Easy To Scrapbook

Simple Is Best Blogger Template Scrapbooking

2010-05-24T17:32:00.001-07:00

Simple Is Best is a free Blogger template (Blogspot template) that could be used for a scrapbooking blog, art blog or personal blog.

The Simple Is Best Blogger template has a 2 column layout with left sidebar and a 2 column footer to house the recent posts and recent comments widgets. The template's other features include a navigation menu, custom search box and RSS subscribe button in the header.

Another nice feature of this Blogger template is that it has a space to include a welcome message to introduce yourself to your readers.

I like the artistic swirls and random paint spots and dabs on the pink background of this Blogger template. The theme has been embellished by staples and torn bits of paper. The large light colored content area ensures that the Blogger template is not too busy.

Designed by SimplyWp
Converted to Blogger by: Anshul

Features
2 columns, left sidebar, fixed width, pink and white, navigation menu, 2 column footer, RSS link, search box, welcome message, recent posts widget, recent comments widget, personal blog, art blog, scrapbooking blog

Preview Template | Download Template

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
MyScrapblog
Craftwork
Memoriqu
Free Blogger Templates for Scrapbooking
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes

Free Blogger Template Foodiary Scrapbooking

2010-05-05T10:57:00.000-07:00

Foodiary is a free Blogger template (Blogspot template) that could be used for a scrapbooking blog or any other personal blog or online diary.

The Foodiary Blogger template is a 2 column layout in magazine style. The template's impressive features include an automatic featured post slider, a 3 column footer and a posts and excerpts gallery with auto thumbnail image on the home page.

If you want to promote your scrapbooking blog via social media you will enjoy the collection of social bookmarking buttons that come with this Blogger theme. There is also an individual Twitter button and RSS subscribe button. The inclusion of 4 banner ad slots also means that you can easily monetize this Blogger scrapbooking template.

Designed by SimplyWp
Converted to Blogger by: Anshul

Features
2 columns, right sidebar, fixed width, brown, 3 column footer, social bookmarking buttons, RSS link, Twitter button, personal blog, scrapbooking blog

Preview Template | Download Template

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
MyScrapblog
Craftwork
Memoriqu
Free Blogger Templates for Scrapbooking
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes

Brown Stitch Free Blogger Template Scrapbooking

2010-05-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

Brown Stitch is a free Blogger template (Blogspot template) perfect for a scrapbooking blog, papercraft blog or sewing blog.

The Brown Stitch Blogger template has a 2 column layout with a nice wide right sidebar. The Blogger scrapbooking template comes with some nice features including a top navigation menu, 3 column footer and stylized date.

Brown Stitch has a clean minimalist look which is further enhanced by its soft neutral tones and light colored content area. Embellishments of this free Blogger theme are a couple of strategically placed flowers in the header and decorative stitching.

Designed by SimplyWp
Converted to Blogger by: Blogger Themes

Features
2 columns, right sidebar, fixed width, brown, top navigation menu, 3 column footer, stylized date, personal blog, scrapbooking blog

Preview Template | Download Template

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
MyScrapblog
Craftwork
Memoriqu
Free Blogger Templates for Scrapbooking
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes

Free Blogger Template MyDiario Scrapbooking

2010-05-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

MyDiario is a free Blogger template (Blogspot template) that would make an excellent theme for a scrapbooking blog or papercraft blog. MyDiario has a 2 column layout, right sidebar, RSS button and Twitter button.

This free Blogger template for scrapbooking comes in neutral brown and cream tones. The torn out page that forms the content area invokes the feel of a paper diary or scrappy notebook.

Designed by SimplyWp
Converted to Blogger by: Blogger Themes

Features
2 columns, right sidebar, RSS subscribe button, Twitter button, fixed width, light brown and cream, personal blog, scrapbooking blog

Preview Template | Download Template

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
MyScrapblog
Craftwork
Memoriqu
Free Blogger Templates for Scrapbooking
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes

Free Blogger Template Vacation Fun

2010-04-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

Vacation Fun is a free Blogger template (Blogspot template) that is suitable for a scrapbooking blog. While this Blogger template actually has a holiday theme rather than a scrapbooking theme it has enough scrapbooking elements such as striped and patterned papers and paint spots to lend itself to a scrapbooking blog.

Vacation Fun has a 2 column layout, right sidebar, RSS button and custom search box. This free Blogger template for scrapbooking also comes with some nice extras that you are sure enjoy such as recent posts and recent comments widgets and a welcome message.

Uses for this free Blogger template apart from a scrapbooking blog include an arts and craft blog or any kind of personal blog with a papercraft or handcraft theme

Designed by ezWpthemes
Converted to Blogger by: Theme Craft

Features
2 columns, right sidebar, RSS subscribe, fixed width, scrapbook theme, navigation menu, recent posts widget, recent comments widget, welcome message, light brown and yellow

Preview Template | Download Template

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
MyScrapblog
Craftwork
Free Blogger Templates for Scrapbooking
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes

10 Best Beginner Photoshop CS4 Video Tutorials

2010-04-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

Are you a beginner to digital scrapbooking and Photoshop? I have found some of the best Adobe Photoshop CS4 video tutorials on digital scrapbooking for this article to save you from wasting time watching scrapbooking videos that don't give you what you need. With these beginner video tutorials you will learn the basics of using Photoshop to digitally scrapbook and start producing scrapbook pages in no time.

Learn about digital scrapbooking the easy way in these Photoshop video tutorials. Covers Photoshop workspace, tools, layers, creating text, manipulating images and creating your first digital scrapbooking pages. Step by step tutorials.

Want to learn digital scrapbooking but don't have Adobe Photoshop CS4 don't worry as you can download a trial version for free (free to use for 30 days). Alternatively you can purchase Adobe Photoshop CS4. If you have an earlier version of Photoshop you can still use it but please be aware that there will be some differences between the versions.

Introduction To Photoshop CS4
Introduction To Photoshop CS4 - Workspace
Photoshop CS4 - Using The Tools Part 1
Photoshop CS4 - Using The Tools Part 2
Photoshop CS4 Working with Layers
Digital Scrapbooking - Making your First Layout Part 1
from 300dpi.com
Digital Scrapbooking - Making your First Layout Part 2
Digital Scrapbooking Adding Text (Beginners)
Beginner Photoshop Tutorial CS4 - Using a Digital Scrapbooking Kit - Part 1
Beginner Photoshop Tutorial CS4 - Using a Digital Scrapbooking Kit - Part 2

Beginner Photoshop Tutorial - Digital Scrapbooking Kit

2010-04-07T16:10:00.001-07:00

Today I am posting a beginner digital scrapbooking Photoshop tutorial that I made to show you how easy it is to use a free digital scrapbooking kit. The digital scrapbooking kit I have chosen is called Echoes of Asia by Jackie Sprague and is available for download free at Creating Keepsakes

For these Photoshop Tutorials I used Adobe Photoshop CS4 but any earlier version of Photoshop would be OK.

In this digital scrapbooking tutorial you will learn how to load different parts of a digital scrapbooking kit into Photoshop and create a complete layout using a single photo. You will learn how to add and manipulate text and images, use the eye dropper tool to take a color sample and produce a basic page layout with embellishments.

Beginner Photoshop CS4 Tutorial - Using a Digital Scrapbooking Kit - Part 1

Beginner Photoshop CS4 Tutorial - Using a Digital Scrapbooking Kit - Part 2

Hope you enjoyed the video and if you have any questions please ask.

Free Scrapbooking eBooks to Download

2010-03-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

eBooks about scrapbooking are becoming more common as people increasingly turn to the internet for scrapbooking help. eBooks will give you a host of invaluable information and advice about scrapbooking and but most are not free. That's why I have put together this list to save you time and energy scouring the internet to find scrapbooking eBooks that are free. I have personally downloaded all of these scrapbooking eBooks and know that they are absolutely 100% FREE. Enjoy!

15 Things You Need to Know to Become a Great Digital Scrapbooker eBook
A free eBook from Scrap Girls. 65 Pages full of information, ideas, and help for beginners to learn the basics of digital scrapbooking.

This free scrapbooking eBook discusses technical aspects like backing up files, printer selection and the best software to use for digital scrapbooking layouts. Also contains links to digital scrapbooking templates and layouts. Comes in an easy to read downloadable PDF format. No sign up required.
24 Simple Scrapbooking Layouts eBook
This eBook from favecrafts.com contains the directions to make 24 different simple scrapbooking layouts. Ideas for family photos, wedding photos, summer events and more are contained in this 36-page free scrapbooking eBook.
Starting Points - Creating Meaningful Scrapbook Layouts from Whatever Inspires You eBook
Starting Points by Linda Harrison will help inspire your scrapbooking with 120 unique layouts which includes images of the original starting points that inspired each layout. Includes cute quotes from kids, receipts, vacation snapshots, patterned paper, party supplies, paint swatches, brochures and more which served as the inspiration. This free scrapbooking eBook contains lots of tips for brainstorming ideas to create unique layouts.
101 Scrapbooking Tips eBook
101 Scrapbooking Tips is a 112 page PDF document that discusses basic scrapbooking. Probably only suitable for the absolute beginner with no scrapbooking knowledge at all.

If I have missed including your free scrapbooking eBook in this list please let me know and I will update this list. Have fun!

Scrapbooking Free Blogger Template Kaleidoscope

2010-03-23T15:47:00.000-07:00

Kaleidoscope is a free Blogger template (free Blogspot template) which can be used for a scrapbooking blog. Though the design does not use scrapbooking elements the Blogger layout lends itself perfectly to a scrapbooking blog or for that matter any kind of artistic personal blog like a cardmaking blog or craft blog. This Blogger template is appealing for those who like floral highlights, swirls and neutral tones.

