Who says you have to stick with traditional 12×12 albums in order to showcase scrap worthy memorabilia? There are many ways you can put together a memory album without having to purchase expensive scrapbooks. In fact, customized scrapbooks made from unconventional items often make the sweetest showcases for personal collections. For example, if you are on the road and your child is screaming for a boredom buster, you can whip out a three-ring binder and some paper or just a bunch of loose-leaf rings and a hole punch. Your child can draw pictures of scenes he sees out the car … Continue reading →

My local scrapbook supply shop has a huge “Dads and Grads” display in the front of the store. The table includes a massive array of graduation and Father’s Day-themed albums, embellishments and paper. In addition, the owner of the shop created the most incredible selection of chipboard scrapbooks. One spells out “Daddy,” another “Graduate,” and another “Congratulations.” For as long as I have been creating memory albums, I have yet to master the art of crafting chipboard scrapbooks. I’m not sure what intimidates me so much about these unique albums, though I have a feeling it has to do with … Continue reading →

In a previous post I touched on the subject of interactive scrapbook layouts. The boom in technology has inspired many scrapbook fans to add unique elements to their page designs which make paging through a memory album a hands-on experience in more ways than one. One of the trendiest interactive elements available to scrappers today is the mini recorder. These tiny high-tech devices document everything from a child’s first word to a favorite song or a spouse’s snoring. I previously mentioned that PictureThatSound is a popular pick in scrapbook recording devices; however, it isn’t the only option available. Another reputable … Continue reading →

Think about the reaction you’d get from family members and friends if they paged through your scrapbook and got an earful of your husband’s snoring. Nothing says “interactive scrapping” more than a mini recorder playing back your favorite sounds. Memory albums have come a long way since the days of magnetic pages and simple layouts. These days you can add tiny recording devices to page designs which allow you to document and play back everything from your son’s first piano lesson to the first song you danced to at your wedding reception. Other uses for scrapbook recording devices include capturing … Continue reading →

This month marks the 10th anniversary of my grandfather’s death. He was an incredible man who made a huge difference in our family’s life. Fortunately, he was a collector and an even more enthusiastic photographer. He actually ran his own professional photo studio for a while before getting into real estate. He didn’t live long enough to meet his great-grandchildren, but his memory lives on in the scrapbooks my mom and I have made over the years. However, without all of the photos he took and the ones that were snapped of him, we could never have crafted the memory … Continue reading →

How much time do you spend coming up with clever covers for your scrapbook? Many times the cover design is an afterthought, especially for me. Often, I am so focused on crafting memorable layouts that I completely overlook the importance of an attractive cover. Recently, though, I have been putting more effort into beautifying my album covers. Of course, this only happened because I saw a display table at my local scrapbook store covered with incredibly innovative scrapbook covers. The owner of the store set out five different memory albums, each featuring a journaling list cover. Whereas I have drafted … Continue reading →

We are just five days away from the official start of spring. Good news for those longing for warmer weather, not so much for scrapbook fans who have yet to finish winter-themed layouts. Namely me. I am really hoping the change of seasons will act as incentive for me to get my Christmas/New Year’s/winter photos printed and placed on a page before Easter rolls around. While lamenting my tendency to procrastinate, I’ve noticed there are some perks to holding off on crafting seasonal page designs. For starters, I’ve been able to save quite a bit of money on seasonal embellishments … Continue reading →

Fifty pieces of plain chipboard to cut, 50 pieces of chipboard, slice one up; paste it in place, 49 pieces of chipboard to cut. Not exactly bottles of beer, but you get the picture. I was recently gifted with several dozen pieces of plain chipboard, and now I am desperately looking for ways to slice and dice them into works of art which I can use to make my scrapbook layouts pop. If you are an avid scrapbooker, then you know how expensive premade chipboard accents cost. The high price is just one of the reasons I refuse to waste … Continue reading →

Spring is right around the corner, which means wedding season is about to begin. There are a number of wedding shows scheduled in my neck of the woods this weekend. No doubt there will be at least a few scrapbook vendors hawking their wares in an attempt to show brides-to-be how they can showcase their wedding photos in elaborate memory albums. My wedding scrapbook is quite fancy, thanks in large part to my aunt and cousin. They worked tirelessly to craft the entire book. While the photos speak for themselves, one of the most touching parts of the album are … Continue reading →

Or kittens, iguanas, birds, bunnies, and fish. Regardless of the type of pet you own, there’s a good bet that he or she is a treasured member of your family. So, why not document this special relationship by creating an entire scrapbook to commemorate your most cherished memories together? If the project seems a bit overwhelming, consider purchasing a pet-themed scrapbooking kit. Several companies sell collections of paper and embellishments (including stickers, die cuts, stamps and brads) with various pet themes, from farm to jungle animals, and of course, traditional domesticated pups and cats. Some of the cuter offerings I’ve … Continue reading →