On Scrapbooking
Before I start talking scrapbooking, can I just share this photo of Elias in his Captain Adorable onesie? Adorable is definitely the right word for this one. SO CUTE!
Yeah, so, the challenge to myself to do three layouts a week… not happening this week. Good grief, where has the week gone?! I hope to do at least one this weekend, but I am not making any promises. We have plans for both Saturday and Sunday in addition to normal weekend errands, cleaning, etc. My soul needs for me to craft though, so hopefully one layout is in the cards.
Oh, and I signed up this morning for Product Playground 2 on Big Picture Scrapbooking. I am so excited about this class and I hope many of you will take it too! It will be fun to see what everyone creates. Visit the BPS website for more info and to listen to an audio file from the teacher, Lisa D. I don’t think the class is going to be too overwhelming if you are a relatively new or beginner scrapbooker, but you may have to buy some products if you don’t have a big stash… (one of the reasons I am taking the class is to make a dent in my stash.)
Speaking of product you should check out Target if you are looking for some sweet scrapbooking stuff. They just got in a TON of new stuff and I was drooling… Well done, Target. Remember, I am supposed to be on a scrapbooking fast and not buying product?? Well, a few things fell into my cart. 🙂 Matthew said it was okay since I just started the fast. lol. I mostly bought stuff that was on clearance though – who can pass up ki stickers for 74 cents?! Not me.
I often receive questions about the products I like, my philosophy on scrapbooking, my layouts, etc. I am so honored that you would reach out to ask me questions! I’m just a regular girl with a passion for sharing her stories and the stories of those in her life. So, I would like to invite you to leave a comment with any questions you may have surrounding scrapbooking, and I will try to answer as many of them as possible over the weekend. Sound good?
To get us going, I will start with this question I received recently.
What classes do you recommend for beginners? Ones that you took that really got your creativity going and helped you learn the techniques (and best tools) of scrapbooking.
If you are a beginner scrapbooker, you might check out the projects now on the BPS site – these are smaller, instant classes that may help you as you begin to want to learn and try new things. I am a self-taught scrapbooker, so didn’t take any classes when I first was starting out. I wish I had though. After I had been scrapbooking a few years, I attended my first Creating Keepsakes Convention, where I took a bunch of classes (mostly Rusty Pickle). These classes really helped take my scrapbooking to the next level.
I also recommend subscribing to Simple Scrapbooks and/or Creating Keepsakes to also learn about new products/tools, techniques and be inspired by different people’s layouts. I have learned a lot from these magazines (I get them both).
Can’t wait to receive more questions! Have a great Thursday.
Hi Jessica! I have been a long time lurker and now I’m commenting! Yay! I just recently got into scrapbooking and I LOVE IT! My question is…how would you suggest I start a ‘collection’? Are there certain things that I should stock up on/buy at first so that I will be set? I love your blog and Elias is so cute!
I want to know where you shop for products online. I want to get that owl paper you used on a layout of Elias and your grandmother. I found it at a couple different places online, but I don’t want to pay $5.00 to have a $0.79 sheet of paper sent to me!!!
I had gotten into scrapbooking awhile ago. My husband and I are recently in the middle of building me a scrapbooking room in the basement. I can’t wait because I would love to do the 1 page layout a day challenge. I was wondering if you have a scrapbooking room and if so could you post pictures? I am trying to figure out what I want to be in their and how I want to organize the room. Also I found an amazing website for amazing products. check it out. http://www.scrapyourtrip.com. They have great papers. I love you blog.
what’s your scrapbooking process? Like what do you start with, how long, story…etc, etc…where do you scrapbook, do you finish your layout right away or leave it for a while and come back….
Jessica,
I just found your blog through Angie’s. I am dying to get started on scrapbooking for my twins, Addelynn and Alexander. I would like to know, how do you keep it all organized? I find that I start on a book and then get side tracked, toss it to the side and take years to bring it back out! Please share! Thanks…..
Hello! What are your absolute favorite scrapbooking tools, and what are your favorite brands for embellishments? I want to work as a photographer by day and a scrapbooker by night, so this will really help me!
Thanks!
Love the onsie…Brandon has one too. Target has great ones like that.
Thanks so much for answering my question! And for offering to answer more questions. To have a resource like you is wonderful.
I’d also like to know…
What do you think are the must have scrapbooking items? Kinda the bare essentials. And what things really make your pages polished?
What is your process of scrapbooking? Any tips for getting your thoughts and items together easily into a comprehensive page?
And do you make your own mini albums? or do you buy them online? or at a store? Chipboard to make albums, do they sell that at like JoAnn’s?
And thanks for the Target tip. I’m going to check out and see if the one near me has some good sales. I haven’t looked for scrapbooking stuff there yet. Oh, I found the Thickers at an A.C. Moore near me. I’m so excited and have loved using them. Thanks for sharing about those.
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for offering to share…you do lovely work and it’s great to be able to pick your brain!
I have been scrapping for a few years, now, and I am just completing my older son’s 5th album. I am also on my younger son’s 2nd album. Because my kids are what got me into scrapping, I never had a generic family album. My question is this: How would you suggest I organize my books to streamline, since I feel like now I’m doing duplicate layouts? For example, I’ll do Christmas 2007 for one boy, the Christmas 2007 for the other one, using almost identical pics. It takes all the momentum out of it to do that, I and I don’t want to *truly* duplicate. Yet, I feel like if I just start a family album instead, then the little guy misses out on having his own collection. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Simone
Ooh… Target!!! I love that store!!! Thanks for the heads-up!
ADORABLE!!!
Thanks for the invitation for questions. How long does it usually take you to create a page? Have you found any techniques that really shorten creation time? When is the best time you have found to scrap now that you have a little one? thanks!
P.S. Elias is so cute!
oops, one more. How do you ensure scrapbooking does not become overwhelming? I take so many pictures and then stress out thinking about scrapping them all.
Hi Jessica! I’ve been a long time lurker as well and found your blog through Angie’s.
You should call yourself the “Scrapbook Evangelist” because reading how much you believe we should “tell our stories” has convinced me to start scrapbooking. I just had my first baby–a girl–this past November, and she has also been an inspiration for me to start this.
I have taken a beginner’s class and have been to two crops so far at a local scrapbook store. I’ve also gotten some guidance from several friends who have been scrapbooking for a while. So far, I am loving this new hobby!
Really, my main question has already been asked…what products or “must haves” do you think a beginning scrapbooker must have? But do you have any strategies for how to shop for things? Do you just shop and stock your supply by things that look cute/pretty/whatever, or do you have layouts already in mind when you shop? My issue seems to be building a collection of materials (without breaking the budget) so I don’t have to run out and buy new stuff every time I want to do a layout. Suggestions?
And thank you for being so passionate about scrapbooking! It has truly inspired me!
Hey Jessica, did you know this:
Elias, by the way, was Walt Disney’s middle name.
I found it on an MSN article talking about Disney’s House of the Future. Thought it was interesting and decided to share!
Have a great weekend.
Pamela in TX
Love the answers to our scrapbooking questions. They are a great help. One more, do you scrapbook on the floor or at a table? Have you ever been able to scrapbook in the car on a trip?