By Michelle Bery
Crochet – at its core – is delicate, lovely, and timeless. So it’s no wonder that it lends itself so beautifully to items associated with a baby. A blanket, booties, sweaters, a dress – the addition of crochet to any of these items elevates the cute factor into the realm of breathtaking. Suddenly a receiving blanket becomes a family heirloom; baby booties become worthy of framing; and a special sweater becomes a treasured hand-me-down.
For those looking to create the beautiful gift of crochet for babies, you have a variety of patterns and materials from which choose. If you are a beginner, start with a simple pattern such as a blanket or booties; you’ll find their lines forgiving of any mistakes. For the more experienced among us, more complex patterns such as sweaters, and other projects that contain multi-patterned designs could be good choices.
You can find any patterns that appeal to you at your local craft store or on the Internet. Online resources are abundant with patterns of crochet for babies. Additionally, most are free of charge. Depending on what you want to accomplish, you’ll most likely find all that you need in these online stores.
Next comes the fun part of picking the color and texture of the yarns you want to use for your crochet for babies. There are variety of textures available; just be sure to keep those crochet for babies as soft as possible. Remember that babies’ skin is sensitive and choose accordingly. Also choose those materials that are easily machine washable.
While supplementing the design with buttons, snaps, and other embellishments elevate the crochet for babies, be very careful in your use; remember that small items can be a chocking hazard so secure them with care.
Sizing can be somewhat difficult when it comes to crochet for babies. Instructional manuals will help you measure with accuracy and plan accordingly.
Crochet for babies can be a wonderful way to welcome a newborn to the world. Even better, it can be your unique way to do it and one that will could be handed down from generation to generation.
For easy to understand, in depth information about crochet visit our ezGuide 2 Crochet.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery
The Scoop About Earring Findings
By Amy Ressa
The beginning basic components of most earrings are the part that hooks into the ear and a headpin, which is used to string your beads on. Many refer these pieces as "findings".
You can easily locate earring findings that are already manufactured. They are often sold at your local craft stores and of course online. The come in a variety of metals ranging from silver and gold plated to fine silver and gold. It is a matter of preference and affordability.
You may also decide to make your own findings for your handcrafted earrings. Earrings are easy to make on your own. You may find yourself in a crunch and needing to make your own finds due to time constraints. If you learn how to do this it could keep you from having to make a special trip to the store or place a special online order and delay the completion of your piece.
You can cut the cost of your supplies by buying bulk precious metal wire. It can end up being less costly to purchase it in this manner. This is a great way to keep your costs down and not have to pass extra fees on to your customers. This is an important factor in making a larger profit, for those of us in business.
The jewelry business is very competitive. To stay alive in this field you must produce quality work. Creating unique pieces is another good way to attract customers to your product. This also may allow you to charge more for your pieces, since your buyer knows they are not going to be able to find it at the next stop!
Learning how to create your own earring findings will also allow your creative side to emerge. You will have the knowledge and flexibility will producing your designs. This is also a great way to achieve a since of accomplishment.
There are a variety of wire choices on the market. Not only do you have to choose the type of metal, but the gauge that works best for your project. It is popular today to even mix the metal types using different colors together and different gauges. This adds more interest to your piece. It is recommended to use 21 gauge half-hard and soft round sterling wire. The 21 gauge fits well in the hole of pierced earring wearers, while being able to support the additional pieces strung on the wire. 20 to 22-gauge wire is also a good type to use for earrings.
So, I would suggest you start collecting your wire and preparing yourself to learn how to make wire earrings. My next article will focus on a basic earring wire instruction. Stay tuned for future articles.
Amy
www.amyspaintedhouseandmore.com
14-530-0219
My name is Amy Ressa. I am the owner of The Painted House and More. My business is located in Central Ohio. I have over 16 years of painting experience which began painting in my own home. I originally started painting with stencils and then progressed in to freehand decorative painting. My style of painting is the One Stroke Technique, developed by Donna Dewberry. It is an easy way to make painting visually interesting. I have experience painting not only on walls, but glass, ceramics, fabric, metal, candles, and canvas. This technique is great for small and large jobs alike. It isn't limited to just one area. I love to use the acrylic enamel made by Plaid. It is a great product that is very durable. You can bake your glass projects to set the paint, or just let it cure in the open air. After 21 days your paint will be set. I am always looking for people who I can share my talent with. If you have any interest or questions, please feel free to call me at: 614-530-0219 or email me at: aamilou@aol.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Ressa
The beginning basic components of most earrings are the part that hooks into the ear and a headpin, which is used to string your beads on. Many refer these pieces as "findings".
You can easily locate earring findings that are already manufactured. They are often sold at your local craft stores and of course online. The come in a variety of metals ranging from silver and gold plated to fine silver and gold. It is a matter of preference and affordability.
You may also decide to make your own findings for your handcrafted earrings. Earrings are easy to make on your own. You may find yourself in a crunch and needing to make your own finds due to time constraints. If you learn how to do this it could keep you from having to make a special trip to the store or place a special online order and delay the completion of your piece.
You can cut the cost of your supplies by buying bulk precious metal wire. It can end up being less costly to purchase it in this manner. This is a great way to keep your costs down and not have to pass extra fees on to your customers. This is an important factor in making a larger profit, for those of us in business.
The jewelry business is very competitive. To stay alive in this field you must produce quality work. Creating unique pieces is another good way to attract customers to your product. This also may allow you to charge more for your pieces, since your buyer knows they are not going to be able to find it at the next stop!
Learning how to create your own earring findings will also allow your creative side to emerge. You will have the knowledge and flexibility will producing your designs. This is also a great way to achieve a since of accomplishment.
There are a variety of wire choices on the market. Not only do you have to choose the type of metal, but the gauge that works best for your project. It is popular today to even mix the metal types using different colors together and different gauges. This adds more interest to your piece. It is recommended to use 21 gauge half-hard and soft round sterling wire. The 21 gauge fits well in the hole of pierced earring wearers, while being able to support the additional pieces strung on the wire. 20 to 22-gauge wire is also a good type to use for earrings.
So, I would suggest you start collecting your wire and preparing yourself to learn how to make wire earrings. My next article will focus on a basic earring wire instruction. Stay tuned for future articles.
Amy
www.amyspaintedhouseandmore.com
14-530-0219
My name is Amy Ressa. I am the owner of The Painted House and More. My business is located in Central Ohio. I have over 16 years of painting experience which began painting in my own home. I originally started painting with stencils and then progressed in to freehand decorative painting. My style of painting is the One Stroke Technique, developed by Donna Dewberry. It is an easy way to make painting visually interesting. I have experience painting not only on walls, but glass, ceramics, fabric, metal, candles, and canvas. This technique is great for small and large jobs alike. It isn't limited to just one area. I love to use the acrylic enamel made by Plaid. It is a great product that is very durable. You can bake your glass projects to set the paint, or just let it cure in the open air. After 21 days your paint will be set. I am always looking for people who I can share my talent with. If you have any interest or questions, please feel free to call me at: 614-530-0219 or email me at: aamilou@aol.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Ressa
Creating Polymer Clay Magnets Are Fun And Easy
By Ilysa Bierer
Making polymer clay magnets is a fun and easy project. You can get the kids involved or have some friends over for a little magnet making party or just make some yourself. Polymer clay magnets make great gifts as well.
All you need to get started is your choice of colors and brand of polymer clay. Texturing the clay is a very effective way to spruce up your magnets. You can also add images by transferring them to the clay or by adding them with a liquid clay. When transferring it is important to use a light colored clay so your transfer can be seen.
