Celtic Wedding Rings and tying the Knot

The origins of the Celts dates back to prehistoric times when they emerged as a group of loosely knit tribes with a common culture and language.

Celtic settlements stretched from Turkey and the Balkans right across Western Europe. But it was the rise of the Roman Empire that would expose the lack of cohesion between the various Celtic tribes and would lead to them being overrun, expelled from their territories and being pushed back to the western fringes of the continent.

Although the ancient Celts flourished across Europe, it is in Ireland where their traditions have been most preserved.

One aspect of this culture that still survives today is the artwork and this is most commonly seen in jewellery such as celtic rings.

Their artwork was believed to be very symbolic often being based on nature using images of birds and animals and fish. The Celts believed firmly in the interconnectedness of all life and produced the familiar Celtic Knots, which are interlaced patterns with no beginning and no end.

Although perhaps the true significance of these patterns has been lost over the millennia, Celtic designs remain increasingly popular in our modern world.

The Claddagh is a traditional symbol of love and friendship and is thought to have originated from Claddagh in Galway as far back as the 16th century since when has been worn by many as a wedding ring and as a symbol of love.

The design of the Claddagh consists of a heart as a symbol of love, a crown as a symbol of fidelity or loyalty and the hands depicted friendship. Tradition states that if you are spoken to you should wear the Claddagh on your left hand facing inward but if you are unattached it should be worn facing outward on the right hand.

Celtic crosses, which predate Christianity, can symbolize the four quarters of the earth and or the four elements – earth wind and fire. They are equal armed crosses which are enclosed or backed by a circle. Following the introduction of Christianity, it became more common to see Celtic Crosses on top of a matching pedestal, which gave it a more elongated look. Celtic crosses are often worn as jewellery such as rings or on chains around the neck.

Geometric designs have always feature prominently in Celtic artwork with spirals, chevrons, scrolls and knot work. Many of these patterns can be seen decorating stone carvings or ancient manuscripts and religious books.

The Celtic spirals are very symbolic with the single spiral generally thought to signify growth expansion and cosmic energy.

The dual centred spiral found often on stone carvings signifies duality and nature and is associated with motifs from other cultures such as the Ying Yang symbol.
Celtic knot work designs remain popular today and can vary from single elegant knot patterns to complex intricate interlaced patterns.

Although the symbolism of celtic designs may have been lost, many of the designs remain popular today and will often be seen used in the design of jewellery and in particular Celtic Wedding rings.

Written by John Lewis of Love2Have who specialise in traditional gold celtic rings handcrafted in the UK.

Add comment May 2nd, 2006

Budgeting for Your Special Wedding Day

Getting married is still very much in vogue and with so much choice available for when where and how to get married, with careful planning you should be able to guarantee that your wedding day will indeed be a very special day.

Budgeting for that special wedding day is important as you could run up bills amounting to many thousands of pounds. Decide what you budget is at the outset, stick to it and don’t be swayed and end up spending more than you can afford.

Some of the biggest expenses will arise from the cost of the wedding attire with the bridal outfit accounting for a substantial sum of money. On top of that will be the costs of bridesmaid dresses, flowers, corsages and suit hire or purchase for the groom and best man. The wedding rings for the bride and groom will also be costly purchases as will the gifts for the bridesmaids and mums. The gifts given to the bridesmaid are usually pieces of jewellery and mums usually get lovely big bouquets of flowers.

Decide on how many people you are going to invite and then look at potential venues and catering costs and explore the alternatives. You don’t have to have a costly formal sit down meal when a more relaxed buffet style function may better suit your needs. If you do opt for formal you may choose to limit the number of people at the formal sit down meal to limit costs and then invite more guests to an evening buffet disco.

If you are getting married in church you will need to arrange some form of transport and there are many options such as Rolls Royces or maybe a horse drawn carriage.

The time of year that you are getting married may dictate many of the above, for instance you may not want arrive at a marquee in the middle of winter with the real likelihood of bad weather affecting your arrangements.

