Where To Start With Scrapbook Ideas
With so many products available for scrapbook ideas you may find yourself in a situation where you just do not know where to start. If you are new to scrapbooking then the basic materials you will need are as follows:
Scrapbook paper
Adhesives
Cutting materials such as a craft knife and paper trimmer
Pictures
A Scrapbook
These items are the foundation for any scrapbook.
When you first decide to go shopping for products for your scrapbook ideas I would recommend you start out buying items in small quantities. This way you can play around with different products and work out which ones you prefer before spending a huge sum of money. It also gives you a chance to experiment with different craft materials.
Select bits and pieces that you find attractive and inspire you. Have a picture in mind before you shop so you can purchase paper and items that will correspond with the picture you are going to be placing in the scrapbook. You may even consider taking the picture with you making selecting embellishments to decorate the page even easier.
You will need to make sure all of the items for your scrapbook ideas are protected in some form so ensure that you only use materials that are scrapbook safe and acid free. This will maintain your scrapbook pages and prevent them from deteriorating over time.
Before you leave the house to shop for items for your scrapbook ideas make sure you write a list. It will be extremely tempting to buy vast amounts of papers and embellishments. Not only is this very expensive but it can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure what one of your scrapbook ideas to use.
Ideally you need to have a theme in mind so you only purchase items that match and compliment each other.
If it is your first scrapbook then I would recommend that you do not purchase complex or fiddly craft items as you may find the whole thing extremely difficult and end up being put of scrapbooking altogether. It is far better to begin with basic materials and purchase ready made embellishments before you try to make your own.
Over time you will learn how these are put together and before you know it you will be saying ‘I do not need to buy that, I can make it myself!’
If you really do not know where to start it may be worth enrolling in a class to learn some basic principles of scrapbooking. Most craft shops offer classes that will help beginners and show you how to use what you have resourcefully as well as provide you with lots of scrapbook ideas.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in scrapbook ideas http://www.vickisscrapbookideas.com providing you with excellent tips and ideas for creating stunning scrapbook layouts
Materials Required For Watercolor Painting
My attitude toward materials may be summed up by paraphrasing the old adage that just as you can’t be a good carpenter without good tools, so you can’t be a good watercolorist without good materials.
Even the beginner, who must spoil and throw away a lot of paper, should not start off with too cheap a grade of paper. Adequate machine-made rag-content papers are available for practice. However, as soon as possible, the beginner should switch to a good handmade paper. Such paper not only takes paint better but shows up whiter at those times when the paper becomes an integral part of the design, such as when painting snow scenes.
It also pays to be consistent in the grade of paper you choose. This makes it possible to evaluate your work as you progress. After you’ve learned to achieve a certain effect on one grade of paper and find that it doesn’t work on another grade, you’ll understand the importance of this point. By using the same grade, you can, under ideal conditions, achieve the same effect rather consistently.
In the beginning you may want to use a lightweight unmounted paper, say 72 pounds. However, you will soon discover that it will tend to buckle when heavy washes are applied. The resulting wrinkles can be most disconcerting when you are trying to paint reasonably straight objects such as telephone poles, fence posts, and piles. I have found the 300-pound weight to be nearly wrinkle-proof.
In choosing paper you must also consider its texture. Surfaces from very smooth to rough are available. Selection is usually based on the technique employed by the artist. I use the rough paper almost exclusively because I find it of great help in softening edges, creating textures, etc. I prefer the 300-pound d’Arches rough or the 300-pound AWS rough. The d’Arches has a slightly yellowish tint, whereas the AWS is pure white. Both are handmade and of the same high quality.
Sandpaper it used chiefly for scratching off paint in areas where more white is needed.
Masking tape is used to cover those areas of a painting that you wish either to leave as white paper or to paint later on. Maskoid serves the same purpose for small areas.
Butter knives are very useful as tools and, because of their blunt edges, are particularly handy for scraping off paint softly for textural effects.
