Create Memories that Last

Photographs and preserving them in a photo album is a novel way of keeping memories fresh in one's mind. Every time one gets to view a photo album, reminiscences and the feelings associated with the memories brought by the snapshots come up and are brought back to life. Pictures as they say, speak a thousand words. Go a step further and paint a complete story by enhancing photos albums into scrapbooks. Scrapbooking is the means of showcasing a memory by incorporating other creative objects along with photographs to be able to give depth and texture to a memory. It is akin to translating a story into a tactile and visual treat for you and for anyone who happens to view your scrapbook. This way, scrapbooking becomes a creative means for you to remember beautiful memories, as well as share past moments with friends and loved ones. For instance, instead of just putting a memorable photo of your trip to the park inside a regular photo album, enhance your presentation by including different media to compliment and enhance your photograph. Perhaps you can add items like an actual leaf that has fallen from that park and preserve in along with your photo. Don't limit yourself to this however. You can add any pertinent items that will make your showcase even more colorful and lively. This way, your memory almost pops up out of your scrapbook with a vibrancy and life that does your remembrance justice. The term scrapbooking stems from the principle that in making your scrapbook, you incorporate creative bits and pieces or "scraps" along with your photographs to create a wonderful storytelling medium that can be personally enjoyed as well as shared. Because of the popularity of scrapbooking, there are now many commercially available materials that you can use for this endeavor. Naturally, it would probably be ideal to be able to use materials that actually constitute your memory and photograph. However, sometimes, if the photograph is really old and you can no longer salvage old scraps from that era, you can turn to modern day materials to get the job done. There are a lot of variety of trinkets and items available in the market, which you can use in your scrapbook layout. Virtually anything you will need for this effort can be purchased from scrapbooking sources. Of course the most common scrapbooking materials you will need is the scrapbook itself and some items like scrapbooking stickers that do wonders for any scrapbook layout. Using scrapbooking stickers instead of cutting out pieces of paper and gluing them to your layout saves time without sacrificing quality and creativity. Be sure however, that just like the paper you use for your scrapbook, your scrapbooking sticker is acid-free and has the qualities needed for preserving your memories. Remember that acid in paper is harmful to your photographs. Instead of protecting your memories, acid will slowly corrode and compromise your photos. To ensure that your memories last, use only quality materials like scrapbooking stickers that do not harm or compromise your photographs. It is important to check on not only the paper used for scrapbooking stickers, but also on the type of adhesive used on these. This way, you can be assured of immortalizing your memories through your scrapbook.

Ideas and tips towards Scrapbooking for free

Scrapbooking may seem not an expensive hobby when compared to for instance golf, where in you have to buy a thousands worth of equipment or perhaps dancing, the lessons of which, can be really hard in the pockets; but that is where you are wrong. If you don't watch it, scrapbooking can be even more expensive in the long run. This is because as you become more and more enmeshed with the hobby, you need updated tools and equipment. What is scary though about scrapbooking is the fact that you can't really watch out for your expenses because it is relatively small. You just end up paying more because of the quantity that you buy and the frequency that you buy the materials. Still, if you really want to. You dont have to shell out so much. Scrapbooking need not be expensive. Below are some tips and idea to help you scrapbook for free (or if not way below what you are spending now!). Watch the tools One of the things that make scrapbooking so expensive for most people is their constant need to have the updated version of every tool imaginable. Whatever is new in the market, die-hard scrapbookers buy them even if they already have something that performs almost the same functions. It is important to remember that you don't really have to buy great tools to create great scrapbooks. With even the oldest and out of date materials, you can still create memorable pages with just your creativity in tow. Recycle and reuse There are a lot of things in your home that you can use to add flavor and texture to your pages. You don't have to, for instance, buy stickers for your scrapbook in craft stores. You can achieve the same look, maybe even a better look, if you cut out graphics in magazines and in old greeting cards. Stationeries are another great source of graphics that you can use. Your old clothes can also be very useful. In fact, every inch of your old clothes can be used as decoration from the fabric to the zipper and the buttons. If you have an attic with a boxful of old clothes that you no longer wear, raid it and put those fabrics to good use. not only have you managed to rid the house of clutter, you have also put a lot of creative design into your scrapbook pages. Make your own scrapbook Most people who do their own scrapbooks buy prepared ones in craft stores and then decorate them with stuff. Prepared scrapbooks that are blank can really cost you a lot and this is unfortunate as most of these scrapbooks that are being sold can be easily done and completed in the home. If you have the time, just make your own scrapbook. The cheapest way to go is of course to make your own paper through recycling. This however may take forever and may be really tedious to do. Another way is to buy recycled papers or any kinds of paper in bookstores and compile them yourself by sewing the sides or gluing them together. This will be cheaper than buying an already-made set. What is more, you get to choose the design that you want and put some spin on the kind of scrapbook that you are doing.