Author Archive for scrapadmin

Tips on Buying a Digital Camera

By scrapadmin · Comments (6)
Thursday, November 17th, 2011

There is a lot to consider when it comes to buying new digital cameras. You will find that it can be hard if you have never owned one before. You will find that the digital cameras will be a lot more in cost, but you will learn to save money over time. You will no longer have to purchase film and you can delete pictures that are less than what you wanted. There happen to be many advantages that to owning to a digital camera. You will want to go through the purchasing cycle when it comes to getting the right camera. You will also be able to find what the best deal is for your money and a camera that meets all your needs.

For a general rule, you will find that digital cameras are a lot cheaper online or at chain department stores, because they have access to supplies. However, in either of those places, you will not get the service or knowledge of a real photography professional, so it might be worth your money to explore some of the nearby specialty camera shops in your neighborhood. At the specialty shops, you will be able to find that the salesman and people who own the shops know a lot about the products and will be more than willing to help you learn the ropes too. At specialty stores, if you buy a camera from them, they might also give you discounts on services such as getting prints and framing.

In specialty stores, as in department stores and other places where cameras are sold, the merchandise is usually kept in a locked case. You will want to take the time to ask some question and see all of the cameras that you are interested in or that you can afford within the budget that you have set. You can compare stats such as photo quality and features on a sheet, but without holding the camera and testing it out, you will not be able to tell if it is a good fit for you. If there are not batteries included in the camera package, you will want to ask the salesman for some batteries. The salesperson should be able to provide them so you can turn the camera on and test it.

For those who aren’t using a digital camera for professional purposes, then you don’t really take about the quality of the camera compared to the price. You will want to think about going with a lower resolution so that you can save some money. You will want to decide what is important to you before you go to the store. You will want to get the quality standards picked out along with a budget before you go shopping. You will also want to think about the features of the camera. You will need to get something with a good zoom feature, but there are other features that you will want to consider. However, you should consider your gut feeling. If you don’t like something, then don’t buy it because it fits into your price range. You will want to purchase something that feels right to you. There is usually a return system for most stores, but you will want to find out before purchasing.

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Categories : Photos, Products
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Balancing a Page

By scrapadmin · Comments (1)
Monday, November 14th, 2011

There are a few things that lead to a “balanced” page; one that’s easy to look at and adds to the value and charm of your scrapbook:

Size or symmetrical balance: it is a good idea to avoid “heaviness” on a page. For example, putting a large picture in one corner and no other pictures and little embellishment. If you have a large item you want to offset, it is a good idea to put 2 smaller pictures in the opposite corner or side to help balance it; you can also use cutouts, decorations and other embellishments in a way that the one side does not appear “heavy”. This can also work with 2 pictures and 3 smaller pictures/embellishments; you can also create a type of interesting balance with the same number of pictures in opposite corners.

Color can be an interesting thing to balance: you can use it to create a mood on your page, balance out less desirable elements or colors in a picture or enhance a feature or color of a picture. For example, if you have an orange hat in a picture that’s just *too* bright and pulls to much attention, you could half-mat it on the corner nearest the hat with red and that will help “fade” it, or make it less obvious. However, that same red mat would make the greens in a forest shot really stand out. Usually the colors on a color wheel nearby the one in question will help blend it in, colors across from it on the wheel will enhance it with contrast.

You can also use “rhythm” to balance your page. Having straight lines, even spaces, balanced shapes (square, circle, triangle) and small patterns can give an “organized” or “controlled” rhythm. Having diagonal lines, unequal shapes (pentagon, parallelogram, polygon), uneven spaces and unequal sizes or patterns can give a “dynamic” or “active” feel.

You can also use your embellishments (cutouts, stickers, borders, gems, etc.) to a balancing effect with your picture: a simple, plain picture such as a portrait might be overwhelmed with lots of embellishment, where a busier picture might benefit from more details around it.

If you have a hard time balancing your page, lay your items in place and walk away for a while, so you can see it later with a fresher perspective. Or, have a friend or family member who has a good eye for these things check it for you before you make your page permanent.

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Categories : Beginners, featured, Keep it Simple, Techniques
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Scrapbook 12×12 Paper Storage

By scrapadmin · Comments (1)
Thursday, November 10th, 2011

There are plenty of choices for 12″ x 12″ paper storage, depending on your space, your preference and your budget.

