There are some common questions that you might immediately have when it comes to getting started with digital scrapbooking with Adobe, so hopefully we can answer some of those basic questions here, and get you on your way. Once you learn how to use Adobe Photoshop you will be able to add more creativity to your scrapbooking pages.

Most people think of the Adobe software program, Photoshop, when they talk about digital scrapbooking with Adobe.  Many people use Photoshop to edit and enhance their photographs on their computer screen.  The internet is full of some of the funny photos that have been altered by Photoshop – the President’s head on a buff muscular weight-lifter’s body or a cat riding on top of space shuttle – those photos are created with Photoshop.

Adobe Photoshop has many useful tools, including the selection tool.  With this tool you can remove any area of a photo or graphic from it’s original file, expand it, or enhance it in many ways.  You many want to take a photo of both of your children and separate them into two photos with each individual child.  Now you can use these two new photos on your scrapbooking layouts.

Digital scrapbooking with Adobe Photoshop offers scrapbookers the ability to enhance and manipulate their photos into entirely new pictures.  You are never limited by the photos you have.  This software allows you to expand upon any photo and manipulate it to meet the needs of your scrapbooking projects.

It’s common to see scrapbooking pages with multiple copies of the same picture or severals shots taken in sequence.  Digital scrapbooking with Adobe Photoshop gives you flexibility with your photographs and graphics.  You not only can copy your picture, you can also reduce them, enlarge them, and add as many other photographs as your page layout needs.  All this is at the click of your mouse.  Photoshop always preserves your original photo so their is no damage done to it.

Whether you are a beginner or advanced computer user, Adobe Photoshop has a version that is right for you.  Consider how long it takes you to learn a new computer program.  Professionals use the full versions of Adobe Photoshop.  However, these are much more expensive and offer more features than most digital scrapbookers will need.  The Adobe Photoshop Elements version is a much more practical and easier to learn digital scrapbooking software.

You can create beautiful and unique scrapbooking pages using Adobe Photoshop for your digital scrapbooking needs. With a full range of special effects, you can enhance your photos and design a variety of graphics for your pages.  Take the time to learn Photoshop.  You’ll be glad you did.

Christine Perry invites you to her website, for more scrapbooking techniques.

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Photo safe is the most important quality when choosing a scrapbooking adhesive.  Make sure any adhesive you choose is archival sage, especially when using them on the back of your photographs.  Scrapbookers have so many choices when it comes to adhesives.

Photo Corners: These are the pioneer adhesives of scrapbooking, and they still remain a popular choice for many scrapbookers.  When scrapbooking first began, photo corners were used because they would allow you to attach photographs to a page and still remove them.  Because photo corners are not permanent adhesives, they are ideal for heritage photographs and anything you don’t want to permanently mount to a page.  They now come in a variety of colors and materials.

Glue: Whether in pens, bottles or tubes, glue is the most versatile adhesive option for scrapbookers.  Glue pens allow you to put a tiny dot of glue where ever you need it.  They come in permanent and repositionable varieties, as well as specialized glues made for fabric or metal.

Tape Runners: These are a basic supply for most scrapbookers.  Tape runners are double-sided adhesives and come in dispensers or on a roll.  Like glue, they are available in permanent and repositionable tape.  Tape runners are convenient and fast for quick page layouts. As you run the tape along a surface, it leaves behind a continuous line of adhesive. You use only as much as you need for each item.

Glue Dots:  Available in rolls or sheets, glue dots provide a strong bond for heavy embellishments.  They work well with fabric, ribbons and textured materials as well.  Glue dots are available in a variety of sizes.

Glue Sticks:  If you don’t want the mess of glue, glue sticks are a convenient alternative.  They glide on easily and allow you to cover a large area quickly.  You can still use them on small embellishments too.  Use only glue sticks that specifically state they are photo-safe.  Stay away from the ones that are for school use.

Adhesive Spray:  Adhesive sprays provide transparency and even coverage.  They don’t show through paper like many adhesives, making them perfect for vellum.  Be careful with over spray.  You always want to cover your work surface before using adhesive spray.

Tape:  Double-sided tape is a basic scrapbooking adhesive.  Standard one-sided tape is also a must-have for scrapbookers.  Apply one-sided tape to the back of eyelets or brads to keep the prongs from catching on the paper.

Foam Tape:  Dots and squares are common shapes for foam tape.  Double-sided, this adhesive gives your page elements a dimensional effect.  Try using them with letters and scrapbooking titles and add some interest to your pages.

With so many scrapbooking adhesives to choose from, you’ll want to stock up on your favorites.  Watch your favorite craft stores for sales.  Make sure you pack a variety of adhesive options for your next workshop or crop.  You’ll be sure to have the right adhesive for your next scrapbooking project.

