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Your Scrapbook Albums – 7 Sure Ways To Extend Their Life Span

scrapnmom — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:31:44 +0000

When you create a scrapbook, it’s because you want to save and recall memories for years to come. Nothing is more disappointing than investing many hours creating a beautiful scrapbook with precious treasures from the past, only to have the album fall apart, the pictures fade, or the labels disappear. Here are some tips on protecting your scrapbooks and giving them a long, healthy lifespan.
1. Use a Good Album
Your scrapbook album is the single most important material for capturing and keeping your precious memories. It’s the backbone of your collection of cards, photos, papers, and embellishments. And while provides the stable framework to house your memories, the album can’t preserve them.
You have so many choices today in selecting a scrapbook album. In fact, there are so many different types that they don’t fall into easy categories. Most modern scrapbooks are rectangular, the size of a piece of paper (8-1/2×11″), or their square, coming in sized ranging from one square foot (12×12″) to half of that (6×6″). Size selection is completely a matter of personal choice. Smaller sizes are more portable, while larger sizes allow more decoration and embellishments.
The more use a scrapbook gets, the more time it’s reviewed to recall special times, the more likely it is to degrade. Wear and tear will show, and your album could literally fall apart. But there are things you can do to protect your album and extend its life.
2. Beware Disaster!
Perhaps the worst thing that could happen to your scrapbook and its contents is a spill, so it’s important to keep it away from liquids. They not only spoil the album cover materials, but they can destroy your favorite photos and memorabilia. Make sure your working area is clear of liquids, and that includes your coffee or tea!
3. Prevent Fading
Direct sunlight will fade your album’s color and reduce the overall quality of your scrapbook. Extreme temperatures will also cause changes in the surface material. Very low temperatures can create moisture that could lead to mildew, while very hot temperatures could cause warping of the album cover backing. Use page protectors inside to prevent damage to photos and memorabilia.
4. Avoid Oil Stains
If you’ve watched any crime shows, you know that fingerprints leave an oily stain that can detract from your carefully-planned decoration and design. To avoid leaving these marks on your scrapbook album or contents, you could wear cotton gloves. But more practical approaches include washing your hands with acid-neutralizing cleaners or even simply using special care when handling photographs and delicate items.
5. Store Your Materials Properly
Don’t leave your scrapbook materials out where they can get lost or damaged. Properly storing your negatives and layouts will prevent tearing, scratching, and bending. Storing all your materials in a cool dry place will increase their quality and lifespan. Use sturdy bins and containers, and be sure that envelopes are acid-free.
Take care in selecting plastics to use as sealers or protectants for photos and memorabilia. Plastic wraps and covers come in a range of quality, and not all will be suitable for preserving your precious mementos. Be sure to check with the retailer about the quality of the plastic protectants you consider purchasing.
Avoid vinyl plastics completely. They contain polyvinyl chlorides (known as PVCs) that can be dangerous and corrosive. While you may not see damage immediately, PVC plastics are a bad choice for storing scrapbook materials or for use in your scrapbook. Instead, use polyester or acrylic plastics that are more stable and less corrosive to give your scrapbooks long life and durability.
6. Use Acid-Free Paper
Be careful to use ONLY acid-free papers for your scrapbook. Many retailers include acidic papers in their inventory, so you’ll want to double-check before making your purchase. Staying with one manufacturer is not a guarantee, either. While a company may make acid-free pastels, their darker colors or cardstocks may not be as safe for your scrapbook. When in doubt, always check the package label or test unlabeled papers before using them.
Using acid-free papers is important because acids promote immediate deterioration of the non-paper materials in your scrapbook. The acid will make paper and other scrapbook items turn yellow and dry out. You’re making a scrapbook to preserve your memories, and acidic papers will definitely circumvent that objective.
7. Use Quality Markers
Years from now, you’ll want to check to see when a photo was taken. You’ll want to read the notes you added to explain details of an event. You should be sure that the materials you use to label and identify your scrapbook items last for as long as the scrapbook does.
Ballpoint pens transfer ink from page to page, as it takes them a surprisingly long time to dry. And when using a ballpoint, you use more pressure than you would with another type of marker or pen. Look for archival quality, acid-free, and fade-proof markers for best results.
Following these simple guidelines will keep your treasured scrapbooks looking fresh and new for years. Your memories will be preserved for your children and their children. Don’t let carelessness and poor-quality materials spoil your scrapbooks!

