Wedding Scrapbooking

I've done paper scrapping for a long while, but I'm terribly behind. I think digital scrapbooking might just be what I need to get back on track, but I'm overwhelmed with all of the info out there. Help! Where should I start?

First I would start by looking at the software you are going to use. How comfortable are you with using it? If the answer is not so much, I would recommend getting books and such on the software that will teach you how to do various things. If you are using Adobe Photoshop (CS, Elements, etc.), then you can access Adobe's website for tutorials and tons of information. They also do a podcast if you are interested in that. I have found those useful. Nothing beats getting to see how someone does something step by step!!

If you are using other software, chek out their customer website to see if they offer any how-tos. Many of the various programs have a lot of similarities so even if you don't have Adobe, you might want to take a gander over there.

Once you feel that you have a decent handle on your software I would go to a limited number of websites. Pick one that you feel give you the best directions on how-tos and have a forum to discuss things. Forums are a great chance to interact and get help when you are stuck! They often will also have archieves so that you can look for answers to questions that you have that may have been asked before. I will list a couple examples below of some websites that I have enjoyed for digital scrapping.

I get a ton of white card stock scraps from work that they are going to throw into the recycling bin. I like to use them in my scrapbooking, but I get tired of plain stark white. How can I age, or stress, this card stock to give it some character?

Take a small sponge, like a make-up one, or one from a craft store. Smear it on an ink-pad, like brown, or tan,or any color really. Smear the ink on the paper in circular motions in the center and outward motions near the edge, so that the edge is slightly darker. It is a really neat effect, and you can do it once you get your paper cut down to your desired size and shape.

I need bigger posts for scrapbooking. I dont like the extensions, they get week. Can you but larger posts at homedepot?

I doubt it and I know I saw some somewhere - can't remember. Maybe scrapbook.com?

Just for fun? Besides smilebox. You don't really make your own scrapbook. I use to go to a scrapbooking site online to build scrapbooks, and it was for free. Anybody know of a site like this?
you don't build your own scrapbooks on smilebox* I don't want sites that will link me to sites where i can get scrapbook supplies, i want a site where i can make my own scrapbook online.

have you looked here:

Free Online Scrapbooking
Into scrapbooking? Try making a beautiful custom photo book. Easy to…
www.picaboo.com

SCRAPO™ | Digital Online Scrapbooking, Fully Customizable Drag-and-Drop …
Scrapo is a community based online scrapbooking website. … Sign up now to begin creating online scrapbooks to share with your friends and family! …
www.scrapo.com - Cached

Digital Scrapbooking, Scrapbooking Ideas and Scrapbooking Kits
Digital scrapbooking site with ideas, tutorials, free downloads, and photo sharing. … Online Scrapbooking | Free Scrapbooking Quote | Scrapbook Layout …
www.scrapwow.com - Cached

ONLINE SCRAPBOOKING 101
Your resource for the basics of digital photography and digital scrapbooking-for real people! … Curious about online scrapbooking? …
www.onlinescrapbooking101.com - Cached

I love to scrapbook and like talking to others who love to scrapbook also. Scrapbookers are very creative people, full of great ideas. What are your favorite hints and tips for scrapbooking?

Color is my thing. I don't like to put too much on a page - one can overdo it with all the awesome stuff out there. I am careful to match colors in the pictures to papers and things I use, but I try to match one of the less dominant colors. It makes things pop.

I love the rub on stuff that's out there now, much better than the first rub on products.

i also collect stickers with sayings and quotes to use for areas that need a little something but I don't want to journal. Sometimes just a few words say it all.

I guess everyone has their own scrapbooking philosophy. Some love to journal, some will decorate a whole page with just one picture. Some are techniqe junkies!

That's the great thing about scrapbooking, it's all your own style.

Color and Balance. It took me all those words to just say that.

