Today I will tell you how to make a stylish, soft photo album from an old unnecessary notebook. I will have it wedding album, but you can make an album of absolutely any subject; I think you will have a lot of photographs at home that are waiting in the wings.
To remake, we will need the cover of an old ring notebook. The covers of such notebooks are very thick, and split rings allow us to add a large number of scrap pages for photographs, perhaps even gradually.
Since I had a dark notebook cover, I wrap it in regular office paper so that the dark color does not show through the future cover. It is not necessary to glue the paper tightly, just lightly fix it with an adhesive pencil.
Then we cut out a rectangle from thin synthetic padding exactly to the size of the cover and fix it with double-sided tape.
We cut out a rectangle from the fabric we like so that there is an allowance of about two centimeters from the edge of the cover.
We first fix the upper corners with double-sided tape, bending them at an angle of 45 degrees.
Then we bend and fix the top edge of the cover.
After we have folded all sides of the cover, we finally fix the folded corners using a hot gun (if you don’t have one, then use any universal glue, for example, moment-crystal).
As a result of these simple manipulations, we have such a soft, pleasant to the touch, completely new cover.
WITH inside, exactly in the middle, we fix the grosgrain ribbons with tape, which will serve as the ties of the album.
Then we sew the cover around the perimeter using a sewing machine with an allowance of 0.5 cm from the edge. Let me explain: sewing machine It easily takes even very thick cardboard, without harm to its mechanisms, tested from personal experience.
Here you will have some small difficulties: when you get closer to the places where the rings are located, they will interfere with your stitching. To get out of this situation, I turned the cover inside out, sewed a stitch with a needle without thread and then stitched the cover in hard to reach places hand stitching.
Let's move on to the decor. On plain paper we draw a layout of the future element and transfer it to designer paper.
We also sew the decorative element into the bottom edge of the cover using a sewing machine.
Glue a decorative napkin on top.
Using a figured edge punch, we make paper lace.
We attach a piece of grosgrain tape and paper lace to double-sided tape.
Glue decorative tape on top.
First, print a title on photo paper that matches the theme of your album. This is my wedding album, you can use any other one. And on the machine we attach the title to the cover.
We attach a small metal heart to a waxed cord using a glue gun.
Add a satin bow, plaster flowers and semi-pearls (all these decorative elements are available in specialized scrapbooking stores).
I also decided to decorate the top of the cover with small white half-beads, repeating the pattern on the fabric.
Let's start designing the endpapers. We attach a printout with text to a rectangle of scrapbooking paper.
Glue strips of double-sided tape right along the edge of the rectangle.
And glue it to a sheet of designer beige paper, the size corresponding to one half of the cover. Also made of white paper curly scissors cut out and glue a rectangle. Using a hot gun, glue a piece of cotton lace.
We make holes for the photo on textured paper.
We attach the rectangle to the endpaper using special bulky double-sided tape.
We decorate the endpaper with a plastic heart and a satin bow.
Scrapbooking- This special kind handicraft, the main idea of which is to beautifully decorate your favorite photographs. You can create small or entire photo albums using various ribbons, lace, shaped paper, buttons, pendants, magazine clippings and, of course, your imagination.
Learning scrapbooking is not as difficult as it seems. Every person has basic skills for this type of needlework. Features of layout and decor will definitely come to you with experience. What do you need to start practicing? scrapbooking for beginners?
You can find a wide range of materials and tools for scrapbooking in the Scrapodelie online store.
Scrapbooking paper
For scrapbooking, you will need special paper, which is sold both in sets and one sheet at a time. The peculiarity of this paper is that it is quite dense and does not contain acid, which means it will not change its color even after many years. This is very important because photo albums are passed down in families from generation to generation.
There are three types of paper sizes: 15x15 cm, 20x20 cm and 30x30 cm. You can find both single-sided and double-sided paper, and the print on the sides can be either the same or different. The paper differs not only in size and color, but also in design. Can be distinguished thematic areas: school or New Year themes, travel or cars. Paper styles also stand out: shabby chic, American style, steampunk and others.
