AllCrafts.net Free Crafts Update Blog

Clear Acetate Scrapbook Page

I like the fun layered look on this Clear Acetate Scrapbook Page. Really makes the embellishments pop! Added to Scrapbooking

All About Me Superhero Book

Mother's Day Patterned Paper and Scrapbook Kit

Free Digital Scrapbooking Kit

ComputerScrapbook.com is offering a complete digital scrapbooking kit for download. Add all the parts of the kit, Cool Spring Day, to your shopping cart and check out to get the download link.

Clay Scrapbooking Journaling

Use poly clay like Sculpey and t-shirt transfers to create unique Clay Scrapbooking Journaling. Added to Scrapbooking and Computer Crafts

Creating Photo Borders in Photoshop

Learn several easy ways to add a border to photos in Photoshop. Added to Scrapbooking.

Picture Yourself Creating Digital Scrapbooks Review

Picture Yourself Creating Digital Scrapbooks

"Step-byStep Instruction for Preserving Memories Using Your Computer"

I've just finished reading this book cover-to-cover. It was so much fun! Whether you are new to digital scrapbooking or an intermediate digi-scrapper (as I am) this book will inspire and teach you. Like all good computer books, the lessons start with the basics - terms and equipment needed. You can follow along each chapter and practice new skills in working with your photos and creating great scrapbook layouts. Tutorials for both Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro are included throughout the book. Later chapters will make you an expert digital scrapbooker, creating your own page elements.

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Paint-Wash Background Papers

Get creative with your background papers for scrapbooking, cardmaking, and more. This Paint Wash technique is fun, creative, and a great stress-reliever, too. Added to Scrapbooking and Paper Crafts projects.

Let it Snow Fabric Scapbook Page

Use your sewing and scrapbooking skills to create this fun Let it Snow Scrapbook Page It's in pdf format and combines fabric, batting and paper to create a unique memory page. Framed, it would be a nice gift. Added to Christmas Crafts, Scrapbooking, and Sewing.

DIY Post Bound Scrapbook Album

Watch a free video and download templates to make a homemade post-bound scrapbooking album. Added to Scrapbooking.

Simply Sensational Scrapbook Cards Review

Enjoy creating special keepsake greeting cards for all types of occasions? Learn to use family photos, from current to vintage, and your paper-crafting tools in Simply Sensational Scrapbook Cards.

The card projects are for those of us who like to play with papers, punches, ribbons, glues and embellishments. They celebrate the recipient in such a thoughtful way that they're sure to be treasured.

If you are a beginner, the first sections are a great introduction to cardmaking, and if you are an experienced scrapbooker or cardmaker, you'll probably pick up a technique or two. The card projects are also full of neat techniques and designs. Unlike some cardmaking books, the author discusses her design decisions. She doesn't assume that you will blindly follow her design, and instead encourages you to use your own materials.

There are 10 various card projects included and a few envelopes and a presentation box. The cards range from simple folds to elaborate multi-panel cards and miniature albums. The instructions are step-by-step with lots of photos and extra tips.

For many of the designs, the author shows how it can be adapted to other occasions. An extra section at the end shows ideas to adapt the card projects to scrapbook pages.

There's a lot of ideas and techniques packed into 10+ card-making projects, and any cardmaker will enjoy this book.

Simply Sensational Scrapbook Cards

Printable Scrapbooking Parts

Great selection of printable tags, papers, borders, photo frames, and more for scrapbooking. Added to Scrapbooking and Computer Crafts.

Organized Scrapbooking Printables

Plan your albums and layouts beforehand and keep track of scrapbooking events with these handy scrapbooking printables. Added to Scrapbooking

Conquering Scrapbooking Procrastination

Conquering Scrapbooking Procrastination

If you've been with us for awhile or if you've seen my wedding projects on the website, you might know that I was married in 2000, and that I made many of the items in my wedding. With help from family and friends, I made my invitations, shower and wedding thank you cards, centerpieces, bridal party gifts, quilt blocks for a guest book and more.

So it may come as a surprise that I've never finished, in fact, hardly started, my wedding scrapbook. I bought the album, covered in mulberry paper and pressed flowers, and picked up wedding theme papers, stickers and other stuff through the years. But, I never started. The photos sat in their folders from the developers and the photographers and the memorabilia was piled in a small shopping bag.

During this time, I've scrapbooked other events, from blizzards to birthdays. I just couldn't tackle the big wedding project!

Today, I can proudly say that I'm halfway done with my wedding scrapbook; it's looking great, and I'll be done in just a few more sessions.

Here's how to conquer the procrastination that scrapbooking a big event brings on. Let's take it in small steps.