You can also roll the clay flat and cut out shapes with cookie cutters or a paper punch. Just remember that when you use cookie cutters or other items used in the kitchen that once they are used on the clay they should not be used again for food. The clay is non toxic but it is best to use caution.
Adding glass crystals is way to add some sparkle to your magnets, you can also add glitter or embossing powders to the clay and this is called an inclusion. You can also add or embed metal into polymer clay. You can play around with ideas and techniques to see what you like best.
If you have lots of scrapbooking supplies, most of them will also work with polymer clay. You can use metal brads to accent your magnets and those small metal tags also work great. You can add paper or scraps of paper to your magnets as well. Rub ons can also be added to the clay after it has been baked.
After you have finished creating your magnets and have baked them at the temperature recommended by the manufacturer of the brand of clay you choose, then you are ready to glue the magnet to the back. Ceramic magnets are very sturdy and work great for this project. You can use E-6000 to adhere the magnet to the back of the clay. Let them dry for at least 24 hours before using them.
Magnets can also be a great way to help children learn how to spell and count. Cookie cutters are available in letters and numbers and you can put them on the fridge and let the kids use their imagination and skills. Play around with ideas colors and textures and the sky is the limit.
Ilysa Bierer
http://www.polymerclayproductions.comhttp://www.emeraldearth.comhttp://www.ilysaart.etsy.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilysa_Bierer
Making polymer clay magnets is a fun and easy project. You can get the kids involved or have some friends over for a little magnet making party or just make some yourself. Polymer clay magnets make great gifts as well.
All you need to get started is your choice of colors and brand of polymer clay. Texturing the clay is a very effective way to spruce up your magnets. You can also add images by transferring them to the clay or by adding them with a liquid clay. When transferring it is important to use a light colored clay so your transfer can be seen.
You can also roll the clay flat and cut out shapes with cookie cutters or a paper punch. Just remember that when you use cookie cutters or other items used in the kitchen that once they are used on the clay they should not be used again for food. The clay is non toxic but it is best to use caution.
Adding glass crystals is way to add some sparkle to your magnets, you can also add glitter or embossing powders to the clay and this is called an inclusion. You can also add or embed metal into polymer clay. You can play around with ideas and techniques to see what you like best.
If you have lots of scrapbooking supplies, most of them will also work with polymer clay. You can use metal brads to accent your magnets and those small metal tags also work great. You can add paper or scraps of paper to your magnets as well. Rub ons can also be added to the clay after it has been baked.
After you have finished creating your magnets and have baked them at the temperature recommended by the manufacturer of the brand of clay you choose, then you are ready to glue the magnet to the back. Ceramic magnets are very sturdy and work great for this project. You can use E-6000 to adhere the magnet to the back of the clay. Let them dry for at least 24 hours before using them.
Magnets can also be a great way to help children learn how to spell and count. Cookie cutters are available in letters and numbers and you can put them on the fridge and let the kids use their imagination and skills. Play around with ideas colors and textures and the sky is the limit.
Ilysa Bierer
http://www.polymerclayproductions.comhttp://www.emeraldearth.comhttp://www.ilysaart.etsy.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilysa_Bierer
5 Reasons To Create A Newsletter For Your Scrapbooking Customers
By Vera Raposo
Your scrapbooking business really requires you to create a relationship with your customers. When a customer comes into your store you have an opportunity to visit with them face to face.
But when they approach your website, you need to capture their information so you can contact them about all of your scrapbooking specials and start giving them free information to keep them coming back to your website.
If you don't have a newsletter and haven't started building a subscriber base, you should start today.
Here are a few reasons why:
Reason #1: It's FREE advertising. Why pay a ton of money to advertise in a local newspaper when you can do it for free with yourself? Building a solid subscriber base means you have an open audience of like-minded people who either like what you have to offer, or are, at the very least, interested in your message. You just send off an email to your scrapbooking customer base and keep them in contact with what you're doing and also any specials you may have.
Reason #2: It's the perfect market research tool. Have you ever been stumped for fresh, new ideas to offer your customers? When you have a subscriber base, you can ask them for their feedback and/or ideas. What better way to give your target market what they want, than by asking them directly? You could find out what kinds of questions they have about scrapbooking so you can create online classes just for them. It keeps you in touch with what layouts they like, and most of all it keeps the communication open for them so they feel like they can contact you anytime.
Reason #3: It promotes word of mouth advertising. Everybody knows that word of mouth will get you a whole lot farther, faster, than any type of advertising. Please your subscribers, and they'll let their friends and family know. An easy way to get them talking is to run a scrapbooking contest on your site. One day I decided to run a scrapbooking contest on my site and I received 76 subscribers just in one day! A contest is well worth your time, scrapbookers love contests.
Reason #4: It keeps you in touch with your customers. What turns you into a return customer? Quality customer service! Your newsletter is an excellent way for you to stay in touch with your customers and show them your appreciation for their business. Don't just use your newsletter as a way to squeeze more money from them. Use it to express your gratitude for their business. Even create memories for them, guide them to look forward to your emails by giving them great scrapbooking content, tips, tutorials, and contests. By providing them great information, they will look forward to receiving your tips all the time.
Reason #5: Keep your customers informed. Having a scrapbooking sale? New products arriving? Do you have something really exciting to share about your business? Mention it all to them! Having a newsletter will give you an easy method of informing your customers about all the new things going on with your business. Keep them in touch with all the latest crops that are out there, products that are new. They will be very happy to learn more from you.
Vera Raposo is the Scrapper's Business Coach. She is now teaching how to create your very own Custom Scrapbook Artist Business. You can sign up for her exclusive tips at ScrapVenturePro.com to help your business succeed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vera_Raposo
Your scrapbooking business really requires you to create a relationship with your customers. When a customer comes into your store you have an opportunity to visit with them face to face.
But when they approach your website, you need to capture their information so you can contact them about all of your scrapbooking specials and start giving them free information to keep them coming back to your website.
If you don't have a newsletter and haven't started building a subscriber base, you should start today.
Here are a few reasons why:
Reason #1: It's FREE advertising. Why pay a ton of money to advertise in a local newspaper when you can do it for free with yourself? Building a solid subscriber base means you have an open audience of like-minded people who either like what you have to offer, or are, at the very least, interested in your message. You just send off an email to your scrapbooking customer base and keep them in contact with what you're doing and also any specials you may have.
Reason #2: It's the perfect market research tool. Have you ever been stumped for fresh, new ideas to offer your customers? When you have a subscriber base, you can ask them for their feedback and/or ideas. What better way to give your target market what they want, than by asking them directly? You could find out what kinds of questions they have about scrapbooking so you can create online classes just for them. It keeps you in touch with what layouts they like, and most of all it keeps the communication open for them so they feel like they can contact you anytime.
Reason #3: It promotes word of mouth advertising. Everybody knows that word of mouth will get you a whole lot farther, faster, than any type of advertising. Please your subscribers, and they'll let their friends and family know. An easy way to get them talking is to run a scrapbooking contest on your site. One day I decided to run a scrapbooking contest on my site and I received 76 subscribers just in one day! A contest is well worth your time, scrapbookers love contests.
Reason #4: It keeps you in touch with your customers. What turns you into a return customer? Quality customer service! Your newsletter is an excellent way for you to stay in touch with your customers and show them your appreciation for their business. Don't just use your newsletter as a way to squeeze more money from them. Use it to express your gratitude for their business. Even create memories for them, guide them to look forward to your emails by giving them great scrapbooking content, tips, tutorials, and contests. By providing them great information, they will look forward to receiving your tips all the time.