Paper for scrapbooking (children's)
Scrapbooking paper
Scrapbooking paper
Scrapbooking paper
You may also need cardboard or corrugated cardboard.
In addition to a beautiful background for placing photos, you will also need elements with which you can decorate the album. You can use various ribbons, buttons, braid, pieces of fabric, magazine clippings, pendants, postage stamps, beads, lace - this list is limited only by your imagination. There are also standard decorative elements that are sold in specialized stores: eyelets, fabric flowers, keys, metal frames, cardboard figures and much more.
Separate view decoration are special stamps for scrapbooking, which allow you to leave a design (imprint) on the pages. Beginners can do without them, since they need to understand the basics of scrapbooking. Besides, stamps are useless without special inks different colors, and buying everything together is quite expensive.
You can also make stamps for scrapbooking yourself:
Scrapbooking Tools
The most important tool for this type of needlework is a regular stationery knife with replaceable blades.
You will also need scissors. This instrument must not be singular. You will need large scissors, to cut fabric and ribbons evenly, small scissors that can be used to carefully cut out the desired part, separate scissors for tape (since they leave a sticky residue on them that is very difficult to remove). To create truly beautiful works, you will need special curly scissors, which create a beautiful uneven edge (zigzag or wave) when cutting.
You should also stock up on rulers various types and size.
When working with paper, you cannot do without a backing. You can buy a special substrate in the store and work on it. For beginners, a budget option is also acceptable - thick cardboard or a piece of linoleum. Don't scrapbook without a backing; you risk ruining the surface you're working on.
To fasten the parts you will need double-sided tape or glue. Each master chooses what to use. Some needlewomen do not use tape, masterfully using glue gun. For fixing large parts, tape is very convenient; for small parts, glue is needed.
Tools you may also need for scrapbooking for beginners
A sewing machine can help both sew an album into a single whole and decorate it with decorative stitching.
If you have a printer, this will make your first steps in scrapbooking much easier, since you can print any picture you need.
Special hole punchers for scrapbooking will help you create a real masterpiece. There are a lot of figured hole punches with different drawings, as well as hole punches for decorating edges or corners. At first, you can do without them by processing the edges, for example, with curly scissors.
Now you have full list necessary materials and tools to start scrapbooking. What to do first? Look at the work of other masters, get inspired by their ideas, read the forums, take a look and get to work.
If you are afraid of doing something wrong and ruining your first experience, then you can copy someone else's work. Don’t be ashamed, for scrapbooking this version of “plagiarism” is quite acceptable, moreover, in this type of needlework, copying other people’s works is even encouraged. Just don’t forget to note that this is a copy of the master’s work and indicate his name if you are going to exhibit your work on the Internet.
Scrapbooking for beginners - photo
Scrapbooking for beginners - video
A voluminous postcard made by yourself is a nice gift for a loved one or friend
Creativity and creativity are inseparable - this is an axiom. Talented craftsmen are constantly searching for new forms and solutions, methods and materials for decoration. Agree, it’s nice to receive something unusual as a gift, made with love with your own hands.
The value of the item hand made lies not in the arrogant “expensive-rich”, but in exclusivity and unconventionality. Any creative direction is conceptual, scrapbooking is bright that confirmation. It is fresh and extraordinary scrapbooking ideas that allow many craftsmen to turn their favorite hobby into a successful business.
Miracles from scrap materials
If you are a Plyushkin in life, you enjoy collecting what many consider to be nonsense that takes up space in vain, then you will definitely like scrapbooking. History of tradition original decoration albums originated several centuries ago. The English words scrap and book, which give the decoration technique its name, fully reveal its essence. Cuttings from newspapers and magazines, tickets, labels and simply memorable inscriptions - all this was used to decorate albums, books of friends, collections of quotes and poems in the 15th century.
