Tropical-Themed Layouts

Now that summer is here many avid scrapbook fans are jetting off to spend part of the season in tropical locales. While there they will likely be snapping photos and collecting mementos to feature in vacation scrapbooks. Of course, not everyone one returns from tropical getaways with a ton of pictures and perfectly preserved souvenirs. If you’re looking to create a memory album to commemorate your summer trip to Hawaii, the Caribbean or another sunny destination, but have very few items to showcase, don’t fret. Fortunately, there are a slew of tropical-themed scrapbook supplies on the market that will help … Continue reading →

Down by the Sea

Don’t let a summer trip to the beach go to waste. While your family is having fun in the sun, be sure to snap photos of their adventures in the sand and surf. Pictures of your kids chasing seagulls, collecting seashells, swimming, surfing, sunbathing, flying a kite or reading under a colorful beach umbrella are the heart and soul of a beach vacation-themed scrapbook. In addition to snapping images of your trip, consider jotting down some of the funniest or most poignant memories to feature in journaling blocks. If you don’t have the time or energy to write down anecdotes … Continue reading →

Preserving Summer Memories

Now that summer has officially arrived, there’s no time like the present to preserve all those seasonal memories. Whether it’s a cross-country trip to grandma’s house, experiencing the thrills and chills of a world-famous theme park or having fun in the sun at the beach, don’t forget to pack your camera so that you can document every fun-filled moment. Once you get home you can sort through your shots and create a storyline of your summer fun in a themed scrapbook. While you are organizing your pictures think of ways to pair them with appropriate embellishments that will make your … Continue reading →

Preserving Generational Memories

Some families celebrate the summer with an annual reunion; however, there are some clans that only undertake a massive get-together every other year. If you are part of the latter group, but miss crafting a scrapbook of the event, don’t fret. There are plenty of ways you can create a memory album featuring multiple generations of your family. The first hurdle to overcome is photo and memorabilia collecting. Since you won’t be snapping pictures of all of your loved ones in one central place, you will have to gather images individually. To help you with this task, consider asking relative … Continue reading →

Organizing Grad Layouts

Most graduation ceremonies are over and the members of the Class of 2012 have moved on to the next chapters of their lives. However, before your grad celebrates yet another major milestone, it might be a good idea to put the finishing touches on his or her commencement-themed scrapbook. Now is the time to collect mementos you want to feature in the album, or at least figure out alternative ways to include special items, such as a class ring. Memorabilia like class rings or graduation gowns are difficult to add to page designs; however, you can still make them part … Continue reading →

Cruise Into Scrapbooking

One of my daughter’s second grade classmates spent spring break on a Disney cruise. She returned with a tan and a scrapbook of her high seas adventures, but this was no ordinary memory book. Leave it to the imagineers at Disney to come up with a way to create a 3D scrapbook in the shape of a cruise ship. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and I assume you can only get one if you set sail on the floating House of Mouse. However, just because you can’t get your hands on a pop-up cruise ship scrapbook, doesn’t mean … Continue reading →

From Spring Break to Scrapbook

Five kids from my daughter’s second grade class are spending spring break with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy. Yup, they are jetting down to Orlando for the week and my daughter isn’t letting me forget it. Her classmates will be joining tens of thousands of other families who plan to spend spring break in the house of mouse. I’m sure those moms and dads will be snapping plenty of pictures to show off to family and friends. While most of the images will likely make it on Facebook, I’m sure at least a few will find special spots in vacation … Continue reading →

Be Specific

Theme scrapbooks are extremely popular with both beginner and avid crafters. Having a central focus, such as a wedding, birth, anniversary or holiday, makes it easy to design layouts and create a cohesive storyline. However, if you are looking to expand on your theme, it pays to be specific. For example, recipe scrapbooks have long been a staple for scrappers looking to preserve favorite family dishes. Traditionally, recipes are written or printed on cardstock or scrapbook paper and placed in a layout along with photos of the finished product. However, to create page designs that will really pop, add as … Continue reading →

Scrap Your Winter Escape

Old Man Winter is alive and well here in the Upper Midwest. Judging by the Weather Channel, he is kicking up trouble from coast-to-coast, which is probably why so many people are looking to jet-off to tropical locales right about now. If you are one of the lucky ones and a trip to paradise is in your near future, don’t forget to document your fun in the sun. You’ll need those photos and mementos to create a beach-themed scrapbook when you return. Crafting eye-popping beach vacation layouts is always fun, especially since the theme is so casual. Unlike wedding or … Continue reading →

Post-Holiday Scrapbooking

In just a few hours, holiday celebrations will give way to hangovers, a home that needs a good cleaning, and kids who don’t want to go back to school on Tuesday. Not exactly prime scrapbooking material. Still, just because Christmas and New Year’s are over doesn’t mean you should neglect documenting the rest of the season. Winter brings with it a litany of lovely scrapbooking opportunities. For example, you could design a layout of your kids participating in outdoor winter activities, such as making snowmen, catching snowflakes on their tongues, skiing, sledding or having a huge snowball fight. Another option … Continue reading →