I am a fan of traditional scrapbooking- using paper, stickers, embellishments, and slipping the finished product inside a page protector, and then secured inside an album. This is the method I prefer- but that doesn't mean its the method you prefer! As I've mentioned before, this hobby is all about experimenting, and learning what works the best for you, and what you enjoy the most. There's tons of room to move around and try different things. There's no right or wrong way of doing things.
In addition to traditional scrapbooking, there's also digital scrapbooking. Digi is done all on your computer. Digital software (such as Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Corel Paint shop Pro, etc.) and additional kits can be purchased, though I don't really know how much they are. I looked into purchasing Adobe Photoshop when we bought our Mac, but it was a bit too pricey (more than $100), and I was (and still am) happy with traditional scrapbooking. One day, I would like to try out digital scrapbooking. If you're interested in digital scrapbooking, make sure you've got a digital camera and printer. You'll be able to print your layouts once you're finished creating your layout on the computer. To show you what a digital scrapbooking layout could look like, head to scrapbook.com, or google images. Some of the work thats out there is fairly elaborate (not to mention stunning!!)
There is also hybrid scrapbooking, and that's mixing a bit of the traditional scrapbooking method and digital. Elements, such as your embellishments, can be added after the base of your layout is completed. Here is an example.
If traditional scrapbooking is more your style, then maybe looking at creating an updated version of the photo album is something to consider. The proper term is two-up photo album scrapbooking. Two up refers to the amount of spaces there are inside a page protector inside the photo album. Slide pictures into some of the slots and fill the rest with scrapbook paper, embellishments, card embellishments, etc. Here's an example. I really like this idea, and may tackle it one of these days.
Lastly, mini albums can also be created, and the ways to do this are many. The easy way is heading to Walmart or another craft store, and picking up pre-made mini albums. All the embellishments are already included; all you need to do is plunk your photo(s) onto a page, and embellish away. If you're feeling a little more ambitious, you could try creating mini albums from cardboard, accordion style mini albums, chipboard mini albums, paper bag mini albums, and the list goes on. These are a great idea for if you're interested in creating albums for things like your summer vacation, best friends'/siblings' wedding, gift for the new mama in your life, etc.
Gives a person a lot to think about, doesn't it? Not to mention try!! Which, brings up the question, how does a person find the time to scrapbook?! I'll be tackling that question in next week's learning to scrapbook installment.
Till next time!!