20 Scrapbooking Tips

1. Get over what you "think" it should be and just allow it to be ("it" will be something different for every person).

2. Examine how you look through the lens of your camera. What do you really see? What are you looking for? Next time you pick up your camera let yourself play a bit more by looking up, down, to the sides, etc. of your subject. There are so many interesting things out there in the world. I am particularly interested in the ways things meet together - people, places, things

3. White cardstock is always a solid choice for the foundation of your layout. I love it. It is my go-to color of choice.

4. Mix up your page sizes. For the last year I have been experimenting with all sorts of different sizes - this is a huge creative boost. Online lately I have seen really cool pages that are 6 inches x 12 inches, 4 inches x 12 inches, 8 inches x 8 inches, etc. Don't limit yourself to one size.

5. Keep an inspiration journal. This is one of the best things you can do for your creative self. Don't judge what you write in it or put in it - just use it and abuse it and let it be a place for the things that are scrambling in your head. For a long time I have had too many of these and it began to feel way to scattered. Recently I have combined it into one notebook - forcing myself to use just one and go with it.

6. Repetition. Probably my favorite design principle: do something once and then do it two more times. Three is a very nice number. Repeat colors. Repeat shapes. Repeat accents.

7. Expand yourself. Find something else to learn about next: a new interest, a new subject. Learning stuff fills you up, gives you more to draw from when you sit down to create.

8. Note to self: there is no perfect layout. Forget about perfection; rather adopt an attitude that you will learn something from each layout you complete. Maybe it will be a new way to combine colors, create embellishments, or crop your photos. Maybe it will be that you totally dislike the way you did something. Make a mental note and move on to the next thing.

9. Alphabet stamps in classic typefaces are great for the long haul. Here's a couple favorites: Hero Arts Printer's Type or Basic Upper Case.

10. Layer. When you are putting a layout together think in terms of layers: cardstock, patterned paper, transparency, stickers, stamps - what can you add on top of the last layer to make the piece more interesting?

11. Learn how to be self-critical without putting yourself down. How do you do this? As you create stuff ask yourself "does this really need this accent? Am I adding to the overall story or am I adding it just to add it?" There's no right answer - it's more about developing a general awareness and connection with yourself as you are creating. Be ok with stopping yourself and moving on to the next piece.

12. Just stick it down. If you have been looking at a single layout for days and days and days it is probably time to just stick it all down and move on the next. Isn't it awesome that there is always another story to
tell?

Priceless_studioA_july06
13. You can never go wrong with circle or square punches.

14. Collect stuff (and not just scrapbook supplies). Mail pieces. Tags. Bits of stuff. Cut it up. Grab a manila folder or a basket or a box (don't make it complicated) and stick stuff in there. Regularly dip back into that spot for ideas and inspiration.

15. Read more about the Art of Finding.

16. Make sure you are in your scrapbooks. Take photos of yourself. Set your timer. Hand over your camera. Get together with friends to take photos of one another. Your kids and your family will thank you.

17. Bring your scrapbook talents into your home environment (also known as living with your art). Create collages to hang in your home. Enlarge and frame your favorite photos or layout. Create cool accents for your mantle with your supplies. There is so much that can be done with all those supplies you have collected to bring your hobby into the living areas in your home.

Aands

18. Take some time to go back over all the layouts you have created and give yourself a hug for all the stories you have told. Taking a look at the body of your work will give you a whole new perspective on what you have done and where you want to go next.

19. Create less. Rather than doing a bunch of layouts just for the sake of filling up an album, spend more time on just a few stories that really have meaning for you and your family.

20. Go make something right now. Stop whining. Stop coming up with excuses. Start now.

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77 thoughts

  1. Megan says…
    05/21/2009

    Great inspiration for the long weekend!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Meital says…
    05/21/2009

    great post!
    it's the midle of the day in Israel so i can't just go NOW but you inspired me so much that i want to escape from my job and go to my craft room :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Asta says…
    05/21/2009

    Thank you for such a wonderful and inspiring post.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. christen says…
    05/21/2009

    thank you...makes me feel creative!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Gale says…
    05/21/2009

    WoNDeRfuL tips!!!! I'm printing the list off so I can have easy access to it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Lee Currie says…
    05/21/2009

    Thanks for all of the reminders. Just what I needed today! I will start my day in the studio. I will go NOW :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. {vicki} says…
    05/21/2009

    I did a layout this weekend entitled
    "how i see it" it was photos my son had taken on me and my husband. Great idea!!!!!!!
    I like layouts with layers--but, I'm not very good at putting such a layout togther. Could you give us some examples and/or more ideas, suggestions?

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Linda says…
    05/21/2009

    Thank you! This is just what I needed. After a long time of no scraping.
    Linda

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. jakki says…
    05/21/2009

    i love this. this is my favorite post ever.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Jennifer says…
    05/21/2009

    What a great post! thanks for all the inspiration/food for thought! Have a great weekend...

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Anika says…
    05/21/2009

    Amazing.... Thank You

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Charlotta says…
    05/21/2009

    BRILLIANT way to start my day...you're a World of wisdom when it comes to Scrapbooking...thank you...as I have a few projects to get started and finished.
    I have a GIVEAWAY going on on my blog this week...make sure you take a visit and enter...you never know!
    Char.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Hazel says…
    05/21/2009

    I love this. Thanks for being such a wonderful source of inspirations! =)

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Terri Sullivan says…
    05/21/2009

    I love it - "stop whining.....start now"

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. carla stolte says…
    05/21/2009

    ditto...I love the "stop whining" part and the "get yourself in the picture" part. Thanks again.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Peggy says…
    05/21/2009

    love this Ali - no matter how long we have scrapped 1 day or 20 years, it's always good reminders.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. conniemelancon says…
    05/21/2009

    Thanks for the tips!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Ana F. says…
    05/21/2009

    I'm printing it right now and puting on my board. I always have an excuse: the house has to be clean, the laundry done, toys put away. Guess what? It never happens!!! Tip #20 is the best! Thanks, Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Vitali K. says…
    05/21/2009

    Try out www.scrapblog.com. A great way of getting scrapbooks done without getting your fingers glued together :-)

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Wind says…
      02/18/2014

      This does look prsiiomng. I'll keep coming back for more.

  20. Aimster-KY says…
    05/21/2009

    What a fantastic post!! I'm gonna print it, frame it, and live by it!!
    You're truly an amazing person -- I wish we were neighbors or something... LOL!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Ann says…
    05/21/2009

    I'm the Queen of Overthinking my work! Trying hard to move a little faster while still enjoying the process and the results.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. KateinCleveland says…
    05/21/2009

    Love it! Stop whining and just do it now ... the best advice I've heard in a long time! Thank you.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Jen says…
    05/21/2009

    Thank you.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Angie says…
    05/21/2009

    I LOVE IT! Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to really start using it this week...probably even today during my kids' nap time.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Christina says…
    05/21/2009

    I love these tips! I will be printing them out and putting them in my "idea binder"!!!
    P.S. Hope you don't mind if I leave an additional comment.
    Visit www.theoriginalscrapbox.com and check out their product catalog and also take a minute and go to www.tinyurl.com/entry257 to cast your vote for me!
    I am in the running to win a scrapbook desk!

    Reply 0 Replies

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