If you love scrapbooking but don't have the time to sit down and make those beautiful scrapbook pages to preserve your photos and memories, I know you have been browsing Ebay and loving the amount of premade pages now available for purchase. You can find every scrapbooking style on Ebay now: from the most embellished one to the most simple and basic one. You can find one page, 2-page layouts and a whole album ready for your photos.

Well, I decided to write a guide about how to buy a premade layout being it one page or a 20-pages album, because sometimes, we can get carried away by the colors, symetry or embellishments of a layout and forget why we are purchasing it in the first place. So before you spend your precious money on a premade page(s) consider this:

1) How many photos am I going to put on my layout? What are the most prevailing colors in my photos? Will they coordinate with this layout? Do I already have the photos or will I be taking the pictures with this layout in mind? Can my photos be cropped to fit the layout?

2) Do I want my photos to be seen or the embellishments to be noticed? (Some pages are sooooo embellished that the photos can be crowded and overpowered by those cute things!! You can always purchase a layout to showcase IT as a piece of art, instead of putting your pictures on it! I, myself, have some favorite ARTISTS out there =) Otherwise, you should look to buying a page embellished with items that will draw the eyes to the pictures, embellishments that complement your photos.

3) Consider also the patterned papers and cardstock being used. I am one that love patterned papers but sometimes too much or too little makes a huge difference in the end result. Consider this...the patterned paper PLACED ON THE MAT will not be seen once the photo is placed there. So unless the scrapper/ artist/ designer/ maker has placed that same or other patterned paper elsewhere on that page you will not SEE that Beauuuuutiful paper!!

4) Are the materials been used Acid Free and Lignin Free? Are the embellishments on top of the mats? Sometimes scrappers get carried away and you got no room left for photos...the mats are taken over by embellishments. If they are anchored in such a way that you can slip your photos beneath them, then you are fine!

5) If you have questions, email the seller! If the layout was made to please, she/he will work with you. Most premade pages sellers will work with you. If in doubt how to use the layout, how embellishments are placed, if your photos will look good, ASK, ASK, ASK. Not everybody is a long time scrapper. It's okay to ask questions!

6) Once you have bought a layout and is happy with your layout and the seller's service, make sure you leave them positive feedback. There is nothing more rewarding to an ARTIST than knowing that their creation pleased someone else. And I assure you that that will motivate them to keep producing more and more great quality pages.

7) When you see something, or a style that you really like, add that seller to your FAVORITE's list. That will ensure that you receive an email  from Ebay everytime they list something NEW. You will have the opportunity to always browse their work and not miss a chance to purchase something beautiful for you and your family.