Larry’s View

Today, more and more people use the internet as a source of information about virtually everything. If you’re a new scrapbooker searching for knowledge of who has what and how the hobby works, you will happily discover that scrapbooking websites are indeed plentiful and that they contain just about anything you want to know. After all, scrapbooking has grown to be a multi-billion dollar industry and statistics show that one out of every three American families contains a scrapbooker. You might well expect that anything this popular generates a wealth of internet data and you won’t be dissappointed.

Scrapbooking websites are particularly-good sources for materials and supplies used in the hobby as well as for extensive ideas about creating scrapbooks of every conceivable kind. Scrapbooking is a dynamic, fast-growing industry from the businessman’s perspective so you won’t be dissappointed to find commercial sources for just about anything you need. And if you are a good shopper, you will also discover that scrapbooking websites are the perfect place to find supplies and materials at discounted prices and even lots of free stuff that you can download into your personal computer.

For beginners, the scrapbooking websites offer numerous opportunities to join with community-based groups that will happily provide all the help you’ll need to learn both basic scrapbooking and a wealth of fine points too. Consider them ‘living encyclopedias’ that can be your source for any kind of information you seek.

When you begin your first scrapbooking project and start searching online for supplies and materials, you’ll quickly have your mind boggled by the incredibly diverse number of albums, papers, fonts, templates, clip art, backgrounds and other elements that are readily available to you at affordable prices or even free. These support the marriage of advanced technologies in scanners, PCs and digital cameras that now allow anyone to create absolutely outstanding scrapbook pages with a minimum of effort. Computer scrapbooking also represents a major savings in supply and material costs when compared to traditional scrapbooking methods. For information, training, materials and supplies and even social interaction with other scrapbookers worldwide, scrapbooking websites just can’t be beat.

You’ve chosen a hobby that is expanding in leaps and bounds and becoming even more versatile as it embraces new technologies. Hang on for an exciting ride that is also a great learning experience. Scrapbooking websites are truly leading us back to those good ‘ol scrapbooking days.

Lawrence

Scrapbooking papers are the backbone for every scrapbooking project. They can also be expensive if you purchase large quantities for multiple projects. And while scrapbooking papers are widely available in every conceivable size, color and hue, the most important consideraion for the scrapbooker is to be certain that the papers he buys are both acid and lignin free.

Acid-free papers have a neutral pH between 6 and 7. The acid in papers results from the wood pulp from which they’re made. In acid-free papers, that pulp has been neutralized in production by adding certain chemical agents to the process. It is also buffered to stop acid from re-forming later. The scrapbooker should understand that if acid-free scrapbooking paper isn’t used, the acid can leech out into and fade or destroy unreplaceable photos or documents. Stickers and photo mounts should also be acid free.

Lignin is still another destructive substance that occurs in the wood pulp from which paper is made. It is bad because it increases the acidity. Therefore, the scrapbooking papers that you buy should also be lignin-free or the destructive acidity may return over time. Since scrapbooks are made to last for a very long time, it is absolutely vital that you purchase only acid-free and lignin-free papers that will prevent your photos and documents from deteriorating. Lignin-free papers are also unlikely to turn tan or brown with the passage of time. In order to keep costs under control, many scrapbookers seek free paper. While the price is certainly right, these freebies are rarely if ever acid and lignin-free.

If you are going to use your PC and printer for scrapbooking, it’s a good idea to seek out papers for this purpose. Don’t be disheartened by the asking prices. There are certain websites and vendors that offer acid-free/lignin-free papers at discounted prices and occasionally, you’ll find them for free on some websites. It’s the old rule of ’shop carefully and take your time’ that should be applied to paper hunting. Once found, you can use them to print all those colorful pattern on your scrapbook pages.

Remember that papers come in all kinds of forms. Some are plain vellums, still others are vellums that come in delightful hues of color with and without printed designs like floral boquets. There are also patterned papers and those with every color of the rainbow. Take your choice, but follow the rules. Only use acid and lignin-free scrapbooking papers.