These days you can just about get married anywhere you choose and it doesn’t have to be in a church so you may be able to get married in the same venue where you are holding the reception. This will cut down on transport costs and you may get a better deal all round with an all inclusive package. Whether you choose a romantic castle in the Highlands of Scotland, a magnificent stately home or something more modest, remember stick to your budget and don’t be tempted to overspend.

Of course you and you future spouse may just decide to go abroad either alone or with a few friends and family and get married on a beach, up a mountain of even Las Vegas in Elvis Presley style. Tour operators will be very helpful in providing you with the correct advice and information about getting married abroad.

When choosing your exotic destination remember that some of the destinations we normally associate with glorious sunshine and beautiful beaches and scenery may have seasons where the weather may not be so predictable or kind. Beware of monsoon and hurricane seasons in particular.

Organising a wedding can be a very stressful affair but there are usually plenty of people that will be willing to help such as friends and family as well as wedding organisers if you want to leave everything to a professional. There are also many ways that you can get the information that you need to ensure your wedding day goes smoothly and to plan.
Whatever you decide, good luck, have fun, enjoy and make you wedding day a very special day.

Written by John Lewis of Love2Have. Love2have specialises in quality handcrafted designer wedding rings made here in the UK by small independent designers.

Add comment May 2nd, 2006

The Age of Titanium

Although Titanium is an abundant element on earth it was not discovered until 1791 but it would be another hundred years after that before it was possible to isolate the metal.

In appearance the metal is grey and lustrous and has often been used to make alloys which are light and resistant. Titanium has also been detected in meteorites and in the moon rocks brought back from the Apollo 17 mission.

It is because of its desirable properties which make Titanium an ideal metal for this technological age that has lead to a huge rise in popularity of this metal.

In industry the uses for titanium are many because of its resistance to corrosion even from salt water, alkalis and acids and even corrosive gases. Because of its corrosion resistance and the fact that it is also physiologically inert and hypoallergenic, Titanium is also used extensively in the field of medicine and in particular for prosthetic implants such as hip and knee replacements.

This wonderful metal has very high strength to weight ratio and it is much utilised in critical and demanding applications such as in the aerospace industry. The use of Titanium has made space exploration possible and the earlier rockets such as Mercury, Apollo and Gemini were all made largely of this metal. The Space Shuttle also has many parts made from Titanium as have many jet fighters, submarines, ships and tanks.

Titanium therefore is used across a broad spectrum of applications making it very much a metal of our modern age.

Aircraft grade titanium is now becoming increasingly popular in the jewellery trade and has found favour particularly in the manufacture of mens jewellery because of it’s hard wearing properties. Titanium rings have become increasingly popular as wedding rings in part because they will stand up to more wear and tear than precious metals but probably just as much because of the look. Titanium really is a very versatile metal and lends itself very to the making of fine jewellery and a variety of looks can be achieved utilising different finishes and even the application of heat which brings about a change in colour ranging through the whole spectrum.

This property of colouration by heat has been used particularly in the manufacture of ladies jewellery for making eye catching unique designs in earrings, necklaces and modern, trendy titanium rings.

In the making of rings, titanium can also be inlaid with precious metals and set with precious stones and although the material is more difficult to work with because of its strength, once made you will have a beautiful piece of jewellery that will look good and last a lifetime.

The durability, strength and looks of titanium will ensure that it continues to grow in popularity as a metal in the manufacture of jewellery and in particular for the making of titanium rings.

Written by John Lewis of Love2Have. Love2have specialises in quality handcrafted designer titanium rings made here in the UK by small independent designers.

Add comment May 2nd, 2006

All You Ever Wanted To Know About Earrings But Were Afraid to Ask

It is thought that earrings date back to 3000 BC where they originated in Asia and appeared in 2 formats, one being the simple hoop earring and the other the more elaborate pendant earring.
The oldest earrings ever found by archaeologists were discovered in royal graves in Iraq and date back to around 2500 BC. Gold, silver and bronze hoop earrings have also been found dating back to 2000 BC in Crete. In those days it was customary to bury jewellery with the dead.

