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I wanted to let you all know
what a great magazine you have. I sure enjoy reading all of the
articles and am constantly learning new techniques. This has to
be one of the best scrapbooking sites I have visited. I also
want you to know what a high caliber of members you have.
Kiethann Hurt I already had watched the
webisode before I received the newsletter - but I absolutely
loved it!! As a matter of fact, I am going to do the card and
folder for a young lady that just found out she has to be home
for a while due to sickness. I thought this would be a wonderful
gift for her!! She can write thank you notes, or just notes to
friends!! Kimberly
Whitehead I have to say I was
disappointed to see your picture was missing from my last issue
of The Stamper's Sampler magazine. Does this mean we will
see more stamping on scrapbook pages at Scrapbooking.com? I hope
so. I'm an avid card maker as well as a scrapbooker. Despite
what the stamping purists say, you can enjoy both. I look
forward to your leadership at Scrapbooking.com.
Donna Brown I've been a scrapbooking.com
subscriber for several years and it's one that I always open and
read, instead of just deleting! I like your content and that you
not only offer new and trendy ideas, but also re-visit the tried
and true.
Laura Campbell I have only recently started
receiving the newsletter and really like all of the articles,
contests etc. In just the short time I have been a subscriber, I
have learned new techniques to implement into my layouts. Thank
you very much. I was also very thrilled to see my tip on
"colored staples" on the front page of the newsletter dated
August 10, which, incidentally, is also my birthday. What a
bonus birthday present you gave me. Thanks again.
Kiethann Hurt
I have been scrapbooking
for a very long time. We have 2 boys they are now almost 15 and
19. I have so many pictures that I like to use all of them... I
have a great scrapbook room that is filled and organized with
paper holders organized folders. it is just like a store work
room. I have NOT done scrapbooking in a year because of not
knowing where to start up again. How do I decide which ones to
really use and include? Do I make separate scrapbooks for each
of us? What would be a guideline as to what age should be in one
book? I really need help!!
Debi Morgan
Editor's response: It sounds like an overwhelming burden to have
all those photos sitting there, waiting, making you feel guilty.
But remember, this hobby should be fun. I think that it's quite
impossible to scrapbook everything, unless you want every spare
minute for the rest of your life to be devoted to this project.
Give yourself a break and do a scrapbook/photo album project.
First, separate the photos into categories. You can do this by
age, event or chronologically. Chances are the two boys appear
in photos together so chronological might be your best bet.
You'll definitely find your favorites as you are separating.
Keep those for scrapbooking and put the others into albums.
Don't be afraid to limit yourself to a few special pictures of
each occasion, less is more.
Once you have your "scrapbook pile", you can better determine if
there are themes or if it's going to be eclectic and random.
Please, please, please save yourself a lot of time and effort by
using technology to your advantage. This project is daunting
enough, do not make separate pages for everyone. Simply find a
photo store/kiosk with the ability to scan your pages and make
color reprints. Yes, it will lose a little of the embellishment
details but will save your social life.
Be sure to set goals for yourself to help manage this task. In
other words, you may try to finish two pages a month or one
every week, whatever works best with your schedule. Ask for help
from friends and family, even the boys may enjoy making some
pages for each other. I think this will make the memories even
sweeter when they look through the book years from now.
Again, this is a hobby. Don't let it consume your life or make
you feel bad. I think we'd all like to scrapbook every special
moment but it simply isn't possible. We should be living the
life that we're documenting, after all. Accept that you can only
do so much, pick and choose your moments frugally and do the
best you can. I have subscribed to you
newsletter for a long time now and I want to just say that I
love it. I get some great tips and ideas and get to drool over
the cool stuff that is available to you in the United States. We
do get it eventually as well, in fact we have some incredible
stores here. So I just wanted to say keep up the good work. So
many inspiring pages, thank you.
Val Thorpe
Gauteng, South Africa I was so happy when I
discovered your newsletter. With a new baby on the way to my
brother's family,
I've decided I would like to start a scrapbook/babybook. This
would be my first huge attempt at
scrapbooking and I want to get started right. The problem is
that there are so many ways I could
get started. What would you recommend as a starting point?
Should I start by trying to build several pages and then find
the album? I would like to start this and then at some point
hand it off to my sister-in-law so she can continue this project
as her child grows. Your suggestions would be so appreciated.
