I have a confession to make: I'm a guy and I like to scrapbook. When I tell my female friends, they usually think its pretty cool and are eager to look at my albums and crop with me. But when I share my love for scrapbooking with my guy friends, its not such a warm reaction. I've been made fun of on more than one occasion because I like to make photo albums. This article is my attempt to appeal to more of my male counterparts to pick up the camera, the scissors, and the pens and start getting your memories into archival quality albums. Read on...I promise I won't tell the guys at the bar...
The fact is, more and more men are taking an interest in scrapbooking. The Wall Street Journal recently published an articled called "Wanted: A Few Good Men (with Scissors)," which highlights the growing number of men that are actively pursuing this hobby. But let's get a few things out of the way first, okay?
One of the reasons that scrapbooking has traditionally been perceived as a woman's hobby is because most people's idea of a scrapbook involves lots of ribbons, stickers, and bright pastel papers. But guys, it doesn't have to be that way. The whole point of scrapbooking is to get your memories, primarily photos and paper memorabilia, into organized, photo-safe, archival quality albums.
So many of my friends, male and female, look at my albums and tell me that they really wish they had taken the time to get all of their memories organized. Many of my guy friends tell me about all the cool trips they've taken and experiences they've had, but they never even thought to take any pictures or save any souvenirs. Taking a picture every now and then does not make you less of a man, I promise, and if those pictures are worth taking, they're worth preserving.
Even the guys I know who do take pictures are content to just have them stored in a shoebox in the attic. If you're just going to leave them in a box, you might as well not even take the picture. Here's where scrapbooking comes in...the absolute safest place for your pictures to be are in a photo-safe album. The best "albums" out there are made by scrapbooking companies (my favorite is Creative Memories).
Why choose a "scrapbook" over a cheap, off-brand photo album from the discount store? Two reasons, really. First off, a lot of the albums out there on the market will destroy your photographs faster than you would believe. They contain chemicals and materials that will actually eat through your pictures, whereas scrapbooks made by reputable companies are guaranteed to be photo safe. Second, scrapbooks provide a space for you to write your memories down.
The hardest part of scrapbooking for guys is "journaling." My male friends have told me they don't want to get all "mushy" and write their feelings down. But do whatever you feel comfortable with. Did you go on a cruise with a girlfriend and buy one of those professional photos? Just jot down her name and a date underneath the photograph...something as simple as "Me & Mindy - June 2003." In 20 years, you'll have no clue what her name was and will be glad you wrote it down. Did you win a bowling tournament? Write 2 sentences about the practice you put in and how it felt to win. You'll be creating an album that will preserve your memories but that you won't be ashamed to show to the guys.
Even if you're not into designing layouts and using papers in your scrapbook, you may find that a trip to your local scrapbooking store yields some surprising finds. I've been able to find "beer" stickers, Penn State football paper, and a whole line of grilling/BBQ embellishments at my local store. These simple elements can make your pages more visually appealing without making your photo album any less masculine.
You can choose a darker colored album, like navy or black, and concentrate on earth tones inside to give your album even more of a masculine touch. Everybody has memories, and memories are worth preserving, even if you're a guy. Nothing beats the feeling of completing an album and realizing that years worth of your memories are safely preserved forever. Plus, I'll let you in on a little secret, chicks really do dig a guy who scrapbooks.
Showing posts with label scrapbooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scrapbooking. Show all posts
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Friday, August 1, 2014
Polaroid Pictures & Scrapbooking: What You Should Know
A few months ago, I resurrected an old personal hobby and started scrapbooking for the first time in years. Soon thereafter, I painfully realized that I quit taking pictures around the same time I quit scrapbooking in high school, and I have virtually no photos of the past 7 or 8 years. My entire time at college. My internship at Walt Disney World. My first boyfriend. All these memories pretty much gone forever.
I set out on the market for a new camera so I could start documenting my life with photographs once again, when I came across a deal on a website that caught my eye-a brand new, Polaroid instant camera for just $24.99. I remembered the (very) few times in my life that I had an instant photograph taken, I remembered how much fun it was, and I decided to take the plunge into the world of instant photography.
