Looking for more scrapbooking tips and tricks to give your album a little pizazz? How about giving your photos or pictures an imaginative setting?

When you’re incorporating pictures of any kind into your scrap book, why not set them off with an unusual finish. This could be an original idea for a border or frame - or an arrangement of several items on the page to add a little drama. Here are a couple of tips that might do well for a children’s album - perhaps a keepsake baby scrapbook, or just a page for a boy or girl.

Adding Dimension

One good way to add dimension to images is to use double stick foam squares. These are pieces of double stick foam tape that literally allow items to pop out at your reader adding realism to items. This trick is especially useful in children’s art and educational scrapbooks.

Simply, cut the foam tape into whatever shape and size you want. Then, attach to shape onto your scrapbook page. These 3D foam squares are available from online scrapbook suppliers.

Pop Up Windows To Enhance Baby Scrapbooks

Everyone who has ever read with children knows how much they love pop-up books. And very young children adore those books in which they ‘lift the flap’ to find what’s hidden in the picture underneath. So why not build some pop up windows into your baby boy or girl scrapbook?!

This fun trick allows items to be viewed and then hidden once again. It’s a great technique for educational scrapbooks where text outside the window asks a question and the answer is contained inside the window.

To make a pop up window, divide a piece of paper into three sections. This paper can either match, complement, or contrast with your background color. Next, paste the middle section of your pop up window to your background. Place your object or photograph on top of this middle section. Then, simply close the window.

A nice bow or other embellishment can also be added onto the outside of these windows to add an elegant touch.

You can find more tips for giving your scrapbook an original look when your browse through the other pages on this site. See the menu on the right hand side for links to other pages and sections. And don’t forget to stock up on your essential scrapbook tools and materials when you visit the suppliers’ page

One area where you can get really inventive is in the use of background scrapbook paper. The papers you choose for your background can greatly influence the sense of your theme. Finding unusual backgrounds also contributes to the unique quality of your album and can be literally anything you choose - from disney scrapbook paper to a Valentine theme!

Here are a few unusual ideas to start you thinking about what you could find at home for an unusual scrap book background:

Book Jackets

A book jacket as a background adds an added personal touch and artistic flair. This scrapbook technique looks especially nice when the book jacket is the reader’s favorite book or author, so lending a wonderful personalized touch.

Be aware, however, that the glossy coating on the book jacket gives you an added challenge when you’re sticking objects to this background. Alternative attachment methods include sewing and eyelets.

Other Types of Paper

There are various types of paper that can be used for backgrounds or journal entries for various effects. For instance, rice paper is a fine paper that can add elegance to a scrapbook page. Conversely, papyrus is a coarse almost wood like paper creating an exotic feel.

Woven Backgrounds

A woven background can create a natural feel or color to your scrapbook page. Weaving can be done using fabric, yarn, straw, or reeds. This adds a handicraft or outdoor feeling to your scrapbook.

Simply alternate horizontal and vertical threads over and under.

Wood Backgrounds

Use your imagination and creativity to explore new materials for backgrounds. Some interesting wood like materials include bamboo, pop sickle sticks, and pieces of wood. These can add a playful, exotic, or outdoor feel to your scrapbook.

Scrap Backgrounds

Use your scrap bits to create great funky backgrounds. These items add texture and color to your work. Some interesting scrap material suitable for backgrounds include furniture casters, bits of linoleum, and carpet swatches.

A note of caution

As much fun as they are, you should be aware that some of the media alternates above are extremely difficult to work with, break easily, and may not preserve well. It’s a good idea to experiment with a small sample to see how you get on with the medium before committing yourself!

Magnetic Sheets

Magnetic sheets and magnetized photo albums can be used as backgrounds. Often these sheets have an adhesive strip on one side to promote adherence to even nonmetal objects. Magnetic sheets are best used in children’s educational scrapbooks or other scrapbooks that will be used and reused several times.

Magnetic sheets and magnetized photo albums can be found at your local craft or office supplies store.

Because many of these materials can be found around you at home or nearby, these alternative scrapbooking backgrounds are often free, or at least, inexpensive. And as you develop a more practiced eye, you may get into the habit of putting interesting materials aside for future use as you come across them - another good reason for setting aside some dedicated scrapbook storage.

For more ideas for scrapbook supplies, paper and techniques, browse through the links to the right of this page.