Kaleidoscope has a 2 column layout with a right sidebar, a built-in search box, navigation menu and RSS button. Other features include a user-defined welcome message in the header and social bookmarking buttons below each post.

Preview | Download Template

Designed By: EzWpThemes.com
Converted to Blogger By: Theme Craft

Features
2 columns, right sidebar, navigation menu, search box, RSS subscribe, social bookmarking buttons, fixed width, welcome message, brown

Suitable for blogs with a scrapbooking, art, craft, handcraft, papercraft theme.

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
MyScrapblog
Craftwork
Memoriq
Free Blogger Templates for Scrapbooking
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes

List of Free Digital Scrapbooking Freebies to Download

2010-03-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for digital scrapbooking kits and papers online? Use this comprehensive list of websites and blogs to find free digital scrapbooking resources on the web. Whether you are looking for digital background paper, digital scrapbooking kits, digital scrapbooking embellishments, quick pages, textures and brushes the list below will help you on your way to making your dream digital scrapbooking pages.

I have intentionally structured this list of sources of free digital scrapbooking downloads online so that the websites with the most resources appear first. Please check back often as I will be regularly updating the list to include new websites. If you have been missed off the list or know of a site I have missed please let me know and I will add your link to the ones above. Enjoy!.

Digital Scrapbooking Freebies to Download
Two Peas in a Bucket
Huge range of digital kits for scrapbooking to download for free.

Shabby Princess
Heaps of free digital scrapbooking kits to choose from.

One of the many stunning digital kits from Shabby Princess
Fuji Film Free Scrapbooking Kits
A range of free digital scrapbooking kits with holiday and seasonal themes. Kits include include backgrounds, borders and embellishments.

Scrapbook Flair
Download templates, backgrounds, embellishments and scrapbooking kits

freedigitalscrapbooking.com
Loads of free mini scrapbooking kits to download

computerscrapbook.com
A large range of lovely free digital scrapbooking kits and alpha sets to download.

escrappers.com
An assortment of free embellishments to use with digital scrapbooking such as buttons, beads, tickets, photo corners and slides.

escrappers.com
Free textures to use as your backgrounds on your digital scrapbooking pages

digitaldivadesigns.com
Monthly mega kits free to download.

Scrap Girls
Elements, brushes, and page backgrounds for digital scrapbooking are free to download.

secretofthedesigners.com
A bunch of free scrapbooking freebies which includes mini scrapbooking kit, date stamps, journaling strips, papers, stamps.

Cottage Arts
A collection of free digital scrapbooking downloads including alpha sets, brushes and stamps, papers, templates and sampler paks.

rakscraps.com
Monthly mega kits giveaways.

Memory Scrapbook Makers
Family, nature, summer, valentines day, weddings are just of the themes of the free digital scrapbooking kits available to download at Memory Makers magazine.

hereascrapthereascrap.blogspot.com
Freebies include quickpages and mini kits to download.

Scrapinfusions.blogspot.com
Mostly quick pages to download

Pixel Paint Papers
Lots of free digital scrapbooking paper to download

Digi Scrappers Corner
Download for free a scrapbooking kit, papers, mini scrapbooking kit, curled ribbon embellishments, alpha set.

Digital Freebies
A small collection of digital scrapbooking freebies which are changed regularly.

Digital Scrapbooking Freebies
One or two digital scrapbooking kits only available for free download.

Related Links
Squidoo List of the Best in Free Digital Freebies
Craft Cave's List of Digital Scrapbooking Small Previews
About.com Free Digital Scrapbooking Downloads

Wordpress Scrapbooking Theme Foodiary

2010-03-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

Foodiary is a free Wordpress scrapbooking theme designed for bloggers about scrapbooking who use the Wordpress blogging platform for their blog. Foodiary is an attractive and feature packed theme with massive appeal. The Wordpress theme has a 2 column layout with right sidebar and a fixed 3 column footer useful for less frequently used widgets. Other handy features include a built-in search box and page number navigation.

You will find some excellent features not usually found on Wordpress scrapbooking themes on Foodiary. For instance the theme displays an auto post thumbnail and an auto excerpt of recent posts on the home page. Other features that place Foodiary a cut above many other scrapbooking themes are the featured articles slider, the 4 125x125 banner ad slots in the sidebar, an RSS button, social bookmarking links and Twitter button. The theme is compatible with Wordpress 2.8 and earlier versions.

Foodiary is an elegant and well set out Wordpress theme for scrapbooking. Its neutral tones makes it suitable for lots of blogs such as a personal blog, scrapbook blog, papercraft blog, craft blog. This Wordpress theme is sure to impress.

Designed by Kathie and Andrew at SimplyWP

Features
2 column design, right sidebar, 3 column footer, search box, page navigation, RSS button, social bookmarking, Twitter button, auto slider for featured posts, auto post thumbnails, auto post excerpts, 125x125 banner ads ready, gravatar ready, widget ready, compatible with Wordpress 2.8 and earlier versions. Tested in major browsers such as IE7, IE8, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Chrome

Preview Theme | Download Theme

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes
Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates
General Instructions about Installing a Wordpress Theme

10 Ways to Add Handwritten Journaling to Scrapbooking Pages

2010-03-13T13:01:00.000-08:00

In today's article I am going to suggest some creative ways to include handwritten journaling on your scrapbooking pages. Don't worry if your handwriting is untidy or a bit messy what is important is that you let your personality shine through. You can tell a lot about a person from their handwriting. Handwritten journaling gives such a personal flair to pages that it would be a shame for future generations looking at your scrapbooking pages to miss out on this unspoken legacy. Rest assured they will treasure your handwriting just as much as your photos and memories.

How to Add Handwritten Journaling to Scrapbooking Pages

Dates, Place Name or Event Name
If you are not used to including handwritten journaling on your scrapbooking pages then it may seem a bit daunting. I suggest to get over this hump you start small. Add the date in your own handwriting or perhaps the place name or name of the event. If you are not ready to put the whole of your journaling in your own handwriting then a combination of handwritten journaling and computer text on a scrapbooking layout can look good too.
Write on the Background
Create your own patterned scrapbooking paper by writing on the background or in the blank spaces around your photos.
Write in a shape or line
If you want to add visual effect to your scrapbooking pages write in a shape or line. A handwritten line that wanders across the page can look stunning. Handwriting on circles, swirls or other fun shapes is visually pleasing too. turn the paper as you write for a whimsical effect.
Write on a Frame or Mat
You can add extra flair to your pages by framing the photos on a page with your own written words. Try this technique by writing on a photo mat, frame or the white border around the photo.
Include a Handwritten Letter, Poem, Musings or Personal Narrative
Write a letter, poem, or personal account of an event or happening in your own handwriting that can be included right on the scrapbooking page.
Include Pockets, Folded Cards or Matchbooks
Using scrapbooking pockets, folded cards, matchbooks are all space saving ways of adding more handwritten journaling to your scrapbooking layouts. Write your journaling by hand on a piece of coordinating cardstock and place it in a pocket on the page. Make a matchbook out of double sided cardstock and staple your handwritten message on coordinating cardstock inside the matchbook. Your journaling will remain hidden from view unless viewers of your scrapbooking pages remove the pocket or open up the card or matchbook. More on how to create a matchbook
Write an Index Page
A handwritten index page at the start of your scrapbook is a way to add more of your handwriting to your pages. Include facts like where, when, what, how, how long and of course who. Adding a handwritten index page is a simple way to include more of your handwriting in a scrapbook.
Write a Dedication Page
Like an index page a dedication page can contain a lot of extra information that you may not want to include on your scrapbooking pages. A dedication page appears at the end of your scrapbook pages and includes details about the dates the album was mades, who it is dedicated to and the name of the author.
Transform Your Handwriting into a Computer Font
If you want to do a lot of journaling on your pages yet keep your lines straight you can still preserve the human touch by turning your handwriting into a font using an online program such as Fontifier
Add Handwriting Using Free Cursive Fonts
Scrapbookers who want to personalize their scrapbooking layouts can use computer generated cursive fonts that mimic handwriting. You will find free cursive fonts to download at websites like scrapbookingfonts.com.

Related Links
Scrapbooking Journaling Tips

Best Love Quotes for Scrapbooking

2010-02-12T22:33:00.000-08:00

More than 50 of the best love quotes for scrapbooking to inspire you and make your scrapbooking pages really stand out. Use this list of scrapbooking quotes about love as an essential resource for scrapbooking. Keep it handy and use it often. Below are my all time favorite love scrapbooking quotes. Most of the love quotes are about romantic love and are great when you are scrapping about that special person in your life. Please remember to bookmark this page as I will add more love quotes for scrapbookers over time. Enjoy! And remember "Love conquers all!"

