Scrapbooking Ideas

People are taking photos everywhere they go. Vacations, parties, weddings and holidays. These days are all getting memorialized through photography. If you are one of the few still using film photography, those pictures just remain tucked away ion the little photo envelope. If you are using digital photography then you know how many photo files are clogging up you hard drive. Well it’s time to get busy and use those photos and build a scrapbook you can make yourself.

Many peoploe are taking up the hobby of scrapbooking as a way to preserve their memories.  While some go order ready-made custom designs from the internet, most have taken the DIY or do-it-yourself route, which is more fulfilling.

There are thousands of websites that offer ready-made materials for your scrapbook.  DIY scrapbook enthusiasts prefer creating decorations from scratch.  This way, they are sure that the designs for their scrapbooks are unique and personal.

While some DIY-ers create designs from normal colored paper, tape and markers, some take it a step further by using natural material such as leaves, dried and pressed flowers, rocks, wire, egg shells, and the like.

Though you are only limited by your creativity when designing your personal diary, there are some considerations for the diarist who prefers to preserve his memories using photographs:

Use Acid Free, Photo-Safe Paper

Many companies put “acid-free” on the label to indicate that it can be used to for a scrapbook.  Paper that is not acid-free fade fast, and may not be safe to be used with photographs.  Acid can lead to the yellowing and deterioration of photographs.

Using Printers to Aid in Scrapbook Design

Those who are not too confident of their designing skills can use their PCs to design their layouts, but it is important to note that not all printers can be used to print the designs.  Non-laser printers use ink that is water-soluble, which may bleed into the paper.  It is therefore advised that you use laser or ink-jet printers in printing custom designs, or to use printers sparingly to minimize deterioration of scrapbook pages.

Using Photo-safe Materials

Again, while there is no cut-and-dried rule regarding the use of materials which aren’t photo-safe, it is advised that they be used sparingly.  There is an invention called an Archival Spray, though, that will let anyone create photo-safe and acid-free decorations for scrapbooks.  It is inexpensive and works like a spray laminate. The Archival Spray is useful if you wants to include brochues, menus, and tickets in the layout.