Holiday Scrapbooking Ideas â?? Making Memories for Years to Come

scrapnmom — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:15:34 +0000

There are many important characteristics of a good holiday scrapbook, and it is all a matter of personal preference. Since the idea is to compile your own memories into your own personal album, it is important that you choose them carefully.Photos

One of the key ingredients of a holiday scrapbook is your photos. The images you portray are much of what actually make up a good part of your holiday memories, and often depict a true representation of your family and friendships. Since there are probably several from which to choose, you might consider coming up with a central theme for your holiday scrapbook and base everything you decide to include on that idea. For example, if your scrapbook is a Christmas album, you would want to use pictures that are representative of that holiday.

Use a wide variety of photos within your central theme. If you have children, include pictures of them taking part in various holiday activities. Also include photos of other friends and family members, and then tie it all together by using group photos that show the involvement of your entire clan. You can use pictures of your child sitting on Santaâ??s lap, photos of people opening presents, and images of everyone around the Christmas tree.

Use images that are unique and will easily show others your dynamic personality. Decide on striking images in attractive settings that will make the viewer stop to look at and admire them. Choose carefully, and have fun creating your holiday scrapbook.Sliding Cards

Microcut sliding cards can help take your holiday scrapbook to another level. They make it easy for you to include the photos you want on an attractive card that you can embellish as desired. Simply scan your photos into your computer, then use the included software to put two separate images together for one card. Then, print and assemble the cards to create a page that viewers wonâ??t miss. You can get more information about sliding cards from the Internet, where you can also purchase the software and necessary supplies. Also check your local scrapbooking supply stores for this product. Sliding cards are fun and easy to assemble, are very unique, and add fun and originality to your holiday scrapbooking project.Paper Patterns

The type of scrapbooking paper and particular paper pattern you use are also very important elements when personalizing your holiday scrapbook. Because this project is all about you, your family, and those around you who help make your life special, it is a good idea to choose patterns that depict just that. For example, if you are putting together that Christmas scrapbook, you will easily be able to find patterns of Christmas scenes, Christmas trees, snowmen, and so on. If these are patterns that will give others an idea of your holiday memories, then they are the ones you should choose. You can, however, go for something a little more personal by piecing together paper patterns that will reflect an array of events and activities. If you have a large family, you will want to show that, so choosing patterns that include Santa or ginger bread houses, along with the others mentioned above, can add personality to your pages.

Paper patterns can also be an effective way to add subtle beauty to your pages by serving as a backdrop to your photos. Since the photos are often what you want to stand out, choose something that compliments them. You can also choose different patterns for different types of images, and mix and match as you desire.

You can find various patterns in your local supply stores, or shop on the Internet to find, view, and purchase paper patterns. There are also numerous web sites with pictures of holiday scrapbook pages that others have used, along with other paper pattern tips and ideas. The key is to simply make it your own.Journaling

Journaling is another important part of your holiday scrapbook. While not everyone chooses to do this, it is a good way to keep track of the memories that go along with the photos. By writing down the date and time the photo was taken, the names of everyone in it, and other information such as the location, event, and various activities that took place at that particular time, you will be able to easily recall the day as if it had just occurred. This is especially important if the holiday scrapbook is passed down from one generation to another, because often times later generations either werenâ??t old enough to remember the actual event as it took place, or werenâ??t even present at that time. Journaling is also a good way to add character and personality to the images, and helps them tell a story.

Urge others whose images are included in the holiday scrapbook to write down their memories and ideas. What better way to add variety to your memory book than to include special memories and sayings from those you love. Not only will you have their pictures to remind you how wonderful the holidays were, but youâ??ll also have their words. This will definitely help make your holiday scrapbook unique and eye-catching.Mementos

Add mementos to your holiday scrapbook. If you have received greeting cards that hold special meaning for you, paste them on pages designated just for this purpose. If there is a specific Christmas or holiday poem that you find poignant, include it as well. You can also add other mementos such as holiday pictures your child has drawn or colored, special holiday stickers, or cards with holiday sayings that go along with your images and theme. Family Project

Make your holiday scrapbook a family project. Encourage everyone in your family to gather items and photos that are of special importance to each person, then designate pages for those items. Give each family member a page if possible, and if your family is too big for one book, consider putting together a second. Combine items where there arenâ??t enough to fill up one whole page, but be sure to keep it all in order. Holiday scrapbooking can then be enjoyed by the entire family from beginning to end, and each member will have played a special role in putting it together.