If you love something let it go. If it comes back to you it's yours. If it doesn't it never was. Unknown
Love is a fruit in season at all times, and in reach of every hand. Mother Teresa
In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities. Janos Arany
Life is the flower for which love is the honey. Victor Hugo
We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, the romance and you find out you still care for that person. Unknown
Where there is love there is life. Indira Ghandi
Love, and you shall be loved. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Love builds bridges where there are none. R. H. Delaney
Love comforteth like sunshine after rain. William Shakespeare
Life, the gift of nature, Love, the gift of life, a Kiss, the gift of Love. Unknown
In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony. Eva Burrows
Love is a fan club with only two fans. Unknown
Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired. Robert Frost
If music be the food of love, play on. William Shakespeare
Wherever you are - know I really love you. Wherever you've been --know I've been there too. Whatever you're doing when you need a friend call me, I'll be there just to listen to you. Unknown
For an instant, love can transform the world. Unknown
The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in. Morrie Schwartz
For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul. Judy Garland
Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it. Swedish Proverb
I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you. Roy Croft
Love is just love, it can never be explained. Unknown
Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live. Unknown
Love isn't finding a perfect person. It's seeing an imperfect person perfectly. Sam Keen
To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world. Brandi Synder
You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear. Unknown
Do not love me because i love you, love me for loving me. Unknown
We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love. Mother Teresa
There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.
George Sand
To love abundantly is to live abundantly Unknown
Live. Laugh. Love. Inspire. Create. Unknown
Love is, above all, the gift of oneself. Jean Anouilh
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller
Real love stories never have endings. Richard Bach
Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning. Unknown
Love is like an earthquake-unpredictable, a little scary, but when the hard part is over you realize how lucky you truly are. Unknown
Falling in love with someone isn't always going to be easy... Anger... tears... laughter.. It's when you want to be together despite it all. That's when you truly love another. I'm sure of it. Unknown
If I never met you, I wouldn't like you. If I didn't like you, I wouldn't love you. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't miss you. But I did, I do, and I will. Unknown
Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride whorthwhile. Franklin P. Jones
To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides. David Viscott
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love. Sophocles
This was love at first sight, love everlasting: a feeling unknown, unhoped for, unexpected. Thomas Mann
Love never claims, it ever gives. Mohandas K. Gandhi
All you need is love. John Lennon
Love is the enchanted dawn of every heart. Alphonse Marie de la Martine
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things. Corinthians 13:4-7
We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another. Thomas Merton
What a grand thing to be loved! What a grander thing still, to love! Victor Hugo
Two lives, two hearts joined together in friendship united forever in love. Unknown
Grow old along with me the best is yet to be. Robert Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Love is the closest thing we have to magic. Unknown
I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. Mother Teresa

Best Scrapbooking Page Titles Ideas Family

2010-01-12T22:17:00.000-08:00

If you are scrapbooking family pages you are going to love this list of suggested page titles for scrapbooking family pages. Find titles and sayings about family life that will complete your scrapbook pages. This list of family scrapbooking titles will be invaluable scrapbooking resource whenever you are creating scrapbook pages of family fun, family gatherings, family special occasions or family time. Print out this list and keep it near to your scrapbooking equipment. If prefer to create your individual titles you can use these scrapbooking title ideas to prompt you. And remember have fun!

This directory of family scrapbooking titles is by no means exhaustive. It is merely my favorite titles. I will be adding to this list as time goes by so please bookmark this page and check back often to find new titles added.

Family

We are family
A family for all seasons
A family of friends
A family stitched together with love
A family is a patchwork of love
A family is a haven
All in the family
Family blessings
Family counts
Family first
Family forever
Family fun
Family life
Family matters
Family memories
Family moment
Family moments
Family portrait
Family ties
Family tradition
Family is a gift that lasts forever
Families are a blessing
Families are forever
Families are tied together with heart strings
Families bloom with love
My family...my life
My family rocks
Life is a family
Love makes a family
Our family is a work of heart
Our family tree is rooted in love
Our family is a circle of love
Spending time with family
Growing family
Big family, big love
Family times are the best of times
Happy family
A day in the life of our family
A bouquet of flowers from our family garden
The gift of family
This is no ordinary family
The love of a family makes life beautiful

Love

Cherish the ones you love
Circle of love
Love is all you need
Love makes a family
Hearts tied with love
Live * Laugh * Love

Memories

Making memories
Memories of us
Moments made up memories
What memories are made Of
The memory lives on
Memories that last
Family memories

Generations

Generation gap
Through the generations
Generations of love
From generation to generation

Home

Home is where the heart is
It takes a family to make a home
Home is where my story begins
Even though you are in my home for a short time you are in my heart forever.

Happy

Happy campers
Happy family
Happiness is homemade
So happy together

Family Members

Forever sisters
Born sisters, forever friends
Sisters are soulmates
Daddy's little girl
Daddy's little angel
My Dad, my hero
Me and my daddy
Daddy's little helper
Just me and my dad
Father and son
Mother love
Like mother, like daughter
Mother and child
Daughters are the flowers of life
Daughters are little girls that grow up to be your best friend
Cousins by the dozens
My cousin, my friend
Parents are paid with hugs and kisses

Other

Circle of life
Life is a family
Moments worth remembering
These are the moments I live for
Together forever
The whole gang
Little treasures
Because being together is enough
Package deal
The way we were
We don’t remember days, we remember moments
Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments
Each of us will always be a part of the other
We may not have it all together but together we have it all

Links to Scrapbooking Titles, Scrapbooking Quotes and Scrapbooking Sayings
Memory Page Title Suggestion List
Best Sister Quotes for Scrapbooking
Best Friendship Quotes for Scrapbooking

Scrapbook Blogger Scrapbooking Template

2009-12-12T17:07:00.000-08:00

Scrapbook is a free Blogger scrapbooking template with a scrapbook style personal header. The Blogger template has a simple design and comes with 2 columns, a right sidebar, top menu, and search box. The color scheme is largely neutral with a white post area, woodgrain background and a dash of red for accent. This free Blogger template is suited to a scrapbooking blog along with an art blog, craft blog, handcraft blog or any other personal blog. Give your blog an individual look with this free Blogger scrapbook template.

Designed by Klodian

Features
2 columns, right sidebar, search box, top menu

Preview Template | Download Template
Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
MyScrapblog
Craftwork
Free Blogger Templates for Scrapbooking
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes

Memory Page Title Suggestion List

2009-12-11T05:19:00.000-08:00

Today I have decided to post a list of suggested titles for a scrapbook memory page or memory pages. Keep the list handy so that whenever you are creating scrapbooking pages of past events or of family and friends you are never short of a title. You can choose to use these titles as they are or as prompts to create your own unique titles to complement your scrapbooking memory pages.

Remember

I Remember ...
Do You Remember When?
Remember When?
A Day to Remember
A Lifetime to Remember
Remember
Remembering Mom (Dad, Grandma, Grandpa etc)

Moments

Moments
Everyday Moments
Golden Moments
Magic Moments
Special Moments
Moments Worth Remembering
Moments That Matter
Recalling Moments
Moments from the Past
A Moment in Time
Stolen Moments
Moments Made of Memories
Cherish Every Moment

Memories

Making Memories
Memories of You & Me
Every Memory Matters
Moments Made of Memories
What Memories Are Made Of
The Memory Lives On
Memories That Last

Story

My Story
The Story of Me
The Story of Us
The Secret Life of Us

Life

This is My Life
A Life Less Ordinary
A Lifetime of Love
A Lifetime of Service
A Life Lived to the Full
An Extraordinary Life
A Day in the Life of

Forget

Never Forget
Lest I Forget
Gone But Not Forgotten

Other

Days of Wine and Roses
Forever in My Heart
Salad Days

EM Free Photo Collage Software Review

2009-11-28T03:35:00.000-08:00

I recently tried out the E.M. Free Photo Collage Software which is a freeware program designed with scrapbookers in mind. In this article I review the features of this scrapbooking software program and show you how easy it is to use this software to create an interesting scrapbooking page at zero cost.

E.M. Free Photo Collage is a freeware digital scrapbooking program for making photo collages and digital scrapbooks.

The interface is easy to use and largely intuitive.

The program comes with a variety of backgrounds, frames and ready to use templates. Photos are added by double clicking or the drag and drop method. You can change the frame, the background or the effect with just a few clicks. Photos can be rotated or resized quickly and easily.

Collages can be saved as templates, wallpaper, projects or images. The program supports popular image formats such as .jpg, .bmp, .png, .gif, .tiff.

Likes: Ease of use. Most operations require only a few clicks to complete. Transparency feature to vary the opacity.

Dislikes: The lack of rulers to align images. The software comes with a meagre choice of templates and some of these are too kitsch to be useful. Fortunately you can make your own templates easily enough. The forum for this program is not utilized much so support is likely to be an issue although email support is offered.

How to Create a Scrapbooking Page Using EM Free Photo Collage
I created the following page in about 5 minutes after downloading this program and installing it on my computer. Here is a walkthrough of the steps to take to recreate this simple digital scrapbook layout:

Choose new project
Create a blank project
Choose canvas and select a solid background color
Select your background photo by double clicking on your image
Resize the image to match the canvas size
Adjust the opacity by sliding the transparency to around 115
Add next photo. A new layer will be created
Select the image and right click to choose select frame
Choose the plant folder and frame number 2
Position your photo in the bottom left corner
Add the next photo resizing it to fit in the bottom right corner
Set the frame by right clicking and choosing number 1 from the plant folder
Repeat for the next photo placing it in the top left corner
Add text if desired by clicking the text icon and choosing font, color and size
Use Preview to check your layout
Save your project
To share save your layout as a .jpg file

Summary
E.M. Free Photo Collage has some powerful features and a user-friendly interface. The program makes it straightforward to create your own template which is likely to be necessary as there are not many useable ready to use templates. All in all though E.M. Free Photo Collage is an easy to use digital scrapbooking program which is ideal for beginners and intermediate digital scrapbookers.

