The size you choose is your decision to make. The most common sizes are 8 1/2″ x 11″ and 12″ x 12″ (inches) but you could go with 11″ x 14″ as a common large-format choice. Even larger albums are available which could make a really special gift for a cherished friend or relative. You can find a basic 8 1/2″ x 11″ album for around and larger ones for usually less than . Fancier albums, theme albums and pre-made kits will usually be more expensive.

Even if you go with large or non-standard sizes, you’ll likely be able to find everything you need. Paper is sold in sizes ranging from 1 inch Post-It notes to giant pieces of 3 feet or more. Try looking in art stores as a second alternative if you can’t find just what you want in the scrapbooking section. You might have trouble finding the same unique printed patterns and designs, but you will find many sizes, textures and styles. Use a little bit of creativity and any scrapbooking problem can be solved.

You are now going to need some tools to cut and trim your paper. A good, sharp set of scissors is invaluable, and an Xacto knife will also be very helpful. If you are a little shaky with the scissors, or if you require accuracy for a lot of long, straight cuts, a paper trimmer or cutting board will really help. But, to save a bit of money, keep in mind that steady hands may come with practice.

Straight lines aren’t the only thing you are going to be cutting though. Your design is unique to you, and so sometimes you are going to going to want to use special shapes; round, hexagon, diamond, heart-shaped. If you can imagine it, you can try it. An interesting background or design pattern can really give a creative boost to your photos. In this case, a stencil or template will come in handy to you.

You may want to experiment with written words, and even drawings or illustrations if you are artistically inclined. So some quality (acid-free) pens and pencils are a must. Several colors will be useful to have. You might be tempted to buy a whole bunch of colors all at once. Just stick with a few basic colors and expand your collection as you go. For Christmas, you’ll want to have green and red, and maybe some other colors for the other major holidays. Do you have a favorite color? Choose that. You may also want to choose colors that match your album cover.

One of the most basic supplies you should always have on hand is glue or other adhesives for attaching photos, embellishments, ribbons, locks of hair or other pieces of paper or designs…. In short, anything you might want to put into your scrapbook! Old fashioned glue bottles with a brush in the top are versatile and work fairly well. Just make sure you always get the acid-free kind. But that can be a messy and cumbersome solution. Modern solutions include glue sticks, glue dots and double-sided tape for all of your adhesive needs.

If you’ll be designing on the computer, you’ll want to experiment with different kinds of paper for printing out your designs. CDs and CD burning software, while being a bit of an investment will come in handy for you. With this digital technique, you could record baby’s first words or a favorite piece of music, or even videos of your family. You can store a wide variety of multimedia, sounds and pictures on a CD tucked inside a pocket in your scrapbook.

As you can see, getting started doesn’t need to take a whole lot of money, especially if you are willing to be flexible and creative. However, in the long run, remember that if you are planning on making scrapbooking a lifetime hobby, you will eventually find that the convenience of having standard, compatible sizes for everything to be extremely helpful.

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Hi, My name is Teresa Surrency and I love arts and crafts.Why are wedding crafts so fun? It is because you are getting so involved in the creation of your wedding decorations. Your friends and family will also be glad to get involved which make for great bonding time.

You may know me from my scrapbooking website or my scrapbooking secrets membership site.It is my goal to bring the arts and crafts world to others helping them recognise the joy of crafting.This article is all about creating your own wedding items by using creative crafts.

Weddings are a wonderful special occasion and they can get very expensive in a hurry.  With wedding crafts you are able to not only save a few hundred dollars on your wedding decorations but you and your friends can have a great time building upon your relationships as you work together for a common goal.  In creating your own decorations you are able to  insert a personal touch while holding the price down.  Here are a few ideas that can add sparkle and creativity to your big day.

It is very easy to create your own wedding veil.  There are a few items that you will need to create your veil.  You will need a length of bridal illusion in the desired length.  You will also need a comb to attach it to your hair and a hat or headpiece to cover the comb.  Sew large running stitches about an inch from the end of the illusion and gather it tightly.  Now  sew the veil to the comb.  Top with hat or headpiece.   As an alternative, you can decorate a wide-brimmed straw hat with silk flowers, ribbon, and pearls.  There are many ways you can add sparkle to your veil by using beads, sequens, pearls and other items that will make your veil even more beautiful.You can purchase very expensive veils but if you want to be smart about it, find a cheaper veil and decorate it creatively with pearls, sequins and other embelishments. You can make a very expensive looking veil at a very affordable price.

The bouquets and floral arrangements can also be personally crafted.  For a simple outdoor wedding, consider wild flowers.  They are free and have a charm all their own.  Bouquets can be arranged in large clear vases, with a bow tied elegantly around.

Favors for the guests are for the most part proper even if they are wedding crafts.  Refrigerator magnets are a simple and well-received favor.  A really nice idea is to make a magnetic picture frame and include a picture of the couple.  You could cut a frame out of craft foam in one of the wedding colors, arrange over the photo, and glue all onto a cardboard backing.  Place self-adhesive magnet tape on the back of the cardboard.  Decorate the front of the frame with foil heart stickers and a monogram of the couple’s last name. 

Bows for the ends of the pews or rows make simple wedding crafts.  Wide velvet ribbons are nice for fall and winter weddings, while satin is more appropriate for spring and summer weddings.  Loop some flat lace in with the ribbons.  In the center of the completed bow, attach some silk flowers and pearl sprays with a hot glue gun.

Perhaps you’d like to try your hand at decorating your own cake.Check the craft section of the department store for pans and gadgets of all types to help you create a cake to remember.You need to remember that it takes a steady hand.  Be sure to practice before starting on the real cake.

Preparing for a wedding can be expensive, but with wedding crafts, you can take some of the sting out.  Plan early, however, because it will take a little while to make favors for everyone and all the other little details you will want to take care of.  Maybe creating wedding crafts will even relieve some of those wedding jitters.  In any event, crafting your own wedding items is a way to have a personal, beautiful, and less expensive wedding.

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Why are we crazy for our Expression Machine? We absolutely love the multi-cut option which will slice almost any thick material into whatever shape we want. As mentioned above, the machine also allows you to cut either very small, intricate designs or large impressive artworks. This Cricut machine also gives you more creative freedom because it is effective with the use of either a 12” x 12” or 12” x 24” sized paper.

The Cricut Expression cutting machine also lets you mix and match different designs in just one cut and format your work in either landscape or portrait mode. The new LCD screen that it features lets you see exactly how the next image looks like before you cut it . The Expression also employs various units of measurement and lets you change the unit of measurement for each image. In addition, it has a flip feature that creates mirror images for your designs and uses four different languages that you can choose from.

If you look on Ebay, there are machines that come with a few freebies such as free cartridges, so it will be good to read the product description thoroughly before making a bid. In case a free cartridge is offered, read the description of the cartridge as well so that you are sure to bid only on those items that include a cartridge that you do not yet own. Many times free shipping is offered on auctions which saves a bundle. More often than not, items that do not include free shipping will cost you a lot more in the end than those that have a higher auction price but already includes free shipping so you would do well to compare total costs first. Simply look below the auction price to see if shipping is free or not and if it is not then there should be a space where you can input your zip code. You will then be shown the shipping cost and by adding that cost to the maximum amount that you are willing to bid you will get your total cost. Get your next Cricut Expression Deals for cheaper than you can imagine!

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