Though holiday scrapbooking can become a big project, it can be a fun one as well. Encourage those around you to take part, and to continue the tradition. If your children help you put it together, they are more likely to teach their children, and your family scrapbooks can then be enjoyed from one generation to the next. A holiday scrapbook should tell a story, after all, the holidays are about family, togetherness, and the memories gained through these special times and experiences.

Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, has been making lasting holiday scrapbooks and other scrapbooking supplies a part of special memories. Cardello has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years and helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.
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Your Wedding Scrapbook â?? Preserving your Special Occasion

scrapnmom — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:23:35 +0000

There are many events that are perfect for archiving such memories, and what better occasion to do so than your own wedding. Whether you had a small, intimate wedding with only a few guests present, or opted for a large celebration with everyone you know, and perhaps some you didnâ??t, there are plenty of items you could include in your wedding scrapbook, and many ways to arrange them in order to recapture that very special day over and over again.Selecting Photos for your Wedding Scrapbook

The first items you will probably want to scrapbook will be your wedding pictures. Photos can, and often do, tell a story. They can walk you through the events of that special day every time your scrapbook is viewed. The only difficulty may be choosing which ones you should include, since you will probably have many from which to choose. They will also give your children and grandchildren something to talk about as the book is passed down through generations.

Your wedding scrapbook would not be complete without pictures of the building where the ceremony took place, you walking down the aisle, and, of course, the wedding ceremony itself. You may also want to include photos of the reception, the cutting of the cake, and you and your new spouse leaving the building. These special events will then be cataloged for years of enjoyment in your very own special wedding scrapbook. Choosing a Theme

Creating a theme that depicts your thoughts and feelings you had on your wedding day is important. A distinctive wedding scrapbook or album is essential, as it will help you to always remember the people who helped to make your day what it was. Writing down the events and the emotions you had when they occurred will also serve as a record or journal, and will supplement the pictures quite nicely.Organizing Your Memories

There are several ways to organize a wedding scrapbook, and many layouts from which to choose. When putting together your wedding scrapbook, color is extremely important, as it will accentuate the photos and other material. Many people choose to use their own wedding colors, but you can choose other color combinations if you prefer. Even if you do choose to use your wedding colors, you may want to use other colors to add variety to your scrapbook pages and layouts. For example, if your colors were burgundy and green, you could add cream, light pink, or yellow to accent the darker colors. Putting different colors together will give your layouts a distinctive look and set them apart from other wedding scrapbooks.

Your wedding scrapbook should look elegant and charming, so you might want to add embellishments. These, as well as the right color scheme will make your wedding scrapbook unique and appealing. One option is to use vellum paper. Vellum looks elegant and is easy to find. Eyelets, brads, and ribbons are also suggested embellishments that will add character and personality to your wedding scrapbook.

Floral patterns also work great for wedding scrapbooks. They tend to match well with wedding dÃ©cor, and lend themselves to the overall wedding theme. Your choices are numerous, so donâ??t be afraid to experiment until you find the color scheme, embellishments, and patterns that work best for you.

There are many different themes you can use to capture the love and affection felt by everyone on your wedding day. One idea is to include marriage tips from more experienced individuals. These tips may serve as simple ideas or advice that might be useful to you and your spouse on down the road. Interesting anecdotes may also serve as a fun read. You can even incorporate this as an activity at your bridal shower or bachelor party, whereby, other married people write down their tips and give them to you for the scrapbook. You can also include photos of the married couples that will serve as captions for the tips.

Another wedding scrapbooking idea is to incorporate any interests of the bride and groom that may have been a part of the overall wedding theme. For example, some couples choose to make personal interests a part of their wedding. If you or your spouse to be enjoys playing golf, you may depict this at your wedding reception. Guests may be provided with wedding favors that are golf-related and have been customized for the event. You might want to devote a page or two in your wedding scrapbook to this, and include photos or items small enough to fit on a page. This is your opportunity to be as creative as possible, while making a wedding scrapbook that will truly record your very special day.A More Personal Approach

You may want to create a wedding scrapbook that is not considered to be traditional. There are many ways to set yours apart from others, thereby, taking the untraditional route. When planning your wedding scrapbook, you should focus around your lives together, while catering to your individual personalities. If desired, you can include pictures of memorable events that took place before your marriage, their respective dates, and any photos you may wish to add. You may also want to include your spouse in the scrapbooking activities. This will allow both your personalities to come through, and will be something the two of you can work on together.

