The Halloween Photo Dash

We all plan on taking a bunch of great pictures of our children in their costumes, but really, how often does it work out? One is crying, one is too hot, one wants to leave with their friends. So here are a few tips I have learned over the years.

-Take photos of everyone getting ready, it doesn't matter if they don't look happy, its Halloween. Use black and white or sepia to make the photo more "creepy".
-Take photos of them in their costumes before you go outside! Do not open that door or they will be in 10 different directions.
-Use different levels, bend down and look right at them vs them looking up at your.
-It is not cheesy to get the good ol' flashlight under then chin look.
-Photocopy candy wrappers and use as embellishments.
Take after pictures of all of the candy, them eating it all, and them passed out!

Care for your photos!

Almost all scrapbooks contain photographs. Even the most disinterested reader will glance at photographs. It is really true that pictures are worth a thousand words, or sometimes more. This means emphasizes how important it is to choose photographs that are great quality and bring across the right message for your page.
You can use any photograph for your scrapbook but you must always be careful that the chemicals within the photos do not spill onto your page. Your digital pictures can be printed onto lignin-free and acid -free paper to help care for your photos and scrapbook page for years to come.
Good tip to keep in mind!
When scrapbooking remember to use copies of photos that you only have one of. Never use an original copy of your grandmother, copies look just as good on a scrapbook page.

Matting Photos Properly

Matting photos can be very classic, but can get boring. To spice up your page try creating a picture frame for your photos. Photo frames are a more upgraded version of a photo mat.

1. Select one patterned and one colored paper.
2. Trace around your desired photo so you have the exact sizing of it.
3. Cut your colored paper to fit around your photo, overlapping the photo by just a bit.
4. Now cut out your patterned paper and place overtop, covering the colored paper except for the bit overlapping the picture.
5. Make the frame as thick or thin as you like.
6. Now you have a framed picture!
7. Go ahead and embellish the frame with anything you'd like

Make That New Stamp Old

It is a well known fact that stamps get better the more you use them. Want to skip the awkward first use period? Stamps come with a slight film on them from the mold they are in, lightly sand or use an eraser on the stamp and it will perform as if you have been using it for months!

Keeping up with Organization

So what do you do once you have already organized all of your old photos but you have just printed off more? Don't get back into the habit of just throwing them into a drawer or box and saying goodbye for the next couple of months (or years!).
Usually when we print off photos it is of one or two specific events. NOW is the time to organize them and put them into a page protector in an album. They are all in one place and already organized by events.
If the event has just happened you might want to jot down on a sticky note things you remember about the event that you wanted to play into with that specific page!

Test Before You Use

It is so much fun to use invitations and other mementos to bring your pages alive. But it is very important to know that when adding mementos to your page, test each item with a pH testing pen. If you are still unsure, wrap it in a small piece of polypropylene or a Envelopes or Keepsake Pocket to protect your page!

Reasonable Timelines

Making timelines are a good thing to do when scrapbooking, but you must make them reasonable. A timeline you can set for the winter may be completely different than a timeline you can set for the summer due to kids being out of school and of course the beautiful weather!

Being "caught up" can be a daunting task and will drive you crazy. So remember, scrapbooking is supposed to be a fun, rewarding hobby to make you feel accomplished and fulfilled so give yourself a break!

Plus! If you didn't live your life ...

What would you scrapbook about?