Hi - does anyone on here do either of these?

I'm looking to start and would like some advice on some websites that I can look at for inspiration. I did a search on Yahoo last night and ended up with lots of sites selling supplies but am more interested in finding examples of different methods if possible. Or book recommendations would be good too.

Thanks

There's a hotel near us that was organising a Scrapbooking Retreat where you learn how to do it. I know thats no use to you (otherside of country) but maybe there is a hotel in your area that does a similar thing?

Thanks very much, I'll keep on the look out for similar around here.

At the mo, though, the scrapbooking side is more for one particular project which I just need some inspiration for. So I thought the internet would be a good place to start before paying out for courses as such. Though that may be an option in the future.

The card-making side is a potential (small!) money earner for a friend who wants some handmade cards done for her Clients - she does a home-business thing. I have ideas but just need to focus my mind! I'm rather scattered at the moment.

IMO scrapbooking is fine as long as its done in small groups of consenting adults, in private, and no one else is forced into participating........

Please please dont make me look at another book loaded with sentimental homilies!!!

Nope - no sentimental homilies with the scrapbooking (or kids looking cute gazing into the distance or covered in chocolate!) - its more a way of presenting some information I am teaching in a different/more creative manner.

The cards will be packed to the gills with sentiment, however, that is specifically what has been asked for. In order to satisfy that request I was also searching for "inspirational" words yesterday - it made the English side of me feel quite queasy.

Ah now that I can understand, the creative presentation bit.

Yes the wording in cards does tend to be a little queasymaking, queasious???

queasilicious?

Hi there i've been cardmaking for a couple of years and made and sold a few, but I mostly just make to give to others and for fun.

I use a great website for inspiration and ideas which is Docrafts (you may have been there already). They also have a discussion forum which watch out! as it gets very addictive

Anyway the web addy is http://www.docrafts.co.uk. It is a uk site, but they don't sell products on their website. It's all about getting inspiration and there is loads of folks pics of their cards/scrapbooks and anything else crafty you can imagine. I started making jewellery as well. If only there was more time

HTH

I have just yesterday done two pages! My 1st attempts at this strange hobby. Whilst I was getting my 1st lot of supplies I noticed that there are classes.

Both Scrapbooker Paradise and Michaels do classes on different topics. Would one of those help?

And yes my pages were sentimental ones - of the dog. I would not force my photo albums on anyone Here's me at the beach, here's me at the Medina, here's me on the beach on a different day AAAaaarrrrrgggghhh!

I love the photos part of these albums but its the little phrases that make you feel all warm and embarrased that get me

Medina???

queasyality?

I just did a search for SCRAPBOOK in the Edmonton Public Library's catalogue, and found 142 book titles about scrapbooking.

Since you said in another thread that you were trying to trim your expenses, ladymoose, the public library may be something to consider.

Like a Bazaar type place - I believe they are usually inside a walled town and usually have some sort of religious thing going on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medina_quarter

(The one I've been to is the Sousse, Tunisia one).

Love the Queasiality!

I have obtained good, free information on many topics from About.com . So, with that previous experience behind me, I did a Google search for ABOUT SCRAPBOOKING, and found About.com's site on scrapbooking. Yes, there are ads on the screen, but you still can get free articles on the supplies you need to get started, scrapbooking techniques, free scrapbooking stuff (free clip art, free patterns, free transparency designs and on and on).

The same search brought up links to these other sites that also provide free information (albeit there are ads on the sites, just as there are on the screen that regular members of the BE website see):

• Everything About Scrapbooking
  
  
• Scrapbooking Help and Information
  
  
• Creative Scrapbooking
  
  
• Top Scrapbooking Blogs
  
  Craft Site Directory has seven pages of links to scrapbooking sites, including some free ones, such as:
  
  
• Scrapbook Neighborhood
  
  
• Scrap Friends
  
  
• Printables 4 Scrapbooking (free stuff)
  
  
• One Scrappy Site (they do sell supplies, but the site also gives away free stuff)
  
  
• Learn 2 Scrapbook
  
  
• Themed Scrapbook Idea (scrapbooking from a male point of view)
  
  
• Free Digital Scrapbooking
  
  
• Craft Bits (free scrapbooking project ideas)
  
  
• Scrapbookers Anonymous

As I said, it goes on for pages. I'm running out of steam, but hopefully by now you get the idea.

Hey - great response - thanks everyone! I knew there were some secret crafters out there somewhere!

Thanks for all the research Judy - I will be reviewing those links tonight - you do work hard for us on here I'm an old hand at libraries - my mum used to take me as a kid and I now take my son and husband though I was a little surprised when we first arrived that there is a yearly fee here in Parkland county. I haven't got there yet to pick up some crafting books but it will be done.

PiffPoff - I've been there too! Got the photos somewhere to prove it. Didn't like Tunisia much - men kept pulling my hair and I got a bad case of sickness which kept me within sight of the loo for several days! Good luck with your project - a bit of sentimentality around pets is good I'm taking a trip to St Michaels on Sunday probably to see what supplies they have - just wanted to get a bit inspiration first so I know what to focus on - and I'll see what courses they are offering.

MrsLauder - You are just the expert I was hoping to find I will be going straight to the site you recommended after this and start absorbing knowledge (rubs hands together!). Funnily enough, my mum sent me over some of that silver clay stuff that you can make jewellry out of for last Christmas - that's another thing on the list I want to try too. Thanks very much for your post