Scrapbooking 101: Back to the Basics

Have you been wanting to start that scrapbook for weeks, months... maybe years - but find yourself asking, "Where do I start?"  Now that you have your pictures organized, let's get moving on to what you will need to get started on your album!

Action Step #1: Decide what size of album you want.

"There are different sizes?!"  YES!  *smile*  Albums come in many different sizes.  Here are some of the most common:

Mini/Specialty albums are great for a brag book that you can keep in your purse.  These are often homemade and created from templates.  Also great for gifts or secret pals!  :)

6" x 6" albums are the new hot size for this year.  Great for gifts, grandparent gift albums, short trip albums, etc.  Not recommended that you choose this size for ALL your family scrapbooks, because you would end up needing so many to cover all the years.  Usually these fit only one or two photos per page.

9" x 9" and 12" x 12" albums are the backbone of the scrapbooking industry.  These albums are great for getting more on the page and are my recommendation for any family album.  The smaller sizes fit about three photos per page, and the larger can accommodate up to five photos per page with cropping.  I LOVE THESE!!!  :)

Action Step #2: GO SHOPPING!

*Paper Trimmer - Ideal for cutting paper, cardstock, photographs, and more

*Micro-Tip Scissors - Sharp, small scissors, as opposed to hard-to-maneuver big scissors

*Adhesives - My personal favorite is the tombow, but there is also glue available.

*Paper is the foundation of any scrapbook.  The paper you choose can make or break your book.  

     -For those just getting started or with limited time for crafting, Level 1 kits are the way to go!  Use these preprinted layouts and the adhesive artwork included for beautiful pages in a flash.

     -Add a little more individual touch to every page and project by building designs from Level 2 scrapbooking products.  Use Reflections, Cherish, or Imagine to create unique layouts by getting back to the basics - paper!

     -Those who embrace the art of stamping will feel right at home creating stunning scrapbooks in Level 3.  With decorative stamps, embellishments, and how-to books at your fingertips, you can build designer pages with ease.

*Page Protectors - Your beautiful creation needs to be protected!  :)

These are the basic items that you need to get started!  If you have any questions or feel that I have left something out, comment!  If you have found this helpful, please comment and let me know!

Have an idea for an upcoming "online lesson?"  Comment with your suggestions below!

Scrapbooking 101: Organizing Your Photos

Today begins my weekly Scrapbooking 101 Series.  I am SO excited about this!!!  I hope that you will enjoy the tips and be able to apply them to your scrapbooking!

A few months ago, I decided that I wanted to stop focusing on past events/highlights and focus on scrapbooking the NOW events and highlights.  When I started looking through my pictures, I realized that I did not have any pictures from the last 10 months!!!  How sad... but how many others are experiencing the same issue?  We LOVE digital cameras because they make picture taking so easy, but how many of us forget to upload the pictures on our computers... and print them?!  ME! ME! ME!  "I'll do it this weekend." But then something would come up, and I would not get around to it.

Action Step #1: Upload your photos and print them off!  

I do not use my own printer for printing pictures; I only use online sites.  Play catch up right now... I had to print over 1,000 pictures to catch up!  Eventually, you will want to do this about every 3 months (this could vary depending on how many pictures you take each month).  That way you will have plenty of pictures to work with for the next three months... until you place your next order.  Go ahead and write it down on your calendar so you won't forget.  *wink*

(Note: See below a list of sites that you can use to upload your pictures and order them.  Each site offers promos for free prints when you sign up.  Also, check out retailmenot.com for even more savings!  Some sites allow you to stack up coupon codes!!!  *smile*)

Action Step #2: Organize your photos by album.

Once you have your photos, organize them into piles; one pile for each album that you are going to use with these pictures.

Which direction do you want to go with your albums?  Here are some ideas:

• Theme: holidays, special occasions, vacations
• Chronological Order: an album per year, quarter, etc.
• Gift: perhaps you want to give the gift of an album!
• Others: "About Me," achievements, baby book, top 10

Action Step #3: Organize your photos by page.

Take the stack of photos that you have determined will go into a specific album and then make one pile for each scrapbook page that you plan to create.  You may want one pile for a birthday layout, another for a fun day at the park layout, and another pile of pictures for a fun layout with cute, random pictures of your child(ren).

Action Step #4: Store your photos.

Find a shoe box that you have been dying to get out of your closet (c'mon, who doesn't want a little more room in your closet?  hehe) and put your organized pictures in there.  Use a large index card to separate the pages and/or albums.

Stay tuned for next week's Scrapbooking 101: Basic Supplies.  I know that money doesn't grow on trees, so let me show you the MUST HAVES before you get started.

As mentioned above, here is a list of sites where you can order prints:

*ArtsCow

*dotPhoto

*AdoramaPix

*Kodak EasyShare Gallery

*Shutterfly

*Winkflash

*Snapfish

*YorkPhoto

*PhotoWorks

*CVS

*ClarkColor

*MyPhotoAlbum

*Fotomat

*PhotoMama

Did you find this helpful?  Let me know by leaving a comment!  :)

Level 1 Fun!