In 16th century in the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt a type of earring called an earplug became fashionable and these fitted snugly into a wide stretched hole in the earlobe. This type of piercing is seen on the sculpture of Tutankhamen.

Poverty in the Dark ages meant that work with precious metals dwindled although some goldsmiths preserved designs that were to later emerge in 7th century Greece. The most popular earrings then there were the pendant type and they often featured a bird or likenesses of the gods Eros and Nike.

In the 2nd century during the Roman Empire, earrings became a popular way for rich women to show off their wealth and the use of precious gemstones in the jewellery also became more popular.

During the Middle Ages earrings became less popular and practical due to the popularity of elaborate hairstyles and headdresses. In fact for a time it was considered immoral for respectable married woman not to have their heads covered in public.

In 16th century Italy, hairstyles changed with hair being swept away from the face leaving ears exposed although for another 100 years things stayed the same in England, Spain and France with the wearing of high collars keeping earrings out of fashion.

By the 17th century, earrings became very fashionable accessory for the well dressed lady across the whole of Europe. One of the most popular designs of those times were the very large heavy pendant type earrings called girandoles which were great favourites of Queen Victoria. These earrings required a substantial amount of precious metals and gemstones and so were very heavy, which meant that most people that wore them suffered from elongated earlobes.

Although earrings were popular with wealthy people throughout the ages, they were also popular with poorer people who adopted their own styles which were less elaborate and made from less expensive materials.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that earrings were completely revolutionised. Different fittings appeared such as screw and clip on as well as those for pierced ears and it also became the norm for women to wear earrings in the day and not just for special occasions. The 1960’s marked a massive change for the wearing of earrings when designs became completely unrestrained and it became common to see men also wearing earrings although most only usually wear one earring. Women began to collect earrings and with so many designs available the choices were endless.
Today the choice is even greater and the popularity of earrings increases with many people now having more than one set of piercings in which to display their jewellery. Modern materials such as titanium and different types of plastics have also become popular in the making of earrings because of their lightness, design possibilities and in the case of titanium because of its hypoallergenic qualities.

There is now a never ending choice of different types of earrings from modern trendy cheap and cheerful everyday earrings to the more expensive gold, silver or platinum earrings inlaid with diamonds and other precious gemstones.

Written by John Lewis of Love2Have and Earrings UK. Love2have specialises in quality handcrafted designer earrings made here in the UK by small independent designers.

Add comment May 2nd, 2006

Supporting the UK Jewellery industry

The British shopper is a strange beast. It seems that our love affair with high street shopping may have peaked this year yet our trends to shopping on the web look to be increasing even further. Recent statistics released suggest we are far more likely to buy on the internet than our European or even American cousins. The irony though is that although the UK is benefiting from an internet sales boom our UK manufacturers continue to struggle.

Many industries in the UK have suffered as a result of cheap imported foreign goods and as a result of the strength of the pound against other currencies.

Whilst there are undoubtedly some excellent quality imported goods there are equally as many poor quality, poor value goods. A good example in this area is in the manufacture of jewellery and our UK market has been flooded with cheap foreign rubbish, much of which comes from the far east and is probably produced in less than desirable working conditions. The jewellery is usually of the costume variety, the quality is not great so it won’t last and the materials used are cheap and can produce allergic reactions.

Why not support some of our local home grown talent? Here in the UK we have many talented, skilled independent jewellery designers who struggle to make a living. These people handcraft all types of jewellery from all types of materials including precious metals and gemstones and many pieces will be unique. Most designers are happy to produce one off commissions at very reasonable prices enabling you to own a beautiful piece of UK made designer jewellery.

For your handcrafted jewellery made here in the UK, why not consider using the internet to make your purchase from a secure e commerce shop.