Since then, little has changed; modern fans of the trend “from around the world” collect interesting decor, making refrigerator magnets using the scrapbooking technique, creating amazingly beautiful compositions on cute birdhouses, chocolate boxes, tea houses or boxes. Decorating cards, albums or family books with your own hands remains a timeless classic in scrapbooking. Beginners will love this kind of creativity, because scrapbooking helps to reveal design talent, hone handicraft skills and develop impeccable taste.
What can’t you do without at work?
- Sewing machine. Of course, the master decides whether or not to use such equipment. But traditionally, all the details of cards and albums are stitched, giving the product a neat appearance.
- Scissors. In scrapbooking you will have to cut out a lot, the details can be large and small. In addition to classic manicure and simple office scissors, you will also need special ones with shaped blades.
- Glue, tape.
Double-sided tape is indispensable in many decorating processes.
Advice! Do not use it for gluing small parts and background paper.
For this would be better suited special tape for photographs.
- Decorative elements. The creative materials industry impresses with its variety of decor. If you don’t have the financial ability to buy everything you want, you can make the blanks yourself. Such decorations give a special charm to the product.
Tips for beginners: what to buy
To decorate postcards, albums and other useful handmade items, you can use any decoration materials. For beginning craftsmen, it is enough to acquire a chest filled with multi-colored patches, satin ribbons, lace, rhinestones and beads. When creating a decoration concept, the most unexpected things can come in handy. Top tip for beginners: you need to remember the harmony in the composition and the theme of the product.
A few simple ideas
Looking at skillfully decorated scrapbooking products, many find it difficult to believe in themselves and their abilities. In fact, any type of needlework will be enjoyed by those who love to imagine, decorate and create. Some simple ideas scrapbooking will be an ideal creative base for beginners.
Idea #1
Lay out the scrap paper on a square piece of cardboard and stitch the edges. At the top we will place several photos in random order. Decorate with an openwork paper napkin, pre-prepared pictures, hearts made of colored paper, and cut-outs of pleasant words. Such a heartfelt card will be a pleasant surprise for a person dear to your heart.
Idea for designing scrap paper with photo
Idea No. 2
Let's select a cardboard base, put a piece of canvas or linen fabric, stitch along the edges. We will prepare a picture-inscription in advance, for example the word “Be Happy” or “Smile”, which will become a pleasant wish to a friend. Decorate the card with a bright cord laid in a filigree pattern. We will fasten the lace in several places, creating the illusion of carelessness and lightness.
Design idea with inscriptions
Idea No. 3
Don’t rush to throw away your old accordion-fold guidebook. The name can be covered with colored paper, and a little decor can be added to the pages in the form of labels, tickets, memorable inscriptions, and a few photographs. This mini-album will be a wonderful reminder of happy days spent traveling.
The idea of a mini-album in the form of an accordion
Idea No. 4
On a sheet of cardstock, along the edge, attach a lace ribbon. Place a sheet of scrap paper on top and stitch the edges using a sewing machine. In the middle we will glue several photographs, one of which can be decorated with colored cord, braid or satin ribbon. On a white background, we will put several blots with bright paint, and in each of them we will place a transparent bead in the middle. This effect is reminiscent of morning dew or drops of warm spring rain.
Decoration with the effect of morning dew
Idea No. 5
If you don’t have scrap paper on hand to create themed cards, it’s not a problem.
Take a simple cardboard and place it in strong tea leaves for a few minutes. Then take it out and let it dry naturally.
This simple method will allow you to get an unusual effect of aged paper. After the cardboard has dried, place the photo in the middle, decorate it randomly with die cuts, figures cut out of fabric prepared with an inscription. The composition is ideal for vintage or retro style.
Vintage decoration
Recipes for perfect decoration
Love to create with your own hands, but don't know where to get them interesting ideas for scrapbooking? Inspiration can appear at any moment, looking at the work of other craftsmen. We offer several ideas for decorating using the unusual scrapbooking technique.
DIY decoration options
Don’t be shy about using ready-made ideas, because this is why we share our creative experience and brag about successful works created with love with our own hands.
Tags, tags, labels for decoration
In each product there will forever remain a piece of the soul of the needlewoman, a sea of positive energy, and this, you see, is impossible to buy for money!
