How to make scrapbooking for beginners: the features of technology, templates for working with a photo album, postcard, notebook

Scrapbooking has recently become very popular in the world. After all, originally and unusually decorated photo album or postcard, it can be a good gift for any occasion.

Work in the technique of scrapbooking is not difficult. The main thing is to have all the necessary material, tools and a little fantasy.

The concept and characteristics of scrapbooking

If you refer to the English translation of the word "scrapbooking", then literally "scrap" is "scraping" and "book" is a book. Often the technique is simply called "scrap.

Today, this type of craft has become increasingly interesting to people around the world. You can beautifully and originally decorate any product, having at hand special materials. In this technique can be done:

• Photo albums of different subjects and personal diaries;
• Greeting cards and boxes;
• Personal diary and original notebooks.

Creating products in the technique of "scrapbooking" masters use one or more techniques:

• distressing, when using certain means to age the pages of albums or the product itself;
• Stamping: using selected stamps (a stamp pad) to put an image on a page;
• Embossing is used to create embossed images.

In this type of needlework, certain styles are adhered to when performing the work:

1. Vintage is used to introduce a few aged elements, giving the piece a mysterious atmosphere of the past. The master must think and choose the shades and decorations that will fully reflect the time period of his work.
2. Heritage is acceptable when it is necessary to decorate albums with old photographs. This style allows you to favorably emphasize the time period of the available photos. To decorate the album use old decor items and choose "faded" shades. This gives a naturalistic look to the product.
3. Shebby-chic is considered a mixed style. It skillfully combines aged details with a pastel color scheme. You can leave light scuffs and wrinkles in the design of the product. It looks like a chic, expensive piece that has aged with time.

Recently, scrapbooking masters often turn to the European style, which does not welcome a lot of decor on the product, and to the "freestyle" style with complete freedom of choice.

Works made in this technique require special treatment and storage conditions. It is necessary to control temperature fluctuations in the room and exclude direct sunlight.

Material and tools for work

Scrapbooking uses a variety and specific material:

1. Special scrapbook paper, where some part of it is already decorated with sequins and other things. Masters prefer this kind of paper because of the possibility of choosing colors and a wide range of options for design.
2. Cardboard (colored or plain), as a base, is just necessary for the work.
3. Volumetric decorative elements. We are talking about ready-made letters or numbers, which can be purchased in craft stores, as well as chipboards. These are unnecessary parts or parts from broken appliances, fragments of ribbons or pieces of fabric, old tickets, buttons and the like. These three-dimensional parts are made of plywood or cardboard with a maximum thickness of up to 4 mm. Some masters make their own chipboards (silhouette, decoupage, engraved and brads).
4. Adhesives are chosen based on the material used. Hot gun or universal glue. Glossy Accent glue is used to hold heavy decorative elements well. Paper will perfectly glue transparent glue bases like "Moment Gel". Not only will they connect the surfaces well, but they also dry quickly. For photos, there's a not-so-smelly glue that doesn't smell too bad. This is Collage Glue Stick.
5. Markers, felt-tip pens or pencils, themed stickers, the outline of which will completely repeat the main object.
6. Among the basic tools are stamps. They are bases with an embossed pattern, with dye applied to it. Stamps make it possible to transfer patterns and drawings to the product.
7. Stationery knife or scissors of different sizes, hole punches with a variety of shaped notches. Special knives for scrapbooking.

Experienced craftsmen use a plotter in their work. This makes it possible to cut out drawings and patterns of any complexity according to a specified pattern.

Scrapbooking crafts for beginners step by step

To master this technique, you can start by making simple things with a small amount of decoration. It is important to understand and work out the schemes and techniques in the work. Learn to immediately think through the entire composition. So it will be clear what to do and what material to use.

Photo album .

