Jul 17, 2007

The Super Scrapbooking Bible Coming Soon!




Keep an eye out for the brand new 'Super Scrapbooking Bible' which will be launched soon.




Jul 6, 2007

Free Scrapbooking Paper To Print

Scrapbooking paper forms the background for every page of your scrapbook. If you begin to do many scrapbooks, it can be a major cost. To save that cost, many people look for free scrapbooking paper to print from their computers. Below, we will tell you how to find free scrapbooking paper to print. We will also discuss important things to remember about your scrapbooking paper.

Why Special Scrapbooking Paper

At first, you may be tempted to use plain construction paper for your scrapbooks – or colored paper for your printer. Scrapbooking paper is higher priced than either of those, and it doesn't seem that special!

Preservation: Scrapbooking paper is special because it is intended for the best preservation of your photos and memorabilia. Scrapbooking paper is acid-free and lignin-free. What does that mean for you?

* Acid-free: Scrapbooking paper that is acid-free has a neutral pH. At most, the pH should be between 6 and the neutral 7. The wood pulp of which scrapbooking paper is made contains natural acids. These are neutralized in production by treating the paper with a substance such as calcium. The paper may be buffered also to keep additional acids from forming.

Acid-free scrapbooking paper is used because scrapbooks are intended to last a long time. Acid-free paper will not yellow and deteriorate as regular paper will. In addition, acid-free scrapbooking paper will not harm your photos, or cause them to deteriorate.

* Lignin-free: Lignin is another substance found in wood pulp. Lignin makes acidity even worse. It intensifies acidity. Scrapbooking paper that is acid-free, but not lignin-free, will not remain acid-free as long. Lignin can be removed in the pulping process, but adds to the cost of scrapbooking paper.

You may have a newspaper that has turned brown over time. That brownness is caused by the lignin, which makes acid form inside the paper fibers.

Scrapbooking paper that is lignin-free is not as likely to turn brown.
Problems with Free Scrapbooking Paper to Print
Free scrapbooking paper to print on your own machine may have drawbacks that will make you reconsider.

1. Scrapbooking paper you print will not be acid-free and lignin-free unless you purchase special paper for your printer. Such paper is available, of course. You simply need to check before you purchase. Acid-free possibilities at office supply stores online include: regular multiuse and copy paper; color copy paper; inkjet paper; laser paper; and business stationery.

2. If you decide to find free scrapbooking paper to print, you will probably have to settle for a smaller size. Scrapbooking paper is often 12" x 12" and few printers are capable of handling that size. Even if you use 8.5" x 11" paper, your printer's margins may prevent you from printing the next convenient size of 8" x 8".

3. Free scrapbooking paper to print at home is not likely to offer as many patterns and colors. You may want to look for digital scrapbooking paper, enhance it in a graphics program such as Adobe PhotoShop, and then print it.
How to Find Free Scrapbooking Paper to Print

Scrapbooking paper found online is sometimes totally FREE – no strings attached. At other websites, you may be asked to take a survey, or sign up for a newsletter before gaining access to free scrapbooking paper.

Begin a Google search by typing the search phrase "free scrapbooking paper to print" without quotation marks. You should find several websites at the top of Google's results. Usually, what you want will be in the first 10 or 20 sites only.

When you have finished looking at those sites, type the phrase "free digital papers" or "free digital scrapbooking" without quotation marks. You should get additional websites that offer free scrapbooking paper to print.

For even more choices, simply visit scrapbooking sites. Many offer several free items to lure customers to their store.

Finally, look on your computer software for free scrapbooking paper to print. Software programs often have patterned stationery templates that make good scrapbooking paper. If you are working with Adobe Photoshop or a similar program, create your own scrapbooking paper by repeating a pattern.

Let your imagination take over, and you will soon see free scrapbooking paper in many places.

About the Author: ©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about scrapbooking at http://www.scrapbooking-for-fun.com Anna is posting new articles every week on that site. You won’t want to miss her recent article on free digital scrapbooking frames.

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Hart

Jul 3, 2007

Free Scrapbooking Ideas

Finding ideas to apply to your scrapbooking can be such a big pain. You are faced with the prospect of creating a masterpiece, yet you don't really know how to begin. Here are some suggestions for you to try out:

1) Color – The simplest idea for a scrapbooking page should be a color. Basing your scrapbook pages on a single color though, can be quite complex if you want it to be. There are shades to experiments with. By trying on different shades of a color, you can have variety and yet stick with the same scrapbooking idea.

Another fun scrapbooking page idea that involves colors has you researching their different interpretations. By using colors this way, you can actually have a message that means something special to you.

2) Literature – Think of your favorite piece of literature and base your scrapbook on that. Taking inspiration from books or a poem is a really good scrapbooking idea. You see, authors sometimes picture their characters and stories so vividly, that you can visualize them in your mind. By placing these images on paper, you can actually share with people something that so inspired you.

Basing your scrapbook on a piece of literature can be pretty deep for some people to take. You may have to do a bit of explaining before someone gets the message of the scrapbook. In doing so, you get to show a part of your soul to the readers. It may also inspire people to take up reading.

3) Characters –Characters abound in the world that people can take inspiration from. In using characters, you have two options: A. Fiction – this idea for scrapbooking pages involves you taking a fictional character and using that character as an inspiration for your scrapbooking page. Contrary to what most people think, fictional characters are actually harder to research on than actual, living characters.

One reason is the fact that different people have different interpretations of them. Take Batman, for example. In the sixties, the TV series portrayed him as this campy superhero who wears grey and blue spandex. In the 1989 movie, he's a bit more brooding, and wears protective armor. In the movie “Batman and Robin” he is portrayed as this not so brooding, talkative character who wears a rubber suit with nipples. See how different people's perceptions of a fictional character can be?

One advantage to this, though, is the fact that you can have more freedom with this idea for a scrapbooking page. You see, not many people will question your interpretation of a fictional character. B. Non-fiction – In this idea for a scrapbooking page, you take your inspiration from a real person. It doesn't really matter if they are alive or dead. However, remember that people change all the time. Just take a look at Britney Spears and you'll probably realize the meaning of this statement.

By using real persons as your inspiration, you are actually offered a whole lot of detail on their lives. However, you won't really have the same freedom as when you are trying to do a fictional character.

4) Activities – Try getting an idea for scrapbooking pages from your favorite activity. Most guys would choose sports and stuff, and nothing's wrong with that. However, you may want to try being different and think outside the box. Base your scrapbook on an interest which no one can really guess. In doing this, you'll get to have additional fun by having people guess the connection of the page to the activity.

Sometimes, people tend to categorize us through our activities. However, you might want to prove to others your true depth by showing in your scrapbook that a certain activity foes not define the “whole” you.

You might want to show, using your scrapbook that even though you enjoy a particular activity, it is only a minor part of your existence and that you have a deeper facet to your personality than being a computer whiz, basketball jock and other stereotypical labels.

There you go: those are just some ideas for scrapbooking pages you might think about trying out. By trying out different things before you actually use them, you can actually see if those ideas for scrapbooking pages fit your personality .