You’ve got good news, and you want to share it with the world! There’s a precious bundle of joy on the way- a brand new baby to light up the world of those close in distance as well as those that are close at heart. Show the expecting mother-to-be that care- it’s time to begin planning a festive party in honor of the new parents and their upcoming little one- it’s time to begin planning the baby shower.

Oddly enough, the baby showers of days gone by used to be held after the child was born for fear of bad luck. As far back as ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire, friends and neighbors of a newborn baby’s family often brought gifts for the little one, or handcrafted something special for the new parents. Today’s style of organized baby showers, complete with a very pregnant mother present, didn’t start popping onto the scene until after World War II, coinciding with the beginning of the baby boom.

For upcoming parents, a new baby can be overwhelming and expensive- that’s where the baby shower comes in. Friends of the family-to-be traditionally do the planning for the event, but more recent years have seen the future grandparents lending a hand or two as the expense of a baby shower can be somewhat overwhelming in itself. One way of chipping in is by taking care of the baby shower invitations. It’s a relatively small expense comparatively, but one of great importance and in need of detailed attention.

Nothing sets the stage for a great baby shower more than the invitations. Not only do they notify friends and family of the upcoming event, but they also make wonderful keepsakes for years to come- making the perfect page focus for an avid scrap-booking fan. Custom printed invitations complete this task with a minimal amount of effort from you, so you’ll be able to spend more time on other details of the upcoming event. Be sure to pick out your party theme before ordering the invitations so that every detail of the shower will be coordinated.

If you know the gender of baby beforehand, you can have a color theme plus one baby detail, like lavender diapers, yellow rubber duckies, pink safety pins, or blue pacifiers- pick out the invitations first, then the party décor. Be a bit cautious not to overdo the theme! A solid color tablecloth mixed with patterned cake plates and solid dinner plates, pattern cake napkins and solid dinner napkins will be an ideal mix for a stunning display. And on the center table, next to the cake, have a matted and framed baby shower invitation for the proud parents-to-be to place on the wall in the nursery.

I think scrapbooking would be a fun and creative outlet for my daughter but how can she get started. Where can I find supplies and materials to get started? Is there a basic kit or set?

A good place to start is about.com http://scrapbooking.about.com/
which has articles showing how to get started
http://scrapbooking.about.com/cs/gshowtos/a/supplies.htm
and supplies http://scrapbooking.about.com/cs/gshowtos/a/supplies.htm
and even Free Stuff http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/freestuff/
Topics on the clickable links in red on the left also include product reviews, layouts and digital scrapbooking. In the 'Offers' section there are assembled kits for kid's scrapbooking too.

As I write this article, I am on my way home from a 10-day vacation. A wonderful time, relaxing yet filled with fun and educational things to do. In this article, I want to share with you some tips and ideas for Scrapbooking your trip on what to do before and during your vacation to ensure a pleasurable scrapping experience for when you return.

Prior to leaving, have in mind what you want to accomplish. Do you want to document your vacation and incorporate it into your present album? Do you plan on creating a theme album, making the entire album about your vacation? You may always change your mind, but if you know prior you may take more or less photos.

Here are some ideas for during your vacation:

1. Save your ticket stubs. Use as an accent on your page or tuck into a pocket, mini envelope or file folder.

2. Save brochures, programs and other items to be used as embellishments or accents in your scrapbook.

3. Have a street map, map to the amusement park or any other kind of map? Maps tend to be large and would make a great background paper. You can also use for matting photos, page borders, or fold into a pocket or envelope. (use the map itself to create the pocket/envelope).

4. Can’t get the perfect photo? Weather or lighting not cooperating? Too many people? Whatever the reason may be, make sure you make a stop at the gift shop and look for postcards. Postcards are inexpensive, typically .25-.35, and offer beautiful glossy photos.

5. Start your journey with a large envelope or file folder. Keep maps and information about your possible destinations. After visiting, file your memorabilia there. This will keep everything together in one place and be ready for Scrapbooking upon your trip home.

