Showing posts with label scrapbook ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scrapbook ideas. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Different Types of Scrapbooking Templates

Here are some different types of scrapbooking templates which you might think about using:

1) Environmental – These scrapbooking templates incorporate the design of nature in their theme. These templates often include motifs of plants and animals and are designed to showcase the natural beauty of the earth. This type of scrapbooking template is ideal when you are planning to use nature-oriented materials in your scrapbook. This scrapbooking template can be useful if you are planning to include that pebble you brought home as a memory of a walk in the beach, that piece of leaf that serves as a reminder of a very eventful autumn day, and any other organic materials.

This scrapbooking template may also prove valuable when you are trying to put together a scrapbook of different types of “nature trips” such as hiking activities and jungle safaris.

2) Technological – You could also go with a technological scrapbooking template and try to showcase the distance which civilization has come. Technological scrapbooking themes incorporate images you associate with technology. This includes (but is not limited to): computers, microchips, cellular phones, vehicles, gadgets and all other types of symbols used in the world of technology today.

By using technological scrapbooking templates, you actually show to the people how up to date you are on the modern world. You also show a certain mindset that comes with being techno-savvy. By using this type of scrapbooking template, you show that you are open to the evolution of civilization and that your mind can take new ideas. For, in essence, that’s what technology is all about.

3) Sports – Probably one of the most popular types of scrapbooking templates, sports are more often chosen by men to be the overall theme for a scrapbook. This may be because of their upbringing or it may be just because of the fact that it is what society expects them to choose. Sports scrapbooking templates can be divided into three categories:

a) Persona – This type of scrapbooking template showcases different sports personalities and are most often chosen by avid fans. By using this scrapbooking template you actually show your support for a certain player, no matter what current team he or she is playing for. This is also popular for those who follow individual sports, as these sports tend to make celebrities out of the different players.

b) Team – This type of scrapbooking template can be based on a team symbol or team ideal. Images of different team members are also sometimes used in the different pages of the scrapbook. Sometimes, this type of team scrapbooking template is used to signify the unity of a single group. More often, though, this type of scrapbooking template is used to show support for a team or an institution.

This type of scrapbooking template is often supported by alumni of certain schools or residents of certain states.

c) Equipment – This type of sports scrapbooking template showcases the different types of equipment used in a game. This actually is used to signify the virtues of the game as a whole. Whatever game the maker favors can be portrayed using the different equipment used in that game.

Another option is to use different types of equipment to signify sports as a whole. This showcases the athleticism of a scrapbook enthusiast and shows his or her passion for any sport.

4) Emotions – There are actually different scrapbooking templates that use emotion as a base. These templates often signify the chosen emotion through different manners. Here are some of them:

a) Colors – The brightness and darkness of the hues used sometimes show the emotion within the scrapbooking template. If you observe, we sometimes associate different emotions with different colors. Some scrapbooking templates take this further by separating each color into shades and showing the intensity of the emotion vary with the shade.

b) Characters – Different characters are also used to portray different types of emotions. Some characters may be shown with facial expressions that transmit the different emotions. They can also be shown doing different activities, depending on the mood of the scrapbook. Background drawings can also be used to try and reflect on the character what the person is feeling. A rain, for example, can show sorrow or sadness.

Some Ideas for Scrapbooking Pages

Finding ideas to apply to your scrapbooking can be such a big pain. You are faced with the prospect of creating a masterpiece, yet you don’t really know how to begin. Here are some suggestions for you to try out:

1) Color – The simplest idea for a scrapbooking page should be a color. Basing your scrapbook pages on a single color though, can be quite complex if you want it to be. There are shades to experiments with. By trying on different shades of a color, you can have variety and yet stick with the same scrapbooking idea.

Another fun scrapbooking page idea that involves colors has you researching their different interpretations. By using colors this way, you can actually have a message that means something special to you.

2) Literature – Think of your favorite piece of literature and base your scrapbook on that. Taking inspiration from books or a poem is a really good scrapbooking idea. You see, authors sometimes picture their characters and stories so vividly, that you can visualize them in your mind. By placing these images on paper, you can actually share with people something that so inspired you.

Basing your scrapbook on a piece of literature can be pretty deep for some people to take. You may have to do a bit of explaining before someone gets the message of the scrapbook. In doing so, you get to show a part of your soul to the readers. It may also inspire people to take up reading.