Lawrence

Heritage scrapbooking is all about creating and documenting your family’s history in the form of a contiguous story that will probably extend back several generations. Families that have come from other countries and who have only been here for one or two generations generally have a shorter story to tell. Those who have been in their country for many generations, however, frequently have lots of documents, letters and old photographs that permit a very long and colorful story to be told in a heritage scrapbook. In either case, heritage scrapbooking is generally a labor of love and a real pleasure to create.

It’s a big task to dig through attic or basement trunks, old boxes full of dusty photographs
As well as to consult relatives to amass the details they remember. That, however, is where you need to begin your effort. Collect everything you can locate, fill in missing information from other family members and assemble the family materials you want to use before you actually begin heritage scrapbooking. The things you will be looking for will go back in time as far as your records and information permit. Search for photos and documents from great grandparents and grandparents first, then items from your parents’ childhood, school years and wedding, the birth of you and your siblings if any and virtually anything else that can be used to document your family’s history.

Once everything has been collected, organize it into individual and family collections that tell as complete a story as possible.You can utilize labeled file dividers to assemble photos and documents in date order, by person, stages of life, events or anything else you consider important. Be sure to label the backs of photos with a photo-safe pen. Now decide which items of he entire collection will be used in your heritage scrapbooking effort and safely store awsay the items that won’t be used.

Now is the time to assemble the actual materials you will use to create your heritage scrapbook. Obtain the album, pages and page protectors, photo mounts, adhesive or tape, scissors and perhaps a pen for journaling.Be sure that all album pages are acid and lignin-free paper that won’t damage photos and documents over time. The journaling pen should also be acid-free and will be used to write down names, dates, and other details that will support the photos and documents in your album.

When the heritage scrapbooking project has been completed, you will have a complete family story between two covers that you can share with family members and friends alike.

Lawrence

There are a good number of magazines being published with editorial exclusively dedicated to scrapbookers. These scrapbooking magazines are excellent sources of information about the hobby, the supplies and materials, new ideas, old ideas, help for beginners, product reviews, layouts, etc. Some of the more recognized magazines include
Memory Makers, Simple Scrapbooks Magazine, Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Magazine, Scrapbooks, Etc., PaperKuts, Digital Scrapbooking Magazine, Ivy Cottage Creations, Paper Crafts, Your Creaive Spirit, Stuck on the Edge and Scrap Easy Online Magazine. All of these provide coverage of interesting topics through their feature articles and editorials and are top-notch information sources for avid scrapbookers. All can be reviewed and subscribed to online directly from their websites.

There are also numerous blogs, ezines and forums on the internet and these too are good sources of information about scrapbooking of every type. Scrapbooking magazines have a good number of subscribers like any hobby or pastime does. They are prime sources of late information, new ideas, project descriptions, how-to-do-it articles and reviews. They also contain links to other article and information sources both on and offline.

In the event that you’re no normally a subscriber to scrapbooking magazines or others, you can still find copies to review at your nearest public library. You can also leaf through each issue at most of the local arts & crafts suppliers and scrapbooking stores if you tend to be a scanner rather than a reader.

Some scrapbooking magazines, Like Memory Makers, feature dozens of inspirational designs in every issue. Others, like Paper Crafts, provide an array of paper projects and interestin techniques for working with papers that have direct application to scrapbooking. Stuck on the Edge has creative sticker border designs that you can easily re-create on a photo album. Scrapbooks, Etc., specializes in ideas and layouts for beginners and experts from the publishers of Better Homes & Gardens.

Any popular hobby and fast-growing industry needs the support of regular coverage in magazines and scrapbooking is no exception. The scrapbooking magazines mentioned above, and others, fill the bill admirably. Finally, don’t forget to review some of the website blogs and ezines you’ll find under scrapbooking on the web. They, too, have valuable information and insights that are well worth the time to review on a regular basis. So, there’s no reason why shouldn’t go ahead and get one for yourself too.