You can add mementos and items such as the wedding invitations, reception napkins or cards. Scrapbook stores sell memory pockets for these types of items, and are easy to incorporate in your wedding scrapbook. You also might want to include any congratulatory notes or cards from friends and family you may have received during your engagement. This will add a more personal touch, and will further personalize your scrapbook. It will also serve as a reminder of your feelings during such an anticipatory time.

No matter what you decide to include in your wedding scrapbook, choose carefully. Take as much time as you need when deciding on colors, a theme, and the various photos and items you will include. Your wedding scrapbook will be a very important part of your new family, and will help preserve memories for many years to come.

Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a wedding scrapbook and scrapbooking supplies company in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.
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Downloadable Albums For Free Photo Scrapbooking – Advantages And Disadvantages

scrapnmom — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:37:04 +0000

Technology has changed our way of life. In the past couple of decades, computers and the Internet have changed the world. They’ve changed the way we do business, the way we find and use information, and the way we interact with each other. And the Internet has been a revolution in the area of entertainment. Perhaps someone out there may disagree, but the Internet is perhaps the most revolutionary thing to come along for centuries. It has opened so many doors for people.
And technology evolves to create new and better tools. Think of the mobile phone, as it was once called. A few years ago, mobile phones were large bulky devices that people used more like walkie-talkies. They just weren’t practical for everyday use by all of us. But today, cellular phones are small and capable of providing many services beyond simple calls. You can use a cell phone to check your e-mail, shop, watch videos, listen to music, and transmit and receive text messages.
Technology has definitely revolutionized scrapbooking. Many years ago, scrapbooks were simple collections of photos and newspaper articles with no particular design or artistic flare. Then they evolved to colorful collections of mementos with lots of extras like stickers, ribbons, and unique embellishments.
In order to create a scrapbook, you needed a good unifying theme and plenty of paper, scissors, pens, lots of glue, and your photos and memorabilia. Making a scrapbook took lots of time and work, and creative talent was a definite plus.
The Internet has changed all that. Today, you can find downloadable albums for free scrapbooking at any number of innovative scrapbooking websites. You can create a virtual scrapbook, loading your photos and images to the Internet where they are protected from loss and available to many people. The technology has both advantages and disadvantages you’ll want to consider.
Advantages:
1. Saving Time and Effort. It’s much faster to download albums for free scrapbooking than to create or purchase them. They give you the base of an overall theme and color scheme. You don’t have to waste your time on the basics. You can focus on making your scrapbook unique and creative.
Making your own scrapbook from scratch requires commitment and dedication. You have to put a lot of thought and effort into each page. In addition to deciding how to use your photos and memorabilia, you have to think through and decide on your theme, layout, color scheme, and materials. But in today’s busy world, most people don’t have the time to invest in every scrapbooking detail. With free downloadable albums, free photo scrapbooking lets you focus on the most important scrapbook element – your memories.
2. Sharing your Scrapbook. Free photo scrapbooking on the Internet gives you access to downloadable albums that you can share with all of your friends and family. You simply upload your photos and images to create a virtual scrapbook. You can have a special password that allows only those people you choose to see your scrapbook, or you can leave it open for everyone. It’s an easy way to let people enjoy your scrapbook without running the risk of losing it.
A virtual scrapbook may not be the solution for everybody. It doesn’t compare to the traditional scrapbook full of photos, favorite mementos, interesting textures, ribbons, and love. But a virtual scrapbook is great for people who want instant connectivity and ease of access.
Disadvantages:
1. Losing your Uniqueness. Downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking allows you to choose from a variety of designs, but the designs are not easy to change. There may be many other people using the design you selected for their own virtual scrapbooks. Your virtual scrapbook won’t have the same unique quality that your handmade scrapbooks had. It won’t reflect your unique personality and creativity.
2. Using only Images. When you create a virtual scrapbook, you’re limited to documents you can upload to the Internet. Photos are the most likely documents, though you might also upload scanned images of memorabilia, articles, or things like invitations and announcements. You can’t add those interesting political campaign buttons, locks of hair, or pieces of fabric from the prom gown or wedding dress. Your virtual scrapbook won’t capture your life experience, just images of it.
So there you have it. The beauty of using downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking is applying technology to save and share your memories in a prepared format, saving you time and effort. The downside is limits on your creativity and the things you can include in your scrapbook.
A virtual scrapbook is the perfect way to document an event and share the photos from it with your family and friends. It allows you to get these things up quickly so that people can refresh their memories and continue to enjoy the event for a long time. It helps bring people together, and it is a quick easy way to create a simple free scrapbook.
But if you want to create a family heirloom that can be enjoyed for years to come, you may want to create a traditional scrapbook that expresses your personality with lots of different media and materials. You’ll want to invest time and effort in this treasure, and you’ll have a beautiful permanent record of whole lives and whole phases of life. You are the only true judge for what you want and need.
The best solution is a combination of both! Use a virtual scrapbook using a free downloadable album to collect images recalling a single event for a quick and easy solution. But create a handmade traditional scrapbook to have a collection of memories and memorabilia to document a lifetime.