3) Characters –Characters abound in the world that people can take inspiration from. In using characters, you have two options:

A. Fiction – this idea for scrapbooking pages involves you taking a fictional character and using that character as an inspiration for your scrapbooking page. Contrary to what most people think, fictional characters are actually harder to research on than actual, living characters.

One reason is the fact that different people have different interpretations of them. Take Batman, for example. In the sixties, the TV series portrayed him as this campy superhero who wears grey and blue spandex. In the 1989 movie, he’s a bit more brooding, and wears protective armor. In the movie “Batman and Robin” he is portrayed as this not so brooding, talkative character who wears a rubber suit with nipples. See how different people’s perceptions of a fictional character can be?

One advantage to this, though, is the fact that you can have more freedom with this idea for a scrapbooking page. You see, not many people will question your interpretation of a fictional character.
B. Non-fiction – In this idea for a scrapbooking page, you take your inspiration from a real person. It doesn’t really matter if they are alive or dead. However, remember that people change all the time. Just take a look at Britney Spears and you’ll probably realize the meaning of this statement.

By using real persons as your inspiration, you are actually offered a whole lot of detail on their lives. However, you won’t really have the same freedom as when you are trying to do a fictional character.

4) Activities – Try getting an idea for scrapbooking pages from your favorite activity. Most guys would choose sports and stuff, and nothing’s wrong with that. However, you may want to try being different and think outside the box. Base your scrapbook on an interest which no one can really guess. In doing this, you’ll get to have additional fun by having people guess the connection of the page to the activity.

Sometimes, people tend to categorize us through our activities. However, you might want to prove to others your true depth by showing in your scrapbook that a certain activity foes not define the “whole” you.

You might want to show, using your scrapbook that even though you enjoy a particular activity, it is only a minor part of your existence and that you have a deeper facet to your personality than being a computer whiz, basketball jock and other stereotypical labels.

There you go: those are just some ideas for scrapbooking pages you might think about trying out. By trying out different things before you actually use them, you can actually see if those ideas for scrapbooking pages fit your personality.

How to Choose the Perfect Quotes for Scrapbooking

Many people are taking interest in Scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is a simple activity that most people love to engage in because it involves creation. We all love to do something with our hands. Scrapbooking is an activity that is simple enough to be done by everyone and can show immediate and wonderful results.

You see, people engage in Scrapbooking because we love to reminisce. Scrapbooks help people think about different events, which had significant impacts in their lives. You see, no matter how intelligent a person can claim to be, nobody can remember completely all the events in their lives.

In Scrapbooking, you collect objects or pictures that allow you to remember the different events. These objects or pictures touch you in a way that no diary can. These pictures and objects allow you to re-experience the moment of your history.

Many people say that a picture is worth a thousand words. However, dealing with memories can be a very difficult experience. Memories get clouded, and pictures can sometimes be interpreted in a thousand different ways. However, writing down your memories of an event can be quite boring and it takes the thrill of mystery from rediscovering your history.

So what is a good compromise between writing a diary and making a very vague scrapbook? Most people choose to find scrapbooking quotes in order to help them get the initial feel of a memory. Scrapbooking quotes give you the general idea of a memory, but let you fill in the blanks yourself. By making use of scrapbooking quotes, you actually have the advantage of touching hearts. Using the combination of photos, memorabilia, and scrapbooking quotes can prove to be a most effective way of initializing a good reminiscing session.

However, in order to have this effect, you'll need to choose your Scrapbooking quotes properly. So what qualities should you look for in a scrapbooking quote?

1. Mnemonic quality - a good scrapbooking quote should be easily remembered. It should have that quality that makes it stick to your head. By having this quality, you can be sure of at least one impact of the scrapbooking quote.

You realize, of course, that the best songs often have this quality. Ever wonder why some singers fade away after 2 albums while some old singers still remain popular even decades after their last song was released? You see, the mnemonic quality of a phrase helps people associate it easily with certain things.

2. Relevant - Of course, a scrapbooking quote should be relevant to what you intend to portray. The scrapbooking quote should be able to bring across your message and enable whoever is reading the quote to relate to the object or picture in your scrapbook.

