It may take time to establish the exact theme desired, but this is one of those steps that the entire Christmas scrapbooking operation hinges upon. It will determine your content, direction and outcome. So pick carefully and thoughtfully, for the Christmas scrapbooking idea that you save may well be your own. Changing themes for your Christmas scrapbooking has the same result as what Abraham Lincoln said about “changing horses in mid-stream."
Collect material that reflects your Christmas scrapbooking theme.
Remember that anything goes, and the world is your source of material for your Christmas scrapbooking. Consider all kinds of paper ephemera; namely, cards, newspaper clippings, letters, lists of all kinds, tickets to shows, cartoons and any other physical artifacts from the life of the subject or subjects of your Christmas scrapbooking. Consider stuffing it all into a big basket until you can sort through it all and refine your selection.
Remember the special can be found in the mundane.
Life is made up of many simple moments and you want to capture those that reflect the passion of the theme of your Christmas scrapbooking. Everyday photos are just as important as those commemorating important events. Take pictures often so there’s a lot to choose from. Even a Christmas scrapbook can hold a memory of summer if it is pertinent to the theme presented in your Christmas scrapbooking idea.
Design each page as a whole story in itself.
You may want to use creative design techniques such as paper piercing, punch art and inking as well as simple color schemes to differentiate the pages of your Christmas scrapbooking and insure that they stand alone. Create a title for each page and lay out everything, along with a caption for each item, to see how it all looks in your Christmas scrapbook before gluing it all down. Balance your photos and captions first and then decide which technique will accent that page uniquely. Remember too that not every inch of space on a page in your Christmas scrapbooking need be filled. A little space between photos and captions is a good thing, as Martha Stewart used to say (and probably still does).
Display your photographs proudly while Christmas scrapbooking.
Photos are the heart of most scrapbooks and different showcasing techniques can render unique holiday flair to your Christmas scrapbooking. Some thoughts along these lines might include: old fashioned photo corners, matting shots against Christmas scrapbooking colors to set the images off from the white paper and silhouetting photos (cutting them out of their backgrounds). This last technique works best with full-bodied images.
Capture the specific and unique qualities of your Christmas scrapbooking family.
One way to do this is to find quotations, stories, jokes and cartoons that pertain specifically to your Christmas scrapbooking family. The extra care you take in selecting these items cannot fail to show in the final presentation of your Christmas scrapbooking product. You can also use markers to draw your own cartoons, family portraits and doodles, should you feel so inclined. Let your children dictate photo captions. Sometimes, they have great Christmas scrapbooking ideas. Use your imagination with your Christmas scrapbooking and create decorative borders with fingerprints, handprints and even foot-prints, if you can figure out a way to handle them artistically without ruining your carpets. Have fun and let the child in you come out and play for a little while! That’s what Christmas scrapbooking is all about!
Go for Imperfection.
If you are going to have children participate in your Christmas scrapbooking, you will have to let go of the idea that results will be perfect (whatever that is). Leave the masterpieces for the likes of Michelangelo. (Your Christmas scrapbooking won’t include ceilings anyway.) Settle for finishing the project with all the children putting in their two cents.
Buy products of higher quality that will last.
It is the effort behind your Christmas scrapbooking that will surely touch the heart of its recipient. Spend a bit more to transform your Christmas scrapbooking idea into an heirloom that will stand the test of time. Make sure the papers you buy for your Christmas scrapbooking are free of the plant component, lignin, which will cause fabric and photos to turn brown. It should say “lignin free" on the package. As far as paper goes, buy 12-by-12-inch, acid-free, 100-pound stock pages in many colors, pre-cut with holes and laminated on the edges. While you are at the store, stock up on acid-free markers and double-sided tape, rubber stamps and pads, glue sticks, adhesive photo corners and pinking shears or other such “crazy" scissors that make decorative edges.
Be guided only by your imagination. Things may turn out differently than originally planned, but that only proves that art really does imitate life. Most important, have fun while working on your Christmas scrapbooking project. You are sure to look back on it with love and pride as you pass this new family heirloom on to future generations. That’s a true Christmas legacy and a gift that will withstand the test of time!
Cleaning wood decking isn't always the most fun thing to do, but let's face it - every couple of years, it just has to be done. Plus, by cleaning wood decks really thoroughly once every year or two, it will be so much easier to keep the surfaces sparkling clean and looking great the rest of the time. When it's time for cleaning wood decking, try these tips and tricks to zap right through even the most stubborn grime.
Cleaning Wood Decking The Green Way
One of the insider tricks of the trade when it comes to wood deck cleaning is the use of really powerful oxygen based cleaning solutions. Now this does require a good degree of hand scrubbing, but these cleaning solutions are formulated especially for cleaning wood decking and do a really good job at the task. As powerful as they are when it comes to fighting mildew, dirt, and grime, they are still as gentle as can be to the delicate surface of the deck's wood. And there's another bonus to using oxygen cleaners - because they clean with oxygen instead of harsh chemicals, they're much more friendly on the environment.
Gently Pressure Wash The Grime Away
Using a pressure washer to complete the job of cleaning wood decking definitely does the trick. A powerful stream of pressurized water and air cuts right through practically any kind of dirt in the way. The only problem is that sometimes pressure washing a wooden deck cuts through the dirt and then digs in and tears up the wood too. If cleaning wood decking with a pressure washer, be as gentle as possible to keep this kind of damage from happening.
Get Through All The Grit By Sanding It
Sometimes cleaning wood decking takes something more powerful than the other options normally prescribed. When nothing else seems to work, using sandpaper to precisely remove the top layer of wood will bring new life to the deck. Save the elbow grease and use a good belt sander with a medium-light grit sandpaper. The finished surface will be as clean and smooth as new! If there's a pitfall to this method of cleaning wood decking, it's that each time the deck is sanded, there's a little bit less of the deck left. Use sparingly.
Cleaning wood decking is a chore for sure, but it doesn't have to be as bad as it's all cracked up to be. Just use these pointers and the grime will be gone in a flash. Plus, once the major cleaning is done and out of the way, regular cleaning is practically a breeze (or the stroke of a broom for that matter)!
Both Michele Cardello & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Michele Cardello has sinced written about articles on various topics from Ideas for Scrapbooking, Home Improvement and Ideas for Scrapbooking. Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland,. Michele Cardello's top article generates over 2900 views. Bookmark Michele Cardello to your Favourites.
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