Michele Cardello asked:




Creative scrapbooking has taken the world by storm. It’s relaxing, fun, social… and, let’s face it, incredibly addictive! After all, what scrapbooker doesn’t smile with pride when she or he finishes a decorative project?

If you have the talent to create eye-catching, creative scrapbooks, you can actually turn your hobby into a lucrative creative scrapbooking career. In this three-part series, we’ll show you some of the secrets to running a home-based creative scrapbooking company that regularly adds extra coins to your coffers!

Why Creative Scrapbooking?

People from all walks of life have photos and mementoes cluttering their homes. They’d love to organize and arrange them, but don’t have the time (or, in some cases, the ability.) That’s where you, as a professional scrapbooker, can step in!

Through creative scrapbooking, you can create delightful, entertaining, and touching memory books that will be certain to have a very long shelf life. Imagine… your scrapbook creations could someday become precious family heirlooms passed down from generation to generation!

What Types of Scrapbooks Sell?

Creative scrapbooking is an incredibly versatile field because you have virtually no boundaries. Graduation scrapbooks, family tree scrapbooks, baby scrapbooks, wedding scrapbooks, and achievement scrapbooks are only a few of the countless styles of creative scrapbooking inventions you can market.

Use your imagination; anything that’s relatively flat can go into a scrapbook, so the sky’s the limit.

Can Scrapbooking Really Be Profitable?

Creative scrapbooking, as with any legitimate business, won’t make you rich overnight. But if you’re determined and plan your creative scrapbooking operation pragmatically, you can absolutely make money from this burgeoning industry.

Best of all, creative scrapbooking is a low overhead industry. You’ll need to start with a modest amount of scrapbooking supplies, but you can build your stock over time thanks to fast shipping and wholesale prices offered at Internet scrapbooking supply stores.

How Can I Start Professionally Scrapbooking?

Obviously, the first step to starting a creative scrapbooking company (even one with a single employee, aka “you”) is to develop a business plan. This document should include an overview, financial information (including income and expense projections, marketing ideas, local competition statistics, and realistic growth rates.

Though you may not be able to find exact data to work into your creative scrapbooking business plan, try to be as complete as possible. The more information you include, the better your chances of success.

Do I Need Any Formal Training?

Though there are no credentials needed to call yourself a creative scrapbooking pro, you may want to take a few community courses on scrapbooking design. Doing so will keep you “in the know” as far as the latest products and trends are concerned; it will also provide you with fresh ideas to propose when working with clientele.

What Do I Need in Terms of Stock?

One of the most essential items you’ll need to start a creative scrapbooking venture is scrapbooking paraphernalia. Chances are, you already have some supplies around your home, but if they aren’t organized, it’s time do so.

Invest in some bins (dollar stores have a plethora of options) and label them according to scrapbooking supplies, such as stickers, papers, backgrounds, adhesives, albums, markers, scrapbooking magazines (for inspiration), and borders. This way, you’ll always know exactly how much of each scrapbooking necessity you have and can order more before you run out.

Do I Need to Rent a Space for My Scrapbooking Business?

Though it would certainly be wonderful to have an “offsite” locale for your creative scrapbooking enterprise, it’s more likely that you’ll need to make due with your current digs.

Anything from a corner of your family room to a renovated closet can serve as your creative scrapbooking “headquarters”. Just make certain that you have enough space and light to work your magic and store your scrapbooking supplies!

What Will I Tell My Family?

If you’re worried about “breaking” the news to your family that you’re setting off on an entrepreneurial scrapbooking journey, you’re not alone. Many first-time business owners are reticent to reveal their plans to loved ones for fear that their significant others will not be supportive.

With that said, it’s critical to the long-term success of your creative scrapbooking business that you have the “buy in” of your kin. So take a deep breath, muster up all your courage, and boldly state, “I’m going to become a professional scrapbooker! And when the money starts coming in, the first dinner out is on me!”

The Next Step

Are you eager to start your creative scrapbooking adventure? In our next article, we’ll explore how to set your prices and market and advertise your home-based scrapbooking services…



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Anna Hart asked:




Such people eventually reach a point where they begin to despair, and question how to organize a scrapbook room. They don’t want to give up the craft, but it takes so much space.

