*Go to crops and borrow and try out tools
*Take time to know what you like before buying supplies
*Make sure the photographer is in some pictures
*Use scrapping resources on the Net and in print
*Journal in your own handwriting
*You do not need all the tools out there
*Use decorative scissors for die cuts, mats & borders
*Do not try to scrap every picture-pick the best
*Get older photos out of magnetic albums
*Make photocopy of newspaper clippings on acid-free cardstock and place that in your album
*Mount photos on cardstock
*Purchase a paper trimmer
*Do not clutter the page with too many photos
*Be careful not to overcrop photos
*Stick to simple shapes: squares, rectangles, ovals, circles
*Many ideas, tips, free templates and lettering styles exist on the Net or in print resources
*Never crop a Polaroid print
*Experiment with borders for your pages
*Use cookie cutters to trace diecuts and templates (for example, gingerbread man, snowman, and other holiday themes)
*Use stickers, diecuts or journaling blocks to cover up journaling errors
*Use scraps of patterned paper/cardstock for craft punches
*Set a weekly goal for scrapping and have a regular routine
*Use matting for key photos
*Clean as you go, place a small trash receptacle where you crop
*Use different size pictures for variety
*Experiment with different storage options: the Iris carts from an office supply store are an inexpensive approach
*Develop your own style of scrapbooking...my style is similiar to the Creative Memories style, partly as this was my first introduction to scrapbooking, but mainly because I like their style. However, I have used other techniques and photosafe products in my albums. Remember, there are no absolutes in scrapbooking, other than using archival and photosafe materials!
Favorite Tip:
Make use of ideas and suggestions from fellow croppers when attending workshops and crops. Check out some of the bulletin boards and ways to exchange information on scrapbook websites (I have found Gingerbread Memories and Two Peas in a Bucket helpful.) Be sure to read the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) when visiting a new website; this section is usually very helpful! For web searches, use several different search engines to give you a variety of sites to browse through. Google, Yahoo, Hotbot, MSN search and other search engines will provide you with many different scrapbooking sites. In general, it is usually helpful to use several different search engines to obtain results. Favorite Freebies: Make use of the free templates, clip art, lettering ideas, borders and page layout ideas available in books, magazines and through scrapbooking websites. |
