PLEASANT GROVE, UT – May 1, 2006 – Scrapbooking is one of the fastest-growing segments of the crafts industry. According to the Craft & Hobby Association scrapbooking is enjoyed by 25 million people and brings in over $2.5 billion a year. The hobby has become so popular that May was declared National Scrapbooking Month and May 6 is National Scrapbooking Day. To celebrate, Close To My Heart, a leader in the direct sales scrapbook industry, will give away one scrapbook kit daily during the month and one grand prize scrapbook starter kit worth over $250. The Get Started Scrapbooking Sweepstakes can be entered on the company website by going to www.closetomyheart.com.
Getting started in scrapbooking is often overwhelming to beginners. Close To My Heart Consultants offered the following tips to help beginners start celebrating relationships through the art of scrapbooking.
1) SIZE MATTERS: Decide what size scrapbook you would like to create. The most common are 12” x 12”. Smaller sizes are also becoming more popular, especially for making themed albums for special occasions, vacations, holidays, and more. Smaller albums are often found in 9” x 9”, 6” x 6”, and 3”x 3” sizes.
2) ORGANIZE PHOTOS: There are many ways to organize your album and photos, so find a system that works for you. A common approach is to store them in an acid-free box with categorized divider tabs. Another popular option is to group the photos you plan to scrapbook together and then store them in page protectors, making them easy to access when you have time to scrapbook. Using a photo-safe pen, write the date and other pertinent details on the back of your photos as soon as you get them. If you don’t have dates on the photos you have collected over the years, consider organizing them by theme or topic. Be selective about which photographs you choose to scrapbook, and pick favorites that ignite an emotion or have a compelling story behind them. The following are different organization methods to consider as you create each album. You may find yourself combining different approaches to get your message across effectively.
Chronological – Scrapbook the events of your life in order of occurrence.
Topical – Organize your album by topic including holidays, vacations, family members, etc.—those things that are most important and relevant to you.
Thematic – As you organize your thoughts and photos, is there one event or theme that stands out? This can be captured in a single album, emphasizing a meaningful part of life.
3) BASIC PRODUCTS: Stock up on basic supplies to get started including a ruler, a paper cutter, scissors, adhesives, cardstock, pens, markers, and page protectors. Be sure to use archival-quality products that are acid- and lignin-free to prolong the lifespan of your scrapbook to more than 200 years.
4) CHOOSE A THEME AND ESTABLISH A FOCAL POINT: Choose a theme, mood, or topic idea for your page. Having a particular concept in mind will help when you are coming up with the title, journaling, and layout. Your photos should be the stars of the layout—establishing a focal point will help those looking at your scrapbook know where to begin. Consider having favorite photos developed in a larger size or add matting behind the photo to help draw attention to your focal point.
5) SELECT A COLOR SCHEME: Pick a color out of your photo that you would like to “pull out” by choosing papers and cardstock that match or compliment that color. Generally 2–3 color combinations will help enhance your photograph. Have fun with it and step outside your comfort zone by trying colors you wouldn’t normally use.
6) WRITE JOURNAL ENTRY: Include a journal entry with each page. Use the “4 W Plus” system to get started: Who is in the picture? When did it happen? Where is it taken? What is happening? The “Plus” includes: How were you feeling at the time? Why was it important to you or those in the picture? Include things that someone just looking at the photo wouldn’t know. You may also consider including quotes or poetry that capture your thoughts on the topic.
7) COME UP WITH A PLAN: Sketch a template plan for your layout prior to adhering items to the page. Borrow ideas from scrapbook magazines, friends, and other resources. Close To My Heart Founder and CEO, Jeanette Lynton, recently released Cherish, a book with 50 two-page layout concepts that can be mixed and matched for endless possibilities. Look to non-traditional resources like a favorite shirt or store window display for inspiration.
8) EMBELLISH: Finish pages with special added embellishments like rubber stamps, stickers, ribbon, and other scrapbooking accessories. Use memorabilia to accent or embellish your page by including ticket stubs, brochures, maps, postcards, etc.
9) HAVE FUN: Make small, manageable goals. When you complete a page, remember that it’s one more page than you had yesterday. Don’t think about all the photos you would like to scrapbook or you might get overwhelmed; start with recent photos and work backwards. Scrapbooking is a fun and rewarding hobby that should never feel like a chore or a stress. Make projects one-of-a-kind, and don’t worry about mistakes—just get started.
10) USE A CONSULTANT: Close To My Heart has thousands of Consultants around the U.S. and Canada that can show you and your friends how to celebrate relationships through the art of scrapbooking, with a fast, simple, and easy approach in the comfort of your own home. You will receive personalized guidance and instruction, try out new tools and techniques, and learn to use time-tested, exclusive products not available in stores.
Close To My Heart® is an industry leader in innovative scrapbooking and stamping products, including the My Acrylix™ line of clear stamps, My Reflections™ Scrapbooking Kits, and several top-selling how-to programs, including the newest scrapbook layout volume, Cherish, available now. Headquartered in Pleasant Grove, Utah, the company distributes its products at Home Gatherings through thousands of Independent Consultants across the U.S. and Canada. For more information about ordering exclusive Close To My Heart products or becoming a Consultant, go to www.closetomyheart.com.
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