Christine Perry is an avid scrapbooker and has over 10 years of scrapbooking experience. Her favorite scrapbooking subjects are her reluctant teenagers. She invites you to her website, http://www.intoscrapbooking.com for more beginner scrapbooking and creative memories scrapbooking.

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For example, creating a mini scrapbook album may require you to crop or trim your photographs. If the photo takes up too much of the page it can look overwhelming and out of place. In addition, if you think that smaller is better and choose items that are way too small, it can look disproportionate too. Consider using many different sizes to see what looks the best, but be ready to crop your photographs. You might also want to consider using other mementos when you make up a mini scrapbook album such as ticket stubs, postcards, and so on. Because these albums are smaller they’re usually perfect for smaller mementos and souvenirs.

When creating a mini scrapbook album, you will want your embellishments to be in proportion to the size of the album. All that is necessary is usually just a single large item with a group of smaller items. You’ll also need to use some discretion when adding in scrapbooking borders and contrasting papers. If you have a lot of elements and contrasts, it will seem busy and crowded. Consider that a mini scrapbook album isn’t just a miniature version of a traditional scrapbook album, but it should be more focused and less busy.

A good idea when it comes to composing a mini scrapbook album is to set out all your elements and items and take a good look at it, moving some things around and taking some things away. You might realize once you do this that less is more and that using discretion and being selective with your elements and items is better for an overall look. If you do, you may find that a mini scrapbook album is your new favorite type of project!

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First, take some time to look at the sizes of your Disney scrapbooking stickers. A larger sticker will look a lot like the focal point of your page so if you add too many larger stickers they’ll compete with your photo or other memento. To make the stickers look like they are not competing with each other, try using one large sticker with a few small ones, and you could also design a photo border or page border with small stickers. Consider how the Disney stickers will look around your picture. For instance some find that putting the large sticker on the corner of their photo helps to anchor it to the page and the two look as if they’re working together, not against one another.

Remember that you can find very generic Disney scrapbooking stickers that may work well on your pages. Disney parks are famous for their fireworks, and you can find plenty of fireworks stickers, or look for stars or roller coaster rides. Consider using these types of Disney scrapbooking stickers very generously or else your scrapbook might look a little too contrived. If you have Disney characters and accents all over your layout, your album will start looking like a Disney commercial and not a scrapbook!

Using Disney scrapbooking stickers is a great way to starting scrapbooking with kids and begin creating scrapbooks with them as well. If they can choose their own stickers, they will be encourages to create their own albums. You could even buy some Disney scrapbooking stickers and keep them available for the next rainy day project you need! They may just come in handy on those days.

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For scrapbooking enthusiasts the thrill is in making elaborate scrapbook albums. They love seeing their hard work pay off when family and friends visit and they get to show off their albums. If you are new to the scrapbooking world, then you will need to start off simply and easily. You do not need a wad of cash in order to pursue this hobby. But you will need to acquire the basic necessities if you want to see your pictures displayed in an album.

For scrapbooking you are going to need a scrapbook album. It will have blank pages that you can insert your sheets into or it will already come with some colored papers attached inside. The album should be sturdy and have a quick and easy way to add more scrapbook pages. You can find scrapbook layouts on a variety of websites or you can visit your local craft store to find the exact layouts that you wish to see in your scrapbook.

When buying scrapbook pages, it is important to make sure they are acid-free. As well, the ink you use has to be suitable for writing in your scrapbook. You do not want the ink bleeding through to the next page and possibly ruining a picture. So be aware of the type of scrapbook paper that you buy. You may not want to invest in the best quality but you most certainly do not want to use just any old type of paper.

Another huge expense in the scrapbooking world is the sticker machine. This is a machine that turns pictures into stickers. It takes the place of die cuts. You can buy special paper that has the sticker material on the back and it will use the paper until it is completely gone. There are also three dimensional stickers that can go on the scrapbook pages.

When you are looking for scrapbooking supplies you will be amazed at the places you can buy the necessary items. Martha Stewart has a line that is exclusive to Michael’s Crafts, Creative Memories and also a line by Anna Griffin. You can also find stickers and some sheets at such places as Wal-Mart, Target and even some dollar discount stores. If you do not want to go into a retail store and prefer to shop online, then try www.scrapbook.com, as they sell scrapbook layouts and scrapbooking kits.

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Your handwriting may not be as neat as a printed journaling block from a computer.  Yet, your families will find it so much more meaningful and personal than anything typed.

Why don’t we use our own handwriting on our scrapbooking pages more often?  We all have different reasons.  You might be concerned with how messy your handwriting is or that others may not be able to read it.  Remember those recipes written by a grandparent or handwritten letters from a loved one?  Those are more meaningful to you now because they are personal and unique.  Your family will feel the same way about your handwriting in your scrapbooks.

