i want to start making a scrapbook as a hobbie but dont know where to start...?

Question

what to buy or do or put in it,
someone on here said to do one but im not sure how,
has anyone else started to make one?
what do i need to do to get started?
Any ideas
i know it probably sounds dumb to some people but i think it would be interesting.
Thanks for your help.

theres some really good answers, thanks

Answer 1

I am a scrapbooking addict! I'll try to give you some suggestions of things to consider and some websites you might want to visit.

First -- how long do you want your scrapbooks to last? If you are just doing them for fun, and don't plan on keeping them for long -- you can use anything you want in your albums! If you want keep them for a long time and possibly give them to other people, you will want to make sure everything you use in your albums is acid and lignum (sp?) free. If you shop the scrapbooking section in places like Wal-Mart, Target, etc. you should be ok. There are also tons of scrapbooking stores across the country and online.

First consider what size album you want to use:
12 X 12 is a common size. It allows you plenty of room for several pictures per page, or single larger pictures. One drawback is that it doesn't usually sit well on bookshelves.
6 X 6: This is a fun size, but if you are planning on including typical photos (4 X 6), then you are seriously limited in layout options. If you can and want to resize pictures and print at home, this is a nice size -- it is easily portable and fits on bookshelves nicely.
81/2 X 11: This is a great size for bookshelves and common size paper. You can print your own backgrounds if you like, no need for a special printer! However it is harder to do a layout with this size. Symmetrical is usually easier. It is also hard to find patterned paper in this size, so you usually have to cut it from the 12 X 12 size.
There are also tons of mini albums out there - tag books, etc. With these they are great gift albums and very portable. They can be more challenging for a beginner if you use photos (re-sizing/printing yourself), but they are quick and you can feel that sense of accomplishment quickly!

Once you have determined the size you like best, then you can get into which type you like: Post-bound -- screws are used to add or take out pages. They are sturdy, but a pain if you are taking pages out often. Spiral bound -- you have a set number of pages, you can't add more, and if you take any out, you will just have to rip them out and throw them away. There are a few other types out there, but these are the two most common. (I use post-bound 95% of the time)

Supplies you need:
A paper cutter - it needs to be a large size one, cause most paper comes in 12 X 12 size. I recommend the Fiskars one that typically sells for $40.00. It has clear gridlines and the rolling blade has more accuracy than the cheaper paper cutter they sell. No matter which one you get, you will want one pretty quick, cause cutting long straight lines is hard!

You need glue that is made for scrapbooking -- Elmer’s and such will turn your album brown over time because of the acid eating it away. You will need a "wet" glue for thicker item you put in your book, and you will need double-sided tape or "tabs" to put paper and photos on your pages. There are many different kinds and brands. I recommend the cheap box of 250 tabs for beginners. It is usually about $3.

You will want acid free markers. There are tons of them, and you can get them in sets. I bought sets, but I rarely use that many colors. I suggest basic black and then buy what you need as you go.

You will need a ruler (unless you have a paper cutter with clear gridlines that you can use!)

Some folks will try to talk you into decorative scissors and punches, corner punches, etc. I hardly ever use these, so I wasted money on that kind of stuff.

That is the most basic set of things you will need to scrapbook. After that, you can look at pre-made embellishments that you want to add to your pages.

I also recommend that beginners start with a recent topic/recent photos. This way you have fresh memories of what happened! You also aren't tied down to trying to gather every photo of one period of time or one person -- stuff like that. Trying to make decisions on how to layout a page is hard enough, much less trying to organize tons of stuff! It also great if you can use digital photo prints. That way if you change your mind, you can redo it. It helps to know that you make a mistake, it is ok, you haven't ruined your photos forever! If you have photos that you want to use that aren't from digital, or are originals, make sure that you scan them first and have copies saved. (Scanning photos and saving them are a whole other set of directions!!)

It is worth it to check out some books and magazines to see different styles of scrapbooking and get idea. My favorite magazine is Simple Scrapbooks. You can sign up for their free email newsletter. Check with your local library to see if they have books you can check out, and if they have subscriptions to scrapbook magazines.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Interpret gives you a lot of good advice except that in the UK the 11" x 8.5" size is not popular as this is America quarto and not generally available. Instead try 8" x 8"" but I would recommend the 12" X 12" because this has the greatest choice in albums and papers. Check if your local craft shops or stationers stock scrapbooking supplies (sometimes called memory albums). There are half a dozen monthly scrapbooking magazines and you may find a shop advertising in these which is reasonably close. There are also lots of internet websites selling supplies.

