If you are new to scrap booking, card making or any type of crafting you may not have heard of a sizzix machine. A sizzix machine is made by the company elision and is a wonderful tool that is use to create stunning die cuts. 

The sizzix machine has a lever and a sliding cutting mat. You place a piece of card with the die face down onto the cutting mat underneath the pressure point then simply pull down the lever and you will have the perfect die cut.

The sizzix machine comes with full instructions and do not worry they are really easy to read and understand. The machine its self is heavy stopping it from moving around when in use it is also extremely sturdy.

The cutting part is done quickly and easily by simply pulling down the lever. The cut is perfect and precise. You will be amazed at how many different dies sizzix has produced it really will cover every hobby passion or theme.

You can also adapt the sizzix machine to use additional templates called sizzlits. The converter is easy to install and easy to purchase giving you access to loads more dies that are available.

The sizzix machine can be expensive and the average cost is about $65 it is also heavy and quite a large tool however it is one you will use time and time again due to its versatility.

The dies that you can purchase for your sizzix machine can vary in size but they come in a neat little box that can be stored easily.

The sizzix machine can not only cut through paper and card it can also cut through rubber, felt, metal and many other materials.

The die you produce from your sizzix machine can be used for embellishments, toppers and may other things.

One of the most popular sizzix dies is the alphabet, although you may feel they are a big expenditure once you have purchased the die you will be able to cut any word you wish, this is perfect for scrap booking and card making.

Over all the sizzix machine is a versatile easy to use addition to any crafters tools the cutting is easy and the adapter means you really can create anything you want. Storage may be a problem but it is worth clearing out that cupboard for this stunning machine.

Having used a sizzix machine for a few years now I would strongly recommend that this is a great buy, something that will be used over and over again. It is also something you can use with your children, although it is wise to supervise as the blades in the dies themselves can be extremely sharp.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Scrap Booking and Sizzix Machines including where to find the best bargains  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vicki_Churchill

What a powerful mix when you combine digital photography, scrapbooking and journaling! But where do you stand on the great scrapbooking controversy? That’s the controversy around digital or computer generated journaling versus handwritten journaling. 

Purists who take their scrapbooking very seriously argue that journaling must be done in your own handwriting, since it represents you and who you are. Others favor digital journaling. They point out that handwriting is sometimes less than exemplary and that the quality of the scrapbook is improved when the journaling is accomplished courtesy of a computer and printer. It’s your call. There’s no right answer here.

However, it doesn’t have to be “either/or”. There is a third choice. Did you know that you can duplicate your own handwriting in a digital picture? Yes, your own handwriting! Not just a fancy script font that looks a bit like your handwriting, but your own handwriting.

You will need an item called a Wacom art tablet. Check them out at http://www.wacom.com. The tablets come in various sizes. A small 4” x 5” tablet with pen costs about $85 at Amazon and works quite nicely for our purposes. Once you become familiar with this item, you will use it regularly when editing your digital photography.

Wacom tablets are computer peripherals. They resemble small writing pads that you attach to a computer port, or connect wirelessly if you have that capability. You will notice that a special pen comes with the tablet.

This pen is a mouse in disguise. You hold it like a pen and then by placing the pen’s point on the art tablet, you can use it for all the regular mousing functions.

However – and this is the important point – the tip gives a much finer connection than a mouse provides. Also, you can adjust the pen for several levels of pressure.

These two features allow you to create handwriting.

It works like this: you open your digital photo editing software. Open a new file, creating whatever color background you want. Next, locate the toolbar and select the pencil tool or a tool that allows you to draw freeform lines. Change the color to whatever color you want the writing to be. Then, holding your mouse/pen the same way you hold a pencil, WRITE (or print) your journaling on the Wacom tablet.

You now have a digital image file containing your own handwritten journaling. You can print it out as is, or copy and paste it into any other image. Since this is a digital image, you can resize the image to get any size handwriting you want.

Later, when you become skilled at using the Wacom tablet and pen, you can write your journaling directly on your digital photography.

How cool is that?

The sky’s the limit when you combine digital photography, scrapbooking and digital journaling.

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So, the good news is you visited several different scrapbook stores and you found different scrapbook kits that triggered your desire to be a budding scrapbooker. The bad news is you also learned that these kits, scrapbooking magazines, and materials can be quite expensive and you aren’t sure you can afford to be a scrapbooker. Well, don’t despair, if you’re interested in scrapbooking but don’t have the initial budget to buy the expensive materials and scrapbook guides, read on for a simple guide for getting started with Do-It-Yourself scrapbooking. 

Focus on the Basics

Just as in doing artworks and crafts, scrapbooking does require a lot of materials and supplies, but this doesn’t mean that you have to spend a huge amount of money to begin scrapbooking. Today, many different products are being offered by the scrapbooking industry and I think these products can be very beneficial when you are scrapbooking, However, when you are first getting started they can also be quite expensive.

If you are just a beginner, don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by these products. Instead, just focus on buying the basic scrapbook materials and supplies like:

• Papers and Cardstocks (the foundation of the scrapbook page)

• Album and Sheet Protectors (comes in different sizes and colors)

• Scissors or Paper Trimmers (allows you to cut lines without hassle)

• Adhesive (that is inexpensive but easy to use)

• Photo Tabs / Photo Splits (keeps the back of the photos clean and easily removed)

• Journaling Tools (such as a wide variety of pens)

Don’t forget… all your supplies should be acid-free and lignin-free to ensure safe preservation of your photos.

Learn the Basic Scrapbooking Techniques

Scrapbooking magazines can be quite expensive since they are created for a special segment of the market. If your budget is tight at the beginning but you still want to create scrapbook, it will pay to start pumping out your creative juices and creating your own style.

Although you do want to create your own style, you can still get some great ideas from the Internet about the basic techniques used in scrapbooking. Here are some basic scrapbooking techniques that you can use in creating your D-I-Y scrapbook.

Inserting Eyelets

Eyelets are a great means of attaching things to an album or a page, or to add color and embellishment to your pages. Eyelets usually come in various shapes and sizes that can help focus attention to a point in the page.

To insert an eyelet, you need a puncher, an eyelet setter, a hammer and a mat. Select the place where you would want to insert the eyelet and lay the paper on the mat face up. Hold the punch upright and use the hammer to hit the top of the punch. After this, you can now insert the eyelet and turn the paper over. You can also place the eyelet setter on top of the eyelet and then tap the top of the eyelet setter using the hammer to flatten the eyelet ridge.

Paper Piercing and Using Patterns

Another basic technique that you can use for your D-I-Y scrapbook project is paper piercing and the use of patterns. To use patterns, lay a piece of tracing paper over the pattern. Draw over the outline with a pencil and transfer the pattern to paper. Now place the tracing on the patterned paper and slip the transfer paper underneath to draw over the lines. To create a paper-pierced embellishment, just follow the steps in using patterns then cut out the pattern pieces.

In addition to the two techniques mentioned above, using chalk and vellum papers can also create some wonderful scrapbooks.

As you can see, you can get started scrapbooking and not break your budget. So get started and enjoy yourself!

For more information and tips on scrapbooking, visit my website at http://www.scrapbooking-advisor.com and sign up for my weekly newsletter.  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Burke