6. Immediately jot down funny stories, important events/happenings on the way home (from that days event) to keep the memories fresh. Again store in the same large envelope/folder.

7. Did you learn an interesting fact while touring? Be sure to document it. Whether in a photo or as journaling. Write it down and store away.

Upon your return, once you get back all your photos from the trip, look them over. Look for a common theme or color. Based on your findings, decide what papers and colors you want to use. Purchase or gather papers, embellishments, stickers or anything else you want or may need to include in your album. By using the same theme and colors of paper your vacation will be more unified into one theme. Plus this will ensure scrapping your entire trip much easier and quicker. Each page can have a different background yet coordinating. For each page, choose your photos, accents and embellishments from your trip or some you may have purchased with the papers. Add your journaling and then see what needs to be done to complete it. Now you have a completed album or pages to remember your vacation and to share with others.

Do you have extra photos from your vacation? Here are a few ideas on how to use those extra photos:

1. Ask all those involved in the vacation what there favorite part was. Create a top 5 or 10 page and use up the extra photos of the top favorites. Be sure to include a quick summary in the journaling.

2. Use extra photos and let the kids make their own vacation memory album.

3. Use extra photos to make a mini album of the vacation for someone who went along and may not be a scrapbooker themselves. What a great gift idea!

4. Mount an extra photo to a piece of cardstock and use as a thank you card to give to someone who may have taken care of your pets, mail or plants while you were away.

I hope the above tips will prepare you for your next vacation and help you “Scrap your Trip”!

If you haven’t heard the word ‘niche’ being batted around by Internet Marketers then you haven’t been listening. Finding a niche has become the antidote to competing in overly saturated online markets.

What is a niche?

According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary a niche is described as “a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted… a specialized market”.

Have you noticed that despite the closing of many businesses in these harsh economic times, the local hobby train store is still around? That the ‘hole-in-the-wall’ eatery is thriving? Or that trends such as scrapbooking can start with a bang and still close within a year when four similar businesses start up in the same area?

The online business world reflects the same trends as experienced in the offline world - often with faster turnover and startup rates. Those who promote a product or site that targets a small, select audience can tap into a market that is otherwise not being served. Despite the limitations of the client base, the targeted nature of the business creates a devoted and active market - the aim of any business.

HOW DO I FIND A NICHE?

Finding a niche requires diligent research. Whether you have access to software that harvests and sorts information or you take a manual approach you must first start with ideas.

With a pen and paper (or computer, if that’s more comfortable) brainstorm a list of businesses, products and industries. Create a list of keywords and phrases you think would be used by individuals looking for these items online.

Use a software program such as Wordtracker or a free resource such as the Overture Keyword Selector Tool to find keywords for your niche that have a high amount of traffic.

Although a program like Wordtracker makes it easy to find details such as how many sites compete for that market, you can also do your own research.

Concentrate your attention on question phrases such as “how do I…” or “where can I…”. These questions will clue you into potential markets that need servicing.

Next, look in Google Answers. Type one of your keywords into the search area. What questions are being asked and how much are people willing to pay for answers? If you find a group of keywords with a high number of questions then enter these words in your browser’s search engine.

What sites come up? Do they provide answers or solutions to the problem? How are they making money? Can you see an opportunity to service these individuals?

Finding a niche can open the door to a profitable online business. Research the market and be certain that your product or service is valuable to this group. Find forums or groups that target this audience and pay close attention to their concerns.

If you can help these people you WILL make money. The best of both worlds!

I've been scrapbooking lately and a friend of mine uses Glue Dots w/lots of her scrapbooking stuff…she bought some on QVC for about $21 (they came in a variety of sizes)…thats the cheapest I have found…any other suggestions?

Maybe these places?

http://www.createforless.com/search/search.aspx?SH=D%3D15~G%3D17881^2~

http://www.just4funcrafts.com/product_detail.asp?ProdNbr=381

http://www.gluedots.com/display/router.aspx?docid=297