Despite the fact that in today's world most of the photos are kept in gadgets, but many people want to have a photo album of the author's work with memorable images. It is possible to make such a work even for novice masters. For the work you will need:

• ready-made sketches and cardboard (preferably thick);
• soft lining and material for the cover;
• cord, decor items according to the thought-out layout;
• hole punch with different designs and scissors of several sizes
• stapler, tape, ruler, pencils and paints, glue

Always start with the layout of the future album, thinking through all its features. This will not only help to save time and materials:

• The work will be greatly facilitated by ready-made sketches, which can be found on the Internet or come up with your own. They are placed thoughtful schemes with pictures, color solutions. It is necessary to decorate each page of the product separately.
• When all the pages of the photo album are designed, proceed to the making of the cover.
• Cut out pieces of cardboard according to the size of the product sheets, with a reserve of up to 2-4 mm.
• Also you have to cut out a soft padding material and glue it to the cover.
• For the top layer of the album, leave an allowance of at least 0.5 cm.
• Glue the finishing material to the inside of the cover. This is done on both sides.
• Now it remains to cover the basis of design paper or cloth. Decorate with decorations.
• The last stage of the work is the binding. First you need to make holes in all the sheets of the photo album, sticking to the same distance.
• The ends of the threaded cord or ribbon, bind.

Notebook

Diaries and notebooks can be bought in the store. However, if you decorate it in the scrap technique, you can become the owner of a unique and original thing. To repeat it will be difficult, but to make notes in such a notebook will be a pleasure.

You will need the following materials:

• office paper of format A-4;
• Several sheets of cardboard for binding;
• glue, ruler, scissors, pencil, silicone sealant;
• Needle, thread, and paper clips.

The number of sheets in the notebook will be 2 times more than those taken in the work. They need to be folded in half:

• Each sheet is ironed on the fold line, folding everything like a book.
• Then they are placed under the press, fastening them with clips.
• If there is no press, a few weighty books will help.
• Clamp to staple another pile of sheets from the bottom and top.
• Having measured the spine in length, divide it into several parts.
• Next you need to make notches, marked with a pencil with a stationery knife.
• Now sew the sheets, so that they do not fall out of the notebook during use. Stitch only with sturdy threads, gripping each part of the notebook. They are connected to each other with narrow fabric tapes.
• Using silicone sealant glue the spine.
• There should be no voids or gaps. It is better to leave for a few hours to dry completely.
• Identical blanks in 2 copies and one smaller for the spine, cut from heavy cardboard.
• Also cut 2 smaller blanks of Kraft paper.
• It's time to assemble the cover of the notebook. Glue Kraft blanks on both sides and a strip of fabric on top and bottom. Fix the main cover. The last step is to decorate the notebook to your liking.

Postcard

Such an original thing will be a great and exquisite way to congratulate on your birthday or March 8. It will decorate any celebration or just be a pleasant surprise, emphasizing the special attitude of the giver.

It's not a good idea for beginners to start making complicated cards right away. It is better to try to make something simple.

To work you will need:

• scrap and colored paper;
• PVA glue, felt-tip pens, a ruler and scissors;
• fabric and colored buttons of different sizes, decor.

As a basis, use an orange sheet of paper of rectangular shape and the right size. It is folded in half:

• Now design the front form of the card. There glue a small rectangle of scrap paper.
• Pre-selected picture and words of congratulations need to be printed on the printer.
• First glue the picture onto a rectangle of scrap paper. Then, overlaying on the bottom corner of it, a circle with congratulations.
• Each button is glued to a circle of fabric, sewing it neatly to the base, placing them chaotically or in a line.
• The chosen decorations are glued to the card with double-sided tape.
• The edge of the product is decorated with a dotted line using a felt-tip pen.

The box

Boxes made in the technique of "scrapbooking" can be used to pack gifts and store something. Beginner craftsmen can make a box with a surprise. This is a great reason to please a loved one. For this you will need:

• colored double-sided cardboard and paper;
• as decorations bunches of paper flowers, beads, butterflies, sequins;
• glue, scissors, pencil.

Algorithm for decorating the box:

• Draw a large square on the cardboard. It is crossed out into 9 small squares.
• You need to cut off the corner squares at once, and on the lines of the fold run a sharp object, so that the cardboard easily bent.
• It is necessary to form the future box.
• From colored paper cut squares of smaller size, glued to the inside of the box.
• Decorate by gluing the prepared inscriptions and other prepared material.
• Cut out butterflies from thick colored paper sit on glue to complete the composition. The sides are decorated with sequins.
• Now we need a lid for the box with a surprise. Cut out of colored cardboard blanks with sides, glued.
• A little decorate the inside too. The box of surprises is ready. If you remove the lid, all sides of the box will separate, representing a clearing with flowers and butterflies.

Products made in the technique of "scrapbooking" will be an unusual and original gift for any celebration. To learn this technique you need an idea, materials and a little patience.

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