Handwriting mistakes a common reason why people hesitate to use their own handwriting on their scrapbooking pages.  You can use different techniques to correct your handwriting errors. First, use a paper journaling block.  These are inexpensive, and if you make a mistake on one, you just try again on another.  If you spot your mistake after the journaling is attached to the page, just glue another paper block over the one with the error.  You can use stickers to cover your mistakes as well.

Handwriting success depends on using the right pen.  You should first consider the type of paper you are using.  Choose a pen designed to write on that type of surface.  Some pens will run or smear on certain types of scrapbooking paper.  Width is also important.  Using a wide tip pen on a small square of paper is not going to be successful.

Always practice your journaling before you glue it to your page.  Write a draft on a piece of scrap paper.  Slowly, read it aloud. This helps you spot errors in your grammar and spelling.  If you have someone available, ask them to proofread it for you.  Always remember to test the pen on the paper as well.  Practicing on a draft first also lets you see if you have enough room available for all of your journaling.

Are you one of those people that write uphill? If you find it difficult to write in a straight line, use lined journaling blocks. You can make them yourself, buy a stamp with lines designed for this purpose, or purchase pre-lined journaling papers.  Another tip is to use the natural lines in your layouts.  Write along stripes on patterned paper. Handwrite phrases around a frame. You can even print on the edges of your borders.

There are few things as personal as our handwriting.  Handwriting is unique.  Like our signature, it is a statement of who we are.  When you use your handwriting on your page layouts it adds character to your scrapbooks.  It will tell your family and anyone who looks at your albums about your mood and your personality.  Your family is sure to treasure your scrapbooks even more.  Let your handwriting add depth and emotion to your pages, not a computer font.

Christine Perry is an avid scrapbooker and has more than 10 years of scrapbooking experience. Her favorite scrapbooking subjects are her reluctant teenagers. She invites you to her website, http://www.intoscrapbooking.com for more scrapbooking ideas and information on Mother’s Day cards for scrapbooking.

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If there’s one problem that many serious scrappers run into, it’s scrapbooking paper storage. It seems like any place you store your cardstock or what system you have tried, you end up with paper that is torn, wrinkled or bent, or that is not in a convenient location. What to do?

There are some simple scrapbooking tips to solve the problem of scrapbooking paper storage. You may have noticed that many scrapbook supply stores sell storage systems that are designed specifically for scrapbook paper. You may have been hesitant about purchasing such an option, but remember that your scrapbook projects start with your paper. Purchasing a simple system can be considered an investment in your projects. There are many options available when it comes to these scrapbooking paper storage systems so you can probably find something that’s within your price range.

Of course there are other options that you could use as a scrapbooking paper storage system. As an example, you may want to browse an office supply catalog or visit your local supply store. These usually have towers that are meant to keep a person’s desk organized when it comes to their paperwork. Some are wide enough to hold scrapbooking paper but of course you want to be sure you’re getting the right size. They also offer storage boxes made for magazines, but that also work for storing scrapbooking paper. Try thinking “outside the box” and consider using things for purposes other then what they were made for. If you can use a product for your desk and it works for you, then of course you should use it for your own scrapbooking paper storage?

Consider using things you already have around your home for your scrapbooking paper storage. For example, do you have old photograph albums or some large books you aren’t using anymore? You can keep paper in between the pages. (Finally, a use for those old encyclopedias in the attic!) You might just want to put a sheet of plastic wrap from your kitchen between your scrapbook paper and the book’s pages so that no ink transfers. And of course whatever you use for scrapbooking paper organization, it’s important to keep it up and away from the kids, pets, and anyone else that might be using your desk and not take care of your papers the way you do.

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1. Call your local scrapbook store and ask what special activities they have planned.  Many local stores have sales, but quite a few offer make-and-take projects, special workshops, or crop time just for National Scrapbooking Day.

2. Learn a new scrapbooking technique.You can do this yourself.  Pick up a scrapbook magazine and try a new skill. It can be something that is easy or more complex. Now make a page layout using that technique.

3. Shop for a new scrapbook tool.  We all have one of the latest tools on our scrapbooking wishlists.  Indulge yourself this May with one on your list. Bring it home with you and give it a try on a new scrapbook project.

4. Gather your friends for a scrapbooking crop party.  Throw a National Scrapbooking Day party with your fellow scrapbookers. Just add some refreshments and lots of workspace for scrapbooking and you’re ready to enjoy your favorite activity with your friends.

