Q. I always seem to cut my pictures too much. I plan how I am going to cut them, but I always get carried away. Do you have any suggestions to help me?
A. You are not alone! Here are a few ideas that might help
- Your paper trimmer is your friend. The most important tool I have in my scrapbook room is my paper trimmer. So important that I actually have 3 I use regularly: The sure-cut deluxe paper trimmer by Fiskars, The Aluminum Rail Trimmer, and a photo trimmer. Most professionally printed pictures come in 4 x 6 size so when you are planning your layout you can decide on the size, then use your paper trimmer to stick to the size you have pre-determined. Most photos I scrapbook are either 4 x 6, 4 x 4 or sometimes 2 x 2 but if you stick to just the measurement you decide on before choosing your photos, that may help you to not cut too small.
- Use a template. At one time they made templates that had openings of various sizes so you could plan where you wanted to cut. I don’t know if those are still around, but it is something you could try if you want to look around for them.
Unless the background carries significance – for example, the background has a historical value, like cars or homes that will be interesting to look at in 50 years or that vacation in the Grand Canyon, you can usually cut away some of the background in a photo and not hurt anything. But again, I hesitate unless it is a blank wall because I love looking at my grandmother’s photos with old cars. I even found one of my 82-year-old mother at age 4 sitting on a 1940 Packard! You might even catch someone smoking who quit 30 years ago 🙂
A word of warning about cropping photos: If you are working with a “one of a kind” photo that has no negative, consider making a copy of the photo before using adhesive on the back or cropping the photo. Cutting a photo is permanent… have a copy or better yet, scan it to your computer BEFORE you make any changes you may regret later!
If you have a question you would like to see answered, please e-mail me at Carol@CreativelyCarol.com
Creatively,
Carol
Amazing information. Carol is a professional and can help with all your needs with scrapbooking and card. No questions are dumb and if she does not know the answer she will find out for you. I only use her and she shares her knowledge and expertise.