Starting a Successful Creative Scrapbooking Business, Part III

scrapnmom — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:26:25 +0000

Every scrapbook is unique and inviting; as a creative scrapbooking professional, your marketing should be as eye-catching and irresistible as your creations. Even if you have only a few hundred dollars to spend, you can absolutely woo clientele using grassroots methods to showcase your creative scrapbooking acumen.Educate Others in the Art Form of Creative Scrapbooking

One of the fastest ways to turn yourself from an unknown scrapbooker into a creative scrapbooking “expert” is to teach a class on the art of creating a fabulous, memorable scrapbook.

Though you might initially be wary that if you tell others your creative scrapbooking “secrets”, they won’t use your creative scrapbooking business, that usually doesn’t happen. Instead, what occurs is that your students see you as a professional in the arena of scrapbook design and development. Thus, when they want an important scrapbook (e.g., for their daughter’s Bar Mitzvah or husband’s retirement celebration), they will immediately think of you. After all, they might enjoy creative scrapbooking, but they don’t necessarily feel confident enough to construct a special scrapbook on their own.

You can work with many community centers, schools, college campuses, and libraries to offer your creative scrapbooking courses. Expect to spend a bit of money on advertising, room rental (though you can often snag a free space if you’re a start-up), and creative scrapbooking paraphernalia, though it’s still much less of an investment than if you paid for a full page, 4-color ad in the Sunday paper.Write About Scrapbooking

Another way to become an instant creative scrapbooking “guru” is to write articles or tips about creative scrapbooking. Sometimes, smaller community papers will print such items as “filler” for their circulars. Alternately, if a local sewing center or arts and crafts store offers a newsletter to patrons, you might be able to become a “guest columnist.” (Or perhaps you can offer to write your own “creative scrapbooking newsletter” gratis if they agree to pass it out to consumers.)

Will you receive a ton of creative scrapbooking business from this type of subtle “marketing”? Probably not. But you will be building your reputation as your area’s premier creative scrapbooking authority. You will also be able to tell prospective customers that you’ve published items on the topic of creative scrapbooking, always an impressive credential to tout (and a resume booster as well.)Start a Scrapbooking Blog and/or Web site

In today’s cyber society, blogs and Web sites are fairly inexpensive, so there’s no reason not to get online and start talking about your creative scrapbooking know-how and burgeoning creative scrapbooking company.

For example, you could quickly set up a blog 100% devoted to the tricks of the creative scrapbooking trade in an effort to attract persons from around the world to your site. Though most of them won’t become clients, you stand to gain instant exposure. And who knows? The family down the street may wind up stopping by your creative scrapbooking Web site and hiring you to redo their three sons’ baby books!Never Stop Selling Yourself or Your Scrapbooking Abilities!

It’s critical that you never stop selling yourself and your creative scrapbooking business if you are serious about succeeding in this infant industry with huge profit potential.

This may mean stepping out of your “comfort zone” and becoming a master at self-promotion. If you have an innate fear of networking, it’s time to overcome your worries and learn how to shake some hands. Remember that you won’t be the first entrepreneur who took a plunge into the unknown.

To become a better press generator on behalf of your creative scrapbooking business, you’ll have to force yourself to try again and again. However, if the process becomes achingly difficult and hampers your desire to scrapbook, it may be time to hire someone to promote your business on your behalf. Yes, this is a “last ditch” measure, but if it keeps your dream alive, it’s worth the cost to bring on a partner who isn’t afraid of a good sales pitch. (And many individuals will work with start-ups on a commission basis, which is terrific news for your budget!)A Final Note about Ethics and Your Scrapbooking Venture

Though it’s imperative that you keep up standards and operate ethically and legally (the tax man will cometh whether you like it or not!), that doesn’t mean you can’t be innovative. Constantly seek out ways to differentiate yourself from other scrapbook artists and allow yourself to grow personally and professionally.