Related Links
Free Digital Scrapbooking Software

Free Digital Scrapbooking Software Programs

2009-11-27T17:14:00.000-08:00

Before you rush out and buy digital scrapbooking software take a moment to read this article which will give you an overview of some of the free scrapbooking software options available to you. This article discusses the main features of some freeware and shareware packages and will help you make an informed choice of digital scrapbooking software. My recommendation is to always try out any scrapbooking software before buying and make sure you are using the latest version.

With so many digital scrapbooking programs out there it is sometimes difficult to know what to buy. If you are a beginner you may be quite happy with a freeware program which has as a rule fewer options but may be perfectly adequate for your needs. For many beginners purchasing Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is likely to be overkill. Check out the photo editing suite that came with your digital camera. You may be surprised at the range of features included. I know I was when I discovered that Samsung Master came with sophisticated tools like clone, lasso and polygonal.

Some digital scrapbooking software is absolutely free. Freeware has no cost attached to it and can be used indefinitely. Other digital scrapbooking programs are available free for a short trial period only (usually about 30 days) thereafter you are required to purchase the software to continue using the program.

DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING SOFTWARE - FREEWARE
Scrapbook Flair
Price: $0.00 Freeware
System requirements: Windows XP, NT, 2000, ME & 98SE, Vista

At 60MB Scrapbook Flair is a large file to download. If you prefer you can opt to have the free CD shipped to you for $4.95 (USA) or $7.95 (International) instead.

With Scrapbook Flair you can make scrapbook pages from your digital photos in minutes. By downloading this digital scrapbooking software you will have access to backgrounds, embellishments and design templates with new content added regularly. Scrapbook Flair gives you intuitive photo editing capabilities (red eye, color/brightness adjustment, cool effects, etc.) too. The software supports popular scrapbooking sizes including 12" x 12" - 8" x 8" - 6" x 6" - 8.5" x 11".

When you sign up as a member you are awarded 10MB of online space for scrapbook pages (250 scrapbook layouts) and access to a huge scrapbooking community.

E.M. Free Photo Collage 1.30
Price: $0.00 Freeware
System requirements: Windows XP, 2000, 98, Me, NT, Vista, 256MB RAM

E.M. Free Photo Collage is free and easy-to-use software to help you make impressive photo collages and digital scrapbooks with your photos. You can select a favorite photo as background, arrange multiple photos on the paper, then apply operations to them, such as rotating, resizing, adding frames, changing position, changing overlay order, and merging them into an image with mask templates. In addition, you can use image effects to enhance your photos.

E.M. Free Photo Collage you can select a collage template or make your own to create gifts for your friends. E.M. Free Photo Collage lets you save in popular image formats such as .jpg, .bmp, .png, .gif, .tiff or make a wallpaper for your computer. Once saved your photo collages can be shared with others on MySpace, Facebook, Flickr, posted to a blog or emailed.

Easy Made Memories 2.1
Price: $0.00 Freeware
System requirements: Windows Vista and XP

With Easy Made Memories 2.1 you can turn your photos, videos, and audio clips into professional quality DVDs, complete with your own DVD disk and cover graphics. This free digital scrapbooking software includes over 2000 scraps, die cuts, backgrounds, borders, and audio clips. It is easy to import the movies from your digital camera, or narrate your scrapbook with your own voice and music.

This program seemed pretty good until I discovered that there was no way to burn to DVD and that the online ordering service didn't seem to work. My verdict is don't bother unless a new version of this program is released that allows you to burn to DVD from your computer.

DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING SOFTWARE - SHAREWARE
Photo Collage Maker
Price: $24.00 Shareware
Downloadable Free Trial Version available (30 runs)
System requirements: Windows

Photo Collage Maker is digital scrapbooking and photo collage software that you can use to create and print scrapbook layouts. With Photo Collage Maker you can enhance your photos with effects and spice up your creations with borders, frames, backgrounds, and clipart. The software supports most popular digital file formats including jpg, gif, tiff, etc. Both photos and clip art can be rotated, resized. The program offers the option of a variety of artistic photo effects and the facility to manipulate your photos using layers.

PhotoMix
Price: $29.00 Shareware
Downloadable Free Trial Version available
System requirements: Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP, Vista, 10MB free disk space, 128 RAM

PhotoMix is a digital scrapbooking and photo collage creation software which allows you to create scrapbooking layouts, digital collages, or calendars quickly and easily. PhotoMix comes with a huge range of templates to get you started. The scrapbooking software is easy to use and comes with comprehensive tutorials. In addition there are also graphics kits available for download that will help you create pages in minutes on themes like Thanksgiving, Halloween or Fall. Bear in mind though that most of the graphics kits aren't free and cost around $5.00 to download. In the trial version there is a limitation on the file formats that output can be saved to. For instance .jpg is only available in the full version.

Wondershare Scrapbook Studio 1.2.0
Price: $39.95 Shareware
Downloadable Free Trial Version available (30 days)
System requirements: Windows XP, Vista, 500MB free disk space, 256MB RAM

Wondershare Scrapbook Studio helps you to create a professional looking scrapbook. Wondershare Scrapbook Studio creations can be printed or shared with family and friends directly via E-mail or slideshow. The program includes backgrounds, embellishments, and ready-to-use scrapbook templates to help you create memories in minutes. The robust photo editing tool helps you crop, rotate and flip photos, add a frame, shadow, mask, text as well as special filter effects to photos. With this program you can create customized flash slideshows with soundtracks and eye-catching transitions. Please note that the trial version places an "Evaluation Copy" Watermark on the created collages.

Scrapbook Max 2.0
Price: $47.96 Shareware
Downloadable Free Trial Version available (30 days)
System requirements: Windows 7, Vista or XP, 5GB free disk space, 512 RAM

Scrapbook MAX is a digital scrapbook software program that can be downloaded from the internet for a free 30 day trial. Be aware though that the trial version contains only a fraction of the templates of the full program and also watermarks any pages output. Only when you buy the software will you be able to remove these watermarks.

With Scrapbook MAX you can turn your digital scrapbooking pages into photobooks and albums and make slideshows and movies. It is easy to share your online digital scrapbooking gallery on your blog, and your Facebook or MySpace pages. Scrapbook MAX allows you to edit your photos and add artistic effects to make individual scrapbooking pages. Also available for this program scrapbooking shapes, embellishments and expansion packs.

In this article I have discussed freeware and shareware options for free digital scrapbooking software. There are of course other programs on the market and I will be covering some of these in future articles.

Related Links
Top Digital Scrapbooking Software Review Comparisons

Scrapbook Extra Resources for Blogger Templates

2009-10-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

Did you know that scrapbook resources like post dividers, sidebar menu sets, backgrounds and headers are available for your Blogger scrapbooking blog? It is simple and easy to add scrapbook style post dividers, sidebar menu sets, backgrounds and headers to your existing Blogger template to lend style to your blog.

I have been out on the net again and found a great resource for scrapbook bloggers who want to add extras to their Blogger blog. Shabby Blogs have the following scrapbooking Blogger resources to download free:

16 free scrapbook post dividers for Blogger
18 free scrapbook headers for Blogger
6 free scrapbook sidebar menu sets for Blogger
70+ free scrapbook backgrounds for Blogger

Full instructions on how to add a background and how to add a post divider to your Blogger blog (Blogspot blog) are given by Shabby blogs.

Also on offer are sidebar menu title tags like this Everything Collection set:

If you want to replace your blog's header Shabby blogs give you the option of either photo or text headers:

Hope you have fun with these Blogger resources. Enjoy!

Free Blogger Scrapbook Template Memoriqu

2009-10-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

Memoriqu was designed as a Wordpress theme but has now been converted to Blogger (Blogspot). This free Blogger scrapbooking template has a simple design and a spacious, uncluttered feel. The Blogger theme comes with a scrapbook style header along with scrapbooking embellishments such as polka dot ribbons and check borders which add accent and flair. This free Blogger template is suited to a scrapbooking blog along with an art or craft blog or any other personal blog.

Memoriqu has a 2 column layout, right sidebar and 3 column footer. The Blogger template also comes with a Twitter button and RSS button. Have your blog stand out from the rest with this free Blogger scrapbook template.

Designed by Simply Wp Themes
Converted to Blogger by: Blogger Themes

Features
2 columns, right sidebar, RSS subscribe, Twitter button, fixed width, scrapbook theme, white, blue header and background, and light pink sidebar

Suitable for blogs with a scrapbooking, art, craft, handcraft, papercraft theme.

Preview Template | Download Template

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
MyScrapblog
Craftwork
Free Blogger Templates for Scrapbooking
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes

Digital Scrapbooking Online with Scrapblog

2009-09-29T05:20:00.000-07:00

Have you discovered Scrapblog yet? Scrapblog is a FREE online digital scrapbooking website where you can create one of a kind scrapbooking layouts to share online with your friends and family. Scrapblog gives you access to templates and resources which you can manipulate at will to produce scrapbooking layouts and multimedia presentations. This scrapbook software program also lets you print out your scrapbook creations on a range of media such as photo books, greeting cards and postcards.

Scrapblog has an intuitive interface that is easy to use. Simply upload photos from your computer or Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa, Webshots, Smugmug or Facebook and choose a template or create your scrapbook creation from scratch. There are lots of template choices categorized under popular headings like travel, pets, holidays etc. While some templates and embellishments come at a premium the vast majority are free to use. Changing backgrounds, images, stickers, and frames is a breeze with Scrapblog. I created this simple scrapbook layout on Scrapblog using a ready made template and adding my own photos, background, stickers and text. The whole process took less than 4 minutes including uploading the photos and I had no knowledge of the program beforehand.