DIY flowers for decoration
Stamens for flowers
What can be done using the scrapbooking technique? Incredible panels, new Year decoration, a variety of greeting cards or envelopes - all this will be a worthy gift for any holiday.
New Year card
Creating a scrapbooking postcard with your own hands is a separate direction in creativity. Thematic, compositional and unique - the three main principles will become a creative platform for beginners in the world of decorating. Sometimes for sincere and sincere congratulations You don’t need expensive gifts, just a little attention and human warmth is enough. A handmade New Year's card will be a pleasant present for family and friends, friends, and colleagues.Even a beginner can do it.
Simple New Year Card for Newbies
To work you will need:
- sheets of beer cardboard;
- a printed picture in a New Year's theme;
- ready-made die-cuts, scrap paper, half beads and brads;
- stationery set (glue, scissors, tape);
- sewing machine.
We prepare the base from a sheet of cardboard the right size, fold it in half exactly in the middle. We cut out scrap paper of a similar size to the base, divide it into two equal squares, and sew each one separately to the base. We decorate the inside of the card in the same way. Let’s get to the “sweetest” part of the job—decorating. We will compose the composition by applying the decor in layers. The New Year's picture will become the center of the composition. We sew each layer of decorations on a machine. The final touch: we attach sparkling half-beads, rhinestones, and die-cuts. New Year's cuttings in the form of snowflakes, a Christmas tree, good Santa and deer, or a snowman can be made with your own hands using a template, cardboard and a stationery knife.
Shaker card for the new year
Original panel
Comfort and warm atmosphere It’s not designer items or expensive furniture that create a home. It is the little things dear to the heart, touching memories, framed in unusual decor, which is made with your own hands, that will add an elusive charm to the atmosphere.
We offer a master class original panel with family photos, the work is not difficult even for beginners.
The process will require:
- shoe box (you only need a lid to work);
- roll of brown paper, scrap paper;
- lace, die-cuts, pictures;
- stationery set.
First of all, cover the entire box with brown paper. Carefully cover the bottom of the box with scrap paper. We prepare partitions from cardboard; you should get six separate cells. Insert a lace ribbon into the long side part and secure it from the inside. It will serve as a hanging mount. Paste a photo into each cell.
In scrapbooking technology, volume is required. The product must not have flat view, so protruding parts are necessary for decoration.
Now let's start decorating the panels. You can make paper flowers from scrap paper scraps. To do this, cut out a rosette in a spiral, wrap it around a pencil and seal it. Glue on flowers, leftover lace, die cuts and pictures. Depending on the theme, we choose the color scheme and design style:
- For marine theme American-style design with bright colors is suitable color accents, contrasting combination of decor and shades;
- photographs of the baby can be decorated in a gentle and touching shabby chic style, pastel colors;
- old memories, family history or, for example, a panel for grandparents, can be decorated in vintage or retro style using subdued tones.
A handmade panel will be a creative gift for any family holiday.
New Year's pano
Creativity is fertile ground for new and unusual ideas.
Family tree
Masters claim that they are born naturally in the process of work. You just need to have time to “catch” a creative thought, embodying it in an exclusive product.
Surely everyone has such an album of memories
Stores offer a variety of cards and albums for all occasions, but it is often very difficult to make a choice when you want to congratulate and surprise a loved one. You can choose an original postcard in goods stores self made. Scrapbooking masters create amazing things from cardboard, paper, various stickers and details.
But prices for “handmade” products are often very high. What if you do your own scrapbooking? This type of creativity is one of the most popular. It requires virtually no initial skills (except for the ability to use scissors, glue and tape) and a significant investment. You can also make stencils, paper decorations and stamps for DIY scrapbooking.
Beginning of work
As mentioned above, scrapbooking requires a minimum of tools, but as you become more passionate about this type of creativity, you may need additional materials.