Although there are many colors of fine quality available, I find that for my work Rembrandt colors are the most satisfactory I use the following watercolor brushes: 2-1/2 inch second grade camel hair and 1-inch Grumbacher aquarelle which are flat; 1-inch, 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch short-hair flat bristle brushes, made for oil painting; numbers 12, 8, 5, and 2 red sable Winsor & Newton or Grumbacher round watercolor brushes.
Additional equipment needed by the watercolorist are a soft cosmetic sponge (fine-textured and natural - not rubber) ; a water container; paint rags; hand mirror ; a low sketching stool; kneaded and sand erasers; HB, 2B, and 6B pencils; drawing board; tube of rubber cement; paint-box and mat knife.
A 5-inch by 7-inch sketch pad is another useful adjunct to the sketching trip for thumbnail sketches preliminary to working on the main picture or for pictures to be finished back in the studio. This also serves as a record of the amount of work you have done during the year.
Now it only remains to begin painting!
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Poinsettia Rubber Stamps - The Perfect Stamp For Christmas
Poinsettia rubber stamps are becoming one of the most popular stamps to purchase around Christmas time. They can be used to create stunning Christmas card ideas and can also be used when creating Christmas scrapbook page layouts.
Typically a poinsettia has red, pink or white leaves and a green stork. Due to a Mexican legend the poinsettia is associated with Christmas. It is said that many years ago a young child wanted to give a gift to Christ on Christmas eve but had no money. The child picked some weeds that were growing by the side of the road. After taking the weeds to church and placing them there the child told the congregation that god should gratefully receive the gift as it was given with love. The weeds bloomed into beautiful red and green flowers and the congregation felt that they had seen a miracle.
Poinsettia rubber stamps can come in a variety of sizes. Respectively the price will depend on the size of the stamp itself and more often than not the larger the stamp the higher the price.
One of the great things about Poinsettia rubber stamps are that you can use them to create beautiful decoupage images. Simply stamp the image more than once and decorate as you wish. The next step is to cut out extra leaves and apply them by using 3d foam pads.
Poinsettia rubber stamps are usually quite large. If you are using this design for your Christmas card making ideas then generally having this image on the front of the card is more than enough and will need very little further accessories to finish it off.
Poinsettia rubber stamps can also be used to create stunning background papers for either card making or scrapbooking. Experiment with different stamping techniques to see which one you like you best. By adding a few bits of ribbon and maybe some glitter soon you will have some stunning original designs that will really stand out and also keep with the Christmas theme.
When purchasing poinsettia rubber stamps or any stamps for that matter always check that the quality is good and there are no defects with the stamp. Also double check that the image has been mounted onto to the wooden block correctly and is in line with the image on the top of the wood. Occasionally when stamps are made the image on the top does not match the image underneath causing many problems when trying to line the print up.
To keep your poinsettia rubber stamps in pristine condition it is vital that you clean them after every use. Always remember to store them away from sharp objects to avoid any of the rubber being damage as this will affect the image when printing.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in card making ideas http://www.vickiscardmakingideas.com providing you with excellent tips and ideas for rubber stamping and many other tricks and techniques.
Materials Required For Portrait Painting Explained
The materials needed by the beginner for portrait painting are but few, but these should be of excellent quality and carefully selected. The materials required are: a canvas, a selection of brushes, linseed oil and of course a wide selection of paints. Once you have these materials you are ready to go.
Canvas
I prefer linen. It is a great aid to good painting, as the paint moves more freely and does not pull all the oil out of the pigment, leaving the painting dull and flat. However, for demonstrating and practice I quite often use good grade (hard) cotton.
Many students use prepared “panels” of canvas mounted on heavy cardboard. Each should be given a light coat of white shellac. Professionals more often prefer canvas bought by the yard or the roll and tacked onto the canvas stretchers obtainable at all dealers. I recommend this, or stretchers with canvas already in place.
Brushes
Like the Old Masters I choose the round bristle brush and use the side of it to apply the paint with a scratching movement (except when drawing the eyes and other fine details). This allows all the tones to come together in a soft blend, and your pigment will stand out and sparkle instead of pasting down to an enamel effect.