Your must first decide what the theme of you scrapbook is - e.g your wedding, one or all of your children, this is your life, a great holiday. Get out all you photos and any souvenirs of this event and pick out the very best or most evocative ones. Generally you will only use two or three photos per page. Take your first dozen photos to a shop and buy a storage pocket and pick out some 12" x 12" background sheets that have a colour complementing the photos you are going to use on it or a matching theme e.g. a sandy beach or seascape for seaside holiday pictures. If the sheets are paper buy some card to stick it to. You will also need some card a little larger than your photos to mount them on- a plain colour is best if your background sheet is coloured or you can use patterned on a plain background sheet. Look for embellishments to go with your theme e.g seagull, crabpot, fish stickers for the beach. If you don't have basics like glue, scissors, ruler etc. buy these. Take them home and make up a few pages to see whether you enjoy this hobby before going to the expense of buying an album.

A lot of people prefer scrapbooking in groups so look out for a scrapbooking club in your area. You may be surprised to find you have friends or relatives already into scrapbooking or cardmaking and it help to have advice from more advanced crafters and to share equipment. There may be evening classes or one day workshops you can go to or check the craft section in the library for books. Watch the Craft & Create or QVC channels on Sky or on the internet.

Answer 3

Sugar, this is a wonderful idea and your mom will treasure her gift. I know, because I have made two similar books for people and they were exceptionally moved. The first thing to do is approach the family members and maybe her best friends and ask for their comments. Ask they if they can supply pictures or anecdotes to accompany their comments. I say to do this first because people put things off. I had to keep reminding people when I made my scrapbooks and it almost made me miss the deadline. Next, collect any photos, cards, letters or any other keepsakes that you yourself want to include. For a book like this, I suggest assigning one or two pages per person. By two pages, I mean a double-page spread, or the two pages that face each other. Have a title page first. The last page in the book can be a summary, or a closing page in which you give your mom special thanks and also thank the family members who participated. As far as how to actually make a scrapbook, I will point you to a link below. It is a 17 minute video that takes you through the steps of making a simple scrapbook. The second link goes to a blog that contains lots of tips and other scrapbook videos. Good luck with this. Your mom is lucky to have a daughter who thought of making her such a nice gift.

Answer 4

I love scrapbooking! Just go to a crafts store like Michael's and buy scrapbooks (either the big ones with just paper or the ones with covers) and some stickers, glue, markers, etc. Take lots and lots of pictures, everywhere you go. Put the ones that go together on the same page and put a headline on the top of that page. It's a lot of gun, you'll become addicted! Good luck!

Answer 5

First of all, buy a black scrap book. I will tell you what to do:

I made a scrapbook on leaves and stuff. So, you may go ahead 'n' find a lot of different kind of leaves. Then, put them in the sun to dry for at least 2 days. them glue them down. Believe me, it is a lot of fun 'n' I have made around 6 like them! They look special and unique! Make it 'n' have fun!!

Answer 6

You probably should start by taking a class at a local scrapbook store. You can also look for a boxed kit that has everything you would need to get started. You can also look at magazine for scrapbooking. You can look online as well.

Answer 7

um...first of all...buy a scrapbook or photo album. get some general supplies like glue, tape, scissors, construction paper and/or scrap booking paper, colored pens or markers, and maybe buy some of those little scrap booking packs that they sell at wal-mart or craft stores (they have cute things in them like one pack might be for a new baby and it'll have little bottles, safety pins, cute baby sayings etc. or they have them for weddings, graduations, vacations etc.) use your imagination....you cant really mess it up. its your book and there are no "set" rules on how a scrapbook should look. good luck!!

Answer 8

Hobby Lobby is the best place to go. You can go to their website and they will send a coupon out every week. Many of the coupons are for 40% off. That is how I buy most big items.

Answer 9

go to a scrap book store and u can buy a lot of items to get started...u have to use the yellow pages to locate them

Answer 10

Collecting is a popular hobby and can be profitable. Scrapbooks usually are references to one's hobby.