Hobbies and Crafts

Ann, it's the colour scheme, I think that one of the colours is just not right with one of the three photos on the page. So I'm going to have to have a rethink on that. I might have to put the one photo on a different page. I also need to go to Hobbycraft to get some more cardstock and paper, seem to have got a bit low on a couple of colours.

Love, Sallie.x

What seems to be wrong with it Sallie? Try moving a couple of elements around, or taking something off and adding something else. Maybe it is the colour scheme?

Dizzi if I can do a family history scrapbook, I'm certain you'll be able to.
Follow tthe very clear instructions Ann has given you and you'll be fine. Once you start you'll be able to see which way you want to go, there is no right or wrong way, just do the pages the way you want them. Good luck! When you start them, please let us know how you are getting on.

Ann, I have two pages laid out, but not very happy with one of them, I keep going back to look at it, but can't see what the problem is, so now I'm thinking of starting the page all over again. Dizzi, don't be put off by what I've just said, you'll enjoy scrapping once you start.

Love, Sallie.x

I am assuming that if the album is 14x14 then your pages/the sleeves they go in are 12x12

As Ann says the best thing to do is to pick a picture/person/item that appeals to you and basically move pieces of paper around until you find something that appeals. Most important rule is there are no real rules as long as you like what you create then you've succeeded.

I would recommend using copies of original photos and documents even if everything you are using is archival quality.

You could use the pockets for leases and wills but, if they are not too big I would be tempted to copy them again for the scrap book.

Start at the beginning Dizzi. Obvious huh?? What are the oldest photos or memorabilia you have? The first page of my family history scrap book is two photos of one set of my maternal Gt grandparents backing paper, then copies of their birth, death, marriage certificates (not full size, then photos and journalling on top. I have linked them back to their parents in the journalling. I then have 3 pages, one of my maternal grandparents, then their family, then my Mother. The next page is my paternal Gt grandparents (Father's father's parents), then their family, then my father. Then My parents, then our family, then me, then my marriage and so on.

But everyone does it differently, you just have to launch into it.

MAKES SENCE WHEN ITS WRITTEN DOWN..
GAWD IM DAFT
I HAVE COPIES OF LEASES BACK 1700 AND WILLS
THERE ARE POCKETS AT THE BACK SO I SUPOSE THEY WOULDNT
NEED STICKING IN OR WOULD THEY,

53 PAGES
53..OMG

RIGHT THIS BOOK ITS 14 IN X14 IN
BROWN LEATHER,GOT STICKER FRAMES LETTERS
AND PAPER,
I KNOW WHAT PICTURE TO PUT IN THE FRAME
ON THE FRONT..
ITS WHERE DO I START ,ITSABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE
FAMILY RATHER THAN A TREE

Dizzi, on a scrap of paper write a rough list (this can be changed) of the photos etc you want to put in your book. Now, take any page, you don't have to do it in sequence. Copy the photos etc you want in the scrap book,
Lay the paper backing out, now lay photos, memorabilia, stickers (keep backing on, ribbon etc. Don't stick at this point. Write your journalling on the computer and print it off, cut to size and lay on the layout.

Now you have some idea of what it will look like, play around with it (do not stick it yet). When you are happy with it, leave it for a few hours. Then have another look at it. If you are still happy, draw a plan of where you have put everything, or take a digital photo. Now you can stick it.

As long as all the photos etc are copies you have nothing to lose except the paper. I am assuming your scrap book is the sort with sleeves to slip pages in, not fixed pages.

I hope Dizzi doesn't mind, I have copied this she has posted. She is suffering from something we have all suffered from.

DIZZI Today at 15:39 Request review

FOR YEARS I HAVE HIDDEN AWAY A REAL SMART
SCRAPBOOK,WAITING VERY QUIETLY FOR ME TO START.

I WANT TO MAKE IT MY FAMILY HISTORY BOOK & THE FRONT HAS A ATTACHED PHOTO FRAME,..

NOW THIS IS THE PROBLEM.

IM TERRIFIED TO START
I DONT EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN ITS GOT ALL THE
STICKERS,PAPER EVEN SHEETS OF HANDMADE PAPER
BUT ALL I DO IS OPEN IT

THEN CLOSE IT UP....GETS ME ALL OF A FLUSTER LOL

thanks for that Sarah, not seen that size, will have a look. I found with the stickles I used my crystal one up over Christmas.

Yes, I think I will go with the 54 years. Might condense the first 4 years though.

And meant to say if you think 8x8 might be too small have you considered 8 1/2 x 11? Or almost A4 as that's what it is (American A4 I think)

You can get albums in both portrait and landscape depending on your preference and it has many of the advantages of 8x8 with that bit extra space

I think that covering the 54 years you've been together as well as the 50 years of marriage is a nice idea. After all your story didn't begin on your wedding day.

I've always bought my transparencies from a highstreet stationers, you can get 'craft' ones but as usual it adds to the price.

And I've not tried to buy Stickles recently because I've got more than I'll really ever need (most of the normal colours plus some of the Ice ones and some distress ones) but hope that there isn't going to be a shortage.

I love girly albums but the main 8x8 one I have to do this year is for our second grandson's 21st in December.

I also want to do an album to celebrate our 50 years of marriage but I am not sure whether or not to do a 12x12, I don't think an 8x8 would be large enough pages for me for that one. I also think I might make it 54 years together instead of 50 married, what do you think?

Again thanks for the tips. By transparency I think i know what you mean but where can you buy transparencies that you can print on? Stationers?

Have you tried buying stickles lately? They seem to be in short supply, maybe because of christmas and everyone using glitter.

I might as well share some of the information I've gathered over the six years or so I've been scrapping.

Another good way to produce titles on the computer is to use transparencies you can print onto. You can then layer the title over other elements. Or one of my favourites is to print it as an outline and then either colour it in for a kind of stained glass effect or go over the outline with stickles.

Collected 183 photos this morning and have already made good progress with the holiday mini album I started back in 2008. Have also got lots of photos to make a start on a 8x8 album for my niece. She loves the 12x12 album I've done with pics of her so I thought that for her 10th birthday in July I'd make her her own album, lots of girly pages ahead and I bought a lovely pink album from TK Max for only £4

ohhhhh thank you Sarah all these tips are great :-))

Thank you for that Sarah.

Morning!

Couple of tips for using type from your computer on a page.

If you intend to cut them out print them in reverse - using the mirror setting that should be an option if you go through printer settings (I think will check). This way you can print onto the plain side of patterned papers and get patterned letters. Start with quite a plain font so you don't have too many fiddly bits first time and many people recommend using a craft knife with a new blade and a glass cutting mat - I have a round glass place mat for craft purposes. Oh and move the paper not the blade, easier said than done but it does make for smoother edges.

If that all sounds too complicated then there is another way. Firstly decide on your text and on where you want it. Obviously unless you are lucky enough to have an A3 printer you need to work it so it will fit at A4 size. Prepare it on the computer in the usual way and then print a copy onto plain paper. Now using a repositionable adhesive cover the text with the paper etc that you want the title on. Put it back through your printer and the text should print exactly where you want it.
This is one of the tricks that makes layering a great idea

I have a small paper cutter I think I need a bigger one
*adds to list*

Hi Ann
I havent doned any photos that way as yet, the one in the babys album I had put a frame around.
I have some lovely card for my album so def will mat some.
To mat the letters is a great idea :-)))