Lawrence

Choosing which album to use for your latest project can be a confusing choice. Which type, which size and which creative theme are questions you must ask yourself and answer in order to make a decision. It’s further complicated by the very-wide range of scrapbooking albums that are currently available in stores and through internet suppliers. Albums come in lots of sizes, but two basic sizes are most popular: 8-1/2″ x 11″ and 12″ x 12″. And there are good reasons why. The 8-1/2″ x 11″ size precisely fits the printed pages that come out of a computer printer, while the larger 12″ x 12″ scrapbooking album provides more space for charts, photos and written materials, How you decide depends on what kind of scrapbook you’re making and the materials you plan to put inside.

You must also select the type of scrapbooking album you want. Usually the choice comes down to three primary types: 3-ring binder, post-binder and strap-bound binder. Obviously, the three-ring binder is he easiest to use since inside pages are so simple to move around. They’re also great for pages kept inside plastic sheet protectors. On the negative size, those darn rings are always visible while the other scrapbooking album types offer a neater, more professional look to the finished product. Again, your intended use and the things you want to include guide the right choice for you.

The post-bound albums permit the pages to lie flat when opened with no unsightly rings to mar the reader’s view. They will also accept those plastic sheet protectors and additional posts so you can adjust album size for still more refill pages.

Strap-bound scrapbooking albums look really good but necessitate disassembly every time you want to add or remove pages. When open, they appear perfectly flat and no hinges are apparent. Page protectors can still be used, but they are specially designed and bound to the strap for extra cost.

No matter which size and type you select, be absolutely certain to purchase paper pages that are acid-free and lignin free to ensure long life for your treasured photos and other items. If possible, avoid “magnetic” album designs. They are not archival and can ruin your pictures.

As far as creative designs are concerned, the choices are many indeed. Scrapbooking album suppliers offer every conceivable theme, design, color combination and type which you can review in-store or online from internet providers.

Lawrence

Computer scrapbooking is actually synonymous with digital scrapbooking. It employs techniques very similar to those used for desktop publishing but also utilizes software programs specifically intended for generating scrapbook pages. While a relatively new approach to the hobby of scrapbooking, it is nevertheless gaining converts who own and use personal computers. In effect, then, computer scrapbooking is actuality the blend of scrapbook creation and data processing with a personal computer.

At the outset, most people utilize their personal computer to make computer scrapbooking designs which can then be printed and inserted onto scrapbook pages. They generally begin by preparing text and then integrating it with clip art, photos or other graphic elements. Not only do these elements not cost money as do regular pre-printed supplies, but they can be manipulated to any size the user desires by the computer. The next step up is to create complete scrapbook pages instead of individual elements. In this instance, all decorative elements and text are made on the computer. Photographs and their frames are handled separately and attached to the complete page the computer has prepared.

As the user’s computer expertise progresses, he usually takes still another step up in computer scrapbooking by downloading digital photographs from his camera into the computer and composing complete scrapbook pages with no paste-ins whatsoever. This may include old family photos which are readily scanned into the computer with any of the inexpensive printer/scanners now on the market. There are also many computer software programs that permit he new digital color photographs to be manipulated by the computer scrapbooking enthusiast. All in all, the melding of digital photography with the digital computer has opened up a whole new world of exciting scrapbooking possibilities

Despite the fact that computer scrapbooking is relatively new, many companies have sprung up online to offer a wide variety of software products and other tools for these hobbyists. These include complete design elements, borders and frames, overlays and doodles, all of which can be used to create exciting computer scrapbooking pages. Moreover, digital technology in general is progressing at such a rapid rate that it is quite reasonable to expect a wide range of new products and techniques to appear on a regular basis. And along with the technological advances, mass production will keep prices within reach of an ever-increasing number of computer scrapbookers.