Reason #5: Keep your customers informed. Having a scrapbooking sale? New products arriving? Do you have something really exciting to share about your business? Mention it all to them! Having a newsletter will give you an easy method of informing your customers about all the new things going on with your business. Keep them in touch with all the latest crops that are out there, products that are new. They will be very happy to learn more from you.
Vera Raposo is the Scrapper's Business Coach. She is now teaching how to create your very own Custom Scrapbook Artist Business. You can sign up for her exclusive tips at ScrapVenturePro.com to help your business succeed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vera_Raposo
5 Reasons To Create A Newsletter For Your Scrapbooking Customers
By Vera Raposo
Your scrapbooking business really requires you to create a relationship with your customers. When a customer comes into your store you have an opportunity to visit with them face to face.
But when they approach your website, you need to capture their information so you can contact them about all of your scrapbooking specials and start giving them free information to keep them coming back to your website.
If you don't have a newsletter and haven't started building a subscriber base, you should start today.
Here are a few reasons why:
Reason #1: It's FREE advertising. Why pay a ton of money to advertise in a local newspaper when you can do it for free with yourself? Building a solid subscriber base means you have an open audience of like-minded people who either like what you have to offer, or are, at the very least, interested in your message. You just send off an email to your scrapbooking customer base and keep them in contact with what you're doing and also any specials you may have.
Reason #2: It's the perfect market research tool. Have you ever been stumped for fresh, new ideas to offer your customers? When you have a subscriber base, you can ask them for their feedback and/or ideas. What better way to give your target market what they want, than by asking them directly? You could find out what kinds of questions they have about scrapbooking so you can create online classes just for them. It keeps you in touch with what layouts they like, and most of all it keeps the communication open for them so they feel like they can contact you anytime.
Reason #3: It promotes word of mouth advertising. Everybody knows that word of mouth will get you a whole lot farther, faster, than any type of advertising. Please your subscribers, and they'll let their friends and family know. An easy way to get them talking is to run a scrapbooking contest on your site. One day I decided to run a scrapbooking contest on my site and I received 76 subscribers just in one day! A contest is well worth your time, scrapbookers love contests.
Reason #4: It keeps you in touch with your customers. What turns you into a return customer? Quality customer service! Your newsletter is an excellent way for you to stay in touch with your customers and show them your appreciation for their business. Don't just use your newsletter as a way to squeeze more money from them. Use it to express your gratitude for their business. Even create memories for them, guide them to look forward to your emails by giving them great scrapbooking content, tips, tutorials, and contests. By providing them great information, they will look forward to receiving your tips all the time.
Reason #5: Keep your customers informed. Having a scrapbooking sale? New products arriving? Do you have something really exciting to share about your business? Mention it all to them! Having a newsletter will give you an easy method of informing your customers about all the new things going on with your business. Keep them in touch with all the latest crops that are out there, products that are new. They will be very happy to learn more from you.
Vera Raposo is the Scrapper's Business Coach. She is now teaching how to create your very own Custom Scrapbook Artist Business. You can sign up for her exclusive tips at ScrapVenturePro.com to help your business succeed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vera_Raposo
Your scrapbooking business really requires you to create a relationship with your customers. When a customer comes into your store you have an opportunity to visit with them face to face.
But when they approach your website, you need to capture their information so you can contact them about all of your scrapbooking specials and start giving them free information to keep them coming back to your website.
If you don't have a newsletter and haven't started building a subscriber base, you should start today.
Here are a few reasons why:
Reason #1: It's FREE advertising. Why pay a ton of money to advertise in a local newspaper when you can do it for free with yourself? Building a solid subscriber base means you have an open audience of like-minded people who either like what you have to offer, or are, at the very least, interested in your message. You just send off an email to your scrapbooking customer base and keep them in contact with what you're doing and also any specials you may have.
Reason #2: It's the perfect market research tool. Have you ever been stumped for fresh, new ideas to offer your customers? When you have a subscriber base, you can ask them for their feedback and/or ideas. What better way to give your target market what they want, than by asking them directly? You could find out what kinds of questions they have about scrapbooking so you can create online classes just for them. It keeps you in touch with what layouts they like, and most of all it keeps the communication open for them so they feel like they can contact you anytime.
Reason #3: It promotes word of mouth advertising. Everybody knows that word of mouth will get you a whole lot farther, faster, than any type of advertising. Please your subscribers, and they'll let their friends and family know. An easy way to get them talking is to run a scrapbooking contest on your site. One day I decided to run a scrapbooking contest on my site and I received 76 subscribers just in one day! A contest is well worth your time, scrapbookers love contests.
Reason #4: It keeps you in touch with your customers. What turns you into a return customer? Quality customer service! Your newsletter is an excellent way for you to stay in touch with your customers and show them your appreciation for their business. Don't just use your newsletter as a way to squeeze more money from them. Use it to express your gratitude for their business. Even create memories for them, guide them to look forward to your emails by giving them great scrapbooking content, tips, tutorials, and contests. By providing them great information, they will look forward to receiving your tips all the time.
Reason #5: Keep your customers informed. Having a scrapbooking sale? New products arriving? Do you have something really exciting to share about your business? Mention it all to them! Having a newsletter will give you an easy method of informing your customers about all the new things going on with your business. Keep them in touch with all the latest crops that are out there, products that are new. They will be very happy to learn more from you.
Vera Raposo is the Scrapper's Business Coach. She is now teaching how to create your very own Custom Scrapbook Artist Business. You can sign up for her exclusive tips at ScrapVenturePro.com to help your business succeed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vera_Raposo
Personalised Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day
By Joan Masterson
So often we lose perspective of what Valentines Day is all about. It is the day for celebrating love and romance and the special person in our lives - and it need not cost an arm an a leg to show someone that they are special.
Here are some ideas for gifts from the heart for Valentines Day.
1. Burn a CD with your partner's favorite music tracks. There are many places on the Internet where you can find music to download. Here is a site where you can download almost any track for free: http://www.emp3finder.com/ Create a cover for the CD with your photo and a message on it.
2. Record a tasteful video of yourself telling your loved one how much you love them. You can use a video recorder or a web cam if you have one. Then burn it onto DVD. If you have kids, get them to record a message as well!
3. Make a special card with a love poem and a loving message from you, paste a photo of yourself and/or a photo of you both into it.
4. Have a nice photo of yourself taken by a professional photographer and put it in a nice frame. Write a love message on the back of the frame.
5. Create a digital scrapbook with photos of yourself with loving messages in between, then burn it to a CD. You can find many cute programs that you can use to add borders, frames etc to your photos to enhance them.
6. Create a normal scrapbook with photos of yourself and your loved one, with humorous captions and loving anecdotes about your life together.
7. Buy your loved one a star! Pick the brightest star in the sky, give it your loved one's name. Create an official gift certificate stating that this star has been bought for and named after your loved one. Show them their star property in the universe, and see their eyes light up like the stars themselves!
8. Create a Love Coupon Book. The love coupons could offer things such as a big hug, a kiss, a full body massage, a foot massage, a special cup of coffee, a relaxing bubble bath. Your partner can then cash them in any time they feel like any item in the book.
Looking for more great ideas on making your Valentines Day the most romantic day you have ever had?
Please visit: http://www.craftcrazee.com/external/valentines-day-fun.html
Valentines Day Fun
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joan_Masterson
So often we lose perspective of what Valentines Day is all about. It is the day for celebrating love and romance and the special person in our lives - and it need not cost an arm an a leg to show someone that they are special.
Here are some ideas for gifts from the heart for Valentines Day.
1. Burn a CD with your partner's favorite music tracks. There are many places on the Internet where you can find music to download. Here is a site where you can download almost any track for free: http://www.emp3finder.com/ Create a cover for the CD with your photo and a message on it.