5. Browse your local bookstore for a new scrapbook magazine or book.Have fun discovering what the newest ideas in scrapbooking are. Books and magazines are a great way to keep up to date on your design skills.

6. Shop for new supplies online. Online scrapbooking stores usually have great National Scrapbooking Day sales that often run the whole weekend.The best deals are usually on Saturday, but many stores will run their sales on Sunday too.Visit your favorite internet stores first, because many offer the best sales during night owl specials or early bird hours.  Be sure you know what time zone they are in so you don’t miss out.

7. Share your hobby with a friend.Do you have a friend who wants to learn how to document her memories and make a scrapbook? National Scrapbooking Day is a great time to show her how. Bring her to your local store for a special event or invite her to your home to scrapbook.

8. Attend an online crop. Check scrapbooking message boards for online crops.  Many offer virtual crops. You and other scrapbookers make page layouts at the same time and chat online with each other.Many crops will have contests to see which scrapbooker got the most layouts done. Some will have contests, and some may have a gallery where you can upload your designs.

9. Snap some photos. If going to a scrapbook event isn’t possible, consider taking some pictures of your loved ones. Upload them to your favorite online printer and start to plan your next album.

10. Organize your scrapbooking space. You just might find some supplies you forgot all about.  A little organization can help you get more pages done the next time you sit down to create a page layout.

11. Go on a scrapbooking retreat or plan to attend a scrapbooking convention.Your local area may have scrapbooking events and expos. The weekend of National Scrapbooking Day might be a great time to organize a getaway with your girlfriends.

12. Read “A Page Out of Life” by Kathleen Reid.This novel is about a local scrapbooking club and the very different women who come to the club.While scrapbooking together, they discover secrets that are hidden in their photographs. National Scrapbooking Day is a perfect time to read this book.

Enjoy this year’s National Scrapbooking Day! No matter how you decide to spend the day, remember to enjoy your hobby with family and friends.

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Don’t forget about shopping at discount stores or dollar stores.  You can usually find stickers, pipe cleaners, ribbon, and embellishments like this at dollar stores and they make for some great discount scrapbooking supplies.  You might even find craft supplies at stores like this and these too can work in scrapbooks.

You can also find a lot of choices for cheap scrapbooking supplies online at places like eBay and Craigslist.  Many scrappers who have leftover supplies will bundle them together and sell them so you may need to pick and choose but you can find a lot of scraps that work well for you.

In the spring, don’t forget to check out garage sales as well.Many people will advertise their yard sales on Craiglist and even show photos of what they are selling, so you can look at these first to see if they are selling cheap scrapbooking supplies.

Many people already have things around their house that they can use for scrapbooking.Look around your house for ideas for scrapbooking embellishments, like colored paperclips, ribbon, yarn, sewing scraps, buttons, fancy stamps, old road maps, and greeting cards.If you use some creativity as you clean your house for items and scraps you would just throw away, you may just find that your own home is a great place for finding cheap scrapbooking supplies!Try this before you throw anything away – can you salvage pieves from an old board game to use as an accent on a page or can you use the stamp on a piece of mail for a travel page?

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Creating Keepsakes Magazine is one of the top scrapbooking magazines in the country, and is full of ideas, tips and inspiration for scrapbookers every month. Every month they have tips, tricks, cool products, and other helpful information that’s perfect for beginner scrapbooking or for advanced scrappers. Beyond information on how to create scrapbook page layouts, you will find features in Creating Keepsakes magazine like how to scrapbook with kids, how to organize your supplies, and how to find discount scrapbooking supplies.

Creating Keepsakes magazine always has articles and features appropriate for each season, so the March issue will have ideas for spring-themed pages and for St. Patrick’s Day too. The fall issues of Creating Keepsakes magazine will give you good scrapbooking tips and hints for the upcoming school year as well as how to organize and scrapbook those photos you have from your summer vacation. This way the information is always timely and practical.

You can of course browse many of the features of the Creating Keepsakes magazine online at their website but typically you’ll get the most benefit from an actual subscription. This is because you will always have your magazines, but the website information is updated and changed often. There are also many more features and ads in the print version of Creating Keepsakes magazine. The advertisements in the magazine let you know what new products are available and what is coming next in the scrapbooking industry.

Another reason to be a Creating Keepsakes magazine subscriber is that it may encourage your kids to start scrapbooking. You can show them the different page layouts and ideas and see if any appeal to them. Often kids will respond to hobbies, crafts and projects if they can see the end product of their work, and letting them see page layouts from Creating Keepsakes magazine is one way to do that.

As a matter of fact, there probably aren’t any reasons why you shouldn’t consider subscribing to Creating Keepsakes magazine if you’re a serious scrapbooker. Why not try it yourself, if you want more scrapbooking ideas?

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