1. Gather all the photos in one place.
2. Think about the sequence of events. Write down a chronological or groups list. I had events before the wedding, before the ceremony, the ceremony, the reception. I also had photos of family and friends that I split into mine and my husband's side.
3. Buy a few photoboxes with the little dividers and scrapbooking or office files for the bigger photos. Whatever you find or buy, make sure you can divide the space into your categories.
4. Sort your photos. This will give you a good idea of how you can tell the story of your event. You may need to split up large categories to make the idea or event clearer.
5. Sort any memorabilia. If it doesn't fit in your storage box, jot a note on an index card and put it in the right category.

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Magnetic Memories

Dress up your refrigerator with your favorite memories in this fun and easy computer photo craft. Added to Scrapbooking and Computer Crafts.

Shelley's Scrapbook Layouts

I had a fun time browsing the layouts in this gallery. They say they have 800 layouts. Added to Scrapbooking

Daisie Company Digital Scrapbooking Free Bee

Nice weekly freebies - sometimes page kits, sometimes graphics. Added to Scrapbooking

Fancy Ribbon Corners

Fiskars ScrapBoss Starter Set & Stencil Sets Review

Fiskars ScrapBoss Starter Set & Stencil Sets
Embossing, Stenciling, and Cutting System

Fiskars, well-known for their scissors and paper punches, makes a great system for embossing, stenciling and cutting. It's super for scrapbooking and cardmaking. Everything in these sets works together. I have several of the sets, and thought you might be interested in this versatile system.

The first piece that you need is the Scrapboss. Measuring 12 inches by 12 inches, it's big enough for full-size scrapbook pages. Templates are fastened to it by repositionable pegs. Underneath, there's a storage tray to store templates and paper. It comes with 2 styluses, some stencils, and a project book. The Scrapboss can use any stencils and templates that Fiskars makes.

There's a smaller cousin, the Shapeboss. > It fits stencils and templates that are 9 inches by 11 inches and smaller. It comes with a stylus and some stencils. It does not have the storage tray. For the smallest sizes, try the Cardboss > or Mini ShapeBoss Set > The stencils listed on those pages both work on the Scrapboss and Shapeboss.

Embossing and Stenciling

Embossing and stenciling are very easy with this system. The laser-cut stencils come in two parts. First you lay the bottom piece on the Scrapboss, then the top piece. The top piece has grid lines and is marked, "top." Next I usually put a couple pegs in the corners to hold it securely in place. I position the paper, cardstock, or thin metal in between the two pieces and, start embossing. The styluses comes with different size tips. Smaller tips are better for detailed areas, while large areas can be finished quickly with the bigger tips.

The stencils come in a large variety, from abstract lines and letters, good for lots of pages, to holiday and baby themes. If you click on the small pictures on this page and this page, you can see the details of each one.

Sometimes I emboss right on a 12x12" scrapbook page and create borders and frames. I also make embellishments by embossing smaller pieces or copper pieces. I usually emboss before cutting them out. It's easier.

Another set that I use alot to make photo mats and embellishments for scrapbooking and cards are the Texture Plates >. They're made of hard plastic with holes at the top for the pegs. Each is two-sided, with a different texture on each side. The assortment pack is a great value and contains 6 double sided plates (12 designs) including hearts/ stars, lines/waves, bubbles/dots, squares/fabric, stones/bricks and wood/leaves.

I use the Texture Plates with the Shape Templates that I'll talk about later to create my own textured die-cuts. For example, I put the heart shape template on the Scrapboss with a hearts texture plate beneath it. I slide my paper in-between. I emboss inside the heart shape, creating a hearts texture. Then I cut out the heart shape. It's very cute! I also like to create titles this way, using the letter and number shape templates and the other texture plates.

Cutting

The Fiskars templates for cutting are designed for the ShapeCutter >. It's a very safe and accurate way to cut out clean shapes and letters. The cutting mat and shape templates fit the Scrapboss or Shapeboss and have holes to secure them with the pegs. Using the ShapeCutter is very simple. Hold the base of the ShapeCutter inside the template and follow around the edge. To cut a freehand design, I just look down at the blade and follow my traced line. The blade is adjusted by a knob on top for different paper thicknesses.

The ShapeTemplates are sturdy plastic with grid lines, and can be stored in a binder. They have several shapes on each one, and some have border designs along the sides. They come in many varieties > and letters and numbers. > There's also a set of Super Size ShapeTemplates >. On these, you can use the inside and outside of each shape, That's great for cropping a photo and creating a matching shape mat.

Overall, I use the Scrapboss alot in my paper-crafting. It's very versatile, and I can create many different looks, cards, and layouts.

Digital Scrapbooking with Photoshop Elements Tutorial

Step by step directions to create a lovely layout in Photoshop Elements. It's in pdf format. Added to Scrapbooking

AllCrafts.net Arts & Crafts Book Review - Encyclopedia of Scrapbooking

This could be a very short review because I can sum it up in one sentence - if you buy only one scrapbooking book in your lifetime, buy this book.