2. Record a tasteful video of yourself telling your loved one how much you love them. You can use a video recorder or a web cam if you have one. Then burn it onto DVD. If you have kids, get them to record a message as well!
3. Make a special card with a love poem and a loving message from you, paste a photo of yourself and/or a photo of you both into it.
4. Have a nice photo of yourself taken by a professional photographer and put it in a nice frame. Write a love message on the back of the frame.
5. Create a digital scrapbook with photos of yourself with loving messages in between, then burn it to a CD. You can find many cute programs that you can use to add borders, frames etc to your photos to enhance them.
6. Create a normal scrapbook with photos of yourself and your loved one, with humorous captions and loving anecdotes about your life together.
7. Buy your loved one a star! Pick the brightest star in the sky, give it your loved one's name. Create an official gift certificate stating that this star has been bought for and named after your loved one. Show them their star property in the universe, and see their eyes light up like the stars themselves!
8. Create a Love Coupon Book. The love coupons could offer things such as a big hug, a kiss, a full body massage, a foot massage, a special cup of coffee, a relaxing bubble bath. Your partner can then cash them in any time they feel like any item in the book.
Looking for more great ideas on making your Valentines Day the most romantic day you have ever had?
Please visit: http://www.craftcrazee.com/external/valentines-day-fun.html
Valentines Day Fun
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joan_Masterson
5 Reasons Why Scrapbooking Should Be Your Next Hobby
By Nicole Fisher
Scrapbooks Protect Your Photos
Not only does a well-made scrapbook protect and preserve your photos, it also makes the photos themselves more fun to look at. Most people would much rather thumb through a scrapbook with its extra, fun touches than a plain photo album.
Scrapbooks Make Great Gifts
Because they are so personal, scrapbooks make a great gift for a loved one on a special day. Some especially good occasions to give a scrapbook as a gift are: weddings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, graduations, and retirement parties.
Scrapbooks show that you put a lot of time and thought into your gift and can be a wonderful keepsake for the receiver.
Scrapbooking Is a Great Creative Outlet
Did you know that you have an artistic, creative side? Everyone does, it's just that not everyone uses it. Scrapbooking, with its colors, themes, cutting and pasting, writing, and arranging, is a great way to express your creativity. The best part is that all of that is enjoyable and so much fun!
Maybe you are one of those people that don't believe you can do any of that very well. Guess what? You're wrong! Even the most un-artistic person can copy a page layout that they found somewhere and really liked. Besides, it's hard not to be inspired when you have some great photos and some fun scrapbooking materials in front of you.
After a while you'll be adding your own personal touches to your pages, and soon you'll be creating your own completely unique layouts that you can be proud of.
Other Scrapbookers!
Nothing will help you make new friends faster than sharing a hobby with someone! Scrapbooking is an especially great hobby for sharing with friends. Many communities have scrapbooking clubs where scrapbookers can get to together to scrapbook, share ideas, show each other photographs, and talk for hours. Some craft stores also have a scrapbooking night for this same purpose (usually with the hope that people will buy a few things).
These scrapbooking nights or "crops", as they are called by scrapbookers, are a great way to get out of the house and spend some time socializing with other people. If you really need some time for yourself, get your club to put on a weekend scrapbooking retreat. It will be two days of nothing but scrapbooking fun!
Your town doesn't have a scrapbooking club? That's easy. Find some friends who scrapbook and start one! If you don't have some other scrapbookers in your life, you're missing out.
Scrapbooking Captures Precious Moments and Memories
In my opinion, this is the most wonderful thing about scrapbooking. The best way to explain it is with a quick story.
When I first started scrapbooking, my grandma was the person in my family most interested in my layouts. Every time she came over we would look through them together and she would point out the things she liked the most.
She was so interested that I finally decided to make a scrapbook with her. We put in photos of us together along with mementos of all the special times we could think of. It took a few weeks to finish, but we had a great time.
Two short months later she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and quickly slipped away. I'm so thankful that we were able to make that scrapbook together. Because now, whenever I miss her, I can just look through that scrapbook and smile at all the precious memories.
Nicole Fisher is a contributing writer for SuperScrapbookingIdeas.com, a fantastic resource for page layout inspiration, useful links, helpful tips, and tons of scrapbooking ideas.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Fisher
Scrapbooks Protect Your Photos
Not only does a well-made scrapbook protect and preserve your photos, it also makes the photos themselves more fun to look at. Most people would much rather thumb through a scrapbook with its extra, fun touches than a plain photo album.
Scrapbooks Make Great Gifts
Because they are so personal, scrapbooks make a great gift for a loved one on a special day. Some especially good occasions to give a scrapbook as a gift are: weddings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, graduations, and retirement parties.
Scrapbooks show that you put a lot of time and thought into your gift and can be a wonderful keepsake for the receiver.
Scrapbooking Is a Great Creative Outlet
Did you know that you have an artistic, creative side? Everyone does, it's just that not everyone uses it. Scrapbooking, with its colors, themes, cutting and pasting, writing, and arranging, is a great way to express your creativity. The best part is that all of that is enjoyable and so much fun!
Maybe you are one of those people that don't believe you can do any of that very well. Guess what? You're wrong! Even the most un-artistic person can copy a page layout that they found somewhere and really liked. Besides, it's hard not to be inspired when you have some great photos and some fun scrapbooking materials in front of you.
After a while you'll be adding your own personal touches to your pages, and soon you'll be creating your own completely unique layouts that you can be proud of.
Other Scrapbookers!
Nothing will help you make new friends faster than sharing a hobby with someone! Scrapbooking is an especially great hobby for sharing with friends. Many communities have scrapbooking clubs where scrapbookers can get to together to scrapbook, share ideas, show each other photographs, and talk for hours. Some craft stores also have a scrapbooking night for this same purpose (usually with the hope that people will buy a few things).
These scrapbooking nights or "crops", as they are called by scrapbookers, are a great way to get out of the house and spend some time socializing with other people. If you really need some time for yourself, get your club to put on a weekend scrapbooking retreat. It will be two days of nothing but scrapbooking fun!
Your town doesn't have a scrapbooking club? That's easy. Find some friends who scrapbook and start one! If you don't have some other scrapbookers in your life, you're missing out.
Scrapbooking Captures Precious Moments and Memories
In my opinion, this is the most wonderful thing about scrapbooking. The best way to explain it is with a quick story.
When I first started scrapbooking, my grandma was the person in my family most interested in my layouts. Every time she came over we would look through them together and she would point out the things she liked the most.
She was so interested that I finally decided to make a scrapbook with her. We put in photos of us together along with mementos of all the special times we could think of. It took a few weeks to finish, but we had a great time.
Two short months later she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and quickly slipped away. I'm so thankful that we were able to make that scrapbook together. Because now, whenever I miss her, I can just look through that scrapbook and smile at all the precious memories.
Nicole Fisher is a contributing writer for SuperScrapbookingIdeas.com, a fantastic resource for page layout inspiration, useful links, helpful tips, and tons of scrapbooking ideas.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Fisher
Snow Fun Scrapbook Layout
By Rachel Paxton
Playing in the snow is a great time to take candid pictures of your family. Where we live we might only get one or two days of snow each year, if we're lucky, so this year we decided to drive to the snow! We found a state park only a couple of hours away where they had great sledding hills, and took the whole family along for an afternoon of sledding and snow fun.
We took lots of great pictures that day. It's not often you get pictures of grandma and grandpa sledding and playing in the snow. The hard part is choosing which pictures to put in my scrapbook!