With brushes known as “flats” and “brights” - both of them thin - there is a tendency to flatten and paste down the color unpleasantly. Also, the flat stroke will invariably leave raised edges which call for some care if they are to be blended properly with the surrounding tones. (I do, however, use a flat brush for drawing.)
Care of Brushes
If you paint for two or three days in a row, just stand or rinse your brushes in kerosene. (Don’t stand them for long on their points.) When storing them for any length of time, wash them thoroughly with soap and cold water. Make sure the paint is out at the heel (next to ferrule).
Mixing Medium
I have found students more confused about this material than any other. Some have read so much about mediums, and have experimented with so many, that they have not had time to learn to paint!
For the present, forget prepared mediums. Use artists purified linseed oil. Modern methods of refining have overcome nearly all of its former tendency to yellow. If you want a heavier medium to make your paint stand out from the painted surface, substitute stand oil, which is sun-thickened linseed oil. Though turpentine is a popular medium, especially when mat (dull) effects are wanted, avoid it as it will thin and wash out the desirable dense quality of the pigment. Its only legitimate use is in the drawing stage for wiping errors from the canvas.
To obtain full advantage of the natural brilliance of your paint, use it as it comes from the tube. If it refuses to spread or move freely, mix in a minimum amount of linseed oil.
Now you are ready to paint!
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The Fun World of Origami
Origami is a creative art done with the paper. It is the ancient art of Japan but said to have its origin in China. This art involves paper folding and creating some amazing images which otherwise seem impossible to create from a medium like paper. The origami or papermaking was developed in China and some of the oldest folding paper models found are from china itself. Later it was adopted by the Japanese people but still many are of the opinion that origami took its birth and developed in Japan. The traditional form of origami was based on a square piece of paper from which endless variety of shapes could be created with the help of various small numbers of folds. This art form when practiced in ancient times did not involve cutting and pasting.
Other than china and Japan, Spain and France started practicing this art before a couple of centuries. The people of Spain used to fold the paper documents or baptismal certificates in the form of little birds called Pajarita. In the similar fashion Cocotte was done in France. Origami is an art where the designs you make can be simple like that of birds or aero planes or complex with lot many intricacies like buildings or spring made of single piece of paper. To make a complex structure foil is preferred than paper as it can be folded more with less bulk.
The standard origami paper is mostly 15cm and there are some standard folds which help in creating bases. Once the base is shaped then other folds done will create different shapes. One of the most famous shapes in Japanese Origami is the shape of a Crane as it is considered to be very lucky. One of the many legends pertaining to Origami declares that the person who makes thousand paper cranes all his desires will come true. Since then the origami crane symbolizes peace in Japan.
Many new artists gave their contributions in this art form like the credit of creating curved and spiral shapes in origami works goes to Joseph Albers, and Akira Yoshizawa introduced new techniques and intricate art forms. His wet paper folding technique helped in holding the shape better when the designs were complex structures.
The American Museum Natural History in New York since last 30 years erected a Christmas tree which is every year adorned with different Origami shapes like birds, turtles, lobsters, dinosaurs and crabs. The different shapes created held people spell bound. The people with special liking and inclination toward creativity can try their hand on origami with the help of books available for the beginners. The books available are the complete guide with proper instructions and several diagrams to help you out.
Kits with illustrated instructions and materials needed for origami art are also available. These kits are amazing and even children can give a try and make this miniature work of art known as Origami.
For more information visit our website http://www.PAPER-CRAFTS.ORG
Pictures For Your Scrapbook Page Layouts
Pictures and photos are the basis for any scrapbook page layout. Although colour photos give a sense of realism it is well worth experimenting with black and white photos which will give your scrapbook pages a timeless look. Most printing companies can offer to have your pictures developed in either colour or black and white so why not have one of each and see which one looks best.