The scrapbooking quote may come off as trivial to the reader. However, the meaning of the scrapbooking quote should not be so vague that the reader has to use all of his or her brainpower to understand it. That is, unless you intend for the scrapbook to take on an air of mystery and clue-finding.

3. Short - A scrapbooking quote should be able to get the message across with very few words. You see, the focus of the scrapbook should remain on the objects or photographs. In choosing a scrapbooking quote, you should make sure that the quote does not take the center stage from the other objects in the scrapbook. However, you should make sure that the quote is just enough to form a bridge of thought between the words and the objects.

4. Touching - a good scrapbooking quote should not only touch your brain, but it should also move your emotion. You see, scrapbooks trigger memories not for the purpose of giving your brain a workout, but to enrich your soul. Thinking about past events, whether delightful or forlorn, helps you rediscover yourself and what made you the person you are today.

These are just some qualities that you should look for in a scrapbooking quote. Never forget, however, that the most important factor is you. You should decide whether or not a quote is appropriate for your scrapbook. This is the reason why some people choose to write their own quotes instead of borrowing the words of another. A scrapbook is a very personal item, which needs to relate to you.

Scrapbooking for Beginners

Beginner Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking for Beginners

You may come across with various definitions of what a scrapbook is. And you may even have set one for yourself. But you see, of all those meanings associated with scrapbooks, there will always be one thing central to it- keeping memories.

Just like photos, scrapbooks are keepers of precious moments that you would always want to return back to. The moments that you have captured in photos and the moments of your creativity, deeply embedded in every page, note, captions and journals in your scrapbook.

One day, you'll take a look at the scrapbooks you have created and they will deliver you back in time.

Not all of us are avid scrapbookers. Many may not even have tried starting one. However, we all have an idea of how to preserve our past. Well, scrapbooking is like that, only you would have to add up some creativity and art concepts into it.

The hardest junction might be to start from scratch. Scrapbooking may look simple for some yet the hours and the ideas you have to invest on them are so enormous that many find themselves initially frustrated. Or possibly, on wits end before an idea crops up.

We have prepared some guidelines in here that you may modify and apply in your own experiences. Basically, this is just a collection of ideas that will help shed light on the thoughts bugging in your mind.

Somehow you have to know your own style.

Shine up with your personality. After all, it will show in your craft. If you are not as sure with what truly is your preference when making the design or the layout of your scrapbook, it is best that you analyze your self first. Know your personal tastes and refrain from following the hypes and fads as presented in the scrapbooking industry. This way, you will more likely to produced original and personal ideas that will work best in your own ways.

Sometimes, we have to find outlets for our personalities to show. Some people do writing stuffs, some delve into less serious practices. Scrapbooking though may fill the gaps between the two.

If it is really that difficult to produce an original idea, you can forgive yourself by mimicking other scrapper's works.

Many find great uses in other people' s designs. Sometimes, they even bring out the best from adopting a concept into their own. This technique is called scraplifting.

Other people choose not to follow this concept. However for beginners it is always easier to follow those that worked for many. Somehow, along the way they will find their own methods of doing things.

As a beginner, it won't harm if you check some great works. Then modify these using your own materials, photos and touches. And once a good inspiration breaks out, the scrapbooker may find herself immersed in the confidence of doing things in her own way.

Create your own mood board.

Mood boards are commonly used in the fashion industry as testing grounds for new ideas. These are like boards wherein cutouts, drafts of designs and fabric swatches are portrayed to provide initial impressions of the new trend. In fact, anything that will help the viewer's see the direction and concepts of the designers are placed on the mood board.

By making use of mood boards, a scrapper may easily find her style. Placing concepts into more tangible mediums will construct foundations for your layouts and intentions.

Don't be too critical in this process. While flipping through magazines, you need not know why a picture or an image attracts you. If it produces positive reaction then go and tear it out. This is one good test to determine your style.

Second, you would want to check on color combinations. For some of us, we have already set definite grounds on what our favorite color is what we may most likely not use. Using a single group of shades is good if you can manipulate and mix them into varying combinations.

However, most people find it hard to detract themselves from a single concept. It won't be bad if you will experiment on some other hues. When inspiration turns bad and there seem to be no color available for you, look at the butterflies for inspiration.