Start Scrapbooking

March 05

This is the first in a new series which introduces crafters to the new(ish) art of scrapbooking. No more dreary albums to bore your friends and relations with, and better still a more responsible attitude to archiving. If the latter sounds even more boring than looking at Uncle Fred's endless holiday snaps then don't worry - it is all explained in this laudably brief introductory book by one of the UK's most well-known scrapbookers who runs Cotswold Keepsakes.

In time-honored Search Press style this handsome book is well laid out and lavishly illustrated as well as being reasonably priced (GBP6.99UK/$13.95US). Here you can discover what you need to get started, and even more importantly learn why you need some of it to preserve those precious photographs. Choose your colors, find out about layouts and good journaling and then it is on with the projects. There are not many of these, but each one is fully explained and there are some good-sized staged photographs. Children, seaside and wedding are the only three covered, but then this is only the first in the series. Joy's style is laconic and uncluttered with the photo always as the star - collect the whole series to discover how other designers tackle their photographs. A good basic no-frills primer for beginners - but I discovered some things I didn't know as well so worth a look even if you have been doing it for years (especially if you are self-taught like me).

April 05

An ideal beginner's book, packed with fresh and original ideas. It outlines the basic materials and techniques, from matting to journaling, to set you on your way and gives great layout inspirations.

Apr/May 05

This is an ideal beginner's book and introduces the scrapbook novice to basic concepts and ideas for cropping, matting, lettering, embellishing and more. Clear step-by-step demonstrations are accompanied by dozens of layout ideas to inspire you.

Iss 12, Sep 05

Here is a gorgeous step-by-step scrapbooking showcase full of lovely big pictures and clever, clear layouts with good tips and easy to understand directions...[Joy] gives you lots of ideas for layouts and embellishments but is also clearly enthusiastic about you coming up with your own interpretations. This looks like a great scrapbooking pressie to us.

Mar 06

Here is a gorgeous step-by-step scrapbooking showcase full of lovely big pictures and clever, clear layouts with good tips and easy to understand directions. Joy Aitman explains all the basic techniques that you need to get started and shows you how to create beautiful layouts using holiday, school and wedding photographs. Joy is a keen photographer who took lots of snaps of her four children as they were growing up and says they each have a scrapbook that chronicles their lives so far. She gives you lots of ideas for layouts and embellishments, but is also clearly enthusiastic about you coming up with your own interpretations. This looks like a great scrapbooking pressie to us.