If you are attempting to capture a black and white photo for the first time it is important to make sure the lighting is just right to achieve the best possible photo. It is recommended that black and white photos should be taken with natural light and during the day so no flash is therefore required.
There is a range of older style scrapbook paper to choose from which will compliment a black and white photo. You really will be spoilt for choice. The important thing is to capture the mood within the photo. You can then add some colour and scrapbook quotes to create a beautiful scrapbook page layout.
It is always nice to have a photo with someone posing exactly as you want however if all your scrapbook pages are like this you will soon lose the whole concept of why a scrapbook album is made. Having real life action pictures mean you can use imaginative scrapbook quotes and each scrapbook page layout will be totally unique and will tell a story.
If you have memorabilia from when the picture was taken such as tickets or receipts adding these items to the pages can give your scrapbook page layouts a real personal and distinctive appearance.
When designing your page layouts always begin with the picture and where you want to place the picture on the page. Then find the papers that match and get a rough idea of what embellishments you will be using. Remember you do not have to keep a 12 x 12 sheet of paper as it is, mix and match other papers, use techniques such as ripping and tearing to create something totally distinctive.
Be careful when adding more than one picture when creating your scrapbook page layouts. Remember it will look far better with less pictures than if you over crowd it with several. The best way is to find the pictures from a certain event lay them all down and choose one or two of the best ones. You can crop and cut some of the others but it is wise not to have too many the same shape and size as your scrapbook pages will begin to look like a standard photo album. Alternatively you could do a double page layout giving you more room if you really can not choose between the photos you have.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Scrapbook Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for creating stunning Scrapbook page layouts
http://www.vickisscrapbookideas.com
Jewelry Business Strategies: List Marketing
Selling handcrafted jewelry is a competitive business in a relatively saturated market, so how do you make yourself stand out from the sea of other jewelry makers? One great marketing strategy is to have a mailing list and to actively send out mailings.
Here are 9 great reasons any jewelry artist should build and nurture a mailing list.
1. To remind people that you exist.
People are very busy these days, have a lot on their plate. They are very easily distracted and sidetracked. I know I am, despite my best efforts! I receive a number of newsletters by email, and I am much more likely to return to these companies websites than the ones I bookmark and mean to go back to. Enough said.
2. To make it easy for people to find you and contact you
Sometimes people need help. Even if they mean to call you or order online from you, they may forget, become distracted, or may forget your business name. They may make a mental note to contact you but never get around to it. Make it easy for them by sending them regular mailings.
3. To build trust
This is a very timely concept. People have been scammed, let down, and under-serviced so many times that they are naturally wary and suspicious of anyone trying to sell them anything. Getting your name in front of people on a regular basis and sending them quality information with their needs in mind goes a long way towards building trust.
4. To build relationships
In our fast-paced world where everyone is bombarded constantly with advertising from huge impersonal businesses, people seek a connection. If you can make that connection and allow people into your world, they begin to feel they know you. This is of course positive for you and your business.
5. To keep in touch with your existing customers.
You have peoples’ addresses because they have given them to you either through an online subscription, personal inquiry, by asking to be added to your mailing list, or by in some way asking you to contact them further. If your customers and prospects have shown interest in getting updates from you, you are doing them a disservice if you don’t follow up.
Have you ever inquired about a product by email and never gotten a response? How did that make you feel? I know that I feel like the company is poorly managed and that they clearly don’t care about their customers. People get very excited by even basic customer service nowadays so give them a little by sending them newsletters, notifications and updates.
6. To follow up leads.
Leads are people who have shown interest in your work or your business but need more incentive to buy. This goes back to the 7-10 rule which states that people statistically need to become familiar with you by seeing you 7-10 times before trusting you enough to purchase something they want from you.
7. To make more sales from your existing customer base.
It is Easier to Sell to a Customer than a Prospect i.e. It is much easier to convince previous customers to buy more from you than it is to convince someone to buy from you the first time.
This is assuming of course that they had a good experience with you in the past. Regular customers are most businesses bread and butter. Offer them the good stuff first and they’ll keep coming back. A mailing list is the perfect way to notify them of your promotions and new products first.