Andrea Compton
Valley Village, CA
Editor's response: Great question! Scrapbooking can definitely
be overwhelming with the array of choices on the market. A great
place to start is right here with Scrapbooking.com Magazine.
Each of our articles has the "level" listed at the top. You'll
probably get the most use from the beginner information, but
don't let that stop you from exploring the other articles.
You'll learn a lot from looking at others' projects and find
inspiration from their layouts.
If you want to get started without all the research, simply head
for your nearest craft store. There are plenty of pre-made pages
in every color and theme, made for simply inserting your
favorite photos. Or you can look for scrapbooking kits, which
include coordinating paper and embellishments if you're feeling
like being more creative.
My personal advice to new artists is to keep it simple. The best
pages I've seen utilize only one-three photographs. You want
your page to tell a story so choose only embellishments which
will help accomplish this. Try to keep the focus on the
photographs and compliment them with paper design and
embellishments.
I find it easier to start with the album itself, that can help
guide your paper choices and color scheme (but you're not
necessarily limited by this, each page is its own work of art
and doesn't have to coordinate throughout the entire album). I
also like having the album so that when I complete a page I can
slip it into the protective plastic for safe storage.
Wow!!! It is so great to see
such a sensational talent as Jami Petersen in the role of your
new editor. I read a lot of articles related to all types of
paper crafts and have followed the career of this hot upstart
for a while now. The newsletter is lucky to have her. As for
myself and all of my art buddies, we are signing up right now so
we don't miss a thing! Thanks Scrapbooking.com.
Cher B. Lashley
Artist Editor's
response: I just had to publish this - it was such a great
letter I couldn't resist. Could you? For those of you who are
wondering about my career, Cher is referring to my previous
position as an editor for several of the Stampington & Company
publications and my current gig as a designer on TVWeekly.com,
as well as the Newsletters for Scrapbooking.com Magazine.
I live in England but my daughter
lives in Pennsylvania and has since she married five years ago.
I love to visit her and we always have a trip to the local shops
for scrapbooking papers and embellishments as there is such a
lot of choices. I feel like a child on Christmas morning every
time I visit. I have loved scrapbooking since I was 7 years old
and I am now 56. I have hundreds of scrapbooks and have them in
proper books from the day I met my future husband (we have been
married for 34 years this year) and all through my pregnancies.
I have three grown children - 2 daughters and a son. I am
expecting my first grandchild in November so I am hoping the
scrapbooking tradition will continue into a third generation. My
daughter, Louise, who lives in Pennsylvania is an avid
scrapbooker and I must admit that she does a much better job
than me. We all went to Florida to Disney and her scrapbook is
fantastic! She also made me a fabulous Christmas book a couple
of years ago complete with a DVD and it made me cry with joy. It
was the first scrapbook that I had ever received, but I have
done lots for family and friends. I love the Newsletters and
learn a lot from them. Keep sending me them my way, I really
appreciate all the information.
Maureen Stamp
England
Each week I wait
eagerly to read your newsletter. Almost every detail I know
about scrapbooking I have learned thru it! I started this hobby
in 2004, by accident, as I accompanied a friend to a class, and
was delighted with the subject. Since then I have not stopped
scrapping (and also talking about it). I really appreciate all
the information you give, specially the layouts. I follow the
instructions and mix and match, developing my own creations. I
have never tried digital scrapbooking because I like to feel the
materials, its textures and forms in my hands. Maybe it is old
fashioned, but, I feel good combining and creating scenes with
all those little pieces. Usually I work three hours each night,
and what I love is to take a glance first in the morning on the
pages prepared the night before. I can then appreciate my
"masterpieces", and that is my reward!
Petrín Diaz
Puerto Rico
Thought I would write you a little
note, just to let you know how much I enjoy receiving the
Scrapbooking.com Newsletter. It brings a smile to my face. Not
only has it inspired me to become a better scrapbooker, but it
has also gotten me through some tough times already.
I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the industry
and seeing where you will take us with your enormous talent and
voice. Thanks so much for being an inspiration.
Michael Bennett
"Super Fan"
It's so good to see you here on
the Scrapbooking.com magazine. Having already come to know how
enthusiastic and encouraging you are I know this will be a great
place to communicate our love of art and scrapbooking.
I had not visited this site before and now that I have, I have
already found many items of interest. I look forward to all the
upcoming themes and projects, competitions and the all important
weekly Newsletter.
This has opened up a whole new world for me. Wishing you all the
luck in the world!
Maureen Blackman |
