Introducing myself- new with questions

Hi! I'm new to this board and new to scrapbooking. I've been online forever, so I'm very familiar with how much help an online community such as this can be to someone starting out in something new. So, I'm really looking forward to learning from all of you!!!

I've been rubber stamping for awhile, making my own stationary, but you can only write so many letters and give so many stationary gifts, am I right? : ) I decided it was time to try something new, and scrapbooking seems like such a lovely, heartfelt process, and it seems to require so many of the artistic and crafting skills I've developed over the years.

So, my boyfriend and I went to our local scrapbooking store and chose the materials to start my first project- something small- a scrapbook of our ski trip to Beaver Creek, CO. It was so much fun, and it was great to have his help so he's involved in the process. And then we went home and dug out all the stuff I'd saved from the trip, and...you won't believe it. You just won't believe it. NO PICTURES. LOL!!! I spent the entire day going through everything in our house, but to no avail. Tonight, it's into the garage for emergency search-and-rescue operations. If I don't find the photos, I guess I'll have to exchange the snow-themed items for Las-Vegas-themed items and do a different album that I had hoped for. Ack! Where could they be?! : )

Well, at any rate, in the meantime, I have a few questions that I'm hoping you can help me with:

1. Is there a book that's considered THE resource for scrapbooking basics? And what about magazines? I have Creating Keepsakes and Simple Scrapbooks...are there others that are worth getting?

2. What about this Creating Keepsakes convention in Portland? What are opinions about that?

3. Best places to buy online? Also, what's the deal with the MLM scrapbooking companies? What are their parties like, and are they worth it? And, what's up with these swaps I see all over the web? How do those work?

4. I'm mulling over organizer/totes. I've looked at the Create-A-Bag, and also the Crop-In-Style XXL and Stamp Store. What are prevailing thoughts about these bags? Am I missing any that I should examine?

Thanks in advance for all advice and wisdom! I'm so looking forward to learning from all of you!!!

Warmly,
MeditativeRose

Welcome. You'll love it here. I check in daily on the boards. It's a lot of fun. I use CM albums, but my albums have items from all different companies. Check out the auction on ebay. (enter scrapbooking at the search) From there, you can narrow your search down to the different types of scrapbooks, etc. Check out the post "How much do you take to scrapbook with you" There are a lot of ideas there about ways to store and carry your items. Hope this helps.
Brandy

Most of the comments about the Scrapbook.com store seem pretty positive!

I have a Crop In Style Navigator (smaller than the XXL) and love it. I think if I had an XXL I would load it too heavy to lift!

I learned most everything I know from Mags. and looking at other peoples books at crops-(kind of like a quilting bee for scrappers. They are a ton of fun).
I really like CK and Paperkuts. Simple Scrapbooks is good too!
The store at this site has a lot of good things. Ebay is where I have been getting things laetly-they have alot of good deals.

This can be such a dangerious hobby-there are so many great products, it easy to spend a ton of $$$$$$. But ist thr most fun!!!!

BIG relief, everyone! I located my photos.

But...uh...now I'm afraid to start, LOL! How do I begin? I have all the embellishments and paper and stuff, but I'm suddenly scared to start. Any thoughts?

: )
MR

I actually let out a sigh of relief for you. I've been in that panic-motivated search for something I know I have. Glad it's over!

I would start by putting my memories on paper. Either type it or write it out. The easy part is the facts and the creativity should flow once you have something on paper.

HTH,
Elif

I think one of the best pieces of advice for a newbie is don't crop your photos with decorative edge scissors, use them on the mats instead. You can't UNcrop, and you might regret it later.

I agree with Elif about putting the memories down first. It helps you focus on the special memories you want the page to express.

Welcome! Get ready for a new addiction! LOL My favorite sb magazine is PaperKutz. Creating Keepsakes is my second fav.

I am planning on going to the CK convention in Portland. Do you mean Portland Oregon? I've been waiting for something close to me to come and I'm only 4 hours away. I plan on dragging my sil with me (she lives there) even though she doesn't sb. I need a buddy to go with and I need my bro and niece to watch my kids. Ha ha.

The best way to start your sbing is to just do it. It'll be great and you'll just get better and better.

Best wishes!

------------------
Melissa

Welcome! I'm new too--it's great here! Memory Makers is by far my most favorite magazine and source for ideas. Definitely try it!!!

The gallery here is great for ideas! I personally love my Creating Keepsakes magazine, but most of the layouts that are posted in this gallery a little easier to 'scraplift' if you're are completely blank and need an idea. I think CK can be a little intimidating if you're a newbie because of some of the more time consuming techniques and all of the embellishments that are used - it can be a bit overwhelming to even the most seasoned scrapper.

If you don't have doubles of those precious photos, you could make copies of them in case you are worried about messing something up. But just remember - there are no rules for scrapbooking!

Hope this helps!
Brit

Welcome Welcome!! You're going to love it around here! I decided to stick around after feeling how neighborly it is. I'm sure you will, too!

