The pictures are in the drawer waiting for something to be more than just a pile of memories. Preservation is important and scrapbooking appears to be a fun hobby to take up. The problem with beginning scrapbooking is that it is difficult to know where or how to begin. These are several suggestions to consider when one wants to take up the scrapbooking hobby.
Attend a Scrapbooking Class
The first advice to all new scrappers is to test out the process by taking a scrapbooking class. Most scrapbooking stores offer special scrapbooking promotions and classes. During these promotions the scrapbooking store will often promote a particular scrapbooking design for a page. For a small fee such as $10, a scrapper can come in and put a page together under the tutelage of a professional. The professional has specific design elements that will appear on the page. All the new scrapper needs to do is bring photographs. This way there is no huge investment of money to test out the hobby. A person will know after this experience whether it is a hobby to pursue or not. This is also a way to learn how to scrap and to have instructions.
Don't Invest Too Much to Start
A common mistake for new scrappers is to invest huge amounts of money in random items only to discover many of the items go unused. Beware of spending hundreds of dollars at first on supplies. Only purchase the needed items for one book to begin with. There are also many kits on the market that come with the scrapbook, papers, and embellishments. Kits are a great way to begin without a huge investment of money.
Invest in a High Quality Scissors
The one item that a scrapper will reach for over and over again is a sharp scissors. This is one product that is worth investing some money in. This scissors should then only be used for scrapbooking. It is important that the scissors stays sharp for years of use.
Invest in a Variety of Adhesives
Every scrapper has preferred adhesives and some brands do not work as well as others. Don't purchase a 12 stick pack of glue sticks as a beginner. Purchase a couple types and work with them. If they work well, it is worth purchasing the product again. It is wise to have adhesives that add dimension such as glue dots, double stick tape, and then a roll on type of adhesive to begin. Make sure that the adhesive is archival quality to avoid discoloration years down the road.
Try an 8 x 8 Book
Another good way to begin is by trying to do a smaller book first. Books and papers come in 8 X 8 sizes. The benefit of beginning with this size of page is that it doesn't require as much planning or products to fill a page. It is also easy to choose a theme and develop the book around it. This could be entirely about the pet dog or one soccer season. A smaller book can be a fun and easy way to try scrapbooking without the intimidation of the 12 X 12 book.
Choose a First Theme
One mistake that new scrappers make is jumping around with page ideas. It is easy to do one page about Halloween and then a baby's baptism. It is easier to just buy products around one theme. For example perhaps decide to do a Christmas scrapbook or a soccer themed book. If the scrapbook has 10 pages, the scrapper can plan to do 20 scrapbook pages; therefore purchasing 20 papers, stickers, and so on about that one theme. It gives focus for the beginner and requires buying fewer supplies to begin with.
Two Pages at a Time
It is important to always view scrapbooking as a two-page design. Always put the pages that will face together out at the same time. It is fun to carry the theme of one page over to the second page. This is important also for the color theme of the papers and embellishments.
Get Together with Friends
Contact friends that have been scrapping for a long time. They are usually generous with supplies and advice. It also is a good way before purchasing a lot of products to try out different items and to decide which a person likes. This is especially good for adhesives. Odds are that friends have already tried many of them out, and by trial and error know which brands are preferred. This can be a fun girls' night out and a great way to learn more about the hobby.
Scrapbooking is a fun way to preserve memories while at the same time taking on a hobby that will become a fantastic social activity as well. Remember not to jump in with a huge investment of money and supplies. Do it gradually and before long the new scrapper becomes the expert.