Sharing all your favorite scrapbooking creations with friends and family is easy with Scrapblog. You can email the scrapbooking you create, share it on social networking sites like Facebook or Myspace or embed it into blogs like Wordpress and Blogger. Scrapblog offers lots of choices for sharing.

Although there are some limitations with the Scrapblog software and a cost on some items anyone can produce something of high quality to share with friends and family quickly and easily for FREE. Why not give Scrapblog a try today.

Free Wordpress Theme Scrapbook Memoriqu

2009-09-24T07:03:00.000-07:00

Memoriqu is a free Wordpress theme for scrapbooking that is a welcome release for Wordpress scrapbooking bloggers who are trying to find a fully featured scrapbook theme. Memoriqu has a 2 column layout, right sidebar, attractive post divider, and a fixed 3 column footer for less frequently used widgets. The 4 125x125 banner ad slots in the sidebar of this Wordpress theme are sure to make this template popular with scrapbookers wanting to make money from their blogs.

The Wordpress theme also comes Twitter ready, gravatar ready, widget ready, and threaded comment ready. Other welcome features of this Wordpress theme are the RSS button, social bookmarking, and built-in page navigation. The theme is compatible with Wordpress 2.8 and earlier versions.

The content area of the Memoriqu theme is white with a teal blue background and beige sidebar nicely highlighted with embellishments like ribbon and borders. If you are hunting for an attractive free Wordpress theme for scrapbooking make sure you try out this one. The free Wordpress theme is suitable for a personal blog, scrapbook blog, papercraft blog, craft blog or any women oriented personal pages.

Designed by Kathie and Andrew at SimplyWP

Features
2 column design, right sidebar, post divider, 3 column footer, page navigation, RSS button, social bookmarking, gravatar ready, widget ready, compatible with Wordpress 2.8 and earlier versions.

Preview Theme | Download Theme

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes
Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates
General Instructions about Installing a Wordpress Theme

Free Blogger Template Artwork Blogspot

2009-09-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

Art Template from the designer of Craftwork is a free Blogger template (free Blogspot template) which is suitable for a scrapbooking blog. While created for a personal blog with an art theme this free Blogger template can also be used for any personal blog with a craft, papercraft or scrapbooking theme. The Blogger theme is eyecatching with its floral design and scrapbooking embellishments which nicely balances the white content area and pale blue blockquote and comment styling. This Art Template has a 3 column layout with both a left and right sidebar, navigation menu, built-in site search box and a RSS subscribe button. In addition you get recent comments, recent posts and a links widget pre-installed. If you are on the lookout for a craft or scrapbooking Blogger template that will be both functional and stylish why not consider this Art Template?

Designed by EzWp Themes
Converted to Blogger by: FoolBlogger

Features
3 columns, left sidebar, right sidebar, top navigation menu, RSS subscribe, search box, fixed width, stylized floral design, white, recent posts widget, recent comments widget, links widget

Suitable for blogs with a scrapbooking, art, craft, handcraft, papercraft theme.

Best Sister Quotes for Scrapbooking

2009-09-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

Sister quotes are an essential resource for scrapbookers. Here's my list of what I consider to be the best scrapbooking quotes about sisters available. These are my favorite sister scrapbooking quotes. I have only included the best sister quotes on the net and have left out ones that I doubt are useable. Hope you enjoy my list of contempory and classical sister quotes for scrapbooking. By the way this list of sister quotes is not in any particular order even though it is numbered. Also I will adding to this list of best quotes for scrapbooking over time. Enjoy! Where would we be without our sisters right?

A sister is a forever friend. Unknown
Always my sister. Always my friend. Unknown
When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us? Pam Brown
Sisters are different flowers from the same garden. Unknown
There is no better friend than a sister. And there is no better sister than you. Unknown
Sisters by blood, friends by choice. Unknown
Is solace anywhere more comforting than in the arms of a sister?
Alice Walker
A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double. Toni Morrison
It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on... someone to tell on! Unknown
What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it? Jenny DeVries
Sisterhood is powerful. Robin Morgan
She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child. Barbara Alpert
An older sister is a friend and defender - a listener, conspirator, a counsellor and a sharer of delights. And sorrows too. Pam Brown
Big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life. Charles M. Schulz
Help one another, is part of the religion of sisterhood. Louisa May Alcott
A true sister is a friend who listens with her heart. Unknown
Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet. Vietnamese Proverb
Husbands come and go; children come and eventually they go. Friends grow up and move away. But the one thing that's never lost is your sister. Gail Sheeny
To have a loving relationship with a sister is not simply to have a buddy or a confident -- it is to have a soulmate for life. Victoria Secunda
I smile because you are my sister, I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it! Unknown
There's a special kind of freedom sisters enjoy. Freedom to share innermost thoughts, to ask a favor, to show their true feelings. The freedom to simply be themselves. Unknown
Sisters are for sharing laughter and wiping tears. Unknown
Chance made us sisters, hearts made us friends. Unknown
A sister is both your mirror - and your opposite. Elizabeth Fishel
Never look down on a sister except to pick her up. Unknown
Bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart - oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape - of your sister. Katherine Mansfield
Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow. Benjamin Disraeli
A sister is one who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. Unknown
A sister is the one friend who remains when all others walk away. Unknown
A sister is a gift from God, sent from above to make life worthwhile here below. Unknown
No one knows better than a sister how we grew up, and who our friends, teachers and favorite toys were. No one knows better than she ... Dale V. Atkins
For there is no friend like a sister, in calm or stormy weather, to cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands. Christina G. Rossetti
A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. Marion C Garretty
How wide and sweet and wild motherhood and sisterhood can be. Rebecca Wells
Our roots say we're sisters, our hearts say we're friends. Unknown
The best thing about having a sister is I always have a friend. Unknown
Sisters are blossoms in the garden of life. Unknown
In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips. Unknown
A sister shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams. Unknown
A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life. Isadora James

Related Links
Best Friendship Quotes for Scrapbooking

Free Wordpress Scrapbook Theme Brown Stitch

2009-09-15T05:26:00.001-07:00

For all the free Wordpress themes available on the net the free Wordpress scrapbooking themes are few and far between which is why I think you will be pleased with Brown Stitch. Brown Stitch is a free Wordpress scrapbooking theme that has been crafted especially for Wordpress scrapbooking bloggers but is also suitable for a craft blog or papercraft blog or a sewing blog even. Brown Stitch has a 2 column layout, right sidebar, attractive post divider, top navigation menu and a fixed 3 column footer. The color scheme of this free Wordpress theme is appealing - a white content area and brown and pale blue highlights. If you are looking for a simple and free Wordpress theme for a scrapbooking personal blog you are going to love Brown Stitch.

Designed by Kathie and Andrew at SimplyWP

Features
3 column design, right sidebar, post divider, top navigation menu, 3 column footer

Preview Template | Download Template | Template Support

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes
Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates
General Instructions about Installing a Wordpress Theme

Free Wordpress Theme Scrapbook Floral Day

2009-09-14T05:44:00.000-07:00

Scrapbook Floral Day is a free Wordpress scrapbooking theme that I am sure will please anyone looking for a craft, papercraft, sewing or scrapbook theme for their Wordpress blog. Scrapbook Floral Day comes with a 2 column design, right sidebar, post divider, top navigation menu and 3 column footer. This free Wordpress theme has an appealing white, brown and green color scheme which is sure to please. Ideal for a scrapbooking personal blog.

Designed by Kathie and Andrew at SimplyWP

Features
3 column design, right sidebar, post divider, navigation menu, 3 column footer

Preview Template | Download Template | Template Support

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes
Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates

Free Blogger Template Scrapbook Mania

2009-08-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

Scrapbook Mania, a free scrapbooking template (Blogspot template scrapbooking) is now available for Blogger blogs (Blogspot blogs). Converted from Wordpress this scrapbooking template has 2 columns, a right sidebar, and post divider between posts. Scrapbook Mania comes gravatar and widget ready and is ideal for a personal blog, craft blog, scrapbooking blog, papercraft blog or art blog.

Designed by Kathie and Andrew at SimplyWP
Converted to Blogger by: Cebong Ipiet

Features
2 columns, right sidebar, post divider, browser-tested

Preview Template | Download Template | Template Support

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates

Free Wordpress Theme Scrapbook Mania

2009-08-16T04:15:00.000-07:00

Less than two weeks ago Scrapbook Mania, a Wordpress scrapbooking theme was released. Scrapbook Mania has a 2 column design, right sidebar, and is gravatar and widget ready. This simple design is perfect for a personal blog, craft, scrapbooking, papercraft or art blog.

Designed by Kathie and Andrew at SimplyWP

Features
2 column design, right sidebar, post divider, browser-tested, page navigation, widget ready, gravatar ready, threaded comment ready.

Tested in major browsers (i.e. Firefox, IE7, IE8, Safari, Opera)
Compatible with latest Wordpress and older versions

Preview Template | Download Template | Template Support

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes
Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates

Scrapbook Blogger Template Paper Craft

2009-08-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

Scouting for free Blogger templates? I have just stumbled across Paper Craft, a very appealing free Blogger template (Blogspot template) that I am dying to tell you about. It was only released less than a week ago so this really is hot off the press. Converted from Wordpress Paper Craft has all the hallmarks of a premium template such as professional styling, 3 columns, and a navigation menu. Use it for scrapbooking, blogs about arts and crafts and general purpose personal blogs.