8. To target your marketing and make the best use of your time.
Your time is limited and you want to get as much bang for your buck as possible. A mailing list is made up of people who are already interested in you and your products or services so following up with them by email is a great use of your time.
9. To give great customer service and extra value.
Sending out regular mailings is just part of great customer service. If you do it respectfully, regular mailing can make make your customers feel cared for and special.
Christine Gierer is a self-taught jewelry maker, crafter, and stay-at-home-mom who who has written numerous articles on making and marketing handmade jewelry. Visit her website, http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com, for more jewelry making articles, project patterns, tutorials, and inspiration.
How to Understand the Qualities of Color
Let us consider color as an artist sees and uses it. Color has three main qualities: hue, value and intensity.
Qualities of Color
If we look at any given color analytically - the red of an apple, for instance - we discover that it possesses three outstanding characteristics or qualities. First, there is that quality by which we recognize one color from another, and which we suggest by its name. This we call “hue.” The apple is red; red is the hue (name) of the color. Remember the equation: “Hue equals Name.”
We can alter the hue of a color by mixing another color with it. If we mix red pigment with yellow pigment, we produce orange pigment; this is a change of hue.
Next comes the quality by which we discern lightness or darkness in a color. This we call “value.” It is by value that we are able to discriminate between light red and dark red.
By mixing a color with something lighter or darker than itself, we change its value. If we mix black or white (or water, in the case of watercolor pigments) with a color, we change its value but not its hue.
A color in its full, natural strength may be called a “normal” color or a color of “normal” value. If lighter, we call it a “tint”; if darker, a “shade.” These latter terms are so often abused that some authorities prefer the substitution of the word “value,” as a “light value of blue” rather than a “tint of blue,” or a “dark value of green” rather than a “shade of green.”
Thirdly, some colors are strong and some weak. The quality by which we distinguish strength or weakness in a color is called “intensity.” If we remark that an object is colorful or strong in color, we refer to its intensity.
We can change the intensity of a normal color by mixing it with other hues; this tends to dull or gray it. We can change intensity without changing value or hue by the addition of neutral gray of equal value.
This quality which we call “intensity” is also called “chroma” or “saturation” and the value of a color is sometimes termed “brightness” or “lightness.” Though these particular differences in terminology are of slight consequence to the average artist, they emphasize the unfortunate confusion of terms which exists in the entire field of color.
“Tone” is a word of ambiguous meaning which is often employed in a general way to include all normal colors, tints and shades. Some authorities, however, use it to refer specifically to grayed values of any hue. Thus, color mixed with white would be described as a tint; color mixed with black, a shade; and color mixed with both black and white, a tone. If these words were always used in just this way, it would doubtless be easier to communicate color distinctions more accurately than we now do, but in common usage all three words are used almost interchangeably.
Texture, though not truly a quality of color, as are hue, value and intensity, is so closely related to these qualities that it must be considered along with them. If one paints an object, he must keep in mind its shape and character as revealed by its color (hue, value and intensity) and texture. The light and shade on objects can be thought of as agents for the expression of shape and texture, as modifiers of color.
Even in non-objective paintings texture is a very important factor; since there is no subject interest, texture is often one of the painting’s chief attributes. In fact, some non-objective painters are noted primarily for the textures they achieve with unusual materials such as sand or mud, or the fact that they apply their pigments in some unorthodox way, such as dribbling, which creates a particular textural effect.
For the beginning artist, the above discussion will give the basic outline of terms that are used to describe color. A grasp of these basics will pave the way to greater understanding in his own use of color in his work.
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Scrapbook Ideas - A Fast Growing Hobby
Scrapbooking has been around for many years. If you think back to when you were are child cutting pictures out of magazines, using old scraps of ribbon and paper to decorate a scrapbook page. In those days it seemed you were never stuck for scrapbook ideas.