The first choice is probably what kind of space do you have for your storage? Do you prefer vertical or horizontal storage; do you have room for only one type? Do you have desktop or tabletop space, cupboard space, drawer space or floor space? If you have more than one choice, the most convenient to your workspace should take top priority. However, the closest space to your workspace may not be the most practical for storage and/or easy access, so keep that in mind, as well.

The next thing you probably want to decide is how you prefer to have your paper stored and your preference for accessibility. Do you have enough paper to store it vertically – if not, depending on your form of vertical storage, it may bow under gravity. If you have a lot of paper, you might need to have more space to store it horizontally, so the weight of the paper doesn’t make removal of one sheet difficult or damaging. One thing not to take lightly is whether you gather your materials beforehand or if you use them directly from storage: right-hand or left-hand side, overhead or movable storage may make a big difference. Another big choice is mobility: do you attend many scrapbooking gatherings or parties? If you do this on a regular basis, you might want to look into a good-sized mobile storage unit that you can use at home or take along with you. If you go this route, make sure the unit you choose fits into your vehicle *and* is easy to get in and out of the seat, trunk or area you will be transporting it.

Scrapbooking tools and storage vary in price from “pocket change” to fairly expensive, but fortunately, there are plenty of choices for page storage for any budget:

One option on the lower end is hanging file folders. There are folders big enough (13.25″ x 14.75″) for your paper, starting at about $1.50 each. A very economical choice, especially if you already have a file cabinet or other hanging file storage container.

An inexpensive alternative for store-bought is to make your own from large cereal boxes; remove the cereal bag, a simple, angled cut and you’ve got instant vertical storage. Stack them close together and you can sort into colors and pattern styles.

There are also scrapbook-specific units in this style for sale. These are just under $20, and come with pouches and labels to coordinate your categorizing.

A slightly different variation on this is the portfolio-style, also with handle and portability. These last 2 styles also have the versatility of being either vertical or horizontal storage, thus a bit more flexibility in storing choices, though not as stackable as some of the other horizontal choices, such as stackable plastic trays. These can be adjusted to any number that suits you, added to as you need them, are lightweight and can be further divided by tabbed files or cut-to-fit posterboard or card stock. They can also be set up in various locations: floor, table/desk/counter top, shelf or cupboard.

Another vertical choice is drawer units. Plastic ones are lighter, usually cheaper and often stackable, which, again, expands your storage as needed. There are also wooden, metal and cardboard choices – whatever suits your needs. I love the plastic option below as they are lighter weight.

On the high end, for serious scrapbookers are cabinet storage/workstation choices. These can be beautiful pieces of furniture to add to your decor, and have amazing amounts of built-in storage. Many have doors that when closed, look like a cabinet, etagere or chiffonier. Some can be quite large and can even include a worktable.

Whatever you decide is your choice of storage, keep in mind that coordinating sheets by “type” or “color” or “occasion” might require dividers and thus more storage/space if you tend to have a lot of different types of patterns/pages on hand. Always remember that if your storage choices aren’t “scrapbook safe”, to protect them with the proper envelopes, folders and such.

Photo courtesy shimelle

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Categories : General, paper crafts, Products
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Scrappers Block

By scrapadmin · Comments (0)
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

Simple Solutions for Avoiding Scrappers Block

Have you ever sat staring at a pile of photos and scrapbooking supplies and wondered what now? If so, you could be suffering from scrapper’s block. Don’t worry! It happens to all of us, but there are some ways to overcome this. I have put together some simple solutions for avoiding scrapper’s block.

One cause of scrapper’s block is too many photos. You are feeling overwhelmed because you have a stack of photos, you are so far behind you just don’t know where to start. One way to overcome this, is to sort through your photos. Divide them into events, people, themes or however you like to scrap. Store in a photo safe box in their divided sections. Now concentrate on one set of photos. From this set, choose the ones you want to work with first. Whether you want to highlight one or work with several. Don’t worry about the stack you have stored away. Concentrate on the ones right in front of you and start chipping away at this one event. If you tend to use the same papers and embellishments for each event then you are ahead of the game. Finish your first layout from your selected photos and quickly move on to the next while the supplies are already out and ready to use.

Tools for organizing your photos:

Another form of scrapper’s block comes from poor quality photos. You have some photos that are out of focus, too far away, over/under developed or perhaps a busy background. However, you want to scrap them because it is all you have of that event/memory and you want to remember it. Stop complaining about the poor quality photo! Remember why you are scrapping to begin with. Do you scrap to showcase your professional photography skills? (if so, you are on your own here) Highlight the journaling and really tell the story there. You can also crop the photo and make the best use of it you can. Perhaps play around with the photo in your photo editing program, crop and enlarge and concentrate on a facial feature. Try sepia tones or black and white, you never know what might happen to that otherwise “bad” photo.

