FAQ
Click here if you have questions about Scrap Fancy Card products.
If your question is not addressed here, please feel free to contact us!
Scrapbooking Related Questions
What is a scrapbook?
What is journaling?
I’ve heard those old magnetic photo albums aren’t good for my photos. Why not?
What is acid and lignin-free?
Can I include newspaper clippings in my scrapbook?
Are the inks you use to print the titles and journaling safe for my scrapbook?
Ordering Process/Consultation Related Questions
What if I don’t live in your area?
I want to order a scrapbook. Where do I begin?
How do I prepare for the consultation? What will we discuss?
Can you be more specific on how to group photos?
How many pictures fit on a layout?
When does work on my album begin?
How will I submit journaling?
Will I be able to see pages before they are sent/delivered to me?
How long will it take to finish the album?
Scrapbooking Related
What is a scrapbook?
Simply, scrapbooks are the ideal way to preserve your memories and photos. They go beyond photo albums in that they allow us to include journaling about the memories or thoughts associated with the photos, as well as to reinforce the mood of the pictures with the chosen embellishments and designs. We lead life at a frenetic pace, and many of the things we think we’ll never forget (memorable vacation moments, funny things the kids said, powerful epiphanies) begin to fade much sooner than we realize. Scrapbooks allow us to celebrate, cherish, and honor those experiences. How many of us wish we knew what little funny things we did as children, or how our parents felt as we came upon each of the milestones in our childhoods?
What is journaling?
Journaling refers to the text on a scrapbook page that tells the story of the photographs. It can be done in your own handwriting or computer printing. It is probably the most important part of memory albums. On a basic level, it tells the who, what, when where, and why. It allows you to capture your memories and thoughts for yourself, your children or family. If you have ever had to sort through a box of unidentified photos of a departed loved one, you might have had that feeling like it was just such a shame that those stories were lost forever. Scrapbooks, and journaling in particular, allow you to preserve your legacy.
Most of us say we hate our handwriting, but your loved ones can find it to be a powerful link to you when they read your handwritten thoughts in the future. Scrap Fancy can either leave space for our clients to hand journal, or we can print out the journaling provided by our clients and include it on their pages.
I’ve heard those old magnetic photo albums aren’t good for my photos. Why not?
Many of the older albums were the “magnetic” kind, with plastic sheets that peeled back to reveal pre-glued pages. If you still have your photos in these albums, you may have noticed that the glue is now yellow, and your pictures are faded and damaged. This is due to the acid content in the adhesive. Even if you do not choose to have Scrap Fancy create scrapbook pages for you, we urge you to get your photos out of this type of album ASAP. Today there are many photo albums labeled as acid-free and archival safe.
What is acid and lignin-free?
Acid is used during the paper manufacturing process to separate wood fibers. If the acid is not removed from the paper pulp during the manufacturing process (making it “acid-free”), it can deteriorate your photos, causing discoloration and brittleness. Lignin is the chemical compound in cell walls that gives wood its strength. It too can cause the chemical degradation of paper—newspaper, which becomes yellow and brittle quickly, has high lignin content. Lignin can be removed from paper during the manufacturing process. Scrap Fancy uses acid-free and lignin-free products from reputable manufacturers in order to preserve your memories for years to come.
Can I include newspaper clippings in my scrapbook?
Yes. Newspapers and other non photo-safe items can be included in your album by either copying the item onto acid-free paper, treating it with an archival spray (which is designed to make them acid-free), and/or enclosing the item in a photo-safe plastic sleeve that will form a barrier between the item and the photos. We can discuss the options during your free consultation.
Are the inks you use to print the titles and journaling safe for my scrapbook?
Scrap Fancy uses only laser toner and genuine Epson DURABrite Ultra® pigment inks, both of which are acid-free and have water/smudge-resistant properties and lasting power beyond regular inkjet inks. You can read more about inkjet print permanence at the Wilhelm Imaging Research site. The company conducts independent testing of major manufacturers’ products to determine length of time before fading. Scrap Fancy has researched this confusing topic, and the level of precaution we use for our business is the same high standard to which we hold ourselves when working on our own personal albums.
Ordering Process/Consultation Related Questions
What if I don’t live in your area?