It is predicted that this year there will be bumper on line sales in the UK of over £4 billion pounds which is in stark contrast to high street retail sales which have a taken a bit of a knock. On line shopping is growing some 26 times faster than the High Street with half the UK, some 21 million people choosing to shop for Xmas presents on the internet with an average spend of £220.

By shopping on the internet customers avoid the hassle of busy shops, parking problems, out of stock situations and trawling from shop to shop trying to find what they are looking for.

You can browse the internet from the comfort of your home, compare prices you have more choices and all at the click of a mouse but try to remember to support the British manufacturing industry.

Written by John Lewis Of Love2Have
Love2have specialises in quality handcrafted designer jewellery made here in the UK by small independent designers.

Add comment May 2nd, 2006

Bracelets Through The Ages

The earliest bracelets date back to around 2500 BC and were those worn by the Sumerians in southern Mesopotamia. Bracelets, necklaces, anklets, finger rings and ear rings made the women of Sumer into show windows of their husband’s prosperity. Bracelets were found in the tombs of Ur where it was customary to bury royalty with their jewellery and unfortunately their poor servants.

By about 2000 BC, in Ancient Egypt, bracelets emerged as major pieces of jewellery. Bracelets were found in the ruins from the Vesuvias eruption in Pompeii in 79 AD.

It was during the age of the Egyptian Pharaohs that charm bracelets were first seen although charms themselves dated back as far as the Neolithic era when men would gather unusual bits of wood or pieces of stone which would be carried about their person in order to ward off their enemies. So these charms were considered ‘lucky charms’ and powerful protectors against evil.

It wasn’t until the time of the Pharaohs though that these charms were incorporated into elaborate pieces of jewellery such as wrist and neck bracelets which were not only deemed to offer protection but were also a sign of how prosperous the person had been in life and after death would be an indicator to the Gods of this persons proper status in the after life.

In Grecian times bracelets were popular with men and soldiers wore defensive bands of leather, often decorated with gold, silver and or gemstones, on their forearms. They were known as ‘Bracels,’ from the Latin Brachium, meaning, ‘arm.’ When women caught on that these Bracels would look great on them, they started wearing smaller versions, called little Bracels…or ‘Bracel-ets.’

The history of bracelets stretches forward through the Middle Ages of medieval Europe through the Baroque period of the 18th century, and on right through to the present.

Throughout time, bracelets have been made from many different materials such as leather, iron, copper, beads, bone and teeth as well as precious metals and gemstone.

Throughout the ages bracelets have always been popular and the styles seem to have varied according to dress styles. In cultures where people wore sleeveless or short sleeved attire such as the Romans and ancient Greeks, the wearing of bracelets both on the upper and lower arm became popular with both men and women. The wearing of upper arm bracelets is still popular today with modern fashionable skimpy clothing lending itself well to the wearing of more jewellery.

Today, bracelets are worn by both men and women in a variety of materials such as traditional precious metals like gold silver and platinum. Modern plastics and acrylics are now much used to make trendy, unusual bracelets as well as metals like titanium and zirconium which have become popular because they are hard wearing, very light and hypoallergenic. Whatever your tastes and whatever your budget, there is an enormous choice of bracelets and bangles to suit everyone.

Written by John Lewis of Love2Have. Love2have specialises in quality handcrafted designer fine jewelry made here in the UK by small independent designers.

Add comment May 2nd, 2006

Finding Easy Craft Ideas and Scrapbooking Projects

When we want to create something crafty but just lack the inspiration or the know-how.  If you find your self with a mental block on creating crafts, here are some tips on being creative and gaining craft full inspiration.

One of the best things to do when feeling a mental block is to take a walk through a craft supply shop.  You will see literally hundreds or thousands of craft ideas instantly.  Many people love the feeling of walking through a craft store because it fills them up with ideas and inspiration to create.  Many shops have plenty of samples that are shown and show you the ways to produce these creations.