All the necessary materials and tools that will be useful for a beginning needlewoman
Let's list them all:
- Paper is the main element in scrapbooking. In this type of needlework, special durable cardboard is used as a base, and decorative paper with illustrations or ornaments. Those who are taking on this business for the first time will find it convenient to use ready-made kits from several types of sheets that match each other in style and color.
- The second thing you can’t do without is scissors. Scissors can be any kind, the main thing is that they are sharp - the paper must be cut evenly, the edges must remain smooth.
- Double-sided tape is a very convenient thing for scrapbooking. When you need to glue volumetric or simple large details, he is irreplaceable. The strength of the connection is superior to glue and does not leave dirty marks; it is a pleasure to work with.
- In some cases, you cannot do without glue. For example, when you need to add small details.
- Hole punches are a functional thing, and in some cases, a decoration tool. Sometimes you just need to connect several pages, this requires holes. And sometimes decorate the sheet with carved patterns.
- Stamps. do with them beautiful inscriptions as easy as pie.
- Cutter or utility knife. Cutting a cardboard sheet in half or trimming a photograph with scissors is unlikely to work out neatly; here you will need a stationery knife, or even better, a cutter.
- And finally, a variety of volumetric decorative elements. Without them, a handmade postcard or album will be no different from ordinary store-bought items. Scrapbooking supply stores are simply eye-opening. Buy a few individual decorative parts to get started. And if you decide to engage in this craft seriously, it is much more profitable to purchase goods in bulk.
Volumetric decorative elements visually resemble a 3D picture
When you have decided on all the tools and elements, it’s time to choose a place to work. Good lighting of the workplace and sufficient free space are important for scrapbooking.
Necessary materials for work
It is better to remove everything unnecessary from the table so that nothing gets in the way of your hands and small details are not lost.
Which style to choose for decoration
Among the many design options in scrapbooking, there are several main styles:
- Heritage and vintage. Postcards and albums “from the past” are created in these styles. Muted colors, scuffs, old photographs, newspaper clippings. It would be appropriate to use lace, stamps and beads. Gift in old style looks expensive and elegant.
Worn elements give the album an antique look
- If you like polka dot or striped designs, then the shabby chic style will not leave you indifferent. The combination of a simple background and layering of lace, beads, and pictures is romantic and daring.
Delicate tones and ruffles speak of shabby chic style
- The classic of modern scrapbooking is the American style. Album pages and postcards are designed in the form of a collage. As a rule, there are several photographs, decorated according to the theme with ribbons, paper figures, and inscriptions. Each sheet of the album is unique, in its own style and fully reflects the mood of the day when the photographs were taken. An interesting addition would be air or train tickets, tickets to an amusement park or zoo.
Very bright and rich style in scrapbooking
- European style is more minimalistic compared to American. Mini-albums are created in scrapbooking in this style. Not many decorative elements are used, but pencils and pens are used, complementing the composition with artistic sketches. The edges of the pages can be decorated using shaped hole punches and scissors.
This album is suitable for drawing lovers
- The increasingly popular steampunk style is considered a “masculine style.” Indeed, without flowers, lace and beads, with a truly brutal design, a “steampunk” postcard will appeal to the stronger sex. This artistic movement is interesting for its set of decorative elements: gears, old miniature mechanisms, drawings and maps. The design is done in gray-brown tones.
In this design you can show all your artistic abilities
Several master classes of different styles:
American design style, with grunge style, vintage, shabby chic and steampunk.
Scrapbooking techniques
When creating products, various techniques are used in scrapbooking: rare ones that are mastered experienced craftsmen, and simple, accessible to everyone.
Scrapbooking techniques
For example, several well-known techniques that are used most often:
- Artificial aging of paper. You can achieve the effect of old paper using improvised means: remove the top layer of the sheet with tape, use a scraper to create an uneven edge, use tea and coffee to color the paper brown shades to give a vintage look.
- Embossing allows you to make paper parts convex and voluminous. The technique can be “wet” or “dry”, in which a special hair dryer is used.