Features
3 columns, 2 right sidebars, navigation menu, RSS subscribe, search box, artistic styling

Designed by: Template Lite
Converted to Blogger by: Alvaris Falcon

Preview Template | Download Template | Template Support

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates

Best Friendship Quotes for Scrapbooking

2009-07-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

How often do you go hunting for friendship quotes for scrapbooking only to find a bunch of trite and overstated ones? That's why I have put together this handy list of some of my all time favorite useable friendship quotes for scrapbooking. Most of these are contempory with a few classical friendship quotes thrown in for good measure. While I have numbered this list the friendship quotations themselves are actually in no particular order. I am also including some links to sites with good stocks of friendship quotes. Enjoy!

To know someone here or there with whom you can feel there is understanding in spite of distances or thoughts expressed - That can make life a garden. Goethe
Friends are the sunshine of life. John Hay
Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow - Don't walk behind me, I may not lead - Just walk beside me and be my friend. Unknown
Your friends will know you better in the first minute they meet you than your acquaintances will know you in a thousand years. Richard Bach
A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. Unknown
A friend is a gift you give yourself. Robert Louis Stevenson
It is the friends that you can call at 4 A.M. that matter. Marlene Dietrich
A friend is someone who allows us the space and freedom to be. Debbie Alicen
My friend. You never expect too much of me. You are glad when I succeed but failure makes no difference to you. You give me all the help you can - but, more important, you are simply there. Wendy Jean Smith
My best friend is the one that brings out the best in me. Henry Ford
Oh, the comfort — the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person — having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
A friend by a phone call, a popping in, a chance meeting, a small unexpected surprise, puts a little jam on the day's bread and butter. J.R.C.
A friend never says "I told you so" - even when she did. Wendy Jean Smith
Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts. Margaret Lee Runbeck
A friend is someone who arrives when you have the flu with a bag of oranges, the thriller you wanted to read and a bunch of flowers. They put the flowers in a vase, make you a hot drink, do the washing up - and go. Pam Brown
Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. Anais Nin
Can miles truly separate us from friends? If we want to be with someone we love, aren't we already there? Richard Bach
Hold a true friend with both your hands. In a friend you find a second self. Isabelle Norton
"Are we going to be friends forever?" Asked Piglet. "Even longer", Pooh answered. A.A. Milne
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another "What you too? I thought I was the only one. C.S. Lewis
Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light. Helen Keller
Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything. Muhammad Ali
Good friends are like angels, you dont have to see them, to know they are there. Unknown
I always felt that the great high privilege, relief and comfort of friendship was that one had to explain nothing. Katherine Mansfield
What is a friend? I will tell you...it is someone with whom you dare to be yourself. Frank Crane
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Walter Winchell
The only way to have a friend is to be one. Ralph Waldo Emerson
A friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be somewhere else. Unknown
Love is temporary...but friends are forever. Kelly Wheeler
A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. Bernard Meltzer
Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends. Cindy Lew
Friends are like melons; shall I tell you why? To find one good you must one hundred try. Claude Mermet
Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.
Aristotle
Wherever you may be it is your friends who make your world. Unknown
Friends are the chocolate chips in the cookie of life. Unknown
A best friend is a sister that destiny forgot to give you. Unknown
The real test of friendship is: can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple? Eugene Kennedy
A circle is round it has no end, that's how long I want to be your friend! Unknown
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. Henri Nouwen
Some people come into our lives,leave footprints on our hearts,and we are never the same. Unknown
The most beautiful discovery that true friends can make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. Unknown
A friend is someone who reaches out for your hand...and touches your heart. Unknown
The language of friendship is not words but meanings. Henry David Thoreau
Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them. Francesco Guicciardini
Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait to hear the answer. Unknown
A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails. Unknown
A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down. Arnold H. Glasow
A joy shared is a joy doubled. Goethe
The best mirror is an old friend. Proverb
Hold a true friend with both your hands. Nigerian Proverb
Of all the things which wisdom provides to make life entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship. Epicurus
Love is blind, but friendship is clairvoyant. Unknown
A friend can tell you things you don't want to tell yourself. Frances Ward Weller
A friend is a person before whom I may think aloud. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Friends are like quilts: Lives pieced together, stitched with memories, and bound by love. Unknown
Friendship begins because even without words we understand how someone feels. Joan Walsh Anglund
A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away. Arabian Proverb
Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts. Margaret Lee Runbeck
She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order. It's good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind. Toni Morrison
I believe in angels, the kind Heaven sends. I am surrounded by angels, but I call them my best friends. Unknown
Friendship needs no words - it is solitude delivered from the anguish of loneliness. Dag Hammarskjold
A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world. Leo Buscaglia
Friendship is the golden thread that ties all hearts together. Unknown
Friend - a person known well to another and regarded with liking, affection and loyalty. Collins English Dictionary

Friendship Quotes Links

Hope you have enjoyed this list of friendship quotations for scrapbookers. I will be adding to this list of scrapbooking friendship quotes as time goes on so please remember to bookmark this page so you can return easily. If you have a favorite friendship quote that isn't on the list but you reckon it ought to be please let me know.

Free Wordpress Theme Green Scrapbook Diary

2009-07-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a great free scrapbooking theme for a Wordpress blog then consider the Green Scrapbook Diary template. Made with scrapbooking bloggers in mind, the Green Scrapbook theme has a nicely styled and visually pleasing layout. The 3 columns which includes 2 right sidebars creates plenty of room for all the widgets you might want to add. The Green Scrapbook Diary template has also been converted into a free Blogger Scrapbooking template if you need this theme in the Blogger (Blogspot) format.

Designed by Kathie and Andrew at SimplyWP

Features
3 column design, right sidebar, post divider

Preview Template | Download Template | Template Support

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes
Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates

Free Joomla Scrapbook Template RedEvo

2009-07-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

RedEvo is a free scrapbooking template for Joomla 1.5. RedEvo has been kicking around for a while now but may still be of interest to scrapbookers wanting to use the Joomla content management system.

Features
2 column design, default Joomla menu
License: GNU/GPL

Download Template | Template Support

Related Links
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes
Free Blogger Scrapbooking Templates

Free Scrapbooking XML Blogger Template

2009-06-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

Mode Parisienne is a free XML Blogger Scrapbooking Template released last year. If you are looking for a very simple 2 column design you may find this Blogger template suits you.

Features
2 column design, white background, right sidebar

Designed by: Yummy Lolly

Preview Template | Download Template | Template Support

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Other Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates
Green Scrapbook Diary
MyScrapblog

Blogger Scrapbooking Template Craftwork

2009-06-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

The number of free Blogger scrapbooking templates on the internet is pretty limited. After combing the net I found Craft Work, a free Blogger scrapbooking template (free Blogspot scrapbooking template) designed for personal blogs with an art, craft, sewing or scrapbooking theme. The design of this Blogger theme with its stylized flowers, buttons, hessian and stitching embellishments is absolutely gorgeous and nicely offsets the white content area. Craft Work has a 2 column layout, right sidebar, navigation menu, built-in site search box and a RSS subscribe button. If you are looking for that special template for a craft or scrapbooking Blogger blog you will enjoy this simple yet beautifully crafted free Blogger template.

Designed by EzWp Themes
Converted to Blogger by: Blogger FAQs

Features
2 columns, right sidebar, top navigation menu, RSS subscribe, search box, fixed width, stylized flowers, stitching

Suitable for blogs with a scrapbooking, art, craft, handcraft, papercraft, sewing theme.

Preview Template | Download Template

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
MyScrapblog
Free Blogger Templates for Scrapbooking
Free Wordpress Scrapbooking Themes

Blogger Scrapbooking Template MyScrapblog

2009-05-31T07:21:00.000-07:00

Since finding the free Blogger Scrapbooking Template - Green Scrapbook Diary I have found another free Blogger template called MyScrapblog. MyScrapblog is in brownish khaki tones with a tartan accent.

Features
3 column design, brown, fixed width, right sidebar

Designed by: Ipietoon

Preview Template | Download Template | Template Support

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Green Scrapbook Diary
Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates

Blogger Template Green Scrapbook Diary

2009-05-25T06:11:00.000-07:00

If you have a scrapbooking Blogger Blogspot blog then you may be surfing the net looking for free Blogger scrapbooking templates.

I recently came across a scrapbook-themed free Blogger template called the Green Scrapbook Diary which was designed by Kathie and Andrew at SimplyWP and bloggerized by Ipietoon

Features
3 column design, adapted from Wordpress, right sidebar

Preview Template | Download Template | Template Support

Please note: This template is released under Creative Commons License. If you decide to use this template please do not remove the credits in the footer.

Related Links
Free Blogger Templates - MyScrapBlog
Free Scrapbooking Blogger Templates

List of Scrapbooking Clip Art Online

2009-05-17T16:23:00.000-07:00

You can never have enough scrapbooking clip art can you? Here is a list of some websites where you will find graphics and clip art on a variety of themes such as travel, nature, kids, babies, holidays, food all suitable for scrapbooking.

Scrapbookscrapbook
Free downloadable graphics for your album pages. Customisable graphics for your particular layout. Themes include: nature, holidays, school, kids, babies, food.

HP Scrapbooking
Free printable layouts, artwork, and projects for scrapbooking. Travel and general use.

Cute Colors
Free scrapbooking clip art with particular emphasis on babies and kids. Cute and lovable images such as pandas and bunnies.

Free Digital Scrapbooking Kits Online

2009-05-10T16:19:00.000-07:00

Whether you are new to digital scrapbooking or a seasoned scrapbooker you will find some great free digital scrapbooking kits online. Many designers give away digital scrapbooking kits to encourage you to buy which is good news if you want a quality kit to play around with and enjoy.