If you have just begun scrapbooking as an adult you may find that thinking up new scrapbook ideas just do not spring to mind and you find yourself looking at piles of paper and items you have purchased and have no idea what to do with them.
You may even find that when you are stuck for new scrapbook ideas you take a trip to your local craft supplies store for inspiration only to find all you do is end up spending money and come away with no new scrapbook ideas. My advice if you really are suffering with ’scrapbookers block’ is to have a look over the internet at other peoples scrapbook page layouts and get some new ideas from them.
When creating scrapbook page layouts the first place to start I find is the picture. Decide which photo or photos you would like added to the page and then choose your paper or a combination of different coordinating papers that fit with the theme of the photos.
If you find you have a large space on the page and do not know what to add you may find that adding scrapbook quotes not only fill the space but bring about a personal touch.
Scrapbooks quotes can be something you have come up with yourself or words and phrases that you have found elsewhere. Ensure whatever scrapbook quotes you use fit them general theme of the page and better still provide a short description of the photo.
Once you have been scrapbooking for a period of time you will find yourself taking even more photos of different events and milestones and in the back of your mind you will be imagining how they will look in your scrapbook album. This will in itself help you to develop new scrapbook ideas as you take your photos. You can also keep a note of your feelings at the time or a significant fact that you can use for your scrapbook quotes.
You can scrapbook just about anything; it does not have to be the best photo from a wedding day, anniversary or your childs first birthday. Sometimes it is nice just to have scrapbook page layouts of everyday events.
Scrapbooking has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is a hobby that can be done within your own home in your spare time and is a fantastic way to relax. There are even retreats for scrapbooking enthusiasts where a group of people can get together for a weekend of scapbooking and share their scrapbook ideas.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Scrapbook Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for creating stunning scrapbook pages with Scrapbook Quotes http://www.vickisscrapbookideas.com
Scrapbook Ideas - Choosing The Right Paper
Paper is the most important aspect of scrapbooking and quite often the basis for your inspiration when creating a scrapbook page layout and also when you are considering new scrapbook ideas.
Although finding a suitable piece of scrapbook paper to fit the theme of your photo can sometimes be challenging, generally it is the first thing you will need to do before starting your page layout.
It is essential that you only use acid free paper when creating your scrapbook page layout. Many people have regretted using pictures and paper from magazines that are not acid free because they find as the years go by the pages will deteriorate and lose the fresh look they once had.
It is recommended that you embellish a scrapbook page with accessories that match the theme and genre. It will look odd if you use an older style piece of scrapbook paper as the background and then decorate it with modern embellishments. That said there is no harm in experimenting with your scrapbook ideas as sometimes mixing the two styles together can bring about a really unique look. It is a question of playing around until you find something that you like and is pleasing to the eye.
Many people find coordinating papers together is the hardest part of scrapbooking. You may believe pink flowery paper will not go with pink stripe paper however it is not until you try them out together that will you know the answer. It is always wise to experiment with different scrapbook ideas mixing and matching diverse papers you may have never considered using together.
When trying to come up with new scrapbook ideas take time to consider the pictures you are going to be adding to the page layout. If the theme is of children use a fun and modern style paper rather than an antique style.
There are so many different ranges of paper available from card stock to vellum all of which are used by scrapbooking enthusiast every day. You will never get tired of being surprised at how beautiful the paper can be. If you speak to other keen scrapbook makers you will find the majority always buy two sheets of the same paper, one to cut up and use for their scrapbook ideas or for their scrapbook quotes, and one to save and admire.
Scrapbook paper is the basis of scrapbooking and something you should have a stock of before considering any scrapbook ideas you have. Scrapbook paper is available in all good craft stores and on the internet.
The internet is also a great place to start if you a are a beginner as you can find plenty of step by step instructions and guides to help you create some fantastic scrapbook page layouts and it will also help you come up with new scrapbook ideas of your own that you can share with your family and friends.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in scrapbook ideas http://www.vickisscrapbookideas.com providing you with excellent tips and ideas for creating stunning scrapbook layouts