Materials Needed:
- Dark blue piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper
- White piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper
- Paper Cutter
- Glue
- Two photos
I was trying to come up with a "snow" theme for my scrapbook layout. I chose a 12x12 dark blue piece of paper for the background of my page. I decided to accent the blue with lots of white to represent the snow.
For the first white accent I decided to create snowflakes to be the mats for my photos. There was only enough room for two photos on the page, so I cut out two snowflake mats.
To make the snowflake mats, I cut out a piece of white cardstock to be the size my mat would normally be. Then I folded the piece of paper in half as many times as I could and cut the corners off and cut little triangles into each side of the shape to create my snowflake. You can have fun with this part, just think back to making snowflakes as a child! I also cut out a couple of small snowflakes for extra decoration.
To add some snow to the background of my page, I took a 12x12 piece of white card stock and tore a strip of it to glue at the bottom of the dark blue background page. This gives the page the appearance of a snowy background (see photo).
Next I cut out a freehand snowman to glue on the side of the page. It really doesn't have to look perfect, it's supposed to look homemade!
I then printed out the words "Winter Wonderland" on my computer to create the heading for the page. I didn't mat this piece of paper. I just cut it out and glued it at the top of the background page.
Last but not least, I glued two photos to my "snowflake" mats and arranged them in the center of the page with the extra snowflake for an added accent. Easy, and very cute!
Photos of finished snow fun scrapbook layout: http://www.crafty-moms.com/scrapbooking/snow-fun.shtml
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit http://www.crafty-moms.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Paxton
Playing in the snow is a great time to take candid pictures of your family. Where we live we might only get one or two days of snow each year, if we're lucky, so this year we decided to drive to the snow! We found a state park only a couple of hours away where they had great sledding hills, and took the whole family along for an afternoon of sledding and snow fun.
We took lots of great pictures that day. It's not often you get pictures of grandma and grandpa sledding and playing in the snow. The hard part is choosing which pictures to put in my scrapbook!
Materials Needed:
- Dark blue piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper
- White piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper
- Paper Cutter
- Glue
- Two photos
I was trying to come up with a "snow" theme for my scrapbook layout. I chose a 12x12 dark blue piece of paper for the background of my page. I decided to accent the blue with lots of white to represent the snow.
For the first white accent I decided to create snowflakes to be the mats for my photos. There was only enough room for two photos on the page, so I cut out two snowflake mats.
To make the snowflake mats, I cut out a piece of white cardstock to be the size my mat would normally be. Then I folded the piece of paper in half as many times as I could and cut the corners off and cut little triangles into each side of the shape to create my snowflake. You can have fun with this part, just think back to making snowflakes as a child! I also cut out a couple of small snowflakes for extra decoration.
To add some snow to the background of my page, I took a 12x12 piece of white card stock and tore a strip of it to glue at the bottom of the dark blue background page. This gives the page the appearance of a snowy background (see photo).
Next I cut out a freehand snowman to glue on the side of the page. It really doesn't have to look perfect, it's supposed to look homemade!
I then printed out the words "Winter Wonderland" on my computer to create the heading for the page. I didn't mat this piece of paper. I just cut it out and glued it at the top of the background page.
Last but not least, I glued two photos to my "snowflake" mats and arranged them in the center of the page with the extra snowflake for an added accent. Easy, and very cute!
Photos of finished snow fun scrapbook layout: http://www.crafty-moms.com/scrapbooking/snow-fun.shtml
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit http://www.crafty-moms.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Paxton
Your Quick Guide To Learn The Art Of Paper Craft
By Joann Grant
Wise people say, there are two types of toys in the world. The toys that set the child to think and the toys that set the parents to think!
Making a paper toy is just like solving a maths problem. Not a difficult problem, not an easy problem, but mathematics does not condone a mistake. To arrive at the correct final answer, your steps need to be correct. Each and every step! Let's have a quick look at how to solve this question paper and learn to make paper toys articulately.
First things first, a paper toy is a toy that is made after folding the paper. It is all about folding the paper in style indeed! This art is known as Origami. You need to know the basic folds, the folds that give strength to the ultimate toy that you are going to form out of it.
Just study all the details of the toy that you are going to form, if you are making this new design for the first time. Your requirements of raw material is simple: Paper, foil backing, cutting material such as knife, scissors or blades, glues, paints and other craft goods.
Your end product needs to be good, appealing and also the product should last. By using a low quality paper, you might end up in fiasco. You would tear the paper at the most unsuspected moment, when you are about to give finishing touch to the toy. If you use the heavy paper, the folds will be tough, you will not be happy to work with this paper and the toy might end up with the appearance of a heavy-weight boxer.
The papers suggested are colored bond paper or the commercial origami paper. Once given proper shape and color, these nature-friendly toys are easy to carry-- they are lightweight and as for appeal and appearance, they score over with toys of any other genre.
To get more information on craft work, craft ideas and craft business visit http://www.thecraftwork.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joann_Grant
Wise people say, there are two types of toys in the world. The toys that set the child to think and the toys that set the parents to think!
Making a paper toy is just like solving a maths problem. Not a difficult problem, not an easy problem, but mathematics does not condone a mistake. To arrive at the correct final answer, your steps need to be correct. Each and every step! Let's have a quick look at how to solve this question paper and learn to make paper toys articulately.
First things first, a paper toy is a toy that is made after folding the paper. It is all about folding the paper in style indeed! This art is known as Origami. You need to know the basic folds, the folds that give strength to the ultimate toy that you are going to form out of it.
Just study all the details of the toy that you are going to form, if you are making this new design for the first time. Your requirements of raw material is simple: Paper, foil backing, cutting material such as knife, scissors or blades, glues, paints and other craft goods.
Your end product needs to be good, appealing and also the product should last. By using a low quality paper, you might end up in fiasco. You would tear the paper at the most unsuspected moment, when you are about to give finishing touch to the toy. If you use the heavy paper, the folds will be tough, you will not be happy to work with this paper and the toy might end up with the appearance of a heavy-weight boxer.
The papers suggested are colored bond paper or the commercial origami paper. Once given proper shape and color, these nature-friendly toys are easy to carry-- they are lightweight and as for appeal and appearance, they score over with toys of any other genre.
To get more information on craft work, craft ideas and craft business visit http://www.thecraftwork.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joann_Grant
Soy Candle Making - Six Essential Fragrances That Sell
By Katherine Durkes
When making your own candles, there are so many fragrances to choose from! How can you make a decision when you want to try everything? If you're having a hard time deciding, here are six fragrances that are sure to please a wide range of people. These are especially helpful for a starting line of candles to sell. Based on personal experience, the six fragrances described below conjure many beloved associations that attract people like an ice cream truck at the beach.
The "Big Three": Laundry, Vanilla, and Lavender
These fragrances are the "big three" because people are bound to love - not just like - at least one of them. Many candle makers will tell you that you cannot go wrong with them. If you only have three fragrances in your line, do these.
#1 - Laundry
Are you surprised? If you think about it, who doesn't love the scent of fresh, warm laundry straight from the dryer? For many people, it is a scent associated with home, a mother's practical care, and sometimes first loves.
Laundry candles instantly bring a sense of clean coziness to a room. It takes a long time to burn out on the fragrance, too, because it's designed to be smelled every day. The smell of laundry is almost universally liked and makes for a very popular candle that is hard to keep in stock.
#2 - Vanilla
Men as well as women adore vanilla. It also has a comforting, homey scent; it is so popular that almost every fragrance company has their own "take" on vanilla. It's even been proven to help sell houses! But don't think that vanilla automatically means a dessert scent because it is a very adaptable scent. It can be fresh and floral as well as sweet, sultry, or spicy. You will definitely end up carrying a vanilla candle regardless of your intentions because people will demand it!