One of my favorite themes in the Spring 09 Idea Book is the Stardust theme!  Below is my creation for the Level 1 Stardust Kit.  Level 1 Kits are PERFECT for those just getting started or with limited time for crafting.  You can use the preprinted layouts and MyStickease adhesive artwork (included in the kit) for beautiful pages in a flash!  Even better, the price is fantastic - only $9.95 for the materials to create 4 beautiful pages!

And the winner is...

Congrats to jennifersaves for winning my blog candy!!!  :)

Please contact me with your info within 24 hours to claim your prize: scrampwithheart@gmail.com

If for some reason I do not connect with jennifersaves by 1:30pm on Tuesday, April 28, another winner will be selected at random.

Thank you all for your entries and be looking for some new updates and artwork this week!!!

I'm Giving Away More Than $50 In Product!

In appreciation to my readers, I am giving away $50 in free Close To My Heart products.  The "goods" will be anything from a stamp set to a kit to embellishments, etc.

I LOVE Close To My Heart products... after all, I am a consultant.  :)  But before I was a consultant, I was a customer for years!  I know what it is like to wait for the monthly specials to be announced.  I could hardly wait to get the good deal for the month!  So, here is a GREAT deal for you!

To enter this contest, here are the instructions: (Read carefully, because you can get LOTS of entries!)

1. Leave a comment on any or all of the blog posts below.  Tell me what you like about the post, what you want to see more of on this blog, or any sort of helpful comment!  Please make sure you put someway for me to identify you on the comment in case you win.  You will receive one entry per comment per blog post.
2. Become a follower of my blog and leave a separate comment letting me know you became a follower.  You will receive one entry for this.
3. Subscribe to my email updates (upper left hand corner of blog) and leave a separate comment letting me know you subscribed.  You will receive one entry for this.
4. Blog or post on your facebook/myspace about this giveaway and link back to your post via comment.  You will receive one entry for every website you post on about the giveaway, up to 5 entries.

Note: Please comment on this post for #2, 3, and 4.

Entries will be received until Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 9:00pm EST.  Winning entry will be selected at random.

Winning entry will be posted Monday morning, April 27 on my blog.  The winner has 24 hours to contact me regarding mailing address.  If the winner does not contact me with a mailing address within 24 hours, another random winner will be selected at that time.

**Please note that current Close To My Heart consultants and junior consultants are ineligible to participate in this contest.  Thank you for your understanding.**

Good luck!

(PS> A picture of the items will be posted soon!!!)

Nat'l Scrapbooking Month Contest

To celebrate National Scrapbooking Month, Close To My Heart is sponsoring a contest that anyone can enter!  And it is easy to enter - just submit a JPEG photo of an original two-page layout you have created that represents YOU!  Be sure to tell us what is happening in the layout, and why this highlights you, your life, or your personality.  The Close To My Heart judges will then review all the entries and select five finalists for each category.  The finalists will be reposted for you to view.  The winners of each category will be determined by comments left or votes from blog viewers.  Each winner will receive $150 US retail in fabulous Close To My Heart products!

Click the button above to check out more details on this contest!

We're Tickled Pink

Put a little more "YOU" in your scrapbooks, and you'll be Tickled Pink this spring!  Our newest scrapbooking kit puts you front and center - with everything you need to create two beautiful two-page layouts all about the things that you love and that make you shine.  And speaking of shine, you'll also be tickled by the kiss of glitter on these fabulous papers!

Celebrate spring, bling, and everything you love - you'll be so happy you'll be Tickled Pink!

To get your very own Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit:

• Place a minimum order of $60 in stamp sets (excluding K-size and Stamp of the Month) between April 15-May 31 to receive a Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit FREE! (Limit one free kit per order.)  Start shopping now!
• Purchase the Tickled Pink kit at just $34.95 - well below retail value!  Shop here!
• Host a Home Gathering between April 15-May 31 with minimum sales of $400 and receive a kit FREE.
• Sign up as a new Consultant between May 1-May 31 and receive a kit FREE.

The Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit features the following:

• Featured Colors: Blush, Crystal Blue, Twilight, Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf
• 1 - My Acrylix I Am Stamp Set (D-size)
• 2 - 12"x 12" Floral B&T Duos Paper (1 with glitter)
• 2 - 12" x 12" Stripe B&T Duos Paper (1 with glitter)
• 1 - 12" x 12" Blush Textured Cardstock
• 1 - 12" x 12" Crystal Blue Textured Cardstock
• 5 - 12" x 12" White Daisy Textured Cardstock (1 sheet with die-cut shapes)
• 1 - Mini-Medley Accents White Daisy Collection
• 1 - Foam Texture Tool
• 1 - Brochure