This is not a problem at all! Typically the only difference is that the consultation is then done by phone and the pictures are mailed to us. We can also communicate by phone and email (or even fax) throughout the rest of the process, which is what we do even with local clients. We only use shipping providers with tracking service, such as UPS and FedEx, so you can track your finished album.
I want to order a scrapbook. Where do I begin?
First, think about the theme or topic of your album (e.g. wedding, cousin’s baby shower, baby’s first year, summer vacation, daughter’s prom, etc.). You may want to gather the photos at this point to see what you have. Also, have a look around the site, and make note about any styles/techniques/embellishments you like or don’t like. Contact us with your general ideas for the album, and we will schedule a free consultation. The consultation will either be in person or over the phone (depending on where you live or your schedule), and usually lasts about an hour.
How do I prepare for the consultation? What will we discuss?
To prepare for the consultation, begin by grouping your photos together (i.e. which should go together on a page or layout) and then putting them in the order they should be in the album.
At the time that you schedule your consultation, we will email or send you a photo inventory sheet, and give you instructions on how to use it. The photo inventory sheet will be where you note any dates and other pertinent information for each of the layouts. You will also be able to indicate any photos you don’t want cropped or permanently mounted. You will print one copy of the sheet for each layout you will have (a layout typically being either 1 or 2 pages).
During the consultation, we will talk about your ideas for the album, and review the number of layouts you have in mind. We will also discuss your style preferences and how the creation process will work. By the end of the consultation, we should know the size and type album you want, how many pages it will be, and how long it will take to complete. Based on that information, we will provide you with a price quote.
Can you be more specific on how to group photos?
It is helpful to think in terms of layouts. Each layout will generally have a topic or theme. For example, all the pictures of your child at Halloween could be one layout, and then the pictures from Thanksgiving, another. They do not have to be arranged chronologically—a layout could be about “Baby with Grandma,” showing the two of them together at various times and discussing their special bond.
For smaller albums that may cover only one event, such as a baby shower, photos can be grouped either chronologically, with each page not necessarily needing its own title or topic, or they could be grouped by themes such as “attendees,” “games,” and “gifts.”
When you hand over or mail your photos, first put each group of photos into a ziploc bag and include the corresponding photo inventory sheet in that bag. When mailing, make sure to place the bags in a box (using packing materials if necessary to minimize shifting during shipment).
How many pictures fit on a layout?
Typically a 12”x12” page can hold from 1-5 photos, while an 8 ½ “x 11” page hold 1-3, but more can be accommodated with more extensive cropping (cutting). Albums smaller than 8”x8” do best with just one or maybe two photos per page. We generally advise our clients that it is ok to choose just the best photos to scrap—often the moments can be captured best with a few well-selected photos (good photos create great focal points for the page), and it can be awkward to have a layout span more than 2 pages. That said, a layout should have as many photos as it takes to tell the story, so we have done layouts that have spanned more than two pages, and pages with many more than 5 photos on one page (though the photos of course are cropped rather small in order to fit).
When does work on my album begin?
You will be provided a contract to sign; as soon as we receive the signed contract, deposit (which is 50% of the quoted price), and your photos, work on your album can begin.
How will I submit journaling?
Some clients prefer to handwrite the journaling after they receive the finished album/layouts. In these cases, we leave a space for you to write. If you choose to have your journaling printed by us, you will have the option to either write the journaling on the photo inventory sheets or email us a Word document with your journaling. We prefer the Word document method, as it is more efficient and there is less chance of something being illegible or incorrectly transcribed. The journaling for the entire project can be sent in one document, as long as you indicate to which photos each section of journaling corresponds.
Will I be able to see some pages before they are sent/delivered to me?
Absolutely! We know that when you are waiting a month for an album to be completed, you want to see how it is going. We see it as a benefit as well—we want to make sure we’re going in the right direction. We will upload scans of select completed layouts to a password-protected area of our website. You will be able to log in and view those pages.
How long will it take to finish the album?
This of course depends on the size and complexity of the project, but for a 20 page 12”x12” album, generally plan for 4 to 6 weeks. We will do our best to accommodate rush jobs for an additional fee.
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