Love your work, and that positive attitude mingled with creative scrapbooking talent will draw customer inquiries and have you wondering why you didn’t begin your creative scrapbooking company sooner.

Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.
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Starting a Successful Creative Scrapbooking Business, Part I

scrapnmom — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:03:55 +0000

Creative scrapbooking has taken the world by storm. It’s relaxing, fun, social… and, let’s face it, incredibly addictive! After all, what scrapbooker doesn’t smile with pride when she or he finishes a decorative project?

If you have the talent to create eye-catching, creative scrapbooks, you can actually turn your hobby into a lucrative creative scrapbooking career. In this three-part series, we’ll show you some of the secrets to running a home-based creative scrapbooking company that regularly adds extra coins to your coffers!Why Creative Scrapbooking?

People from all walks of life have photos and mementoes cluttering their homes. They’d love to organize and arrange them, but don’t have the time (or, in some cases, the ability.) That’s where you, as a professional scrapbooker, can step in!

Through creative scrapbooking, you can create delightful, entertaining, and touching memory books that will be certain to have a very long shelf life. Imagine… your scrapbook creations could someday become precious family heirlooms passed down from generation to generation!What Types of Scrapbooks Sell?

Creative scrapbooking is an incredibly versatile field because you have virtually no boundaries. Graduation scrapbooks, family tree scrapbooks, baby scrapbooks, wedding scrapbooks, and achievement scrapbooks are only a few of the countless styles of creative scrapbooking inventions you can market.

Use your imagination; anything that’s relatively flat can go into a scrapbook, so the sky’s the limit.Can Scrapbooking Really Be Profitable?

Creative scrapbooking, as with any legitimate business, won’t make you rich overnight. But if you’re determined and plan your creative scrapbooking operation pragmatically, you can absolutely make money from this burgeoning industry.

Best of all, creative scrapbooking is a low overhead industry. You’ll need to start with a modest amount of scrapbooking supplies, but you can build your stock over time thanks to fast shipping and wholesale prices offered at Internet scrapbooking supply stores.How Can I Start Professionally Scrapbooking?

Obviously, the first step to starting a creative scrapbooking company (even one with a single employee, aka “you”) is to develop a business plan. This document should include an overview, financial information (including income and expense projections, marketing ideas, local competition statistics, and realistic growth rates.

Though you may not be able to find exact data to work into your creative scrapbooking business plan, try to be as complete as possible. The more information you include, the better your chances of success.Do I Need Any Formal Training?

Though there are no credentials needed to call yourself a creative scrapbooking pro, you may want to take a few community courses on scrapbooking design. Doing so will keep you “in the know” as far as the latest products and trends are concerned; it will also provide you with fresh ideas to propose when working with clientele.What Do I Need in Terms of Stock?

One of the most essential items you’ll need to start a creative scrapbooking venture is scrapbooking paraphernalia. Chances are, you already have some supplies around your home, but if they aren’t organized, it’s time do so.

Invest in some bins (dollar stores have a plethora of options) and label them according to scrapbooking supplies, such as stickers, papers, backgrounds, adhesives, albums, markers, scrapbooking magazines (for inspiration), and borders. This way, you’ll always know exactly how much of each scrapbooking necessity you have and can order more before you run out.Do I Need to Rent a Space for My Scrapbooking Business?

Though it would certainly be wonderful to have an “offsite” locale for your creative scrapbooking enterprise, it’s more likely that you’ll need to make due with your current digs.

Anything from a corner of your family room to a renovated closet can serve as your creative scrapbooking “headquarters”. Just make certain that you have enough space and light to work your magic and store your scrapbooking supplies!What Will I Tell My Family?

If you’re worried about “breaking” the news to your family that you’re setting off on an entrepreneurial scrapbooking journey, you’re not alone. Many first-time business owners are reticent to reveal their plans to loved ones for fear that their significant others will not be supportive.

