Do a quick search on the internet for scraplifting and youll find a lot of discussions on the subject. (And a few junkyard websites but thats a whole different definition of the term.) For our purposes, scraplifting is the act of taking another persons published layout and copying it without making significant changes.

So what is a significant change and if I do not comply, will the scraplifting police be showing up at my door and confiscating all of my scrap booking goodies?

It has been suggested by many published scrappers that a modification should result in at least a 30% change in order to escape being branded as a scrap lifter. The changes should be in the format and also preferably in materials used in the project.

Unless youre a mathematical genius, youre likely to have a hard time deciding if you have met the 30% rule. And to be practical, scrap lifting something youve seen in an idea book or an online gallery isnt really an issue for most scrappers. Chances are no one will ever know where you came up with your inspiration.

Lifting another persons layout and then publishing it as your own is on the other hand a big problem, especially if you accept payment for it. Its dishonest, unethical and you put yourself at serious risk legally.

Some scrappers argue that many accusations of scrap lifting can be attributed to coincidence. Scrap booking product lines offer suggested uses and two different users follow a similar plan and end up producing a similar end product. No malicious idea stealing involved.

Scrappers often admit that they set out to lift a layout that they admired, but end up following their own creativity along the way and come out with something completely different.

One rule of thumb that most agree on is giving credit for anothers inspiration if you are incorporating a large element of their design into a layout that will be published as your own creation.