Scrap Booking - How to Get Started?

Do you have a box of photos in your closet you want to organize into a scrapbook? Don't have any idea how to get started? Scrapbook supplies can be found everywhere, from Wal-Mart to specialty stores.

The hobby has quickly become one of America's favorite pastimes. Free scrapbooking ideas can be found all over the Internet, in magazines, and at local hobby shops. What factors contribute to the popularity of this hobby? Is it a new hobby? How can someone get started?

Tips for Beginning Scrapbookers

Really all you need to start with scrapbooking is the desire to preserve your memories in an organized, attractive fashion. We all have boxes of old photographs, newspaper clippings, programs from special functions, ticket stubs we've saved - it's just a part of life. Here are some ideas to help you get started thinking about scrapbooking in a new way and to actually getting all this odds and ends arranged in a meaningful way.

What is scrapbooking?

Scrapbooking is the art of preserving memories and photographs into specially designed albums. Scrapbooking is not a new phenomenon. People from all walks of life have kept memory books in one form or another for centuries. But with the advent of modern photography, scrapbooking has become a new art form.

The term "scrapbook" was coined in the early 1800s. The term referred to bright pieces of paper that were left over from printing that people pasted into their memory books as decoration. The modern day scrapbook craze probably started in 1980 when a family displayed 50 albums at the World Conference of Records in Utah.

The mother of the Christensen family recorded the family's history in binders for years. Her display generated so much interest that a "how to" book resulted. By the 1990s as enthusiasts realized that the chemicals in ordinary paper and stickers damaged photographs and memorabilia, the hobby began to grow more sophisticated with the introduction of acid and lignin free scrapbooking paper.

The Popularity of Scrapbooks

So what makes scrapbooks so popular? Why do people spend money on scrapbook albums, scrapbook stickers, and scrapbook paper? As with any hobby, scrapbooking provides an outlet for creativity and an opportunity to relieve stress. But just the fact that it is a fun hobby is not enough to account for the popularity of this activity. Perhaps the ultimate reason for the popularity of scrapbooking is in its greater historical purpose.

The Purpose of Scrapbooking

The ultimate purpose of scrapbooking is to preserve family memories for future generations. Photographs are delicate items and can be easily damaged by chemicals, heat, water, and humidity. By properly preserving and labeling photographs, memories can be passed on to future generations. Instead of quickly forgetting why little Anna was laughing so hard in that snapshot, a well planned scrapbook creates a written record of such moments. No one will ever have to stare at the photo of the happy little girl and wonder what was behind her joy.

Scrapbooks also allow us to create family heirlooms. In three generations, a family with a well-preserved scrapbook has a much better sense of and appreciation for their roots than one with just a few disjointed snapshots. Scrapbooks make it easier to trace family lines and to build family trees. In order to create this important record, you will need a few supplies.

Scrapbooking supplies

The most important consideration in purchasing your scrapbooking supplies is to make sure that all your materials are all photo-safe. Traditional adhesives, stickers, and papers have chemicals in them that will, over time, damage photographs. The number of scrapbook supplies is truly endless, but there are a few things that are necessary for the beginner.

Scrapbook Album

Scrapbook albums come in all shapes and sizes. One of the newer styles is called a paper bag book. Paper bag books are literally made from a paper grocery sack. The sack is trimmed down and bound using ribbon or metal binding clips. This creates an album that is truly hand-made.

Bound albums come in 8 x 8, 8 ½ x 11, and 12 x 12 sizes. The size is a personal decision, but you will be able to fit the most pictures onto a 12 x 12 album page. Three ring albums are the easiest albums to rearrange if needed. These albums are made by placing page protectors into a traditional three-ring binder.

The second type of bound album is a post-bound album. Post-bound albums have the page protectors inside the album, connected by metal or plastic posts in the binding. These albums allow the two-page spread to lie flat when the album is opened.

The third type of album is a strap-bound album. These albums have a strap hinge that connects the pages to the binding. They are cumbersome to rearrange but are often more durable, and also allow the pages to lie flat when the book is open. Once you have chosen your album, the real fun can begin!

Continue to: How to Get Started with Free Scrapbooking Ideas

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