Another great tip on finding great craft ideas is to look at books or guides on crafts.  There are many web sites that sell books on thousands of craft ideas.  Not only do they give you ideas, they also show you step by step how to make them and what supplies are necessary.  Many books also give you some tips on making a home based business by selling your crafty creations.

Brainstorm with your friends. You will be amazed at the ideas that can come out of a brainstorming session.  I’ve found this works no matter what the subject or field of expertise of the participants is. 

 The resources online are tremendous.  You can find sources for projects and ideas that are totally free.  This takes a little searching but it is possible.  You may need to research in a search engine and check out various words, including free linked to your subject to find what you really are looking for.  You can also visit http://thecraftinfosite.com .  The site has pages for craft ideas and craft projects, as well as free patterns and more. 

So if you’re feeling down because you have no craft ideas, follow the above tips and you will be producing crafts in no time.  

1 comment May 2nd, 2006

Use your Printer on Vellum and Other Difficult Surfaces and get PERFECT Results!

Have you just about given up on printing on vellum because it smears, resists and takes so long to dry? Are you wishing you could get perfect results printing on transparencies every time? Would you like to print your own messages on twill tape and eliminate the bleeding?

If you are new to papercrafting, you might be asking what vellum is. Vellum is a slick, translucent paper which looks great for titles and journaling in scrapbooks, and adds elegance and whimsy to cards. While some vellums are sold specifically for ink jet printers, most of the colorful, pearlescent, metallic, coated, or embossed vellums are not ink jet friendly. In olden days, vellum was made from animal skins, but today it is a paper product.

Make sure you have the proper tools for the job: your inkjet printer and a Perfect Printing Pouch by ScraPerfect. You might also need a can of fixative spray. If you would like more information about The Perfect Printing Pouch, visit http://www.scraperfect.com. In addition to inkjet printing, The Perfect printing Pouch an also be used with markers and stamp ink. If you would like to print without the pouch, see the suggestions at the end of the article.

STEPS FOR INKJET PRINTING
1. Design your title, journalling or message using word processing or specialty software. 
HINT: If you do not need a whole sheet of vellum, focus on the
font and size but do not worry about location on your page. Print
out title on inkjet paper. Cut vellum or printing substrate to
desired size and adhere it to the paper directly over the printing
with a temporary adhesive, such as spray adhesive or masking
tape. Spray adhesive is recommended on vellum, ribbon and and
fabrics, whereas tape is preferred for delicate, stiff or thick
materials. If a spray adhesive is used, it may remain tacky
enough to go onto your project after printing without additional
adhesive.

2. Tap Tap Tap the Perfect Printing Pouch.  Gently wipe the surface with the pouch to evenly distribute the powders onto the printing surface. Shake or blow to remove any excess powder.

3. Make sure your printer is set for normal paper and print quality. The transparency setting puts out a minimum of ink but you want it bold and dark. Send the paper through the printer so it prints directly onto the treated surface.

4. Let dry. Although you may be able to work with it immediately, the printing can be smeared if not totally dry.
 HINT: If the powder is too visible after printing, try one of these
methods: 
* Simply feather the edge of the powdered area with your finger
or soft cloth.
* Remove powder with a soft paintbrush or make-up brush. 
* Dab with a damp cloth or baby wipe if usinfg waterproof ink on
slick surfaces,
 
5. At this point although the printing looks good, it may rub off from transparencies, clay, and other very slick, non-porous surfaces.  To set the ink permanently, spritz with a spray fixative.

Note: Just because you can use your printer and the Perfect Printing Pouch to print perfectly on most any surface, doesn’t mean you should. Tortillas are delicious and may even be printable but your printer was designed for paper. Treat your printer with care and use some restraint. If you want to print on wood, use your Perfect Printing Pouch with markers or stamps. Wood just isn’t a good idea for inkjet printers! ScraPerfect is not responsible for damage caused to your printer resulting from printing onto materials not specifically recommended for your printer.