#3 - Lavender
Does lavender even need an explanation? It is one of the oldest fragrances, and one of the best. Lavender is the ultimate relaxation scent, often people's main association with aromatherapy. While it's true that everyone does it, from the tiniest home candlemaker to White Barn Candle Company, the lack of uniqueness doesn't matter.
The demand for lavender candles never runs out. People can't get enough of the perfectly-balanced scent, the harmonious intersection of sweet, herbal, and floral. If you don't carry at least a basic lavender candle, people will get their fix somewhere else.
The next three recommendations are less common in home fragrance and will round out your line. They're also perceived as more upscale and fresh when people try them, especially if you put your own unique spin on them. Though they might seem strange at first, try to stay open minded. You may be surprised!
#4 - Earth / Dirt
You might think this is a weird choice - dirt-scented candles? Well, soil, to be exact. Rich, freshly-turned soil, the scent of growing things. Try it, and a surprising number of people will exclaim, "Wow, this is amazing!" when they smell your earth candle for the first time.
The scent of fresh earth is subtle, and the good ones don't seem like a fragrance. When burned, a soil candle will add a richness and freshness to the air that you may not consciously notice. Many people respond to the scent of clean dirt because it makes them think of happy childhoods, playing outside, digging in the dirt, their first garden.
#5 - Pear
This is one of the most under-exploited fragrances at this time, but people love it. A lot of *men* love it, so if you want to appeal to men without resorting to typical men's scents, try it. Pear is more mature than other fruits like strawberries or apple, which people think of as more cute or "kiddie" scents. Pears are associated with autumn, not summer, which adds a feeling of sophistication and memories of cool rains and falling leaves.
The best part is that pear is an excellent blending fragrance. Even if you're a beginner, you can make a unique pear-based fragrance by adding florals, woods, or spices. It's hard to make a pear fragrance smell bad, just as long as you start with a high quality scent.
#6 - China Rain
China Rain is incredibly popular in oil perfumes but overlooked in home fragrances. A good China Rain fragrance is not heavy or overbearing, but a balance of exotic, floral, fresh, and feminine all at the same time. Women love China Rain for its beautiful and mysterious scent, and it will appeal to those who have an exotic streak in their personality.
China Rain is a traditional perfume formula, and you may have to try a few before you find one that you really like for candles. Every fragrance of this kind has a slightly different character.
With these six fragrances, you can form a candle line that appeals to both men and women in a wide range of ages. You can put your own twist on them, but most people love them just as they are. They combine well into mini-sets that can be burned together, such as laundry and lavender, or vanilla and pear. Keep all six on hand, and you will always have a good "emergency gift." Just make sure you use good quality fragrances!
Scent Summary:
#1 - LaundryGood for: men, women, especially college or high school age.
#2 - VanillaGood for: women, men, housewarming gifts, any holiday.
#3 - LavenderGood for: women, men, office or acquaintances, especially people over 40.
#4 - EarthGood for: men, women, outdoor enthusiasts, gardeners, children (because it "smells like dirt!")
#5 - PearGood for: men, women, over 25 depending on slant of fragrance, especially in summer and fall.
#6 - China RainGood for: women, romantic gifts, also expands well to lotion and other toiletries as a wearable scent.
Katherine Durkes has written 4 ebooks on scented product making and is now producing a home study course on making and selling soy wax container candles. Find out more about this creative hobby at: http://www.excellentlivingguide.com/make_soy_candles.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katherine_Durkes
When making your own candles, there are so many fragrances to choose from! How can you make a decision when you want to try everything? If you're having a hard time deciding, here are six fragrances that are sure to please a wide range of people. These are especially helpful for a starting line of candles to sell. Based on personal experience, the six fragrances described below conjure many beloved associations that attract people like an ice cream truck at the beach.
The "Big Three": Laundry, Vanilla, and Lavender
These fragrances are the "big three" because people are bound to love - not just like - at least one of them. Many candle makers will tell you that you cannot go wrong with them. If you only have three fragrances in your line, do these.
#1 - Laundry
Are you surprised? If you think about it, who doesn't love the scent of fresh, warm laundry straight from the dryer? For many people, it is a scent associated with home, a mother's practical care, and sometimes first loves.
Laundry candles instantly bring a sense of clean coziness to a room. It takes a long time to burn out on the fragrance, too, because it's designed to be smelled every day. The smell of laundry is almost universally liked and makes for a very popular candle that is hard to keep in stock.
#2 - Vanilla
Men as well as women adore vanilla. It also has a comforting, homey scent; it is so popular that almost every fragrance company has their own "take" on vanilla. It's even been proven to help sell houses! But don't think that vanilla automatically means a dessert scent because it is a very adaptable scent. It can be fresh and floral as well as sweet, sultry, or spicy. You will definitely end up carrying a vanilla candle regardless of your intentions because people will demand it!
#3 - Lavender
Does lavender even need an explanation? It is one of the oldest fragrances, and one of the best. Lavender is the ultimate relaxation scent, often people's main association with aromatherapy. While it's true that everyone does it, from the tiniest home candlemaker to White Barn Candle Company, the lack of uniqueness doesn't matter.
The demand for lavender candles never runs out. People can't get enough of the perfectly-balanced scent, the harmonious intersection of sweet, herbal, and floral. If you don't carry at least a basic lavender candle, people will get their fix somewhere else.
The next three recommendations are less common in home fragrance and will round out your line. They're also perceived as more upscale and fresh when people try them, especially if you put your own unique spin on them. Though they might seem strange at first, try to stay open minded. You may be surprised!
#4 - Earth / Dirt
You might think this is a weird choice - dirt-scented candles? Well, soil, to be exact. Rich, freshly-turned soil, the scent of growing things. Try it, and a surprising number of people will exclaim, "Wow, this is amazing!" when they smell your earth candle for the first time.
The scent of fresh earth is subtle, and the good ones don't seem like a fragrance. When burned, a soil candle will add a richness and freshness to the air that you may not consciously notice. Many people respond to the scent of clean dirt because it makes them think of happy childhoods, playing outside, digging in the dirt, their first garden.
#5 - Pear
This is one of the most under-exploited fragrances at this time, but people love it. A lot of *men* love it, so if you want to appeal to men without resorting to typical men's scents, try it. Pear is more mature than other fruits like strawberries or apple, which people think of as more cute or "kiddie" scents. Pears are associated with autumn, not summer, which adds a feeling of sophistication and memories of cool rains and falling leaves.
The best part is that pear is an excellent blending fragrance. Even if you're a beginner, you can make a unique pear-based fragrance by adding florals, woods, or spices. It's hard to make a pear fragrance smell bad, just as long as you start with a high quality scent.
#6 - China Rain
China Rain is incredibly popular in oil perfumes but overlooked in home fragrances. A good China Rain fragrance is not heavy or overbearing, but a balance of exotic, floral, fresh, and feminine all at the same time. Women love China Rain for its beautiful and mysterious scent, and it will appeal to those who have an exotic streak in their personality.
China Rain is a traditional perfume formula, and you may have to try a few before you find one that you really like for candles. Every fragrance of this kind has a slightly different character.
With these six fragrances, you can form a candle line that appeals to both men and women in a wide range of ages. You can put your own twist on them, but most people love them just as they are. They combine well into mini-sets that can be burned together, such as laundry and lavender, or vanilla and pear. Keep all six on hand, and you will always have a good "emergency gift." Just make sure you use good quality fragrances!