With that said, it’s critical to the long-term success of your creative scrapbooking business that you have the “buy in” of your kin. So take a deep breath, muster up all your courage, and boldly state, “I’m going to become a professional scrapbooker! And when the money starts coming in, the first dinner out is on me!”The Next Step

Are you eager to start your creative scrapbooking adventure? In our next article, we’ll explore how to set your prices and market and advertise your home-based scrapbooking services…

Starting a Successful Creative Scrapbooking Business, Part II

scrapnmom — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:22:46 +0000

It’s ironic; what makes a creative scrapbooking business unique attractive to entrepreneurs seeking a work-at-home venture is also what makes it so incredibly challenging. After all, there are no definitive “rules” when it comes to pricing your scrapbook creations or determining where and how to advertise your services.

However, there are general business planning techniques you can use as a starting point to give your creative scrapbooking company the best chance of long-term success.Setting Your Creative Scrapbooking Price Rates

Whether you specialize in wedding scrapbooks, memory scrapbooks, award/honor scrapbooks, or other creative scrapbooking creations, you’ll need to develop a price guideline. Otherwise, it will be difficult to negotiate with clientele.

Determining your creative scrapbooking business price guideline may seem daunting at first blush, but it’s actually not that complicated when broken down into “bite sized” pieces.Hourly Rates or Standard Price per Scrapbook?

First, you’ll need to determine whether you want to set prices per project or per hour.

One huge advantage to charging per creative scrapbooking project is that consumers are accustomed to paying for products this way. After all, people don’t purchase a pair of shoes based on how long it took a cobbler to make them; they simply look at the price tag or retail value and decide if they feel it’s a worthwhile investment.

That being said, setting a price per creative scrapbooking project may not always be beneficial for you. If you discover you’re spending inordinate amounts of time on each scrapbook you create, your originally quoted price might not match your efforts. (Remember the old adage: Time is Money.)

Essentially, you can expect to experiment with your creative scrapbooking cost methods at first. Perhaps with some clients, you could offer a “per project” rate, but with others, you might try an hourly approach. There’s no “right or wrong” process–you simply want to find the best one for your creative scrapbooking business.Remember to Consider “Hidden Costs”

Before “going public” with your scrapbook price structure, make sure you’ve accounted for the many costs (both direct and indirect) associated with owning a creative scrapbooking business. Be certain to include the amount you expect to spend on basic creative scrapbooking supplies such as specialty paper, a scrapbook, adhesives, stickers, markers, and fabrics.

Add into your creative scrapbooking price figures telephone calls, mileage (if you’ll travel for consultations), babysitting costs, and any overhead.

At this point, your initial price estimates may seem too high or low. Consequently, you can modify them accordingly, although you should never underestimate what people will pay for a one-of-a-kind scrapbook.Selling Your Creative Scrapbooking Services

You’ve determined your basic scrapbook price. Creative scrapbooking supplies are on hand and on order. You’re organized, primed, and ready to go. But wait! You still need to attract that first key customer.

Advertising and marketing are stumbling blocks for many creative scrapbooking business start-ups; consequently, plenty of scrapbook enthusiasts shy away from becoming entrepreneurs because they assume they’ll never be able to publicize their talents. However, if you approach the selling of your creative scrapbooking services pragmatically, you’ll have an excellent chance of attracting clientele.

Initially, you may want to try a technique that has worked for many other creative scrapbooking aficionados – scrapbook “parties”. These get-togethers are akin to the “tupperware” gatherings made famous in the 70s. Put simply, a friend offers to host a scrapbook party at his or her residence for several persons interested in the world of creative scrapbooking.

Your role at the scrapbook party will be to introduce them to creative scrapbooking and to talk about what you can do for them. Obviously, it will be crucial to bring along business cards (why not design handmade “mini scrapbook cards” for the occasion?) as well as sample scrapbooks you’ve created. Coupons for discount scrapbook services make nice add-ons and will encourage scrapbook party guests to hire you. From this party, you can expect to get a few “nibbles” and perhaps one or two customers.

Naturally, it’s essential to do a fabulous job on your first scrapbook assignment. You must give it “your all”; that way, your client will have a reason to brag about and show off your customized (and exceptional) creative scrapbooking services to friends, family, and coworkers. You can also use your satisfied customer (if he or she agrees) as a “spokesperson” for your creative scrapbooking business in future advertising campaigns.Next … Beyond Marketing 101

In the final article of our three-part creative scrapbooking business piece, we’ll examine particularly creative scrapbooking business marketing ideas and provide hints on running your creative scrapbooking company wisely, ethically, and efficiently.