- Stamping. Stamps fit well into almost any scrapbooking style and add originality to scrap pages, emphasizing the “hand-made” design. You can make stamps yourself; for this you will need: a foam block, thick cardboard and metal parts, the shape of which will be the stamp. The fittings are placed on the foam block, the surface is heated with an embossing hairdryer, and cardboard is placed on top. The parts are pressed into a soft surface, leaving imprints (stamps) on the cardboard. The finished elements need to be cut out and can be used for matching cards and album pages.
Interesting decor using embossing, stamps and a cutting machine
Albums using scrapbooking techniques
Using the scrapbooking technique, you can create not only postcards, but also a variety of albums for all occasions, displaying your most significant and memorable events.
They can be large, almost grandiose, or small, neat, that fit in your hand.
Review of a travel album using scrapbooking technique
Mini album
A good start for beginners in scrapbooking is to create your own mini-album. Get started right away extensive work– boldly, but it’s better to start small.
Master class: mini - bound album part 1
Master class: mini - bound album part 2
First steps to make an album:
- Take some strong scrap paper and divide it into 12 equal square or rectangular pieces. Cut the sheet evenly in rows, but be sure to leave one square (rectangle) with an unseparated side. It is these two uncut lines that will need to be glued together.
- Fold the sheets like an accordion and collect all the future pages of the album together, and then glue them on the inside. Use ribbon as the spine of the book. The album layout is ready.
When you have a completed but empty book in your hands, it’s time to begin the creative stage of creating an album. Guided by the experience of the craftsmen, make a sketch of the product in a thin blank notebook or on blank sheets of paper, which you then staple together. Sketch the location of the photographs, the principle of their division, inscriptions and design. Decide what decorative elements and in what quantity you will need. Let there be a little less details, without going overboard - this overloads the work too much and spoils big picture album in assembled form.
Mini-album with accordion binding
Album with binding
The album on the rings looks great, but it looks solid, of course, with a binding.
Cut narrow strips of strong paper to glue the album sheets together. On each of them, mark a section 2-4 mm wide in the middle. A gap of this width will allow you to use volumetric elements when decorating.
The most important part of the album is the binding.
Cut the extreme parts of the strips diagonally. Leaving a marked gap in the center, fold the sides over and glue them to the pages. Thus, you get two sheets connected to each other. Next, you will glue the sheets to them using the remaining strips. Do this work carefully, otherwise the album will end up uneven.
The internal content of the album is ready, it’s time to move directly to the binding. You will need gauze that is as long as the height of the album and as wide as its thickness plus a couple of centimeters. Attach ribbon along the horizontal edges of the binding.
The spine is made of a thick sheet of paper with a margin of 1-2 cm in width. Place it evenly on the base of the resulting book, and glue the cover to the album to its protruding stripes. Now the base of the album with binding is ready, then it’s just a matter of imagination.
Album from scratch part 1 - binding
Album from scratch part 2 - cover
Binding with hidden rings
A popular theme in scrapbooking is weddings. Any girl, after answering “Yes” to a marriage proposal, begins to think through all the details of the future event. A wedding requires a lot of attention, even in small things. If the bride has time, she can make a photo album herself for pictures of this important event completely at your own discretion.
Volumetric elements only add freshness to the album
Wedding album review
The cover is the first thing a person sees when picking up an album. The cover can reflect the idea of the wedding - theme, color scheme or remind of the venue. You can use all kinds ready-made solutions for wedding scrapbooking. Stencils, stamps, badges depicting the bride and groom, miniatures of wedding arches and retro cars - it is impossible to list everything that specialized stores of this craft have.
Master class on creating a wedding album
The design of the album pages is also an individual choice. Interesting solution will split the album into several parts. In one - professional photographs of the photographer, in the other - selfies with friends, in the third - reportage photographs of wedding guests. Then a section of pictures of gifts or photos of spouses as children.
We fill the album with only fun and bright moments
Creating a wedding album will be a fun activity that will help you pass the “endless” wait for the celebration.
