Crafting with Kids

This article offers some practical tips on scrapbooking for beginners.

Photographs
Nearly all scrapbooks will contain photographs. Even the most disinterested reader of your scrapbook will glance at the photographs. Pictures really are worth a thousand words. Therefore, it is vital to select that are of good quality and clearly illustrate your scrapbook theme.

Any photograph can be used in a scrapbook. Even instant photographs can be used in scrapbooking. However that scrapbooking is permanent. Therefore, it is probably wise to use copies of your only picture of Great Grandma rather than risk ruining the photograph forever. Simply scan the picture on your computer scanner and print the image on lignin free and acid free paper.

Cutting and Cropping
Often photographs aren’t quite the right shape and size or the photographic image is improperly centered. Having oversized or off centered photographs creates an air of unprofessionalism. Carefully cropped and sized photographs, on the other hand, enhances the overall look and feel of your scrapbook.

There are two ways to solve these issues. The low tech method is to manually crop and shape the photograph using a pair of scissors or an exacto knife. If you are manually cropping and cutting pictures, ensure that you mark the outline you want with chalk (or eye shadow if you don’t have chalk) before you cut. Don’t forget the old saying, measure twice and cut once.

To manually change a distracting or cluttered background simply cut out the background and replace it with a with a new paper background. This allows the eye to focus on the people instead of the clutter behind them.

The high tech solution to your photograph woes is to use modern computer programs such as PhotoElements or Photoshop. Using one of these programs, photos can be magically brightened, darkened, cropped or enlarged without ruining your original photograph. Some programs even allow you to alter the background of the photograph.

Order
There are no specific rules stating that all photographs or mementos must be placed in chronological order. Therefore, it is completely up you the order you wish to place your items and embellishments. You can place your items in a formal chronological order. You can also group items into formal or informal categories such as similar colors, events, activities, individuals, or families. Items can also be placed into random, abstract, or collages.

Each order has its own place in scrapbooking. For instance, chronological order might be preferable for an anniversary scrapbook. Pictures and mementos of the couple’s years together could be placed from the first day they met through the wedding day to the present day with each time period on a different page. This presents a feel of as time goes by.

However, a scrapbook for a parent could just have a collage of pictures and drawings. In this case, a collage lends to a feeling of overwhelmingly being loved.

I’m a great scrapbooking fan and I also love to face paint. On some occasions such as themed birthday partys and holidays such as Halloween I’m able to combine the too.
Kids face painting
Face painting ideas
halloween face painting ideas
These articles are packed with practical information and tips on learning to face paint. Why not give it a try.

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