Life is a story...scrapbook it!

Making scrapbooks is a hobby that involves personality and creativity. The whole process from start to finish is time consuming but the end results are worth the time spent. Scrapbooks are a good way to preserve memories. These memories can then be passed on from one generation to another. I am going to explain the whole process and then give some ideas.

There are a few main supplies that you need.
1.A Scrapbook.-this blank album can be almost any size, 8x8 and 12x12 are the most common but there are other sizes. This is can also be called a memory book or a keepsake album.
2. Ruler-a ruler will help make straight lines and help with the writing of the words
3.Markers-most stores and scrapbookers recommend acid free so they won't disintegrate over time. I recommend the Zig brand of markers.
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4. Paper Trimmer-this will allow cut paper to have straight edges when cut and it will also cut pictures straight
5. Scissors-these plain scissors can be used for basic cuts and trimming different items
6. Decorative Paper-there are many different types of papers with different colors and patterns
7. Diecuts-Paper is cut into many different shapes, letters, and characters. These are used to decorate the pages.
8. Paper Edger Scissors-these scissors have a decorative pattern on the blade. There are many different designs.
9. And Most Importantly, **Memorbilia-pictures, ticket stubs, flyers, programs, etc. These items are the ones that bring the book together.

Now that the basic supplies are there, it is time to assemble. Each person will have his or her own way of assembling an album. Picking out an album is an important start. The albums that have plastic pages work really well if more than pictures are used. This way if something would fall off then the object wouldn't be lost. The books without the plastic pages work well if there are a lot of pictures because these books often have more pages. The next step is to decide what event or time period the book will represent. This can be any event whether for a wedding or a vacation. After this is chosen, decide which pictures are going to be used. Digital cameras have made the picture process much easier. Print off the pictures that are going to be used. Then gather the supplies mentioned above. The first page needs to have the title of the album and it is also good to put the date on this page. Putting a picture on the cover page would be a good idea. Now it is time to began the actual pages. Choose a background color possibly one that goes with the theme. For a Chicago book I am currently doing, I choose pinks, reds, and blacks. These seemed like city colors. The next step is to layout the pictures. Move them around on the page until there is a layout that works. Do NOT glue them until a final layout decision has been made. The next part is the fun one. Pick out the cut-outs and other embellishments that are wanted. These can be words, shapes, characters, or pictures. Decide where to place them around the pictures. Position them so they don't clutter the page and cover the pictures. Now is the time to decide what to write on the page. It is a good idea to write who is in the pictures. A general description of the event would also be a good idea. Sometimes placing a type of tag underneath the picture makes this process easier. After everything is together, it is time to move on to other pages. Try to change up the ways the pages are designed. These are the basic steps to take when creating a personalized scrapbook.