Anyone who likes to turn ordinary things into original ones, wants to create a masterpiece with their own hands, or wants to make things dear to their hearts even more valuable should definitely find out what scrapbooking is. This is a type of handicraft that represents the decoration of photo albums, individual photographs, personal records, children's drawings, newspaper clippings, books, boxes and various memorable accessories.
For this, various decorations, beads, ribbons, rhinestones, stickers, chipboards, etc. are used. Scrapbooking is a fascinating technique for creating unique albums from photographs, memories, important points life.
Scrapbooking concept
Verbatim from in English "scrapbooking" means "book of pieces".Since it is impossible to use all your favorite photos at once, albums are made thematic: for a wedding, the birth of a child, about travel or romantic relationships.
Every year this type of hobby is increasingly turning into a real art. After all, this is a way to show your creative imagination and individuality, and most importantly, to enclose all memorable and happy moments in one book that will be kept long years and will become a unique legacy for future generations.
The emergence of scrapbooking
A few centuries ago in England and Germany it was fashionable to keep a diary and store in it not only notes, but various newspaper clippings, love notes, poems and even poems. With the advent of photography beautiful design notebooks with photographs developed more and more, and 1830 This popular activity is called scrapbooking.
Bright moments of life were stored in such original diaries
In America, scrapbooking is the main hobby. In our country, it also existed for a long time in the form of girls’ diaries and demobilization albums, where all kinds of available materials and all the inherent imagination were used.
Now it’s much easier to fantasize, since they’ve already been invented interesting technologies, materials and decorations for handicrafts, which we will talk about next. We'll also talk about important details, which will help you create not a template, but an exclusive masterpiece.
Basic preparations for scrapbooking
If you like the idea of scrapbooking, then the question will undoubtedly arise: where to start? You need to start by preparing simple and special materials.
Materials for scrapbooking work
Required materials and tools
To get started, a minimum set of the essentials will be enough:
- scrap paper (format 30x30 cm)
- colored paper and cardboard;
- paper with patterns, stencils;
- PVA glue;
- scissors, curly scissors, cutters;
- Double-sided tape;
- felt-tip pens, markers, gel pens, colored pencils;
- cutting mat;
- multi-colored ink and stamps;
- stapler and hole punch.
Materials must certainly be chemically safe, without acids and lignin, which can spoil the photograph over time.
All the necessary materials and tools that you will need for scrapbooking
Decor elements
And of course, we stock up on decorations and decorative elements. These can be rhinestones, beads, beads, sparkles, lace and braid, multi-colored ribbons, bows, all kinds of flowers and stones, shells and hearts. Many beautiful details can be found at home or made from scrap materials, such as buttons, threads, laces, pieces of postcards, calendars, magnets, cut-outs from magazines, stickers, candy wrappers, scraps of fabric and anything else you can find.
Also convenient to use ready-made templates and special tools:
- rubber stamps;
- eyelets and rivets;
- buckles, cords;
- chipboards;
- brads for scrapbooking.
Let's figure out what these scrapbooking tools are for and what they are. So, chipboards are cut out elements from very thick cardboard, and brads are metal nails various shapes and colors used for fastening elements.
One more left important step the beginning of the creative process is to choose the theme of the future album. After all, scrapbooking was created specifically for thematic photo albums.
All this can be bought in specialized stores for creativity or ordered online
Advice: Don't rush to buy everything at once. Indeed, you can lose your head from the variety of existing decor. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is draw a layout, come up with a theme for the album and choose a style that matches this theme.
Album selection
An important point is the choice of the basis for the scrapbook, i.e. the album itself. You can buy a ready-made blank for scrapbooking, or you can choose a regular A4 or 30*30 cm album with thick white sheets. They are usually held together with glue, bolts or rings. You can make an album with your own hands from individual sheets of cardboard of any size convenient for you.
The main thing is that it must be durable and of high quality. Remember that each page will contain a number of three-dimensional elements, and ready product will be flipped hundreds of times in the future.
Scrapbooking technology
In order for our album to be the most interesting, vibrant and extraordinary, you need to familiarize yourself with the main existing techniques, design styles and choose the appropriate option for yourself.