A few months after I got my Polaroid camera and took some great photographs, I was having a conversation about scrapbooking with my aunt (who is like the World Queen of Scrapbooking...you should see her supply room) when I mentioned that I had recently gotten into taking instant photographs.
I believe that her response was something along the lines of "You need to get out of the 1970s and get areal camera where the prints won't dissolve in 10 years." We laughed at the time, but it made me think....should I really be trusting my memories to be preserved on Polaroid pictures? How will these prints hold up compared to my traditional, 35mm prints? What makes me like instant photography so much? These are all questions that I'll attempt to provide some answers to in this article.
First, let's address the common belief that Polaroid pictures will deteriorate faster than traditional prints. This is simply not the case. Traditional prints can begin breaking down in just 15-20 years if not stored properly, and most experts agree that the majority of today's photographs will fade completely in just 60-100 years. According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), it will take more than 100 years for today's Polaroid pictures to fade to an unacceptable level. Therefore, we can safely say that the "shelf life" of traditional prints versus instant prints is roughly the same. Furthermore, Polaroid pictures have the advantage of a built-in protective outer layer made from polyester, making them easy to clean (think fingerprints, dust, adhesive, etc.) and providing some level of protection against water damage.
Many scrapbookers want to know if they can safely crop instant photographs. The answer is, it depends who you ask. The problem is that instant pictures contain a developing chemical which can be caustic and irritate the skin and eyes. Normally this isn't a problem since the chemicals are contained within the picture itself. The problem arises when you start cutting the pictures up and "break" the seal the picture itself provides.
I will warn you that there have been reports of people seeking medical treatment after cropping Polaroid pictures....they are few and far between, though, and no one has suffered any permanent injuries as a result. The irritating chemicals inside the picture start to neutralize themselves as soon as your instant print is ejected from the camera. However, this neutralization process may take several days to complete. Think of it as the inside of the picture needing to "dry out." Most people find that they can safely crop Polaroid photographs about a week after the picture was taken. I have safely cropped hundreds of Polaroids without incident. However, if you are concerned about the chemical issue, you can simply mount the picture in your scrapbook without cutting it.
Lastly, let me tell you about the many benefits of owning an instant camera. Did you know that over 90% of the pictures taken worldwide are never printed? They stay locked in a digital camera, or worse yet, a roll of film, never to see the light of day. With a Polaroid camera, you take a picture, you get a print....that simple, no questions asked. Plus, Polaroids are fun! You should see the smiles on peoples' faces when they see a picture pop out of the front of my camera. Everyone gathers round and wants to shake the picture and see it develop. Take one to your next special event and I guarantee you'll be the life of the party!
There are a few downsides, however. First, I find that my Polaroid works best for close-up shots...especially shots with people. Landscape shots and shot of distant objects are not ideal for the Polaroid...I would recommend a traditional or digital camera for those. Second, some people complain about the expense of Polaroid pictures. If you buy the film at retail, you will probably pay about $20 for 20 prints...or $1 per photograph. I find that if I look around on eBay and deal sites, I can usually get film for about $0.40-$0.60 per print. Not cheap, but remember, the Polaroid film includes your film, developing, and batteries (a lot of people don't know that a battery inside each film pack powers your camera....new film means new battery, too). When you factor in these costs, there is not such a big price gap between instant and traditional photography.
One other great thing....often now, when I come home from a special event, I can start scrapbooking immediately. Since I used my Polaroid camera, I already have all my pictures. Gotta love that!
Overall, I would highly recommend picking up a Polaroid camera, especially if you're serious about scrapbooking. It probably won't become your only camera, but you'll find it useful in more situations than you'd imagine and I'd bet you'll soon be taking more Polaroid pictures than you ever imagined!
I set out on the market for a new camera so I could start documenting my life with photographs once again, when I came across a deal on a website that caught my eye-a brand new, Polaroid instant camera for just $24.99. I remembered the (very) few times in my life that I had an instant photograph taken, I remembered how much fun it was, and I decided to take the plunge into the world of instant photography.
