Jumping Back Into Scrapbooking

welcome back! god, i hope tear bears are NOT a thing anymore.

Welcome back!

I think I have already give you some of this advice in a different thread, so forgive me if some of this is duplication.

Since you say you have a Silhouette, it’s great for scrapbooking! Don’t overlook the possibility of doing print and cut for your pages, as well as cutting shapes and titles. I have a Silhouette subscription, which I got on sale, so I get the 99 cent files for about 11 cents (less when they are on sale). Scrapbook supplies generally cost more than that. They also offer paper designs that you can just use to fill a shape, then print and cut it. I don’t always remember to use that feature. A little known secret: you can scan in paper you have and love, add it to your patterned paper designs, then use it to fill cut shapes. The color may be slightly different, but it gives you the option of using papers you love but tend to hoard.

I have a huge stash of stamps, which I sometimes use in creating pages, but I have not had much luck with using the Silhouette for cutting out stamped images in the way that Silhouette recommends. However, if I scan in a stamped image with a one inch square of colored card stock next to it, I can use that one inch image to size the stamped image correctly in Silhouette software for tracing and creating a cutting file for that stamped image. Then I use the “cut first, stamp second method,” but you need a stamp platform to do that. However, once I do that, I have a cutting file for that stamp from then on, and the “cut first, stamp second” method can give you a better centered image.

I use my Silhouette a LOT for paper crafting, but I also have a Big Shot and dies, especially if I want a stitched edge that is more pronounced than the Silhouette will give me. I love the Queen & Co. Foundation dies, which are great for both scrapbooking and card making. Most of their dies are stitched. I have no affiliation with them, just love their dies.

I don’t care for subscription kits. When I make a page, I start with my photos and pick papers that compliment my pictures. Kits rarely work for me. There are too many items I will never use.

I also don’t do classes. A lot of the same techniques are taught online for free, and paid classes are geared toward getting you to buy every new product there is.

The only markers I use are alcohol ink, such as Copic. However, they bleed through to the back of your card stock and paper. I use them to color stamped images, cut the designs out, then attach them to my pag. I use Zig or Sakura if I want to write on my layout. However, I usually prefer to do my journaling on the computer, print it, cut it out, and mat it, like I do my photos.

I don’t use Thickers. If I want dimensional letters, I can cut titles multiple times, then stack and glue them. I never need to worry about storing letters left over, or missing enough of a letter that I need. I have a ton of fonts, and lots of patterned paper. Thickers can be bulky for storing if you have a lot of them. Card stock and patterned paper is less expensive and you can choose your font and paper.

As far as trends go, if I like them, I will incorporate them, but I no longer pay much attention to what is trendy. If I see someone post a page using a trend, style or technique that I like, I may incorporate it if I can do so in a way that compliments my layout. Everything I do will be centered around the photos. If a trend suits the photos, great. If not, I will use what I like better, whether trendy or not. I’ve been scrapbooking longer than many here (since 1996). I worked for the LSS and taught classes there, based on the trends. In all honesty, there are some I’d do over if I had the time, because the trends didn’t always suit the layout, especially when I look back. I didn’t go in big for tear bears, but I did for paper dolls, and those pages kind of make me cringe now.

I am a stamper, but I was a card maker before I was a scrapbooker, and I still make cards. I love stamps, and use them in a variety of ways on a layout (embellishment, page background, border, journal spot, etc.), but if you aren’t already a stamper, I don’t recommend that you go down that rabbit hole. About 1986, I took a class on how to save money by making your own cards with stamps. I have spent a lot and saved nothing, although I really love making my own cards, and most people seem to enjoy getting a hand made card. Considering how expensive store bought cards are now, maybe I’m not completely in the hole. If you already own stamps, then use them on your layouts. If not, don’t feel you need to buy stamps for scrapbooking.

Maybe check out Shimelle’s Best of Both World’s kit. Lots of options without buying things you don’t like or won’t use.

I don't subscribe to kits bcz I have enough stash - but I like the Scrap Room. I've purchased from them before and I like how they give bits of new lines so you can try. 


www.scrap-room.com/

mandolyn9909 Thank you so much for the links, right off the bat I know Scrapbook Quebec is going to be a favorite. Her simple style is the kind I love, with more embellishments than come naturally to me, but still don’t overwhelm the page so I hope to learn a lot. I appreciate it!