Ok, so now you have great photos but the wrong supplies. The colors and styles of paper you have on hand are just not right. Well, you can take your photos with you to the scrapbook store and buy what you need, shop online in the comfort of your home, or how about creating it. Do you have some old outdated paper lying around? Try sanding it down, then rub an ink pad over it and give it a new look. You now have a new distressed look, the color you need and some new supplies on hand. You can also try painting brads, label holders and other embellishments to get the color you need. Cover slide mounts, mini frames, chipboard with patterned paper to coordinate with your layout and supplies on hand. These are just a few ideas, get creative! Of course you can always set the photos aside until you have the funds needed to go shopping.

Try something new. Try a new technique, buy some new supplies, just play for awhile with no real “end” in mind. Use it on a small project such as a card. Get out the “cobwebs” and get the creativity flowing, then perhaps you will be inspired and ready to scrap.

Do you become intimidated by browsing through online galleries or flipping through magazines by the gorgeous talent out there? Don’t let this block you! First of all, it is your scrapbook. Express yourself, your style, your family-that is what needs to be remembered. Besides who says you can’t scraplift? If you see a layout you really like, scraplift it! It may not be exact anyway if you don’t have the exact supplies, but it will get you started on something you like. Just don’t use the layout in a contest. And I would suggest giving credit where credit is due if posting in a public venue.

Perfectionism-do you get caught up in creating the perfect layout? You want your layout to look like you spent hours on it, perfecting it, the colors blend, the design flows. But it doesn’t have to be perfect. Remember your why. Why do you scrapbook? Focus on that. We can easily get caught up in the “perfect layout” and forget why we scrapbook to begin with. Remember your whys. By remembering why you scrapbook the problem with scrapper’s block will vanish and your new layout is now perfect. Enjoy preserving your memories!

About author:

Dawn Stegall is a homeschooling mom of four girls and owner of www.FaithfullyYours.net a site dedicated to scrapbooking your faith!

Photo courtesy mai05

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Categories : Motivation
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Turn Your Scrapbooking Trash into Treasure

By scrapadmin · Comments (1)
Monday, June 27th, 2011

When you’re done with making a layout, what do you do with the scraps and pieces left over? Do you throw them away? Are they sitting in a drawer, file, or basket just taking up space? Why not use those scraps to add a unique special touch to your layouts? You’ll not only save yourself money on supplies, you’ll be reducing wate to help save the planet.

Punches are a great way to use scraps and add fun flair to your scrapbooks. Most scrapbook stores sell punches that turn your tidbits of paper and cardstock into tiny puppies, stars, rainbows and shapes of every kind. To cut the cost of punches, go shopping with your friends and buy punches you think you all can use. You can trade when you need them or use them at group get-togethers.

A lot of backgrounds are just a collections of pictures. You can make great embellishments and additions to layouts just by taking pictures from smaller background pieces. This is great if you tend to recycle materials like wrapping paper and greeting cards. While a whole group of flowers may make a great layout, a single flower from the same page can be just as, or more beautiful.

Mosaics are a fantastic way to reuse even the smallest scraps. You can be simple by making flowers or sunsets. If that’s just too easy for you, you can find pictures you like and recreate them with scraps. To make the process more efficient, try organizing your scraps by color then size. This will make them easier to sort through for other uses too.

Scrapbooking stores sell all kinds of letters to add titles and substance to a layout. But why spend a lot of money on letters that may not be exactly what you’re looking for? Extra pieces are great for making your own unique lettering. Solid colors make great letters, but you can also experiment with patterns. While if might take more time than buying precut letters or stamping them on, it will give your layout a special touch to make it stand out.

Did you know you can use leftover paper to make your own recycled paper? Just make your scraps very small, add a small amount of water and blend. Then, spread it out on silver foil, blot with paper towels, and allow it to dry. The end result is a thick, textured paper that can be for kid’s crafts, or to add a special touch to your scrapbooks.

Do your kids have an interest in scrapbooking too? Giving them your leftover scraps is a great way to get them started without spending a lot of money on supplies. You can even find very inexpensive digital cameras just for kids so they can take their own pictures for their layouts. They’ll have fun, create memories, and they might just give you some great ideas.

These are just a few of the many ways you can save money, save the environment, and even have some fun.

