When you have selected the photos for your scrapbook, you'll need to decide how best to lay them out on the pages. Don't feel obliged to follow any principles that don't suit your own design. There are no specific rules stating that all photographs or mementos must be placed in chronological order. It is completely up you to decide in what order you wish to place your items and embellishments.
Choosing Your Layout
You can place your photos in a formal chronological order if you want. You can also group them into formal or informal categories according to similar colors, events, activities, individuals or families. Photographs can also be placed into random or abstract arrangements, or collages.
Each style has its own place in scrapbooking. For instance, a chronological order might be useful for an anniversary scrapbook. Pictures and mementos of the couple's years together could be placed from the first day they met through the wedding day to the present day with each time period on a different page.
On the other hand, a scrapbook for a parent might just have a collage of photos and drawings to create a sense of the character of their family and their lives together.
Getting Creative With Borders And Frames
Next time you want to find materials to make scrapbook photo frames, have a look in your sewing box or craft cupboard. You'll almost certainly find bits of ribbon, lace or embroidery cotton that can be re-used to make fascinating and unusual borders for pictures, photos, text or even entire pages.
These items can be used in many different ways by the scrapbooker and help create a sense of theme or mood, as well as contributing color and texture to your pages.
Ribbons and Lace
Ribbon and lace are by far the most common and most beautiful border embellishments. The flowing nature of both materials encourages a touch of softness and elegance. Ribbon and lace are especially popular in gift and memory scrapbooks. Ribbon is easy to glue and attach. Lace requires a bit more patience.
For an interesting change from ribbon and lace, try using jute or raffia.
Embroidery Cotton
Embroidery cotton can be used in a number of interesting scrapbooking ways. Individual fibers can be used to add a focus to special items or used to give dimension to artwork or drawings.
Embroidery fibers can also be twisted or braided for use in artwork or as imaginative borders. Embroidery cotton can even be used to tie down other items in a beautiful and creative way.
Hemp
Hemp can be used for a number of purposes in scrapbooking. Single, twisted, or braided fibers can be used to add focus as picture frames, or along the edges of the scrapbook page as a border. Hemp looks especially good in scrapbooks with a western theme. In general, hemp can also be used to make a scrapbook appear more masculine.
Hemp glues quite easily and hides glue messes well. To increase the likelihood that a piece of hemp will stay in place while the glue is drying, place a piece of scotch tape over the rope until the piece dries fully.
Always trust your own instincts and have the confidence to organize and decorate your scrapbook according to how you see the people and events it represents. That way your work will form a unique record and have even greater personal value.
Nigel Patterson is a writer on arts and crafts and the publisher of Create Your Own Scrapbooks.
Visit his website for new and imaginative scrapbooking tips and ideas -- so you can maintain your most treasured mementos and present them artistically for you, your family and your friends to enjoy.
Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 2 - Tools For... Read More
I wish that I had a nickel for each time... Read More
Virtually everyone has the knowledge they need to make a... Read More
Origami, or the art of paper folding, has been around... Read More
After making the leaf bead, I was impressed with the... Read More
You've purchased an embroidery machine, practiced the designs that were... Read More
The best place to start collecting would be with pennies,... Read More
There are no specific rules stating that all photographs or... Read More
We have found a "new" way to see how well... Read More
Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 4 - Tools For... Read More
This article is in response to the emails I receive... Read More
Your cousin's friend in Saskatchewan has asked you to design... Read More
It's important to understand where antiques originate. Many antique buyers... Read More
For many people, photos are at the heart of their... Read More
Millions of people have made a hobby of collecting items... Read More
What kind of gifts you often receive? Is it toy... Read More
There is estimated to be over 100 billion individual wild... Read More
According to the dictionary, collage art is an artistic composition... Read More
You know the feeling. The kids have tons of demands,... Read More
Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. There... Read More
Bar stools are as important as the best wine in... Read More
Crocheting is not only a craft but an... Read More
Are you searching for a quick way to make an... Read More
Do you want to give gifts to your friends or... Read More
Rainy days can be so boring for a child?and just... Read More
The title reflects Woodworking as a hobby, not as a... Read More
MATERIALSA Large Round or Oval BalloonNewspaper, torn into 1 inch... Read More
One huge advantage of knowing about family history is that... Read More
Once again we are reminded that summer is not long... Read More
Tags are a little added touch of professionalism that adds... Read More
From baby pictures to vacation pictures, images of family and... Read More
Back then it was simple - you take the picture,... Read More
Woodworking: Know Your WoodWood is made of cellulose fibers, held... Read More
Woodworking: Know Your WoodWood is made of cellulose fibers, held... Read More
Okay, let's get something straight? I do not advocate the... Read More
The best place to start collecting would be with pennies,... Read More
By journaling your pages you will transform an ordinary collection... Read More
Introduction:Glass is a non-absorbant painting support which does not allow... Read More
You know the feeling. The kids have tons of demands,... Read More
What, Exactly, Is Kona Cotton? Kona(R) cotton is a premium,... Read More
If you are involved in the crafts business, and are... Read More
If you are looking for a fun gift to make... Read More
As Antique Jewelry is 'Really' based on the 'Collectability' and... Read More
It's important to understand where antiques originate. Many antique buyers... Read More
Try using song lyrics in your next layout.Song lyrics can... Read More
According to the research on child cognitive development, making use... Read More
If you've been to gem shows, you know how overwhelming... Read More
Perhaps the most popular type of lapel pin is the... Read More
As crime and drug use increases, the risks involved in... Read More
How can you arrange your scrapbook page to best show... Read More
So you fancy starting a collection but you're not sure... Read More
Okay, so you've been bitten by the Depression Glass bug,... Read More
Back in the early days of America, families didn't have... Read More
Craft: Colored Bubbles Activities: Flyswatter Bubbles, Cotton Ball Pickup,... Read More
This is where you can really make or break your... Read More
Everybody battles with their weight from time to time. It's... Read More
I just got back from the vet with my cat... Read More
I have so many people come into my shop saying... Read More
The first thing you will need to do is check... Read More
Having this nagging doubt that you may upstage your precious... Read More
Often photographs aren't quite the right shape and size or... Read More
Back then it was simple - you take the picture,... Read More
For leather work, consider the basics: an awl and spare... Read More
Which ones can be money making hobbies? A friend made... Read More
Before Game Boy and Play Station, there were tin toys.... Read More
It is so often that people are not aware with... Read More
Crafts & Hobbies |