Lawrence

The National Library of Australia grew out of the Federal Parliamentary Library that was established in 1901 in Canberra. In 1960, the National Library Act created the National Library of Australia as we know it today. Currently, the library occupies a building reminiscent of the Greek Parthenon in design which is located on Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin. It houses a very-large collection of books, maps, manuscripts, journals, audio recordings and microfilm and is not open to the public. It’s also interesting to note that under Australian copyright law, every book published in the country is also sent to the National Library.

The Australian National Library is continually involved in digitizing its literature collection and now has more than 100,000 selections available in digital format for use via the internet. It has already achieved status as a world leader in digitizing literature for internet dissemination. They have never been shy of using technology and were one of the first universities in Australia to start digitizing their books for benefit of the readers far away.

The very-large library building in Canberra features various reading rooms and literature collections. There is a main reading room on the ground floor where most of the library’s internet terminals are located and can be used via wireless connection. Services are also available from the Petherick reading room for advanced readers and also from the map, microcopy and newspaper reading rooms which also occupy the lower ground floor area of the library building. In addition there are manuscripts and photographs on the second floor and collections from Asia on the third floor. There is also a small amount of aspce for readers at the Hume Annex.

The depository for the Australian National Bibliographic Database is within the National Library and is accessible from Libraries Australia services. Details including ISSNs, ISMNs and Catalogue-in-Publication are made available to publishers from the library upon request.

Huge picture collections are available from Picture Australia, a library service that makes searching more than forty digitized databases of Australia, its citizens and their lifestyles possible. This data is obtained from images arriving from libraries, museums and others.

Finally, the National Library of Australia offers Libraries Australia, a unque sharing service for Australian libraries and their many readers.This service enables inter-library lending, cataloging and referencing and has the Australian National Bibliographic Database a its center. This database details the precise location of more than 40 million printed items spread throughout national, academic, state and public and special libraries.

Western Australia is the country’s largest state occupying an area of 1,021,478 square miles. With the exception of Russia’s Sakha Republic, it is also the largest individual subset of any country in the world. It was initially settled by indigeneous peoples more than 40,000 years ago and by the British around 1826. More than 2 million people reside in the state today and most of these live in Perth and smaller cities and towns extending along the coast line. Perth is Western Australia’s capital city which in itself is home to 1.5 million people who represent 75% of the state’s total population. It is a modern city with a definite British flavor. It is also the most isolated city, being closer to Jakarta, Indonesia than Sydney on Australia’s northeast coast.

There are significant climate and terrain extremes here. The land is old and eroded and contains soils with very poor fertility. The southeastern coast is a temperate climate that used to be heavily forested with Karri trees which are some of the world’s tallest As an agricultural area, the soils require heavy fertilization in order to be productive for farming. Massive clearing of the land has also made the area one that has the highest incidence of threatened and endangered species. It has also led to a very-high salt content and lack of fresh water. Rainfall here varies from 12 inches/year at the Wheatbelt region to 55 inches in the wettest places near Northcliffe. However, as a result of evaporation, it is very dry between November and March.

The central area of the state is mostly desert where few people live and where the only industry is mining. Rainfall is typically between 8 and 10 inches annually but fall sporadically in large amounts over a short period from cyclones in summer months. In the northern tropical regions of Western Australia (The Kimberly), one finds a hot, monsoonal climate with 20-60 inches of rainfall per year. The exception is the long rain-free season between April and November. It rarely snows in Western Australia except in the Stirling Mountains located near Albany, which is far enough to the south and has enough elevation.

Like most of the country, Western Australia has diverse ethnicity. Approximately 33% of citizens are of English ancestry followed by 27.8% of Australians, 7.6% Irish and lesser amounts of Italian, Scotish, German and Chinese. At last count, there were also enough indigeneous people to account for 3 percent of the total state population. This ‘mix’ provides the cultural diversity that helps Western Australia stand out amongst the states.

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