There are a few books out there for "beginners" but I really haven't read any of them. Memory Makers tends to put a lot of scrapbooking books on various topics out there; so does Creating Keepsakes. You could peruse their web sites and see what they have to offer.

There was a discussion here a while back regarding the various magazines and I have to say that all of them are quite different and good for different reasons. I subscribe to all (Creating Keepsakes, Simple Scrapbooks, Memory Makers, PaperKuts, and Scrapbooks Etc.) but Ivy Cottage Creations, though I've found ICC to have some really nice paper piecing patterns. It's nice to have the variety because each has a different style. You might pick one of each up and check them out. There was a discussion on this here, too, if you search on sb magazines.

Scrapbook.com has an excellent selection of products and the customer service has been incredibly responsive and just great! When I'm looking for something, I tend to start here. If you want ideas for other online spots, shoot me a note.

Swaps? Oh, don't get me started. They're easily addictive and great fun! There have been plenty of discussions about it on this and the swap board. Have you done a search on here...probably a good place to start.

HTH,
Linda

Welcome!!!

I sent an email to you with some more information about scrapbookinging.

Since you are already a rubber stamper you probably have tons of creativity to spare. But if you're looking for a good magazine for a beginner I think that Paperkuts (or even Simple Scrapbooks) is a good one to start with for beginners. The layouts they present tend to be a lot more "doable" than the ones presented in CK.

You will probably find lots of unique ways to incorporate your stamping with your scrapping. In fact, I'm the reverse of you. I've been scrapping for almost 3 years and just this Wednesday, I'll be taking a class for Beginning Rubber Stamping. Maybe I'll come to you for some tips. :>)

You've all been so helpful! Thank you for welcoming me so generously! I'm very glad to be here to benefit from your experience!

One more question for you experts: Can I print on vellum using my inkjet printer? I'd hate to muck up the printer using the wrong kind of paper.

Thanks,
MR

Welcome to the neighborhood! I find purchasing items in bulk from ebay is a great way to stock up for cheap. My favorite magazine is making memories, but I'm not sure if it's the greatest for a new scrapper.
Just a piece of advise: don't crop any photo you don't have double or the negatives of. Stick with cardstock, and save the patterned papers for matting and tags because they tend to get expensive (.60 per sheet at my local scrapbook store). You can get all sorts of free fonts online, just download and you can create your own free titles and jouranling boxes. http://www.1001freefonts.com is a good site. Also...about your question regaurding printing on vellum, sure you can do it, will cause no harm to your printer. Although, you must allow several hours for it to thoroughly dry, and on some vellums the ink will bleed causing the letters to be mucky looking. Anyway, I hope this helps! thanks for posting!

~Andi

[This message has been edited by mattsgurl (edited 03-18-2003).]

I also found a bunch of great (and free) fonts at http://www.fontfreak.com. In fact, I found the perfect font for my title, called Frostbitten. I downloaded it and made up a test title to show my boyfriend, and he loved it!

I'm trying to get him involved in this scrapbook, since he's an avid skier and this was our first ski trip together. He's agreed to write up some stuff about watching me ski for the first time, how I was terrified on the lift (there's a great photo of me clutching desparately to both sides of the chair, LOL), and what it meant to him to ski together. I'm really looking forward to creating this book together. What a fun project!!!

Thanks again for all the advice! I've gotten e-mails, too, with even more details- you guys are AWESOME!!!

: )
MR

Welcome, Rose! You'll love it here. I'm glad you found the pictures - it's the pits to lose them...I use CM albums with all kinds of stuff in them. My consultant is very understanding about that - some of the MLM consultants aren't. Find a good one and you'll be in great shape! I would go to either a scrapping 101 class at your local store or to a CM class to get the basics of scrapping before you start. After that you can learn a lot from magazines and this board. I carry my stuff in a CropStation by Generations and a CM MemoryMate bag. I also have a CM album tote full of paper that stays at home. I take page kits and pictures to crops to save time and agonizing over what to use. hth, Myssi

Hello!

I am new too and everyone has been very kind to me. I have found that Paperkuts is the most useful to read, but Memory Makers and Creating Keepsakes are beautiful and have great ideas as well.
I have to agree with everyone about not cutting your pictures at first with those crazy scissors. I learned the hard way after being a bit to enthused about starting to scrap.
My advice would be just to go with one idea. Maybe you like a picture or have some idea in your mind that you want to incorporate. Don't worry about it being your best work, as long as you put you hard work and effort into it, it will be lovely. Plus I feel you learn by doing, and can only get better with practice!

Okay, I thought of yet another question, LOL! As far as pages go, do you use one piece of cardstock and do both sides, or use one piece of cardstock for each page? Does it depend on how "lumpy" or heavy the page is?

MR

I use a background sheet for each page so that I can rearrange pages as necessary, But then I don't scrap in order.

------------------
Aleta
"Commit random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty"

One piece for each page.

------------------
Melissa