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Categories : Misc. Tips, Products, Techniques
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Digital Scrapbooking to Save Money

By scrapadmin · Comments (5)
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Digital Scrap booking, the Frugal Scrappers Dream
By: Vera Raposo

As a frugal mother, Sharon had to admit that she never got into scrap booking over the years because one visit to a scrap book supply shop sent her into sticker shock. With three kids and a limited budget, she knew she couldn’t afford all of the supplies and tools that she would want to use. So her children’s photos remained in shoeboxes.

In 2005 she discovered digital scrap booking, the practice of creating scrap book layouts on a computer using digital images. Sharon pulled out her shoeboxes and spent weeks at the computer scanning in every memory. The kids started to think Mom was going a bit mad though when she started to scan everything else she could get her hands on.

She scanned all kinds of fabric, curtains, blankets and scarves. She scanned greeting cards, calendars, wall paper and macaroni and cheese boxes. If it fit onto her scanner, she added it to her digital image library.

Then, with a simple image program, she went to work.

Without scissors or glue or double sided tape, she created page after digital page. With every new layout she thought up she felt like she was getting away with something sneaky. Surely she should have to pay someone something for all of the fun that she was having?

Digital scrap booking has matured to the point where you don’t have to find out own digital crafting elements, you can find some online for free and other image sets you can pay for.

As to be expected, digital image sets are far less costly when compared to purchasing paper and fabric and accessories. It really is an attractive alternative to someone scrap booking on a budget.

Sharon keeps her digital projects strictly on her computer, using the layouts as a screen saver slide show. Many others choose to share their creations online or even to print out their layouts and bind them together in a book.

If you would like to try your hand at digital scrapping you’ll want to check and see what kind of image manipulation software you have on your computer. If you don’t find something appropriate you can download a copy of the free public license graphic software named Gimp.

Learning to work with digital images will take some practice, but you’ll have fun in the process and soon be creating fun layouts for your memories.

Article Source: http://www.scrapventurearticles.com

Vera Raposo is the Scrapper’s Business Coach. Sign up for her personal mailing list at www.VeraRaposo.com and get tips and resources to help all of your scrap ventures

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Categories : Digital, scrapbook supplies
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Digital Photos

By scrapadmin · Comments (2)
Saturday, December 5th, 2009

Summer Photo Taking Tips
By: Vera Raposo

“We’re having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave.” No doubt you are one of many in our nation trying to get through a long hot summer. Well, take heart! There is one activity which will not only give you pleasure, but memories to last a lifetime. It’s time to take out your new scrapbook, dust it off, and add new pages of photos to it.

Summer yields a myriad of opportunities. Photograph your favorite flower, plant or tree. If you enjoy the beach or pool, flash the splash! Take different shots of children at play using color and/or black and white. Dare to be different!

If you enjoy early morning walks, take your camera with you. Whether you walk around Central Park or simply around your own block, nature has a way of revealing the minutest detail of summer to you. Capture it!

Here are some photo tips:

•Use a digital camera so that you can edit your photos on line. If a digital camera is not available to you, use a standard camera and have plenty of film and batteries on hand according to the camera’s specifications.

•Keep an account of where you took the photos so that you will be able to label them in your scrapbook.

•When taking pictures outdoors, stay away from direct sunlight as it will result in shadowed photos. Overcast days are ideal for picture-taking.

•Experiment with close-ups, i.e., zoom in – zoom out.

•Use light and dark to give your photos perspective. Indoor picture-taking also allows you to experiment with light and dark…flash on – flash off.

•When traveling to any local or foreign destination include scenic photos of waterfalls, the local streets, people, rock formations, beaches, towns, historic landmarks, etc.

•When taking a picture of a friend or loved one in front of an historic setting, stand as far back as possible so that the entire backdrop is captured. Take a picture of a sunset. The colors derived from it can never be duplicated.

•Be creative! Photography is quite subjective. Only you know what appeals to you. Enjoy the experience.

Now that your photos are ready for the scrapbook, begin to improvise on how you wish it to look. Use pastels or textured paper for summer photos. There are many scrapbook sites online that give you excellent ideas on how to set up, maintain, and enjoy the process. Memories last a lifetime. Ensure that your photos last as well. Remember, the world consists of objects and colors with which you can begin to compose the painting in your mind’s eye.

Article Source: http://www.scrapventurearticles.com

Vera Raposo is the Scrapper’s Business Coach. Sign up for her personal mailing list at www.VeraRaposo.com and get tips and resources to help all of your scrap ventures succeed.

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Categories : Digital, Photos
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