Perhaps you find yourself in the same predicament. Maybe you are wondering how to organize your scrapbook room.

How to Organize a Scrapbook Room

Wondering how to organize a scrapbook room, you may have started sorting supplies into separate boxes. That kept them organized, but not readily accessible. Also, the scrapbooking tools weren’t in boxes.

Perhaps these suggestions will help.

Divide a scrapbook room into two areas. The first area will be for working on scrapbooks. The second will be for storage.

1. Work Area: This area will need a scrapbooking table or desk. The scrapbooking work area should be large enough to hold a large album, papers, photos, other elements, and tools. If you enjoy working with other family members or friends, select a scrapbooking table that provides space for 3 or 4 workers. Provide comfortable chairs for your scrapbook room so that your back is supported while working. Good lighting is also essential in a scrapbooking work area. Add a big wastebasket!

2. Storage Area: Adequate, organized storage in a scrapbook room will make your work easier and keep your supplies fresh and clean. There are many ways to store scrapbooking supplies. You can purchase furniture made especially for scrapbook rooms. Scrapbooking desks offer drawers of various sizes to fit the most common supplies. Scrapbooking paper storage units are often similar to those used in large offices. Clear plastic bins that stack are very useful. You will need different kinds of storage for different products so they will stay organized.

Once you have divided your scrapbook room and acquired the necessary furnishings, it is time to organize things.

Scrapbooking albums are probably your largest items. Keep them on a bookshelf where you can easily select the one on which you want to work. If you have more than one size, arrange them by height to give your scrapbook room an organized look to go with your organizational efforts. If you have idea books or instructional books on scrapbooking, put them on the bookshelf. Magazines can be stored there, too. Magazine holders from am office supply store will keep them tidy.

Scrapbooking papers and cardstock are the next largest items. These can be organized in a Paper Station such as scrapbooking stores use. Or store them in clear stacking plastic bins. Sort all of your papers and get them safely out of the way before moving to another scrapbooking element.

Sort your paper and cardstock in a way that fits your creativity. Some people sort by color, placing all blues in one location, yellows in another, etc. Others prefer to sort according to occasion. Papers related to nostalgic themes go together. Papers that fit a sports theme go in another storage bin. Baby scrapbooking paper goes in a third.

Once papers are sorted and put in storage bins or drawers, label the bins so that you will know at a glance what is in each.

Kits should be stored separately from your paper and cardstock. Your scrapbook room might have a dedicated box or drawer just for kits. Keep them in their wrappers if you want to be sure you have all the pieces when you are ready to use them. Label your kit box or drawer.

Ribbons can tangle and fray if not stored properly. Invest in a ribbon holder for your scrapbook room – more than one if you have a lot of ribbons. Make sure each roll is tidy, and store them on the ribbon holders. You may want to organize these by color also. If you are putting them in a box or drawer, attach a label.

Your scrapbook room is probably looking better by now. The small things are left, though, and they can cause clutter. Take time to sort through all of the stickers, embellishments, eyelets, brads, and other items. Once they are sorted, place each in an appropriate drawer or box, and label them. A scrapbooking desk is especially convenient for these small items. Its many drawers and nooks will soon have the scrapbook room well organized.

One essential in a scrapbook room is a place for tools. If they are on your table or desk, you may not have space to work. Put them away.

Helpful Tip

Still wonder how to organize a scrapbook room? Remember the old maxim: A place for everything and everything in its place. Put things away when you’re done and it will stay organized.

By: Anna Hart



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Jon Simms asked:




Many scrapbook starters would find it difficult to create a layout. If you are one of them, then you may have to read the following to get some easy ideas on what are the different types of scrapbook layouts you can use.

· Patterned paper layout

When using patterned paper as a scrapbook page layout, you should follow the following rules: Never use a paper with a pattern larger than the smallest photographed head; patterned papers are secondary to the photos so never give too much concern if you cannot find the right photos to go on the pattern; and, use plain paper over the pattern as a journal box.

· Nameplate layout

Use large letter tiles to make bold effect on the layout. You can use stamps to put your name on the page. Stencils would also be a great way to do this. Other methods such as using all sorts of embellishments to spell a name, embroidering the name on the page or using fonts like calligraphy would be great.

