Scrapbooking, Quilting, Needlework, Arts & Crafts

101 Scrapbooking Tips

101 Great Scrapbooking Tips For Scrapbooking Beginners, Scrapbooking Pros and Scrapbooking Enthusiasts!

Scrapbooking Terms

Acid Free: Acid is a chemical additive used to break down pulp to make paper. As a result, paper containing this chemical substance will break down more easily. Newsprint, for example, is a very inexpensive paper that is not acid-free. Most scrapbooking products are now labeled as acid-free, meaning it has a PH of 7 or above. If the product is not labeled, check with a PH testing pen to see if it is safe for your scrapbooks. Paper containing acid can damage your precious photos, discolor or become brittle.

Adhesive: Tapes or glues used for adhering items to one another. There are many kinds to choose from. Liquid, sticks, tapes, tabs and dots are all very common. The kind of adhesive you choose will be a matter of taste and of need since each has its own best use. There are also differences in the kind of adhesion - or stickiness - of different adhesives. Some are permanent - put them down and they will stay put, which is great for items you need stuck for the long haul! Others are repositionable, which means they are temporary fixatives that will allow you to remove and re-stick the items, often multiple times.

Buffered: If an item (most often paper) is buffered, an alkaline filler has been added to offset acidity.

Crop: Crop means to trim your photos to improve the composition. This might be cropping out distracting elements or focusing in closer on the main subject. Always make sure you are using duplicates before cutting any photos in case you change your mind or make a mistake.

Journaling: Your thoughts, feelings, recollections, emotions, memories, quotes, one-liners, favorite song lyrics, favorite poems, meaningful words or expressions - the list goes on. Journaling is everything and anything you have to say about the moments you are scrapping. It can be long and profound or short and sweet. Journaling can be done in a word, a sentence, a paragraph or a page. Journaling can, in fact, be the focus of your layout! It can be the whole point or just a side note.

Lignin Free: Lignin is found naturally in plants giving them substance and strength. Like acidic paper, products containing lignin can become discolored or brittle especially when exposed to unfavorable conditions such as heat and humidity. For safe scrapbooking, look for products labeled lignin free, which means they contain 1% or less lignin.

Mat: A photo mat is a layer of paper that is between the photo and the background. A mat can be thick or thin depending on the look that is desired. It acts as a frame for your photos, setting it off from the background. The mat can be solid cardstock or patterned paper. Photos are usually matted in colors that bring the focus to the picture.

Page Protector: A page protector is an acid free plastic sleeve that allows a scrapbook page to be slid inside it for protection. The protector itself is then fastened directly into an album. They can be found in clear and non-glare finishes.

Paper Trimmer: A tool used to trim and cut photos, cardstock and patterned paper by scrapbookers.

Photo Safe: This is a loose definition for which there is no set standard. Many companies will use this term to signify an item is acid and lignin free, but definitions may vary.

PVC Free: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC, is a plastic that is commonly used in sheet protectors and other vinyl products. It radiates acidic gases which are destructive to the photos and memorabilia in scrapbooks. Only items that are PVC free should be used when working with scrapbooking and photos.

Scrapbook: A book which is created using personal expression and forms of artistic medium to display photography accompanied with journaling that is important to the author to preserve memories.

In Conclusion...

Over the years, scrapbooking has matured into an art. No longer is scrapbooking about pasting newspaper clippings into messy bundles of paper. Today, scrapbooks have evolved into long lasting, beautiful mementos containing everything from news clippings to three-dimensional objects.

Furthermore, scrapbooks are no longer just for special occasions. Today's scrapbooks make great baby announcements, grandparent books, gift cards, artwork for kid's rooms, recipe books, and educational tools.

The greatest thing about scrapbooking is that there are no rules. Creativity and imagination are your only limits. Now armed with a few helpful hints, ideas, and techniques...it's time to let your creativity and imagination take over.

Happy Scrapbooking!

Would you like to take your scrapbooking skills and scrapbooking ideas to the next level? Then visit the "resources" section of this website to learn how to profit from Scrapbooking as a full-time Scrapbooking professional!

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