SUGGESTIONS for better printing without The Perfect Printing Pouch:
TIP 1: Try printing on transparency setting as this puts out a lot less
ink.  
DRAWBACK: The printing will not be perfect, bold or crisp, and the ink
may still dry slowly.

TIP 2: Use vellum made specifically for inkjet printers or office supply
vellum which often prints fairly well.
DRAWBACK: Inkjet vellum can only be made in plain pastels…no
pearl, embossed, or metallic coating. No sparkle! Also, inkjet
vellum tends to be more expensive and still takes a long time
to dry.

TIP 3: Use the “right side” of the vellum. If you can find a less shiny
side, use it. 
DRAWBACK: You will probably be frustrated trying to find that side
and waste a good deal of vellum in the process.

TIP 4: Don’t use big, wide fonts as thinner lines won’t show the
resisting as much.
DRAWBACK: If you want big, bold fonts for your title, who wants to
compromise?

TIP 5: Since the ink will smear when it’s wet, don’t touch it until it is
totally dry or use embossing powder and a heat gun.
DRAWBACK: Waiting to use your vellum–sometimes for hours or
days–can be a drag.  And while embossing can be attractive,
who wants to have to do this everytime you print on vellum?

TIP 6: Buy markers specifically made for vellum and stamp ink
specifically designed to stick to more difficult surfaces
DRAWBACK: Buying additonal special inks and markers can be costly,
and your storage space may be limited.

TIP 7: Buy pre-printed vellum, transparency film, ribbon and twill
tape.
DRAWBACK: Pre-printed supplies are expensive, aren’t personalized,
and when you buy packs of quotes, you may find some you love
and throw away the rest (or forever store them).

TIP 8: Buy inkjet transparency film for printing on.
DRAWBACK: Inkjet transparencies may not be acid-free and the ones
that are may be expensive and difficult to find. (While Polyester
film, such as film negatives and ‘write-on’ transparencies are
acid free and archivally safe, most ink jet transparencies are
treated with acid to make the matte surface and are not acid
free. If archival safety is important to you, make sure the inkjet
film specifies archivally-safe.

TIP 9: Buy shrink plastic specifically made for inkjet printers or use
sand paper to rough up the surface so the ink adheres better.
DRAWBACK: Inkjet shrink plastic may be less commonly available
and more expensive. You may already have non-inkjet shrink
plastic in your child’s supplies and while sanding helps, the
surface may still resist the ink.

TIP 10: Reserve mulberry paper, shiny holographic papers, cool
acryllic-coated, flocked papers, other specialty papers, clay and
wood for backgrounds and embellishments and don’t try to print
on them.
DRAWBACK: Limiting your usage means you’ll have fewer
opportunities to use these cool materials.

Add comment May 2nd, 2006

Soap Making Can Be Fun And Profitable

by Ralph Ruckman

If you have ever made soap from scratch or are thinking about it, you should probably know that it can be one of the most frustrating things you will ever do. After learning the process though, a lot of people find it to be one of the best hobbies or crafts they have ever done. Soap making can be a hobby for people, but it can also turn out to be a very profitable business. Before you go rushing into thinking that you are going to just create this beautiful and profitable soap making business, you had better look at some the important features regarding this business.

The most important feature of a soap making business is going to be the legal disclaimers. You had better know what you are doing when you create your handmade soap. People can not just go out and buy the necessary materials, whip out a batch of soap, and then proceed to marketing or selling it. You have a lot of disclaimers and in some states, laws that you have to abide be. Each state, region, and country is different, so it is up to you to do your proper research on the matter and to complete all the paperwork necessary for you to proceed with your soap making business.

After you have cleared all of the legal necessities out of the way, it is all systems go for your business. Now you will have to think about your time planning. Time planning will be crucial to your business, as everyone that has made soap knows that it is a tedious process. Set yourself a schedule up and follow it. If you have soap curing, take the time to start mixing yourself another batch. By having a continuing process, you will be able to produce more soap and not fall behind, which will only lead to confusion and frustration.

