Scrapbooking for Beginners

Will walk you through the process, step-by-step

Step #4 - Pick Your Papers

The Quick Start Guide of Scrapbooking for Beginners.

1. Gather Related Photos.
2. Determine the Predominate Color.
3. Determine Theme or Context.

4. Pick Papers - Based on your colors, theme or content.

5. Collect your Tools.
6. Matte the photos -- if you want to.
7. Test fit the photos to the page size and adhere to the layouts.
8. Add Embellishments or other goodies -- if you have them or want them.
9. Add the Journaling or save it for later.
10. Get your scrapbooking photo album and load the pages in your album and show off...

Scrapbook-advice.com Tip for Beginners: You can use the White stock paper that comes with your Scrapbook and additional page protectors.

Scrapbook Papers and Card Stock can be smooth, slick and glossy, shiny, matte finished, metallic, textured, embossed, fibrous (Mulberry paper), felt, rubbery, fabric, or cork textured.

Below are a couple of examples, of metallic, textured and patterned all in one. This paper is actually a dark brown with metallic in gold and silver throughout. Some good paper to use when you have that New Years Eve party with a lot of bling!

Below are some more examples of textured paper. While there is no theme to this paper design, it is very versatile and its texture is very predominate. No metallic here, just texture.

Specialty Papers

Specialty Papers are also available like Core'dinations Color Core Paper with a different color on the inside core of the paper, Post-it Scrapbooking Paper with the familiar post-it adhesive already on the back and the New POW Glitter Paper from American Crafts.



This Piece of Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock was embossed first. The left edge was torn revealing a coordinating color on the inside and the right half was sanded, also revealing the core color at the raised embossing.

Here is also a page devoted to the new Core'dinations Cardstock with both Texture and Color variations on one product. To see more about this wonderful product at the Coredinations Cardstock Store.


Below are some examples of Hawaiian themed paper.

For an additional look at more of this great Hawaiian Themed paper, go to our page on Hawaiian Scrapbooking.

These are photos of 3 covers of 12 new (Feb 2009) Stacks by Die Cuts With a View, DCWV. The cover has sample squares of each paper.

Some are glitter, some metallic, some with a sheen, some with texture. These particular ones have 72 for mattes at 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches, but these are also available in 8 x 8 inches, and the standard 12 x 12 inches with 2 copies of each paper with 24 designs for a total of 48 papers or card stocks.

Scrapbook-advice.com Tip for Beginners: When I purchase these stacks, I like to get the mattes to go with the larger sizes so my pages will coordinate. These are a great idea for coordinating your Scrapbooking for Beginners or Advanced pages.

Here is a link which shows the current selection of the DCWV Paper Stacks at Die Cuts With a View for a sample of all their new products and to locate a store new you where you can purchase.

Sometimes scrapbook paper comes in packages of print and solid papers, usually with a theme such as school days, holiday, summer time fun, etc. Often these also have tags, titles and labels that coordinate and match the papers. There are papers and kits like this for each branch of the Military, also.

Check here for photos of some of the Military Kits. Military Scrapbook Kits


Sometimes paper comes in themed kits to include embellishments such as tags, eyelets or brads, inks, pens, stencils, fibers or ribbons - you get a whole bunch of coordinated items and all you need to do is find your photos to match. These are wonderful for scrapbooking for beginners and advanced alike. Again, Club Scrap.com is my all time favorite for kits.

Scrapbook-advice.com Tip for Beginners: The themed packages are great if you are doing a themed scrapbook for a lot of different photos. Often the packages will show some sample layout ideas as well.

Check out these ideas and layouts using patterned papers, some of which have bold and contrasting colors, some of which are more subtle patterns. While there are no photos on these layouts, the solid card stock is cut into 4 x 6 inch sizes to matte a photo nicely and still provide a small border around the photo to allow the photo to be the focal point.

Tips and Ideas for Using & Mxing Patterned Paper
or
Scrapbook Layouts with Patterned Paper.

Now that you have Picked your Papers ... Go on to
Step #5 - Collect Your Tools from Scrapbooking for Beginners

Or check out our page on Scrapbook Page Kits

Go back to Quick Start Guide of Scrapbooking for Beginners

For a look at some Special Hawaiian Scrapbooking Papers

Check out Scrapbook Tutorials & Techniques

Go back to Home Page for general Scrapbook Advice