If you want to startscrapbooking there's never been a better time to take the plunge! There are so many wonderful scrapbooking products available from beautiful scrapbook papers to stickers, kits and embellishments that add pizzazz to your layouts. Papers are available in sizes 6" x 6", 8" x 8", as well as the traditional 12" x 12" so it's easy to make a scrapbook any size you want …
Have you wondered how to start scrapbooking on a budget? We have 10 tips that will get you off the starting blocks fast.
I'll give a class of Seniors their first scrapbooking lesson next week, and one of the questions I have to answer is: "What is the basic 'tool-kit' that a beginning scrap booker needs to get started? It seems that so many of the supplies cost a lot; especially if you are starting from scratch. I just have trouble determining what is essential to get a good start on my scrapbooking experience."
So I'll start the answer here, and maybe post some of the results of their efforts with minimal tools after the class.
Sometimes it's difficult to know where to start with a scrapbook layout, especially if you're a newbie. You have your photos and your scrapbook supplies. whether paper or digital products, but where do you go from there?
For beginner or old-hand alike, drawing a sketch of a layout idea can get you off the starting block, on your way to a scrapbook challenge, or even unblock scrappers block!
But you don't have to draw the sketch yourself as there are lots available in magazines, books and online. We'll include some sketches here from time to time. We'd love to see what you make with them.
Enter our scrapbooking layout competition.
Email your page to me, Genie at Scrapbooking Gems.com using the usual email format. Don't forget to say what products you used and give credit where due. There will be a prize for the best.
Start Scrapbooking at My House
Use this scrapbooking sketch to tell us something about what goes on at your house. Or how about some of the things you value that make your home your home. Remember it's just an outline to get you going. You don't have to stick exactly to it. Look forward to hearing from you.
Do you start with a scrapbooking sketch or make a layout and then make the sketch for reference later? Which came first the chicken or the egg?
Normally we start off with a sketch and make the scrapbook page.
This scrapbooking sketch extra came about the wrong way round!
On this occasion several Christmas scrapbook layouts were made based on a digital layout and after showing the finished layouts here we decided to make the sketch too.
Many of Scrap Girls scrapbooking kits start life in their monthly club. As the designers are different from month to month you get a variety of styles.
Digital scrapbooking products can be printed, so you can enjoy these excellent kits whether you are a digital or paper scrapper.
Scrapbooking sketches, layout ideas and templates are fluid creatures.
We give you an idea and you take it and make it your own.
Sketches are not like dressmaking patterns where you do everything exactly as the instructions dictate to get the right fit. Or knitting patterns where the least deviation ruins the pattern in the finished item. Templates are more like a 'one size fits all'.
Making a scrap book is an entirely personal achievement. No two will ever be the same, even if you start with the same scrapbook templates.
The squiggle in the bottom left hand corner of this sketch is an impression of whatever you want there. It could be embellishments, flowers, scrolls, etc. You decide. I could have used some scrolling tools there, but that may have limited you, so with a squiggle you are free to craft it in your style.
Email your interpretations to Genie at our website (normal email format). There will be a prize for the best one.
I've been trying to capture the essence of a scrapbooking sketch or template. It is a rough copy, or a first attempt that you take and develop.
So take this or any one of our scrapbooking sketches, improve on it, and show us your results!
Ellie had seen some excellent examples of digital scrapbooking at various websites and wanted to have a go.
What she didn't want was to have to splash out just yet to buy one of the photo software programs in case she didn't like it, so thought she'd cheat and try it out in what she did have and was already familiar with … Microsoft Publisher.
And here is Ellie's first attempt at a digital scrapbook layout.
For starting scrapbooking or cardmaking you require the same basic craft tools . These are: a cutting tool, pencil, ruler and eraser, a creasing tool, adhesive, paper and card. There are many other useful items, but these basics will get you off the starting blocks. You can add other more specialized tools as and when your enthusiasm or wallet allows. As a general rule I encourage you to support specialist craft stores (large, small, physical or online), however sometimes it can be less expensive to buy some more general items at other less specialized stores.
For those of us stuck with short days and little sunlight, the clouds around our ankles and snow up to our necks, or swimming in the rain and blown along by the storms …
From where I'm sitting these are only slight exaggeration … so, I'm sorry, little sympathy for those of you who have hot sunny weather! Me jealous? Never … well a little … did it really show? Bears and birds have it right: winter's for hibernating or flying south! And just think what all that fasting or exercise would do for the waist girls! … and the hips … and … no I'll not go on, you get the point, I'm sure.
Anyway, I was about to say there's hope just around the corner. The long winter is drawing to an end and Spring will be here soon.
Sometimes it's difficult to know where to 
"What is a scrapbooking template and how do I use it?" I was asked recently.
Scrapbooking sketches, layout ideas and templates are fluid creatures.
Ellie had seen some excellent examples of 
digital scrapbooking