After you've cut out your puzzle pieces using a Puzzle Mate, Puzzle Pal etc., lay the template on your page, put adhesive onto the back of each photo piece and place them, one by one, into the appropriate place on the template. By using the template as a guide, there's no measuring or moving your puzzle pieces around to get the page balanced. Rena Walters | |||||
I carry a tote bag in the car with my scrapbook magazines. When I am waiting for someone after school or after practice, I pull out a magazine and start looking through it. Sometimes this is the only time I have to look through my scrapbook magazines and it makes the time go by fast. I use Post-It notes to mark the pages I want to go back to. March 2000 Newsletter | |||||
If you are pressed for time and have a paper shredder-use it to cut your acid free paper. The shredder cuts multiple strips that are uniform. These strips are fast and easy way to make borders on your scrapbook pages. Yvonne Kaylor - Elizabethtown, PA | |||||
I am currently working on three albums... one for my son, one for my daughter, and one for my family. I try to work on the same group of pictures for each album at the same time. That way I only get out the supplies one time and avoid making pages that look too much alike. Janna Saeger | |||||
I now have a place to call my own for my scrapbooking work! I needed a place where I could keep my work sitting out, so that when I have five minutes, or free hands during a phone call, then I can crop, or mat, or mount one or two photos. My little area is in the basement by my desk and computer, so my work-in-progress 'mess' doesn't bother anyone. I love it! Sandy Blais - Cincinnati, OH | |||||
I often take one evening just to sit and make punches and store them to save time later when I need one! Vonnie Kaylor - Elizabethtown, PA | |||||
Like most people, I only have a few minutes here and there to work on my scrapbooks. I have found it helpful to organize the photos, papers, stickers, die-cuts, etc. for each page ahead of time. After everything is organized, I store the items for each page in a page protector. Now when I only have a few precious moments to work on my scrapbook, all the items I need are at my fingertips. To top it off, I store all my page protectors in a cheap binder so I can just flip through and find the page I want to work on. Melissa Bauska - Castle Rock, WA | |||||
If you are WAY behind in your scrapbooks, here are a few tricks to make the catch-up process go along much faster. Remember that you can always go back and add details and decorations. The important thing is to get your scrapbooks together quickly before you forget the basic memories behind the pictures. 1. Simple Shapes - Use only a trimmer or circle cutter to crop your photos and cut your paper. Avoid fancy shapes and using templates. 2. Basic Backgrounds - Use simple square and rectangular shapes of paper to frame your pictures. You can even skip background papers and still add color by simply using a pen to draw a border around each picture. 3. Alternative Adhesives - Use photo corners, photo stickers, and quick dry adhesive (like our 2-way glue) to make the assembly of your pages quicker. 4. Light Labeling - Stick to basic "four W's" about each picture... who, what, where, when? If you want to remember some key thoughts about a picture, make a bulleted list. Additional descriptions can be written in later. Stick to one pen and color to save time. 5. Delayed Decorations - Assemble your pages with your photos, documentation, and critical die-cuts first. Go back later and add stickers, other die-cuts, and decorations when you have time. You can even do the detailing while relaxing in front of the TV. John and Carrie - Cut'N'Fun | |||||
In order to crop in peace, I give my boys (3 and 5 yrs) each a pair of kid scissors or fancy cutting scissors with a pile of picture scraps or construction paper along with a bottle of kid glue (the kind with the sponge top) and some blank white paper that I have stapled together. They then can create their own books. It is great fun for them and then when we are done we all pick up the "crumbs" from the floor. They love it and I get to crop just about as long as I want. Cheryl Fairfield - Crestwood, KY | |||||
My tip is for consistency to keep things rolling. Set a specific time to work on your book. Keep the date! It is the only way to really keep the pages turning. Cheryl Fairfield - Crestwood, KY | |||||
If you have a vacation or event which you need to put in multiple scrapbooks, design the pages without the text and then color copy them. Add the text to individualize for each scrapbook. Tasha Nicholls - Sunrise, FL | |||||
Be sure to include all family members (as much as possible) when scrapping. My 4 yr old loves to help, and she actually has some pretty good ideas. My 2 1/2 yr old helps with gluing and adding stickers to the pages. My husband is very supportive, although he hasn't actually helped with a page. He always is the first to say how wonderful our work is!! Betsy Hursh - Englewood, OH | |||||
Make your scrappin' time a regular routine- weekly or bi-monthly- and make it a friendship circle thing. It's much more fun to do with friends, and you have the advantage of unbiased opinions and shares supplies and materials. Don't forget to include different age ranges and tastes for many different ideas- creativity multiplies in groups! Carlotta Pengelley - Newbury Park, CA | |||||
I always make scrapbooking an event with a friend. We share ideas and materials. If I buy a pack of papers I'll split the cost with her. It's better to share materials a little cheaper too. Alyson Phan - Rosemead, CA | |||||
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