by Monna Ellithorpe
Your scrapbooking layouts can make all the difference in how your pages look. The key is to have many scrapbook sketches available already there for you to choose from and to help you get over those times when your own creative ideas are at a standstill.
Your pages do not have to be perfect by any means and sometimes you will produce a page that no matter what you do, you are just not happy with it. Don't stress over it, just put it in your scrapbook and move on.
Remember scrapbooking is supposed to be fun, so don't make it into a chore just to get it done.
When you do find a sketch or layout that you like, experiment with it. Make your page about just one picture; add more pictures or less pictures; move them around; put the pictures on an angle; line them up and down or across. Walk away from it for a while and come back later with a fresh outlook and then just make the page and start another one.
I have discovered in my own scrapbooking sessions that if I have a sketch to go by, the hard part is already done. All you need to do is embellish with ribbons, buttons, lettering, stickers, glitter or what ever kind of embellishments you like the most. Cutting your mats and pictures with decorative scissors or if you have cutters with different cutting edges always adds a nice touch to your pages; experiment with different cutting edges.
A very important part of scrapbooking is "do not forget the journal box on your pages." In the future when family and friends look at your creative scrapbooking efforts they will want to know what was happening at the time, who is in the picture and where they were. This will keep the interest of any one viewing your scrapbook pages. It is such a disappointment when looking at a scrapbook full of pictures and you have no idea of who the people are in the pictures; no dates; no notes; nothing. Journal on every page even if you cannot remember the details, put as much information in your journal block as you can.
If you have quite a few pictures of one outing, a birthday party or some other event, it is always a plus and if you have the room to lay out many sheets of cardstock and just start laying your pictures out on each piece of cardstock as you go along. I have used this technique quite a few times and have been able to produce up to 10 pages in one session in my scrapbooking room. Believe me it is a great feeling to get so much accomplished at one time.
Below are some suggestions to help make better use of your time with your hobby:
1. Gather all of your pictures together from a single event.
2. If you have the room, lay out many sheets of cardstock and lay the
pictures on the cardstock at random.
3. Have sketches available to use as a guide.
4. Gather your embellishments that you plan to use; maybe you have a theme or just plan to use whatever appeals to you at the time.
5. Decide if you are going to cut your mats and photos with a straight edge or with a decorative edge.
6. Do not forget to make a journal box for each of your pages.
7. Don't worry if you are not able to finish your pages at one time. At least you have a start and the next time you have a few minutes a good portion of the decision making has already been done.
8. Last and most important, have fun and remember the event as you work on your pages.
Always remember enjoy your hobby and don't feel as if it is another job.
For more ideas, inspiration, learning to use your limited scrapbooking time more wisely and making great looking scrapbook pages, I would like to invite you to visit http://www.squidoo.com/Scrapbook-Sketches-500 which also includes free bonuses for cardmaking ideas and Christmas quotes."Copyright (c) Monna Ellithorpe. All Rights Reserved." 