Scent Summary:
#1 - LaundryGood for: men, women, especially college or high school age.
#2 - VanillaGood for: women, men, housewarming gifts, any holiday.
#3 - LavenderGood for: women, men, office or acquaintances, especially people over 40.
#4 - EarthGood for: men, women, outdoor enthusiasts, gardeners, children (because it "smells like dirt!")
#5 - PearGood for: men, women, over 25 depending on slant of fragrance, especially in summer and fall.
#6 - China RainGood for: women, romantic gifts, also expands well to lotion and other toiletries as a wearable scent.
Katherine Durkes has written 4 ebooks on scented product making and is now producing a home study course on making and selling soy wax container candles. Find out more about this creative hobby at: http://www.excellentlivingguide.com/make_soy_candles.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katherine_Durkes
How To Start Digital Scrapbooking In 5 Easy Steps
By Delores Robinson
Digital scrapbooking is gaining in popularity rather quickly. However, to someone who is just getting started, it can seem like a daunting project to start. It doesn't have to be this way. You can start digital scrapbooking in 5 easy steps.
Step 1. Gather your gear. You'll need photo's on your computer. They can be photo's you've taken with your digital camera, photo's others have emailed you or old photo's you've scanned and imported to your computer. It doesn't matter how you got them on your computer, what's important is they are there!
Step 2. Decide which software you'll be using. There are two types of software for digital scrapbooking. Layout programs and photo editing programs. There are a host of layout programs for digital scrapbooking. Layout programs allow you to assemble and make digital scrapbook pages easily. They help you organize digital photo's, page themes and journaling. Sadly, many of these programs leave something to be desired for serioius digital scrapbooking. If you really want to try a layout program, give Pixel Magic a try.
The other type of program for digital scrapbooking is the Photo Editing software like Photoshop, Corel's Paint Shop Pro, Adobe Photoshop Elements or Microsofts Digital Image Pro. Paint Shop Pro and Adobe's Photoshop Elements are two of the most popular and easy to use Photo Editing software for digital scrapbooking. You can find online tutorials for each program if you don't already know how to use them.
Step 3. Create Your First Digital Scrapbook Page. Here is where the fun starts. You'll want to find some tutorials about laying pages out (layering), resolution count and creating your first basic page. You'll be choosing templates, photo's, embellishments, decorations and other elements for your first page. Don't get carried away, keep it simple until you get a few pages under your belt. You can then try new things and techniques.
Step 4. Store you newly created scrapbook page. There are a number of ways you can choose to store your digital scrapbook pages. You can save them as a high resolution JPG image, in the native format of the program you're using or as a low resolution JPG. Also, make sure you create proper folders on your computer for you digital scrapbook pages. Nothing is more frustrating than hunting for pages you know you created but can't find!
Step 5. Show off your pages. There are many services where you can choose to share your newly created digital scrapbook pages with friends, family and the whole Internet! You can also email them to other people, but be warned, the size of the scrapbook pages can get huge and you could fill up someones email box by sending them a huge file.
It really is this simple to get started with digital scrapbooking. There are many, many places on the web where you can get ideas for you own page. There are galleries of other scrapbookers finished pages, forums and blogs. There are no limits to the resources for a beginning scrapbooker!
Delores Robinson is an experiences scrapbooker. She spends her time helping newcomers to scrapbooking, designing scrapbooks or working on her site DIY Scrapbook Supplies You can find advice, tips and helpful advice as well as the latest scrapbooking supplies on her site. She also has the latest and coolest digital scrapbooking supplies to make your next scrapbook project really jump out!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Delores_Robinson
Digital scrapbooking is gaining in popularity rather quickly. However, to someone who is just getting started, it can seem like a daunting project to start. It doesn't have to be this way. You can start digital scrapbooking in 5 easy steps.
Step 1. Gather your gear. You'll need photo's on your computer. They can be photo's you've taken with your digital camera, photo's others have emailed you or old photo's you've scanned and imported to your computer. It doesn't matter how you got them on your computer, what's important is they are there!
Step 2. Decide which software you'll be using. There are two types of software for digital scrapbooking. Layout programs and photo editing programs. There are a host of layout programs for digital scrapbooking. Layout programs allow you to assemble and make digital scrapbook pages easily. They help you organize digital photo's, page themes and journaling. Sadly, many of these programs leave something to be desired for serioius digital scrapbooking. If you really want to try a layout program, give Pixel Magic a try.
The other type of program for digital scrapbooking is the Photo Editing software like Photoshop, Corel's Paint Shop Pro, Adobe Photoshop Elements or Microsofts Digital Image Pro. Paint Shop Pro and Adobe's Photoshop Elements are two of the most popular and easy to use Photo Editing software for digital scrapbooking. You can find online tutorials for each program if you don't already know how to use them.
Step 3. Create Your First Digital Scrapbook Page. Here is where the fun starts. You'll want to find some tutorials about laying pages out (layering), resolution count and creating your first basic page. You'll be choosing templates, photo's, embellishments, decorations and other elements for your first page. Don't get carried away, keep it simple until you get a few pages under your belt. You can then try new things and techniques.
Step 4. Store you newly created scrapbook page. There are a number of ways you can choose to store your digital scrapbook pages. You can save them as a high resolution JPG image, in the native format of the program you're using or as a low resolution JPG. Also, make sure you create proper folders on your computer for you digital scrapbook pages. Nothing is more frustrating than hunting for pages you know you created but can't find!
Step 5. Show off your pages. There are many services where you can choose to share your newly created digital scrapbook pages with friends, family and the whole Internet! You can also email them to other people, but be warned, the size of the scrapbook pages can get huge and you could fill up someones email box by sending them a huge file.
It really is this simple to get started with digital scrapbooking. There are many, many places on the web where you can get ideas for you own page. There are galleries of other scrapbookers finished pages, forums and blogs. There are no limits to the resources for a beginning scrapbooker!
Delores Robinson is an experiences scrapbooker. She spends her time helping newcomers to scrapbooking, designing scrapbooks or working on her site DIY Scrapbook Supplies You can find advice, tips and helpful advice as well as the latest scrapbooking supplies on her site. She also has the latest and coolest digital scrapbooking supplies to make your next scrapbook project really jump out!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Delores_Robinson
Bring Your Scrapbooking to a Higher Level
By Tiffany Washko
Are you getting bored with the beginner tactics you learned as a scrapbooker just starting out? Are all of your scrapbooks starting to look the same? If so, it may be time that you began implementing advanced techniques to take your scrapbooks to a higher level.
If you're beginning to lose inspiration for your scrapbooks, take a look at the following advanced techniques and see if it opens the door to more scrapbooking fulfillment for you:
Matchbook scrapbooks - You can show off small photos in a scrapbooking format that look like a tiny matchbook! For instance, many parents take a picture of their child's first day of school each year.
You can use a cover that resembles a tiny matchbook that opens up and displays the child's school picture for that year. Plus, you might want to include some special memories about that school year.
Use up those leftover scraps - You can create a mosaic border for your scrapbooking pages. If you have some leftover scraps that you don't know what to do with, just cut them up into little pieces and create a mosaic piece to add to the scrapbooking page.
Place them on a background page that's a contrasting color to the colors you plan to use for your mosaic so that you can give the illusion of grout that would be seen in a ceramic mosaic pattern.
Add some silhouettes - Silhouette cropping your photos gives your scrapbook page a new dimension that will make the page pop. By cutting close to the subject lines, you can make the picture seem real to those browsing through the pages.
Add decorative cuts - Want to make your cuts more interesting and less plain Jane? Use decorative scrapbooking scissors. You can cut different shapes into your project with triangles, corkscrew and art deco patterns.
