Did you know that gel window clings double as Scotch tape? Just don’t try to use them as adhesives in your scrapbook. My 7-year-old is utterly fascinated by the soft, jelly-like sticky embellishments. Currently, all of her bedroom windows are covered with Halloween-themed gel clings. However, rather than use them exclusively for decoration purposes, my daughter discovered that she can slip the corners of her art work under the gel clings and they have the staying power of traditional self adhesive tape. She was so delighted by her discovery that she tried to use the gel clings as adhesive in … Continue reading →

R.E.M.’s Nightswimming—-best song EVER! I stole the song title and used it on a scrapbook layout I created to document my daughter’s first twilight pool party. Unfortunately, the page doesn’t look as good as the song sounds. The concept was there, but the photos weren’t. Which is not to say that I didn’t snap a ton of pictures of my daughter and her friends swimming in the dark during an especially hot July night; rather, the images simply didn’t turn out as well as I would have liked. If you are planning to feature a nighttime event in your scrapbook, … Continue reading →

With digital scrapbooking all the rage these days, there is a growing concern that the essence of what started out as a simple hobby is being compromised, thanks to high-tech wizardry. Creating a digital layout is not difficult once you get the hang of using a computer to scrapbook. However, there are some factors to consider if you are looking to preserve the charm of traditional scrapbooking using a high-tech tool. For starters, don’t go crazy with your computer’s cropping option. When I first experimented with digital scrapbooking I spent countless hours cropping every single one of my photos, so … Continue reading →

Oprah Winfrey once said: “Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” I’m pretty sure she was looking at her BFF Gayle King when she uttered those now famous words. Then again, perhaps, she was looking directly into the camera while Gayle giggled on the side. Regardless, no truer words have been said, which is why my own BFF included the quote in the “Friends Forever” scrapbook she presented to me the day I left for college. Another one … Continue reading →

When it comes to scrapbooking, I am all about the stickers. Not only are scrapbook stickers extremely versatile, but they are also super easy to use and the varieties are practically limitless. What’s more, for me, they often act as the inspiration for an entire layout. I have long been a fan of Jolee’s Boutique stickers. I don’t use them exclusively, but due to their massive selection, I would estimate that 95 percent of my page designs include at least a few stickers by Jolee’s. The brand is manufactured by EK Success, which is a household name in the world … Continue reading →

It’s going to take more than a few free kits to get my mom to experiment with digital scrapbooking. To say that my mother is set in her ways is a severe understatement. The woman wouldn’t even make a sample layout despite the hundreds of digital scrapbooking freebies that are available on the Internet. I, on the other hand, am all about free. This summer I have been taking a crash course in digital scrapbooking. My main objective is to see how many scrapbooking items I can accumulate without having to spend a penny in the process. As I mentioned … Continue reading →

For me, one of the biggest challenges of scrapbooking is trying to squeeze in all of my favorite photos on a single layout. Often, I have to design a two-page layout to accommodate the themed images I want to feature, and even then I am forced to leave out some nice shots. Lately, I have been creating photo collages so I can place more photos on a single page. Whereas I love the way the photo collections look, they are time consuming to make and depending on the size of the photos, you still need to be selective with your … Continue reading →

My daughter’s school colors are red, white and blue. It doesn’t get more patriotic than that. Yet, I didn’t have the wits about me to stock up on the color combo at post-Independence Day scrapbook supply sales. Now that I am knee-deep trying to put together a scrapbook documenting her year as a first grader, I could kick myself for not buying more red, white and blue scrapbook paper and supplies. I could have saved a ton of money shopping in the days following the 4th of July holiday. It pains me to think of the discounted background paper and … Continue reading →

Prom is huge deal in the small town in which I reside. Everywhere you go these days you are greeted with marquees and banners advertising sales on prom this and prom that. Discounts on dresses, jewelry, shoes, and flowers are yours for the taking. Even our local scrapbook store is getting in on the action. This weekend the owner erected a display with prom-themed paper and embellishments. The sign hanging above the sample layouts reads: “Scrapping Pretty in Pink Moments.” Interestingly, I wore black to my senior prom, but I digress. Prom scrapbooks are not difficult to put together. In … Continue reading →

Around here the holidays are all about the kids. As I look back at seasonal scrapbooks I’ve made since giving birth, there are very few layouts that don’t include at least few rugrats running around making merry in some form or another. Even more telling about my scrapbooking technique is the fact that most of the pages that include children also feature quotes or inspirational sayings that tie into the kid-centered design. Using famous or familiar words is one of the cheapest ways to embellish a scrapbook page. You can print them out at home and use them as a … Continue reading →