For instance, I knew where my mother had worked for many years but I didn't have a photo so I searched the name and presto! I printed it from the site.  The church she attended for over fifty years could also be found on the internet.  Even with a little background, the blanks can be filled in!  The scrapbook layout below is a photo of my mother surrounded by some of her favorite pastimes - playing bridge was one of them, sewing and mending, kitchen utensils, her dining room set...watching I Love Lucy! 

I was able to share the album with my mother about a month before she died.  Although she wasn't able to speak any longer, the way she looked at the pages as I flipped them made me think that she enjoyed them.  At her funeral, I displayed the album so that her family and friends could reflect on her life and they were very happy that I took the trouble to create it.  Little did they know that it was no trouble at all.    - chameleon 

Chameleon -- those are great suggestions! This is a gorgeous page. I like the quilted look! I never thought about looking elsewhere for pieces of memories that are missing. I will use your tips! Thanks for sharing.

Isabella

Hi Isabella,

Thanks for your comments, Isabella.  The quilted look is a background paper that I bought way back then and fit in with the sewing theme; the tips I suggested were to let members know not to feel stymied by not having enough photos or information - there's alot of ways to get the information you want.  It does take time, though, but then that's the fun part.  You're not only an artist but also a detective!  

- chameleon

Hi Fellow scrappers,

Every once in a while I am asked to put together a "retirement" album representing someone important that is retiring from the company I work for. Needless to say some people have been their 25-30, or 40+ years before they retire, so there ends up being a tremendous amount of "stuff" to use. Articles from our weekly paper, company photo opportunites, etc.

Here are a few tips for what I do to complete something so large, and to really personalize it besides the articles and photos I get from our archival team.

After I find out the likes and hobbies, I develop a theme, then I look for rolls of wrapping paper to use as my scrapbooking paper. A whole lot cheaper. You can buy beautiful rolls of wrapping paper for $3-5. I then make the wrapping paper into sticker sheets, that I can now cut, edge, punch flowers out, make photo frames out of, and/or crinkle it or use it as background sections.

The 2nd thing I do, is take 1/4 sheets of coordinating color paper and hand them out to anyone that knows the person and invite them to write a personal message if they want to be included in the book. There is always an overwhelming response which is great for the recipient. Then I take these and incorporate them within the articles/photos.

The albums have brought many to tears as it is presented to the recipient at their party. Most are overwhelmed and can't even read it until they have some private/quiet time. It's emotional to see. The books are then layed out at the recipients retirement party for everyone who visits to look at, reminise over the photos, and laugh.

I recently did a gentleman who had over 40 years and it went to 3 albums. He was so captivated by the albums he couldn't put them down, even though a long line of people were waiting to congrate him, he just kept flipping thru the pages. I always feel proud when people tell me how much their family enjoys them, how they went over them 3-4 times, finding something new each time, and someone who say every once in a while they bring it out again, and emotionally recapture that day and the love of everyone just by flipping thru and re-reading all the posts.

Helping to make memories for others is a wonderful feeling! 

Hello everyone,

Those are fabulous scrapbooking tips, annamarie!  The one I liked the best and becomes a personal treasure for the recipient is having their friends/co-workers write personal messages to include in the scrapbook.  I would hazard a guess that it is the scrapbook that the person remembers and not the gold watch or engraved mug they received at their retirement party!

Scrapbooking is both creative and practical. It's easy for anyone to create exciting, artistic pages to enhance their photos. On the practical side, this rewarding hobby provides a treasure that will endure for countless generations. Planning a scrapbook page/layout is much like planning a greeting card. All it requires is a theme, a bit of time, and your creative ideas.

                       "Scrapbooking is cheaper than a therapist."   - author unknown

- chameleon

I'm a scrapbooker as well.  I mostly do digital, so I can share with family over the Internet as well as save money <eg>.

Here is one of my layouts:   http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/95031/ppuser/16287

I'm a newbie from Central Texas.  I have to admit I was surprised to see a scrapping discussion on Artella.  I've don't both digi and paper scrapping in small amounts.  I love working with the paper but I HATE when I screw it up.  I started doing digi a couple years ago and haven't looked back.  I love being able to just "throw away" a piece of "cut" digi paper and getting a new one just to see how it will look, knowing that I'm not ruining a good piece of paper.

Hi texasbarb and welcome to ArtellaLand!  The array of art materials, techniques, and actual artworks that members do are mesmerizing!  If you're into digital work - whether it's scrapbooking or otherwise - you're gonna want to check out the Creativity Contests at http://artellacafe.com/forums/266.aspx.  You'll notice that alot of the works that are entered are digital, among many other various art mediums.  Also, Aunt Bobby often posts Digital Challenges (http://artellacafe.com/photos/artella_digital_challenge_gallery/default.aspx) where she'll post the initial image and then you can magically rework to your liking with your favorite imaging program.  You can jump in and re-work any of the works anytime, texasbarb.

Have fun!

chameleon

Hi Everyone!

Barb I can't believe that I haven't been in this forum for a while.  I don't think I saw the post of the scrapbook page from the album you did for your Mom.  It is absolutely wonderful and what a great tribute to both your Mom and your family.  You do have such a generouse soul.

Hugs,  Julie