Free online video tutorials offer a convenient way to learn more about new scrapbooking techniques from the privacy of your own home. Most tutorials are less than 15 minutes long, so you can build your scrapbooking skills without devoting large blocks of time to your crafting sessions.
Rubber Stamping
Rubber stamping is an excellent way to add interest to any scrapbook layout. Stamps are frugal scrapbook embellishments because they can be used an infinite number of times and you can get a different look for your image just by varying your rubber stamping technique.
This video goes over some basic rubber stamping techniques that will jazz up your scrapbook pages, including coloring stamps with markers to create customized effects. The video also gives creative ideas for using the ink pads themselves, such as making backgrounds on your paper by using small ink pads as square block stamps.
Although the video shows wood mounted rubber stamps, these techniques will also work for clear acrylic stamps or foam stamps.
Using Paper Punches
Paper punches are a common scrapbooking tool, but many scrapbookers fail to realize that punches can be layered to make unique 3D embellishments. This video tutorial shows how to make a 3D flower using a scalloped circle punch. Vary the look of the flowers by experimenting with circles punched from different colors, patterns, and textures of paper. Add buttons, rhinestones, or beads to the center of the flowers for a little extra pizzazz.
Since purchased scrapbook flower embellishments can easily cost $1 or $2 per flower, learning how to make your own flowers can save you quite a bit of cash. You can save even more money if you make flowers from scraps of paper leftover from other projects instead of punching circles from a fresh sheet of paper.
Doodling Borders
Doodling adds a whimsical look to a scrapbook layout. If you don't consider yourself to be much of an artist, this video tutorial will show you 15 easy ideas for borders that anyone can make. The designs use simple dashes, dots, and squiggles to make impressive looking borders that you can place around photos, journaling blocks, or page titles. You may even get inspiration for your own border ideas from seeing what presenter in this tutorial has come up with. However, you should only doodle on your pages with archival markers that use acid-free ink designed for scrapbooking. Ink that is not designed for scrapbooking could possibly damage your photos over time.
Painting Custom Backgrounds
Painting, like doodling, gives your scrapbook pages a personalized look. This tutorial gives a detailed demonstration of how to make your own customized background paper using acrylic craft paint. Acrylic craft paint comes in a wide array of colors and can generally be purchased for less than $1 per bottle.
In this tutorial, the layout is embellished with a few rubber stamped images. If you don't have rubber stamps, small stickers or scrapbooking rub-ons would give you a similar effect.
Making a Paper Bag Album
Paper bag albums make wonderful gifts for family and friends. This tutorial guides you through the process of making a paper bag album from ordinary paper grocery pages and your favorite patterned papers and embellishments. You can showcase favorite photos on the pages of the album and then add notes or memorabilia inside the paper bag pockets you've created. A chipboard cover is added to give the album a more polished look.
Organizing Your Video Tutorials
YouTube is the largest source of scrapbooking video tutorials. If you enjoy using video tutorials to develop your scrapbooking skills, it may be helpful to create a playlist to keep your favorite videos in one convenient location. You can also subscribe to the channels of the creators of your favorite videos so you will be automatically notified when they add new content.