· Handprint layout

Whether you are an artist or not, handprinting the page would give you unique layout. Use acrylic paints, colored pens, watercolors, or crayons to do this.

To come out neat, you can concentrate the large handprints around the borders of the page. Smaller handprints can come in between.

· Newspaper layout

Create a page that would relatively look like a newspaper’s front page. This would work best if you intent to make a page that focuses on the significant event. Use an Old English font as a heading; somewhat similar to the heading of a newspaper. Then, use a large text for the headline. A Times New Roman font is for the story. Place a photo on the side or at the middle of the page.

· Rub-on Transfers layout

Using rub-on transfers is both easy and tricky. It is easy in the sense that all you have to do is to rub-on and you have an instant layout. It is tricky in the sense that you have to practice in order to achieve a perfect transfer. If you are using rub-on transfers for the first time, then you might as well start on a smooth surface. Once you get the hang of it, move on to the next level and use the transfer on surfaces such as metal, mesh, ribbon, and glass.

If you prefer to use rub-on transfers to these surfaces, make sure that they are adhere enough to make permanent contact. Some brands are stickier than the other.

· Z pattern layout

Arrange all the materials you have on a Z pattern. Meaning, the arrangements should start on the top left of the page and move on a Z pattern.

· Focal point layout

Use one photo as a focal point and move outwards. The focal point can be a large photo. This would give the viewer a starting point on where to begin looking. If you are using 3 or more photos, try to make some arrangements. You can use 3 different photo sizes arranged diagonally, with the focal point on the largest photo. You can also use one large photo with 2 small photos on each side. Or, you can use 3 photos of the same size and make arrangement to highlight a certain point.

· Aging paper layout

Weathering a paper is a popular technique on creating a layout. There are several ways to do this.

One is by damping the paper and ironing it to dry. This would create all sort of weathered look to the paper.

Another way of aging the paper is by rolling it into a ball to make it look wrinkled. Then, sand it with a finest grained sand paper you can find.

There are more scrapbook ideas you can use but these would be sufficient enough to finish your scrapbook.

If you want to make other types of layouts, you can combine 2 or more mentioned types of layouts to make one unique layout. The thing is, use your imagination and creativity to make a good layout and you can assure yourself that what you have made is truly yours.



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Jon Simms asked:




Crochet afghan cover patterns are one of the popular crochet projects enjoyed by both beginners and advanced crocheters. A crocheted afghan cover is a great giveaway for family and friends. It can serve as a wrap or shawl as well as a blanket during chilly nights. The term afghan was derived from the textiles that are produced in Afghanistan since they are comparable to the shawls and wraps used in the region.

Crocheted afghan covers can be used in various ways. There are numerous crochet patterns for afghan blanket covers. An afghan blanket can be used as a mattress cover for the top of the bed or as a comforter and even as a bedspread. It is important to select the appropriate pattern that will fit the size of the intended project.

Afghans also make great gifts during birthdays and holidays as different motifs can be incorporated into the design. A Christmas afghan can help warm cold winter nights while personalized baby afghan blankets can become family heirlooms.

Complimentary Crochet Afghan Patterns

Free crochet afghan patterns are a great way to put together a beautiful afghan for giveaways or for personal use. Crochet afghan patterns can be very simple or complex depending on the preference of the crocheter.

A crocheter may opt to select a simple crochet afghan pattern that makes use of numerous granny squares that are put together to form the entire blanket. On the other hand, complex crochet afghan patterns may consist of geometric shapes that feature advanced crochet stitches.

Various resources like craft books, crocheting magazines and crafting websites offer complimentary crochet afghan patterns. These patterns provide complete instructions starting from what type of yarn and hook should be used for the project. In most cases, a crochet pattern may also include helpful tips on the differences between yarns.

Crochet afghan patterns can also serve as an inspiration for a crocheter to create their own unique design. Keep in mind that patterns can be adapted to suit the purpose of the project. Crocheters should not restrict themselves strictly to the instructions of the pattern. It is important to exercise some personal judgment that will help enhance the appearance of the project.

