Scrapbooking Fun!
Rubber Stamping
 Remember
that old box of photographs and keepsakes stashed in a forgotten
drawer? If you haven't yet been bit by the scrapbooking bug,
Plaid can provide you with plenty of inspiration to start
turning those memories into creative keepsake pages.
Making a scrapbook is a great way to organize your photos.
The permanent record you create of family history and memorable
times will be a lasting treasure to share with friends and
family. If you have been scrapbooking for years, but have
never included rubber stamps, why not give it a try?
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Acid free refers to the pH level of the material.
The pH scale ranges from 0 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline).
Materials which have a pH factor of 7.0 are considered
balanced or neutral.
Archival quality refers to materials which are
generally designed to maintain their quality over time.
Fade resistant refers to materials which are
resistant to fading from aging or exposure to adverse
conditions.
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Archival Quality
To preserve your photographs and albums, it's best to use
only acid-free or archival quality supplies. Materials with
a high acid content are more likely to yellow or damage photographs
over time.
Check to see that glues and adhesives are acid free, especially
when they are used with photographs. When choosing inks and
markers, look for inks which are both acid free and fade resistant.
Paper naturally contains varying levels of acid, unless it
is "neutralized" by adding buffers. Try to select paper which
is both acid free and archival quality.
 Basic
Cropping
Start your memory pages by organizing your photographs.
Select the best photos and eliminate clutter by cutting them
down to focus on the main subject. (If you are hesitant about
cutting your photos, either create duplicates and save the
originals, or make color copies to use in your scrapbook.)
If the background remains distracting, cut it away entirely
and silhouette the subject against a background you create.
Combining Elements
Integrate stamp designs and photo scenes to express a
theme or to add a whimsical touch.
Use a pen to draw balloon strings to they're being held by
someone in the photo, or add a party hat.
You can also place photo subjects inside stamp designs, like
the girl in the teacup. First, stamp the image, then cut with
a craft knife along the edges of the image where the photo
will be inserted.
Add a stamped image to your photo by stamping on sticker
paper, cutting it out and sticking it onto your photo. If
you want the stamped image to appear behind the photo subjects,
like the giraffe, cut along the edge of the photo subjects
and insert the stamped sticker behind.
 Frames
& Corners
There are a variety of frame rubber stamps designed to
fit standard photos, but many other stamps can make interesting
frames. You can decorate the center of the image, then crop
your photo to fit inside, or cut out the center and place
your photo behind the stamped image. When using a large frame
stamp, make sure to press down evenly on all edges.
You can make simple, charming frames by cutting a square
of accent paper with decorative scissors and placing your
photo on top. You can layer different papers with different
edge cuts for endless possibilities.
Embellish the corners of your frames or pages with a stamp
design, punch, template image, or punched out shapes. If you
choose to stamp a designed to be a frame, you may want to
embellish it with additional stamps, accessories or cut paper.
You can also make your own photo mount corners with colored
paper and a punch or stamp design.
Titles & Borders
Titles and borders organize your book and provide the
opportunity to record valuable information and comment on
events.
Write in a banner stamp, or spell out a title on punched
shapes. You can layer punched images to give your title a
drop shadow effect.
Many border stamps are designed to repeat, but almost
any small stamp can be repeated to create a border. Try varying
the direction of the stamp, or mixing stamped and punched
images.
You can also use different stamp designs with
the same motif and draw lines connecting them. 
Create a background border by stamping the edges of a larger
piece of paper and placing your page in the center, or use
decorative paper and add stamps or confetti.
Accent Papers
There's an endless variety of beautiful papers to brighten
your pages, enhance your photos and accent your themes.
Try layering different colors, patterns and textures to create
frames, borders and backgrounds.
Fun, decorative paper shapes (die cuts) are a great way to
add graphic interest to your pages. Use die cuts with pre-cut
centers, or cut your own to make interesting frames.
Collage
With a collage of paper, photos and stamps you can recreate
the environment in which your photos were taken. Tear paper
strips to form mountains or forests, add stamped images, and
integrate photo subjects and scenes.
Backgrounds
Stamps, templates, sponges, and brayers are useful tools
for creating backgrounds to enhance the atmosphere of your
pages.
Any stamp design can be repeated to create a background.
Try mixing images and colors for more interesting patterns.
Create scenery, patterns and accents with a design template
and stamping sponges. First, ink the sponge by dabbing it
on an inkpad. Blot on scratch paper to test color and soften
edge lines. Dab lightly and evenly until you get the color
intensity you want. Add to your background by drawing, stamping
or embossing.
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