You have probably come across various definitions of what a scrapbook is. And you may have even come up with your own definition. But there is a core meaning to all those scrapbooking definitions. What is? Saving memories!
Just like photos, scrapbooks are keepers of precious moments that you always wish you could bring back. Scrapbooks do this in a much more meaningful way than the simple images they contain. The moments you’ve captured in pictures are deeply ingrained in every page, note, caption, and journal of your scrapbook. Your creativity brings the precious moments of the scrapbook over and over again.
Not all of us are avid scrapbookers. Most have not even tried to start one. However, we all have an idea of how to preserve our past. Scrapbooking is like that, only you have to add a little creativity, art and design to it.
The hardest part of scrapbooking is starting from scratch. Scrapbooking may seem simple at first glance, but all the ideas you have to invest in them and the time it takes can be so enormous that many are initially frustrated.
I have given some guidelines below that you can modify and apply to your own experiences. Basically, this is just a collection of ideas that will help you start scrapbooking without your mind going crazy.
First of all, you have to have your own style.
Let your personality shine through. It will show up in your scrapbook and enhance it in the end. If you’re not sure what your preference really is when making your scrapbook layout or design, it’s best to do your own research first. Know your personal tastes and stick to them. Refrain from following the trends and fads of the scrapbooking industry. That way, you’ll be more likely to come up with original, personal ideas that will work better in your own scrapbooks.
Sometimes, we have to find outlets for our personalities to come alive. Some people do writing projects, others go into less serious practices. Scrapbooking can fill the gap between the two.
If you find it really hard to come up with an original idea, you can go ahead and take ideas from other scrapbookers’ work.
Many find great uses in other people’s designs. Sometimes they even get the best of themselves by adopting someone else’s concept into their own. This technique is called scraplifting.
Veteran scrapbookers generally choose not to follow this concept. However, for beginners it can be much easier to follow what has already worked for others. Somewhere along the way you will find your own scrapbooking methods and techniques.
Create your own mood board.
Inspiration boards are commonly used in the fashion industry as a testing ground for new ideas. They are like pin boards on which cutouts, design drafts, and fabric swatches are displayed to provide initial impressions of the new trend. In fact, anything that helps the viewer see the direction and concepts of the designers is placed on the mood board.
By making use of inspiration boards, you can easily find your own style. Placing concepts in more tangible media will build the foundation for your designs and intentions.
Do not be too critical in this process. As you flip through magazines, you don’t necessarily need to know why a photo or image appeals to you. If it produces a positive reaction, go ahead and take it out. This is a good test to determine your style.
Next, you’ll want to check the color combinations. For some of us, we’ve already laid definite groundwork for what our favorite color is and what colors we probably won’t wear. Using a single group of shades is good if you can manipulate and mix them in different combinations.
However, most people find it hard to downplay a single concept. It will not be bad if you experiment with other concepts. When your inspiration turns bad and there seems to be no color available to you, look to butterflies for help.
Well, that’s all for this article. The ideas above should get you started on his first scrapbook. Of course, there are many more details, ideas, concepts, and techniques that go into scrapbooking, but they are beyond the scope of an article. I encourage you to check out my ultimate scrapbooking guide for everything you need to know about getting started with your first scrapbook and many more to come.
One day, you’ll take a look at the scrapbooks you’ve created and they’ll take you back in time to a time when everything in the world was perfect.