However, I suppose I must explain myself. While many crafts books claim to be encyclopedias, few are comprehensive enough to deserve the title. With more than 300 pages, the "Enclycopedia of Scrapbooking" covers all of scrapbooking. Not just definitions and pictures, most entries explain how to use the tool, idea or embellishment. I've found several techniques that I can't wait to try on my pages. Since this book is by Creating Keepsakes magazine, every other page or so contains great layouts using the techniques illustrated.

This comprehensive book starts with the very basics, the history of scrapbooking. Then it illustrates the many tools and materials you might need or want for scrapbooking. The pictures of each item are large and helpful. For more basics, the next section is Page Creation. They cover several essential techniques:
-cropping photos and mats
-using paper trimmers
-adhering photos
-handwriting titles
-using red-eye pens
-cutting templates and shapes

ver been intimidated by the selection of scrapbooking items and doodads in the craft store? The next 3 chapters are for you, and me, too. Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Embellishments covers every technique and material that I've seen used in a layout, and more than a few that I have to try. Trust me, it's all there.

From brads, chalks, conchos, eyelets, inks, mounts, mica, vellum, to watch crystals and everything in between, the quantity of information is outstanding. Each item explains how to use it, and shows you several layouts using the items.

his well-rounded book has a gallery of other uses for our scrapbooking toys, additional resources, and an appendix to cover technical stuff like archival quality, technology and organization.

ike scrapbooking? Want to try scrapbooking? Need a motivation to get started on those boxes of photos? The "Encyclopedia of Scrapbooking" belongs on your bookshelf, though I suspect mine will be out and read through again and again for good while.

Encyclopedia of Scrapbooking: The most complete guide to scrapbooking ever published

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Stitched Baby Scrapbooking Layout

Add an easy embellishment to a cute baby page with your sewing machine. Added to Baby Crafts and Scrapbooking .

My Favorite Things Layout

Here's a fun scrapbooking idea that will get lots of journaling on your page. Added to Scrapbooking.

Pop Art Photo Montage

A colorful page for digital scrappers. Added to Scrapbooking and Computer Crafts.

Scrapbooking is all-new!

An overhaul was overdue for Scrapbooking at AllCrafts.net. Scrapbooking is a popular topic online. We've found hundred and hundreds of free scrapbooking downloads, articles, techniques and layout galleries.

Shutterfly Review and Tutorial

We've just finished a comprehensive review and tutorial on using Shutterfly.com. Read it online.

Scrapbooking Comparison Shopping

Browse several stores at once. It's alot of fun.

AllCrafts.net Arts & Crafts Book Review - Make Money Making Scrapbooks for Others

Make Money Making Scrapbooks for Others: The Complete guide for Creating the Career of Your Dreams by Sue DiFranco

Wondering if you could work from home, doing the craft you love? Well, if you have a talent for scrapbooking, you may be in luck. This book is a thorough and encouraging guide to every aspect of starting and succeeding as a Custom Scrapbook Artist (CSA).

The 3 main sections of the book are: (1) Starting a CSA business, 2) How to be a CSA, and, 3) Marketing your business.

There are many issues to consider when opening a home-based business. From local zoning laws, to registering a business name and a domain name, a business owner needs to make careful decisions. There is excellent info in these chapters to guide you in starting your business right. The checklist at the end of the chapter is handy for any businessperson.

Once the basics of a business are covered, the book moves to the details of being a Custom Scrapbook Artist, and really begins to excel. This author is not afraid to tackle difficult issues head-on, and she begins with the thorny topics of copyright and supplies. Avoid the pitfalls when you are reselling scrapbook supplies in albums to your clients by reading this chapter. It's good info.

Many business crafts books give little attention to teaching pricing, while it is usually a craftsperson's first and recurring question. The pricing chapter considers the issue from different perspectives, giving you tools to apply to your marketplace.

I enjoyed the detailed example of arranging a client consultation - before the meeting, confirming the meeting, what to bring, and more. Being well prepared for working with your client and their photos will help make the entire album go more smoothly.

Marketing your business is the largest section of this book. No marketing experience is necessary - it begins with the basics. The next chapters provide enough business promotion ideas to last for years. Many of these techniques are applicable to any business. Here are some of the topics - "Almost" Free Marketing, Direct Mail, Publicity, and Paid Advertising.

After you've become a bit established, your business will be ready to try the more advanced techniques. She suggests ways of marketing to niches, and adding items and services. Plenty to keep your business humming along.

This book is up-to-date - websites and pay-per-click search engine marketing are discussed. There is an extensive reference section of vendors and groups to contact. A CD containing documents to help you in your business, including a sample contract, is included.

The tone of the book is encouraging while presenting a great deal of specific practical information. It covers many issues that I had not considered, including the tricky topics of supplies, pricing, and customer contracts. Many of the ideas and tips are helpful for any home-based business.

If you are considering this career choice, I highly recommend this book. You will return to it again and again - as you begin as a CSA, and while running your business.

Free Printable Scrapbook Paper

National Scrapbooking Day Layout Contest

Enter the National Scrapbooking Day Layout Contest for your chance to win a CreateForLess shopping spree!