Creating an Afghan from Crochet Patterns

Creating an afghan based on crochet patterns is easy. There are numerous crochet patterns for afghan blankets that can be great as gifts or decorations at home. Simple afghan covers can even have a central theme. For example, an afghan pattern may feature a floral design as well as the national flag.

Popular crochet patterns for afghan covers often feature a stained glass design or can be part of a set of patterns. The afghan crochet pattern can be part of a collection that may include patterns for a crocheted pillowcase or coffee table doily. A striped crochet pattern for an afghan cover is another appealing project that both beginners and advanced crocheters will enjoy.

Creating an afghan from crochet patterns can also be the start of a wonderful tradition that a mother can pass on to their daughters. A free crochet pattern for an afghan cover is not only a great way to start but it is also fun. A mother and daughter can learn how to crochet at the same time by following a simple afghan crochet pattern. Once completed the finished product can be given away to family and friends.

Mothers and especially grandmothers will appreciate a handcrafted afghan cover created by a young girl from a crochet pattern. When selecting a pattern for the afghan be sure to choose a pattern and color scheme that would suit the personality of the intended party. The type of yarn to be used should also be considered, as it will directly affect the weight of the finished product.

Afghan blankets also make great donations for retirement and nursing homes. The elderly will certainly cherish the effort that went into creating the afghan. At the same time, they will appreciate the warmth of an afghan.

Afghans are an ideal project for anyone interested in learning how to crochet. Afghans are relatively easy to put together and are a great way to learn the basic crochet stitches. At the same time, afghan covers make excellent gifts and keepsakes that last a lifetime.



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Robin Huber asked:




Scrapbooking is one of the most popular ways of keeping keepsakes intact and fun to look at. Coined from the root word “scrap”, scrapbooking involves the use of a lot of materials and supplies such as photos, papers and cardstocks, journaling tools such as pens of various tips and colors, adhesives of all shapes and sizes such as tapes, and glues, embellishments such as buttons, laces, pins, eyelets, patterns, and the like, cutting supplies such as a pair of scissors and cutters, die-cuts, cut-outs, punchers and so much more. Aside from these, scrapbooking also includes the use of materials that can be recycled as days and years go by.

Since scrapbooking requires a lot of materials, a scrapper needs a place and space where he or she could stock up and store the materials needed while doing the craft.

Today, more and more people from the scrapbooking industry come up with various products that can help scrap bookers organize their stuff and store their scrapbook and their scrapbook supplies. Several items include bags or scrapbooking totes where you can put all of your precious scrapbooking materials.

These totes can help you keep your photos, tools, stickers, markers, and other supplies from other people’s reach. Buy using this scrapbooking storage, you can store away your scrapbooking stuff in just one place to keep them handy and organized.  

Aside from bags and scrapbooking totes, another useful means of scrapbooking storage is the scrapbook cases, which usually come in handy and removable snap cases. Here, you can store your scrapbooking supplies and keep them from being lost or damaged. Usually, scrapbook cases are space savers and can perfectly fit into chest-style storage units with a divided top.

You can use this scrapbook case for holding scrapbook pages, photos, stickers, and other scrap-booking tools. When buying a scrapbook case, make sure that you buy an item which enables you to see the contents inside easy so you can easily identify photos and other materials you wish to use. Since you will be putting photos inside the scrapbook case, make sure that it is acid and PVC free. In the market, there are various scrapbook cases available which enables you to transport, organize, and protect 25 to 75 pieces of 12×12 pages or photos.

The scrapbook organizer, on the other hand, is a very practical and sensible scrapbook storage solution. Usually comes in different cases, you can neatly organize your scrapbook papers, stamps, stickers, markers, and other supplies in its handy and easy-to-remove snap cases.

Scrapbook organizers are a must for a scrapbooker who is always on the go because it can help you keep all of your supplies in one place. Scrapbook organizers can be folded into half for easy transport with wide shoulder strap or carrying handle for east use.

In looking for a scrapbook case or scrapbook organizer, make sure that you look for those that can fit neatly into a chest-style storage unit and those that occupy minimal space in your closet or craft room. Also, look for scrapbooking organizers that are great for storing art projects, office supplies, and other accessories you are using. It is best if you look for those scrapbook organizers that offer top features such as divided areas that are also perfect for drawing utensils such as paintbrushes and many more.



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