A word of warning about downloading free digital scrapbooking kits. Only download from scrapbooking websites you trust (those below are reputable). Many scrapbooking websites require that you join their mailing list or get a free gift of digital scrapbooking kits if you become a paid member. Watch out for the free offer that isn't really free at all.

Here is a list of websites to go to online to find free digital scrapbooking kits. There is no catch with these free digital scrapbooking kits. These digital kits are absolutely FREE.

Shabby Princess
Offers free "shabby chic" scrapbooking digital kits to download and enjoy. Please note file sizes are quite large and can take a while to download.

Two Peas in a Bucket
More than 70 free sample digital scrapbooking kits to download

Free Digital Scrapbooking
Lots of free mini digital scrapbooking kits to download

Scrapbookers List of Fonts Online

2009-05-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

There are literally thousands of true type fonts available to spice up your scrapbooking pages. Whether you are scrapbooking digitally or using traditional methods you will surely find the exact font that will do justice to your pages.

I find it useful to download fonts to my computer so I always have some basic choice of fonts on hand if I need them.

Here is a handy list for scrapbookers of good places to find collections of fonts for scrapbooking online.

Two Peas in a Bucket
More than 20 true-type fonts specifically for scrapbooking to download and enjoy.'

dafont.com
A huge collection of fonts for general personal use. Searchable database.

1001 Free Fonts
An assortment of fonts downloadable for personal use.

Simply The Best Fonts
Browse by alphabetical font listing or by font category through a large range of fonts.

Urban Fonts
Preview and download a collection of free fonts in a range of styles

Simple Photo Matting for Scrapbookers

2009-04-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

Most photographs can be enhanced by fixing them to coloured cardstock. This process, known as matting, is one of the most simple and effective ways to display your photographs.

Mounting a photograph on cardstock is easy. Begin by choosing a colour which complements or contrasts with the basic colours in the photo. A mat ought to add interest and definition. If you are unsure what colour to pick most photographs work well with strong plain backgrounds. Black can be particularly effective. Once you feel confident in your choice you might like to experiment more with patterns to produce original and eye-catching effects.

Simple Steps to Mat a Photo

Apply tape, photo stickers or adhesive to the back of your photograph.

Fix photo to your chosen cardstock by placing it on one corner. Line up the edges of the photo with the edges of the cardstock. Ensure that you leave a small border on the bottom and side of the photo.

Once the photo is adhered to the cardstock use scissors to cut around the image. Make sure you leave enough of a border of backing card to work with.

Finally trim remaining sides of cardstock to the same amount of border all the way around. A guillotine, if you have one, is very useful for this purpose.

You are now ready to use your matted photo in your layout.

Handy Scrapbooking Tools for Beginners

2009-04-17T15:21:00.000-07:00

Beyond the basic equipment for the beginner there are other handy items that can be added over time to you scrapbooking kit. Here is a list of some useful tools:

Rubber Stamps
There are a variety of rubber stamps on the market for scrapbooking and cardmaking. Stamps can be used to add decoration to the page and for titles and journalling. Inkpads come in different colours. Make sure you only buy inkpads that are acid free and contain permanent ink.

Craft Knife
Craft knifes can be a godsend for cutting out titles. Make sure you use a cutting mat at all times. If you choose a cutting mat with a grid you will find it makes cutting and measuring much easier.

Paper Trimmer
One of my favourite scrapbooking items is my paper trimmer. It cuts paper and card up to 12x12. I use the Kaiser brand which has a variety of interchangeable blades but there are many others on the market to choose from. The beauty of interchangeable blades is that I can easily get the kind of look I want such as scalloping with a flick of a switch.

Eyelet Tool
If you intend to add a lot of embellishments to your pages you might find an eyelet tool useful. You can buy a kit that includes a hole punch with a variety of different hole sizes.

Embellishments
Embellishments add interest and flair to your pages depending on your theme and the look you are hoping for. Try buttons, paper, fabric such as ribbons and twill tape, tags, wire and metal.

Scrapbookers Guide to Cropping Photos

2009-04-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

Not every photo that you will want to use in your scrapbooking pages will be perfect. Once processed you might be disappointed to find that your best pictures have distracting backgrounds or other features that detract from the overall quality or effect you are looking for. One very simple way to immediately improve your photos is to crop them.

Cropping is a very easy technique whereby unwanted details of the photo are eliminated leaving only the parts of the image that are desired. Professionals use heavy pieces of black card cut at right angles which are placed on the photograph to help them decide how much of the photograph to crop. Simply by moving the corners closer together different amounts of cropping of the image can be tested. Once the desired result is achieved the corner points are marked and joined on the image with a sharp pencil. Using the pencil lines as guides the image is then cropped with a paper trimmer or guillotine.

You can achieve great effects with cropping too by creating your own "croppers."

How to Make Your Own Pair of Croppers
Using stiff black cardstock and starting in the righthand corner cut out one right angle measuring 10cm x 2.5cm. Then repeat this process using the same dimensions as before but this time starting at the bottom lefthand corner. You will then have two right angles to use with your smaller photographs to help you with your cropping decisions. Croppers can be any size you wish. Another useful size for larger photographs is 15cm x 3cm.

Create a Scrapbooking Inspiration Book

2009-03-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

Inspiration books can be one of the most useful tools for scrapbooking. I carry a book around with me where ever I go and jot down ideas as they come to me. A few hurriedly scribbled notes is enough for me to make sure that a wonderful idea doesn't disappear into the ether. I know others who keep an inspiration book handy too and they swear by it.

Your inspiration book doesn't have to be anything fancy. I like a book with unlined pages so that I can sketch a page layout easily. I like to tear out ideas from magazines and other places and paste them into my book. It is a great place to keep those inspirational quotes and great one-liners that you come across too.

Next time you are at the store pick up a book and make it your own. You'll be glad you did.

Scrapbook Your Childhood and Remember

2009-03-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

Scrapbooking your childhood memories can be very powerful. Writing things down and looking at old photos is a trigger for many memories to come flooding back. How easy these memories can get lost in the busyness of our lives. Why not capture these in a childhood memory album and preserve those memories for yourself and future generations to enjoy?

Getting Started

Choose a 12x12 album for this project. Chances are you have lots of pictures you want to include and a smaller album will limit you too much.

Start a timeline and place the most significant events of your life on it. Collect key photos that match various life events and experiences. Very likely you will be presenting your album chronologically but consider other ways to catalogue your memories such as themes. I have seen some wonderful albums created using themes such as my school, my friends, family vacations, our house etc.

Keep a notebook and take time to jot down memories as they come to you. What stories do others tell about you? Did you have favourite ones as a child? You may need to ask other family members for their thoughts and ideas. Once you get started you'll be surprised about how much comes back to you. Give this project some thought after all you are investing in you. If you do I'm sure you'll be pleased with the result.

Journalling starters to get you thinking about your childhood

Your earliest memory, your house(s), your room, holidays and vacations, schools, neighbours, family members, friends, favourite hobbies and pasttimes, achievements, clubs, sports, memorable people, favourite foods, favourite songs, favourite toys and belongings, favourite clothes.

This article has provided some practical advice to get you started on a memory album of your childhood including journalling starters, timelines, album choice.

Other Creative Projects
Create a Free Scrapbooking Blog

Create a Free Scrapbooking Blog

2009-03-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

A great way to showcase your scrapbooking to friends and family is to create a free scrapbooking blog at Blogger.com (Blogspot.com). You can create a blog and your friends and family will be able to read all about your activities and get to see some of your scrapbooking in the process. Blogging is easy with the powerful software provided absolutely free by Blogger.com. Start building your blog today and you will be pleased you took on this creative project.

What is a Blog?
A blog which is short for weblog is an online diary where you can regularly post commentaries, tell stories, describe events and happenings using text, pictures and video. This site is an example of a blog. My object is to inform and share knowledge about scrapbooking to anyone who visits. Your blog may be specifically for invited guests only or open it to the whole world. It's up to you.

Some of the Main Features of Blogger.com

Simple user-friendly interface
No restrictions on bandwidth
Unlimited video storage using YouTube
Photo storage using Picasa Web Album (1 GB)
Support for Mobile blogging
Powerful blogging platform
User advertising banners and Google Adsense allowed

How Do I Get an Account at Blogger.com?
Anyone can sign up at Blogger.com. If you already have a Google account (eg gmail email address) you will find the process of signing up to Blogger.com very easy since Google owns the Blogger platform. The advantage of using your existing Google account is that you can gain instant access to other Google Services such as Picasa Web Albums and Google Reader. If you don't have a Google Account it is easy to apply for one during the sign up process to Blogger.com.

Once you have a Google account you are ready to sign on at Blogger.com. Simply direct your browser to Blogger.com and click on the "Create an Account" button.

Setting Up an Account at Blogger.com
Setting up your blog is a 3 step process: creating an account, naming your blog and choosing a template. You will be prompted for a name which you will use to sign all of your blog posts. As you will see your email address becomes your account name. Once you have created an account you will be free to create as many blogs as you wish using the one account.

Naming your blog requires some thought. Choose a name that is short, memorable and is associated with your blog theme. Long names are difficult to remember and are therefore best avoided. If possible use a keyword or phrase for your blog in the blog title.

The next choice you will be asked to make is to select a template. This can be changed at a later date so don't worry if you are uncertain about your choice at this stage. Choose the template that most closely resembles the look and feel of the site you wish to create. There are a few scrapbooking templates available free on the internet like the one I am using so don't worry too much about the look at this stage. On this site I blog about scrapbooking templates as they are released so check back here often for updates.