Now that you have gotten all the legal stuff out of the way, and you have a good amount of soap made, it is time for you to sell your soap. People who sell soap are only limited by their imagination. Craft fairs are huge for soap sellers. Travel to a craft show and set up a booth to present and sell your soap. Not only can you make good money from this, but you can also get tons of ideas for more soap. People stopping by your booth will critique your soap. They will tell you what they do or do not like about it. Always accept the compliments, even if they seem rude. This is “critique” and it can either “make” or break” you.

Bath and Body work shops are a huge fan of soaps. Some of these store will allow a person to present their soaps inside their stores. This is where the legal disclaimers come in. You will not even get a blink from the manager if you do not have your legal paperwork. Also, this may cost you a fee to present your soaps in the bath shops. Always research and think the deal over before making your decision. If you do present your soaps in these shops, this can be huge. Try to provide some type of business card, or a website address about your soaps. Word of mouth is an enormous tool, and in bath shops it can be a viral one. You may not be able to sell your soaps in the store, but a nice presentation can yield results overnight that you never would have thought of.

Online advertising for your soap business is not vital, but it could be if you are not quite cutting it in the “real world”. Just think of the possible number of people you could reach with your soaps. The numbers are endless. Have a nice little website set up showing all of your soaps. A first impression of your site is the critical part of advertising online. This will decide if a single person will ever return. It is good to have a description along with your soap pictures. You could explain what ingredients are in the soap, what fragrances are in them, etc…

These are only a few things you could do for a soap making business. This is assuming that either you know how to make soap or that you take the necessary steps to successful soap making. Once you have reached that point of success it will be time for you to think about broadening your horizons. A soap making business can be a very lucrative field for anyone to get into. Types of soap to make are endless, and the amount of money to earn is only limited to your willingness to make the soap and put it in front of the eyes of people.

About the Author
Ralph Ruckman is the author of “Soap Making” a weblog dedicated for providing information on all aspects of soap making. Feel free to visit the blog at: http://soap–making.blogspot.com/ Article is available for reprint as long as the author bio/resource text is left intact with the article.

Add comment May 1st, 2006

Scrapbook Ideas and Projects

by Nancy Woodward

Scrap books have always been a popular home based craft. Today there are so many great ideas for a scrapbook that making them are irresistible. Scrapbooking has grown in favor in recent years.

Here are some tips on making scrapbooks:

First off, most scrapbook topics should be creative, fun to make and reflect the artist’s personality. There are a host of topics that many people choose, but the sky’s the limit. You can make a scrapbook about anything.

Many people choose to make scrapbooks about big events in their lives, such as a wedding, honeymoon, birthdays, newborn babies and children. However, don’t stop there, create whatever you enjoy. For instance creating a scrapbook on the seasons, or if you love a holiday such as Halloween or the 4th of July, Christmas, Birthdays, any holiday or reason will do. Ideas for scrapbooking are endless. You are only limited by your imagination and the craft and scrapbooking project, ideas, articles and books you find.

There are many products that cater to scrapbooking, such as entire kits that include the book, some ideas on creating your scrapbook, and the bubble quotes seen in cartoons to add a funny comment above a picture. You can also buy these individual pieces separately or make them yourself. Always keep in mind that a scrapbook is an extension of you and your loved ones. So have fun, be creative and take pleasure in the joy of scrapbooking.

I personally have been the recipient of many lovely cards created for me by my daughter. The thought, time and effort put into these lovely objects add to my pleasure. I have taken her scrapbooking to another level - I save them all. I asked her to make me a craft/scrapbook box. They hold her creations safely and provide me with good storage for these treasures.

About the Author
Nancy Woodward is an account and real estate professional. She is pursing her hobbies online and currently interviewing crafters and scrapbookers for an ebook. If you are interested in participating, visit Nancy at http://thecraftinfosite.com or http://scrapbookingdir.com.

Add comment May 1st, 2006