Design your own background - If you can't find the background paper you want, then try designing your own unique pattern! Take a piece of background paper and sponge paint it with the color and shapes that you want.
You can even finger-paint it if you want - get creative.
Scrapbooking can be fun for the beginners as well as the more advanced memory-keeper. Create your own projects and come up with new ideas for your scrapbooking hobby to share with others. Bring your scrapbooking creative juices to the surface and let them flow.
Tiffany Washko is the editor of Nature Moms, http://www.naturemoms.com . After working several years in corporate healthcare marketing and public relations, she took time away to be a mother. This new pursuit lead her to a new passion, natural family living and writing about environmental and political issues. She currently works as a freelance writer and newspaper journalist.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tiffany_Washko
Are you getting bored with the beginner tactics you learned as a scrapbooker just starting out? Are all of your scrapbooks starting to look the same? If so, it may be time that you began implementing advanced techniques to take your scrapbooks to a higher level.
If you're beginning to lose inspiration for your scrapbooks, take a look at the following advanced techniques and see if it opens the door to more scrapbooking fulfillment for you:
Matchbook scrapbooks - You can show off small photos in a scrapbooking format that look like a tiny matchbook! For instance, many parents take a picture of their child's first day of school each year.
You can use a cover that resembles a tiny matchbook that opens up and displays the child's school picture for that year. Plus, you might want to include some special memories about that school year.
Use up those leftover scraps - You can create a mosaic border for your scrapbooking pages. If you have some leftover scraps that you don't know what to do with, just cut them up into little pieces and create a mosaic piece to add to the scrapbooking page.
Place them on a background page that's a contrasting color to the colors you plan to use for your mosaic so that you can give the illusion of grout that would be seen in a ceramic mosaic pattern.
Add some silhouettes - Silhouette cropping your photos gives your scrapbook page a new dimension that will make the page pop. By cutting close to the subject lines, you can make the picture seem real to those browsing through the pages.
Add decorative cuts - Want to make your cuts more interesting and less plain Jane? Use decorative scrapbooking scissors. You can cut different shapes into your project with triangles, corkscrew and art deco patterns.
Design your own background - If you can't find the background paper you want, then try designing your own unique pattern! Take a piece of background paper and sponge paint it with the color and shapes that you want.
You can even finger-paint it if you want - get creative.
Scrapbooking can be fun for the beginners as well as the more advanced memory-keeper. Create your own projects and come up with new ideas for your scrapbooking hobby to share with others. Bring your scrapbooking creative juices to the surface and let them flow.
Tiffany Washko is the editor of Nature Moms, http://www.naturemoms.com . After working several years in corporate healthcare marketing and public relations, she took time away to be a mother. This new pursuit lead her to a new passion, natural family living and writing about environmental and political issues. She currently works as a freelance writer and newspaper journalist.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tiffany_Washko
Tips and Tricks for the Scrapbooking Beginner
By Tiffany Washko
Scrapbooking can be a fun hobby to start for anyone who loves taking pictures and showing them to others. It's so easy to do that even a beginner can catch on quickly. If scrapbooking intimidates you because you've seen some elaborate creations, just follow some of these beginner tips to hone your skills into a bona fide scrapbooking pro:
Matting - By simply matting your photos, you can instantly change the look of your picture and make it stand out on the page. Double matting is even more effective to making a picture stand out. Use white or light colored mattes first and a contrasting color to matte the picture in last. For the contrasting-colored matte, use a color that's in the photo to really make it pop.
Pre-made designed pages - If you're not comfortable designing your own pages for your pictures, then buy some pre-made scrapbooking pages from any hobby store. You can simply attach your photos on these pages however you want and add any extra things - like stickers or content.
Rubber stamping - Consider using rubber stamps to add a little spice to your themed scrapbooking pages. Take a day at the zoo and bring more life to the scrapbook page by rubber stamping zoo animals periodically throughout the page.
Don't forget the words - No scrapbooking page can be complete without some text scattered here and there on the themed page. You can use your own handwriting to write what you want or print something off of the computer and cut it out to place on your scrapbook page. Words can help keep the memory of that special day alive.
Something old, something new, something special - To make a scrapbooking page more personal and special to you, add some sort of physical item from that day. For example, a wedding scrapbook page could use something like one of the flowers from the bouquet or a wedding napkin to immortalize that day in your life.
Get others involved - Recruit your children or friends and have them design their own pages for their photos. It can be the perfect way to pass the time on a rainy day when you can't get outside.
If the kids aren't old enough, you can do the cutting and pasting, but let them add stickers and choose the colors they want. They can even add some of their own artwork to the pages if they want!
Use stencils - If you want to add some little graphics to your scrapbook, but can't draw, consider using stencils. There are many stencils out there that have all kinds of shapes you can trace onto your scrapbook page.
Scrapbooking is the easiest hobby you can start! Once you're comfortable as a beginner, you'll find it easy to implement new ideas you stumble upon for your scrapbooking pages.
Tiffany Washko is the editor of Nature Moms, http://www.naturemoms.com . After working several years in corporate healthcare marketing and public relations, she took time away to be a mother. This new pursuit lead her to a new passion, natural family living and writing about environmental and political issues. She currently works as a freelance writer and newspaper journalist.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tiffany_Washko
Scrapbooking can be a fun hobby to start for anyone who loves taking pictures and showing them to others. It's so easy to do that even a beginner can catch on quickly. If scrapbooking intimidates you because you've seen some elaborate creations, just follow some of these beginner tips to hone your skills into a bona fide scrapbooking pro:
Matting - By simply matting your photos, you can instantly change the look of your picture and make it stand out on the page. Double matting is even more effective to making a picture stand out. Use white or light colored mattes first and a contrasting color to matte the picture in last. For the contrasting-colored matte, use a color that's in the photo to really make it pop.
Pre-made designed pages - If you're not comfortable designing your own pages for your pictures, then buy some pre-made scrapbooking pages from any hobby store. You can simply attach your photos on these pages however you want and add any extra things - like stickers or content.
Rubber stamping - Consider using rubber stamps to add a little spice to your themed scrapbooking pages. Take a day at the zoo and bring more life to the scrapbook page by rubber stamping zoo animals periodically throughout the page.
Don't forget the words - No scrapbooking page can be complete without some text scattered here and there on the themed page. You can use your own handwriting to write what you want or print something off of the computer and cut it out to place on your scrapbook page. Words can help keep the memory of that special day alive.
Something old, something new, something special - To make a scrapbooking page more personal and special to you, add some sort of physical item from that day. For example, a wedding scrapbook page could use something like one of the flowers from the bouquet or a wedding napkin to immortalize that day in your life.
Get others involved - Recruit your children or friends and have them design their own pages for their photos. It can be the perfect way to pass the time on a rainy day when you can't get outside.
If the kids aren't old enough, you can do the cutting and pasting, but let them add stickers and choose the colors they want. They can even add some of their own artwork to the pages if they want!
Use stencils - If you want to add some little graphics to your scrapbook, but can't draw, consider using stencils. There are many stencils out there that have all kinds of shapes you can trace onto your scrapbook page.
Scrapbooking is the easiest hobby you can start! Once you're comfortable as a beginner, you'll find it easy to implement new ideas you stumble upon for your scrapbooking pages.
Tiffany Washko is the editor of Nature Moms, http://www.naturemoms.com . After working several years in corporate healthcare marketing and public relations, she took time away to be a mother. This new pursuit lead her to a new passion, natural family living and writing about environmental and political issues. She currently works as a freelance writer and newspaper journalist.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tiffany_Washko
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