Configuring Blogger.com Settings

Basic Settings
Before launching into your first post you will need to set up a few blog settings. From the "Settings" tab click on the "Basic" link and enter the blog title you wish to use and a short description of your site on the page which appears. Make sure you select no to the questions let search engines find your blog and list your blog in blogger if you want your blog to be private. Save these settings by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page.

Formatting
Under the "Formatting" link you will need to adjust the date format and time for your blog according to your geographical location. Don't forget to save these changes.

Commenting
In the "Comments" section you can control how people can comment on your blog. If you want your blog to be private then set comments to members only otherwise set to Anyone. Set the Moderate Comments option to always if you are allowing your blog to be viewed by everyone otherwise you will receive unwelcome spam.

Permissions
You can choose to keep your blog private, invite readers to visit your blog or open your blog up to anyone and everyone.

Once these basic settings are configured you will be in a position to start making posts to your blog. Use the preview button often to help you confirm your changes are successful.

For more information on customising your blog refer to Blog Know How

Essential Supplies for Scrapbooking Beginners

2009-02-25T16:38:00.000-08:00

Many people think that they need a lot of equipment to scrapbook but a beginner can get by with only a few essential items. Here's a list to get you on your way at very little expense.

Scissors
Ensure that whatever scissors you buy are sharp and easy to use. I find a small sharp pair for cutting around lettering and small shapes useful. Also it is handy to have a larger pair for general cutting.

Adhesive
Choose eiither double-sided tape or photo stickers. Photo stickers are easy use and are suitable for photographs. They come on a runner which makes them easy to handle. Glue dots can be useful for sticking down heavy card. What ever adhesive you choose make sure it is acid free and archive safe.

Pens
Acid free permanent scrapbooking pens are readily available and relatively cheap. A fine tip and a thicker tip for journalling and decorating pages will be enough to get you started. There a range of colours available but black is probably the most useful colour.

Trimmer or Guillotine
A guillotine is useful for trimming card and cropping photographs. You will get much straighter edges than what can be achieved with scissors.

Card and Paper
Make sure that any card you buy is acid and lignin free to prevent deterioration of your precious photographs. If you don't you will find your photographs turning yellow and fading as the chemicals in the card and paper eat away at them.

Albums
Albums are available in different sizes. For a beginner the standard 12x12 album size is a good choice. Scrapbooking albums are acid free, photo-safe and are usually marked archival quality. They are a bit more expensive than other kinds of photo albums but it is worth paying a little more to get an album which will protect your photographs from premature aging. Don't try to economise on this. It really is not worth it.

Guide to Scrapbooking Your First Page

2009-02-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

Are you new to scrapbooking and not sure where to begin? Scrapbooking is a fun and engrossing hobby but it can also be a bit overwhelming at first. That's why I've written this simple guide to walk you through the process of creating your first scrapbooking page. Let's get started.

The key to good scrapbooking is ORGANISATION. Remember the more organised you are the better the flow. This is particularly important if you have time constraints. There is nothing more annoying than sitting down to scrap only to find that you have forgotten an essential item. If you are a person who likes lists you might find it helpful to make one to manage your project but this is a matter of individual style and ways of working.

Photos

Gather together the photos you would like to display on the page. You probably have more than you need. That's OK because you can narrow your selection later. Choose the best images and any that simply must be included. Any photos left over can be stored in another album elsewhere or given away to family or friends.

Until you are confident it may be best to start with photos that can easily be replaced in case you make a mistake that you can't readily rectify. Adopting this strategy will give you the confidence to just have a play around without fear of getting it wrong which is an important creative principle.

Journaling

Consider your journaling carefully. What would you like to say about these photos? Do you want to tell a story? Give the basic facts? What feeling do you want to convey? Write down your ideas. Make notes. This will help jog your memory. Are there facts you need to check up on? If so do this before you start your page.

The aim of good journaling is to say enough about what is occurring to inform but not overshadow the photos or bombard anyone looking at the page with too many facts. Telling a story is a very effective journaling technique. Make your page personal to you. Your family and friends will want to know the story behind the photos. Journaling is best when its kept simple but make sure you cover the basics:

Describe what is happening in the photos

Include the dates the photos were taken or the events occurred

Name the people/places in the photos

Tell the story in you own hand. Handwriting makes your journaling more personal. Later on you can try out computer journaling but for now stick with pen and ink

Buying Your Scrapbooking Supplies
Scrapbooking supply stores can be a bit daunting at first but contrary to popular belief you don't need to spend a whole lot to get started. Think about what you need before visiting the store so that you stay within your budget and don't buy items that aren't really necessary. If you have a theme in mind such as a wedding or holiday that this page will form part of you might consider buying extra supplies to ensure consistency.

To get started you are going to need:

An album
12x12. Make sure it is archival safe and acid free

Adhesive
Photo corners on a runner or adhesive tape. Acid and lignin free.

Cardstock
Buy individually or in a small pack so that you only buy what you are going to use.

Stickers (Optional)
Useful for titling and to enhance theme.

Embellishments
Embellishments such as die cuts, brads etc. Make sure they suit your theme.

Many beginners find that a scrapbooking kit is a good way to start off. Kits take the headache out of shopping for your scrapbooking supplies especially if you are struggling to coordinate items. Usually all of the above apart from the adhesive are included in a kit making it cost effective. An added advantage is that kits contain papers both coloured and patterned along with embellishments which all match each other. Read more about basic equipment.

Designing Your Scrapbook Page

If you are new to scrapbooking it can be helpful to take a look at pages created by others. There are a variety of scrapbooking magazines on the market many of which include quite detailed descriptions of the resources used to create the page. Your local library is a good place to start if you are in need of inspiration.

Layout is one of the most important aspects of scrapbooking. Before adhering any pictures to the page try out different positions until you are happy with the arrrangement. Ensure you leave enough room for your journalling and any embellishments you want to include.

If you are struggling with the layout there are some good resources on the net. Try our web resources section for links to sites providing layouts and sketches suitable for most types of project.

Layouts are only a guide to get you underway. Remember you have the freedom to change the design to suit your own particular needs. If you need to add extra journalling or substitute a larger image for smaller photos go right ahead.

After you have decided on a layout that you are happy with assemble the page. You may need to do this in a particular order depending on the desired effect. Take your time putting it all together to ensure accuracy. Measure distances and ensure that all elements on the page are properly aligned before sticking them down. Finally pop your page into a plastic sleeve from your album to protect it from accidental soiling.

This article describes how to go about putting your first scrapbooking page together from shopping for supplies to adhering your photos and embellishments to the page.

6 Main Elements of Scrapbooking Layouts

2009-02-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

There are six main elements in a scrapbooking layout. A scrapbooking page usually includes photos, matting, a title, journalling, embellishments, borders.

Photo or Photos
Photos are the backbone of your layout. A scrapbooking layout has at least one photo depicting an event or feeling. Use only your best photos as poor (eg out of focus, badly framed, distracting backgrounds) detract from the overall effect.

Matting
Matting refers to a piece of cardstock used to accentuate a photo. The cardstock is placed underneath the photo to create an all-around border effect. This helps the photo stand out from other elements in the layout and therefore grab the viewer's attention.

Matting the focal point photo is a very effective technique to add interest to your page. Or you can choose to matt all the photos in the layout and either add a different colour of matt to your focal point photo or double or triple matt it for emphasis. Plain or patterned paper can be used depending on the effect you want.

Title
Choose your title carefully. A good title sums up or highlights the theme of the page. It should be snappy and add punch to your page. Simple words, phrases, place names, names of people and sayings can all be used successfully as titles.

A title can be placed in many different positions on the page not just in the top position. The point of a title is to catch the attention of anyone looking at your page. A title is an important element as it helps to add balance to your page. Our eyes are used to scanning a page for the title so place your title in a position that will draw the viewer's eye to it.

Titles can made out of just about anything. Beginner scrapbookers will find stickers, die cuts, stencils, cut outs and computer generated fonts are all good for titling. Consider using your own handwriting for a more personal touch.

Journalling
Journalling expands or explains the story depicted in your photos. It fills in the details for anyone looking at your pages. For this reason your journalling should cover the bases so that the viewer will be informed about what is occurring in the photos without having to ask the what, why, when, who and how types of questions. Short descriptions, letters, captions, quotes, song lyrics, poems and verses are all possible journalling mediums.

Journalling can be set out in a variety of effective ways. The easiest method for the beginner is to write directly on the background paper. Other choices include writing in journaling boxes using cardstock and on patterned papers, vellum or other textured papers. If you need to keep your journalling more private consider placing it in a pocket on the page.

Embellishments
Scrapbooking pages can be accented with a variety of embellishments. These add interest and highlight the page visually. Types of suitable embellishments include stickers, buttons, ribbons, brads, eyelets, silk flowers, and slide mounts to name a few. Embellishments are most effective when kept to a minimum. Be careful not to overshadow your photos and journalling with too many embellishments which take the viewer's attention from the page.

Photo corners can add another decorative element to your pages. When placed at each corner of the photo they help to draw the viewer's eye to the photo. Ribbons and brads can also be used to create a similar focal point.

Borders
Borders can be added to the sides, top and bottom of the layout to add visual interest. Decorative borders can be created out of many materials including cardstock, patterned paper, fabric, tags, charms, metal and many more.

Now that you have learned the elements that make up a scrapbooking layout you are now ready to have some fun creating your scrapbooking pages.