A few months after I got my Polaroid camera and took some great photographs, I was having a conversation about scrapbooking with my aunt (who is like the World Queen of Scrapbooking...you should see her supply room) when I mentioned that I had recently gotten into taking instant photographs.
I believe that her response was something along the lines of "You need to get out of the 1970s and get areal camera where the prints won't dissolve in 10 years." We laughed at the time, but it made me think....should I really be trusting my memories to be preserved on Polaroid pictures? How will these prints hold up compared to my traditional, 35mm prints? What makes me like instant photography so much? These are all questions that I'll attempt to provide some answers to in this article.
First, let's address the common belief that Polaroid pictures will deteriorate faster than traditional prints. This is simply not the case. Traditional prints can begin breaking down in just 15-20 years if not stored properly, and most experts agree that the majority of today's photographs will fade completely in just 60-100 years. According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), it will take more than 100 years for today's Polaroid pictures to fade to an unacceptable level. Therefore, we can safely say that the "shelf life" of traditional prints versus instant prints is roughly the same. Furthermore, Polaroid pictures have the advantage of a built-in protective outer layer made from polyester, making them easy to clean (think fingerprints, dust, adhesive, etc.) and providing some level of protection against water damage.
Many scrapbookers want to know if they can safely crop instant photographs. The answer is, it depends who you ask. The problem is that instant pictures contain a developing chemical which can be caustic and irritate the skin and eyes. Normally this isn't a problem since the chemicals are contained within the picture itself. The problem arises when you start cutting the pictures up and "break" the seal the picture itself provides.
I will warn you that there have been reports of people seeking medical treatment after cropping Polaroid pictures....they are few and far between, though, and no one has suffered any permanent injuries as a result. The irritating chemicals inside the picture start to neutralize themselves as soon as your instant print is ejected from the camera. However, this neutralization process may take several days to complete. Think of it as the inside of the picture needing to "dry out." Most people find that they can safely crop Polaroid photographs about a week after the picture was taken. I have safely cropped hundreds of Polaroids without incident. However, if you are concerned about the chemical issue, you can simply mount the picture in your scrapbook without cutting it.
Lastly, let me tell you about the many benefits of owning an instant camera. Did you know that over 90% of the pictures taken worldwide are never printed? They stay locked in a digital camera, or worse yet, a roll of film, never to see the light of day. With a Polaroid camera, you take a picture, you get a print....that simple, no questions asked. Plus, Polaroids are fun! You should see the smiles on peoples' faces when they see a picture pop out of the front of my camera. Everyone gathers round and wants to shake the picture and see it develop. Take one to your next special event and I guarantee you'll be the life of the party!
There are a few downsides, however. First, I find that my Polaroid works best for close-up shots...especially shots with people. Landscape shots and shot of distant objects are not ideal for the Polaroid...I would recommend a traditional or digital camera for those. Second, some people complain about the expense of Polaroid pictures. If you buy the film at retail, you will probably pay about $20 for 20 prints...or $1 per photograph. I find that if I look around on eBay and deal sites, I can usually get film for about $0.40-$0.60 per print. Not cheap, but remember, the Polaroid film includes your film, developing, and batteries (a lot of people don't know that a battery inside each film pack powers your camera....new film means new battery, too). When you factor in these costs, there is not such a big price gap between instant and traditional photography.
One other great thing....often now, when I come home from a special event, I can start scrapbooking immediately. Since I used my Polaroid camera, I already have all my pictures. Gotta love that!
Overall, I would highly recommend picking up a Polaroid camera, especially if you're serious about scrapbooking. It probably won't become your only camera, but you'll find it useful in more situations than you'd imagine and I'd bet you'll soon be taking more Polaroid pictures than you ever imagined!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Take a Trip Down Memory Lane to Your Local 'Recollections' Scrapbooking Store
I've been scrapbooking for a while now and as my fellow scrappers know, there is no shortage of places to buy supplies. There's craft stores, Wal-Mart, specialty scrapbook stores, and even direct sales companies that have consultants that will allow you to shop from home. Everyone sells the same basic stuff, like scissors, papers, albums, stickers, etc., and you have to do something really special to set yourself apart in the world of scrapbooking.
