scanned and then printed again. Use the duplicate print for your scrapbook. If you do not have a scanner, you can use th
SCRAPBOOKING NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 31
SEPTEMBER 2015
The Scrapbooking Newsletter “Creating a Kid’s Scrapbook // Tips for Scrapping WITH Your Children”
Issue 31 SEPTEMBER 2015
Creating a Kid’s Scrapbook by SCRAPBOOK 24/7
Do you enjoy scrapbooking? If you do, you may look for any opportunity to create a small scrapbook or even just a single page. If you are a parent, you will have millions of opportunities. Kids love scrapbooks, especially when they are the main focus. If you are interested in creating a scrapbook for your child, you have an important decision to make. That is how you want to proceed. Do you want to create a large or small scrapbook? If your child is only an infant, start scrapbooking their first year. You could also create separate miniscrapbooks for each year of your child’s life or one large scrapbook highlighting their many firsts. 1
SCRAPBOOKING NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 31
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So, pictures that come from a film camera, as opposed to a digital camera, need to be scanned and then printed again. Use the duplicate print for your scrapbook. If you do not have a scanner, you can use the photo stations found in most retail stores. If you intend to pass your scrapbook on to your child, it is important to make it fun and exciting to look at. Young children and teenagers aren’t always at the stage where they can truly appreciate the meaning behind a scrapbook gift. The good news is that there are many ways for you to spice up a scrapbook and make it perfect for your child. First, it is important to gather all photographs. This is important, as you will want to do your scrapbook in chronological order. Arrange them in the order they will appear in the book. If documenting multiple years of your child’s life, store the photographs separately in ziplock bags with the year marked on the front. Once you have your photographs organized, you may want to start cutting and gluing right away. You need to stop and wait… The most important rule of scrapbooking is to never use an original photograph.
scrapbook, tape a piece of hair from their first haircut to one of the pages. For your child’s first day of high school, later glue a portion of their report card to the page. For toddlers and preschoolers, a drawing or painting made by your child is recommended. As previously stated, a kid’s scrapbook should be filled with fun and excitement. A good way to do so with a popup. Kids love popup cards and you can incorporate that into your scrapbook. Inside a popup, have a special picture of your child waiting.
If you have digital photographs and a quality printer at home, you are urged to use photo editing software. These software programs allow you to edit your pictures. You can eliminate red eye, crop a picture, and change the contrast. Also, closely examine your photo editing software program. Some allow you to transform a picture into a coloring page. Do so and the color the picture with markers or crayons. This will look neat in a kid’s scrapbook. It is also important to note that photographs are not the only items that can be used in a scrapbook. For a kid’s scrapbook, you are encouraged to rely on other special treasures. For a baby’s first year
Another way to make your child’s scrapbook fun and exciting is to rely on the use of embellishments. One of the most popular is that of stickers. In addition to traditional stickers, you can purchase foam 3-D stickers. These are nice, as they tend to standout the most on a page. If your child has a favorite movie or television character, you can find licensed stickers for sale. As previously stated, a scrapbook makes a great gift for a child. If you aren’t keeping this gift a surprise, get your child involved. What is nice about scrapbooking is that it is an activity that all can enjoy. With a little bit of assistance, even a toddler can make a scrapbook. Scrapbooks make great gifts, but that gift is even better when it was created together. 2
SCRAPBOOKING NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 31
SEPTEMBER 2015
Tips for Scrapbooking with Your Children Are you a parent who enjoys scrapbooking? If you do, have you ever thought about sharing your hobby with your child? If not, you should. Scrapbooking is an activity that all can enjoy. In fact, it is the perfect activity for you and your child to enjoy together. An easy way to encourage your child to scrapbook with you is to take them shopping. Visit a local craft store together. You can pick the scrapbook album and poly storage envelope, but let your child pick out a few scrapbook supplies. These supplies can include a set of scrapbook scissors that cut a special pattern, a few sheets of themed background paper, and
a few sheets of stickers. Preschoolers are likely to choose items that feature their favorite movie or television characters. Teenagers are likely to choose items that look fashionable and cool.
If you are an avid scrapbooker yourself, you should have the other needed supplies on hand. These items may include acid-free markers and glue sticks. To save money, let your child use yours. Toddlers and preschoolers can use crayons in a scrapbook if they want, as long as they don’t intend to write on the pictures. Speaking of crayons and markers, look for 3
SCRAPBOOKING NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 31
items inside your home that can be used in a scrapbook. For example, young children love painting, drawing, and glitter. These items can all be carefully incorporated into a book. Glitter can be sprinkled on top of acid-free glue to create a beautiful and eyecatching display.
Next, you will need pictures for your child to scrapbook with. Never use an original photograph. If you are using a digital camera, you should not have a problem. For pictures from a film print, scan the picture and then print a new picture just for scrapbooking. If you do not have a scanner at home, you can visit one of your local retail stores to gain access to a photo scanning and printing station. If you are the parent of a teenager or a slightly younger child, you will have to provide your child with little to no instruction. He or she should already know how to make a scrapbook, as it is a very easy process. You can give your
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child ideas, but you may even be surprised with what they come up with on their own. As for toddlers, preschoolers, and slightly older children, guidance will be needed. One of the best ways to explain the process to them is to say that scrapbooking is similar to making a collage. They glue a background sheet onto the page. This background sheet can be a special piece of themed scrapbook paper or even just a sheet of construction paper. Then, they can start gluing their pictures to the page. For this stage, acid-free glue sticks are recommended.
If your young child has seen your scrapbooks, they may wish to copy you. This may involve some cutting. Depending on the age of your child, proceed with caution. There are special safety scissors for toddlers and preschoolers. It may be best for you to do the cutting yourself. One problem that many parents have is perfection. If
you are an avid scrapbooker, you may have mastered the trade. However, it is important to step back and let your child use their own creativity. You can share scrapbooking tips with your child, but let them take the lead. A scrapbook made by a child will not be perfect, but it isn’t supposed to be. With that said, never tell your child that. Always compliment their work and encourage their creativity.
The above mentioned tips are for making a traditional scrapbook that involves cutting and gluing. If you are the parent of a teenager, your teenager may prefer digital scrapbooking. Digital scrapbooking requires the use of software that comes preloaded with page templates, unique fonts, and other embellishments. Not only can your child print their scrapbook pages, but they can also share them online with friends. 4