Scrapbooking techniques
Album in vintage style will be achieved using the popular distressing technique: torn pages, the effect of aged paper, scratches and abrasions, cracking of varnish and craquelure.
- To create frequently repeating patterns, it is most convenient to use the stamping technique. You will need rubber or silicone stamps and ink. This technique allows you to create beautiful prints very quickly.
- Creating volume on paper can be achieved using the embossing technique. A convex pattern is created in two ways:
- Embossing (extruding a design through a stencil).
- Wet embossing (special powder is applied to the paper, heated with a hairdryer and a three-dimensional pattern is melted).
- In addition, you can use many other equally interesting handicraft techniques and techniques, such as decoupage, embroidery, quilling, origami, cropping, modeling and others.
Which design style to choose
No matter how much you would like to try everything at once to make the album look organic, it is better to stick to a certain style. The following remain invariably popular:
- Vintage and heritage, antique style. These are old photographs, clippings, pictures, toned pages, antique accessories, wrinkled letters, rare stamps. Everything that speaks of the spirit of past eras.
- Shabby chic or shabby chic. It will create the feeling of a century-old album with scuffs, wrinkles, yellowed pages, without losing its chic.
- European style is characterized by a large number of photographs cut different ways, but decorated rather restrainedly.
- American style, on the contrary, is full of decorative elements rather than photographs.
- Characteristic for free style are bright color spots on a white background, pencil-drawn inscriptions and doodles.
Master class in American style
Themes
Surely everyone has moments in life filled with warm memories or exciting events. These are the moments you want to keep in your memory for a long time. Therefore, the most popular topics for scraping are weddings and the birth of a child.
But really dedicate your creative work you can have an exciting trip, a last vacation, a honeymoon, a birthday, a graduation, best friends, first love or pet.
Master class on creating a notebook, creating the effect of aged paper
Making a block for a notepad
And finally we make the main element - the cover
You can make the album a story-driven one, combining several years or events. For example, “Family holidays”, “Crazy youth”, “School years”, “My achievements” or “Successes of my child”.
Using scrapbooking, you can make not only a photo album, but also a photo panel, postcards for any holiday, a wall calendar, Personal diary, cookbook with recipes.
Design example greeting card
This is what your cookbook could look like
In this way you can decorate a diary, school diary, jewelry box, or favorite book. A gift made with your own hands in this style will be the most pleasant and valuable for the recipient.
It should be remembered that the cover will be the face of the entire composition. It can be made of fabric, leather, scraps of fabric, soft and even knitted.
DIY album cover
You can use a chipboard for decoration. These are ready-made cardboard blanks in the form of animals, patterns, flowers, letters, symbols and entire inscriptions that are perfect for a title. Chipboards can be painted with paints, decoupage, rhinestones or sparkles.
Example interior design album
For the album, try to choose the most vivid and emotional photographs that convey the impressions of the moment you are talking about. Remember that there should not be too much decor; it should only embellish the story you are creating and not distract from the main object - the photograph.
Designing photos in an original way
You can attach photographs not only with glue, but for this you can use pins, brads, paper clips, buttons and cords.
Be sure to follow the chosen topic. In addition to decor, it would be advisable to use memorabilia and little things that are dear to you. If this is a wedding album, you can include love correspondence, valentines, and souvenirs dear to your heart in its design.
If this is a children's album, then you can paste in children’s drawings, the first lock of hair or a tag from the maternity hospital, stickers with your favorite characters and the first “doodles”. If you are planning a trip, you can use scraps of a map or guidebook, dried plants, shells or sand, coins from another country or magnets.
An important nuance that enlivens the entire album are comments and notes. It can be idioms, poems, stories, beautiful phrases, fragments of correspondence, your thoughts and wishes, adding warmth and sincerity to your album.
Master class on creating a “Mini Photo Album”
It is impossible not to mention the benefits of scrapbooking. This wonderful activity lifts your spirits and gives you an outlet for creative energy. This is one of in the most beautiful ways storage of memorable information, a way to show your imagination and create unique things with your own hands.