A few weeks ago, I came across a store that did just that. I was recently talking about scrapbooking with my aunt, when her eyes lit up and she told me about "her new favorite store," which was apparently a recently-opened scrapbooking store in Columbia, Maryland. She got so excited that she insisted on getting in the car right then and taking me there.
I wasn't expecting much....I have been in scrapbooking stores before and as I stated earlier, they all seem pretty much the same to me. After a short drive, we arrived at a store called "Recollections," and as soon as I stepped inside, I knew just why my aunt had gotten so excited. The place was huge, with aisle after aisle of the cutest stickers, papers, and other scrapbooking accoutrements that you've ever seen.
Besides for offering one of the biggest assortments of scrapbooking supplies you'll find under one roof, what really sets Recollections apart is the work studio. Each Recollections location has a work studio where you are free to go and work on your albums during store hours, free of charge. You can use all of the paper cutters and die-cut machines for free, and you can "start a tab," use all the supplies you need, and pay for them at the end.
The studio also features computers so you can scan & print photographs, as well as print words & titles for your albums. There is a small kitchenette off the work studio where they have some vending machines and a refrigerator, so you can bring lunch or grab a snack without interrupting your work on your albums too much. Plus, each location offers a variety of classes and "crop" sessions that are open to the public, which is a great way to meet other people interested in scrapbooking.
I've always found the staff at Recollections to be very friendly, and always willing to help out when you need them to. They've taken the chance to get to know me, and always ask me about my albums and how they're coming along. The prices are very competitive to other scrapbook retailers, but the service & amenities are second to none.
So far, Recollections only has locations in four states (Arizona, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia), but they just started in 2003 and are looking to expand into other areas soon. If there is a Recollections store in your area, you should definitely stop by and check it out. If you're anything like me, you won't want to shop for your scrapbook supplies anywhere else.
A few weeks ago, I came across a store that did just that. I was recently talking about scrapbooking with my aunt, when her eyes lit up and she told me about "her new favorite store," which was apparently a recently-opened scrapbooking store in Columbia, Maryland. She got so excited that she insisted on getting in the car right then and taking me there.
I wasn't expecting much....I have been in scrapbooking stores before and as I stated earlier, they all seem pretty much the same to me. After a short drive, we arrived at a store called "Recollections," and as soon as I stepped inside, I knew just why my aunt had gotten so excited. The place was huge, with aisle after aisle of the cutest stickers, papers, and other scrapbooking accoutrements that you've ever seen.
Besides for offering one of the biggest assortments of scrapbooking supplies you'll find under one roof, what really sets Recollections apart is the work studio. Each Recollections location has a work studio where you are free to go and work on your albums during store hours, free of charge. You can use all of the paper cutters and die-cut machines for free, and you can "start a tab," use all the supplies you need, and pay for them at the end.
The studio also features computers so you can scan & print photographs, as well as print words & titles for your albums. There is a small kitchenette off the work studio where they have some vending machines and a refrigerator, so you can bring lunch or grab a snack without interrupting your work on your albums too much. Plus, each location offers a variety of classes and "crop" sessions that are open to the public, which is a great way to meet other people interested in scrapbooking.
I've always found the staff at Recollections to be very friendly, and always willing to help out when you need them to. They've taken the chance to get to know me, and always ask me about my albums and how they're coming along. The prices are very competitive to other scrapbook retailers, but the service & amenities are second to none.
So far, Recollections only has locations in four states (Arizona, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia), but they just started in 2003 and are looking to expand into other areas soon. If there is a Recollections store in your area, you should definitely stop by and check it out. If you're anything like me, you won't want to shop for your scrapbook supplies anywhere else.
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