You know the time-honored tradition of tossing your graduation cap in the air at the end of a commencement ceremony? Yeah… never did it. When I graduated from high school, I was too afraid of not being able to find my cap in the ensuing post-ceremony chaos that I simply kept my mortarboard bobby pinned to my head. When I graduated from college, I didn’t dare toss my black cap into the air because I was having a horrendous hair day. There was no way I was going to be photographed without something masking my messed up mane. Also, I … Continue reading →

Don’t we wish? Mother’s Day 2012 has come and gone, but if you are like me, then you are just now working on phase 2 of the holiday—scrapbook layout design. After all, you can’t create a memorable album or layout without relevant photos. I just got back a slew of photos snapped last week during our Mother’s Day celebrations. A lot of them were taken at the hotel where we had brunch and the park we strolled through after our gorge-fest trying to burn off some of the calories we downed at the all-you-can-eat Mother’s Day buffet. I grouped the … Continue reading →

For most people, the long Memorial Day weekend means picnics, road trips and beach time with friends and family. While cookouts and camaraderie are memorable components of the holiday, the real reason for the three-day weekend has to do with hard work and heroes. Thanks to the men and women, who comprise this country’s military, we are able to enjoy a litany of freedoms. Their selflessness and bravery should be honored, and there’s no better way to do so than with a scrapbook layout or an entire memory album. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an advanced scrapper to design … Continue reading →

From preschool to college, graduation ceremonies are in full swing across the country this month. Commencement is a huge milestone in the lives of loved ones, be it from kindergarten, eighth grade, high school or law school. These special moments deserve scrapbook space, even if it means creating a single layout. However, in most cases, the monumental event typically warrants at least a few pages, if not an entire memory album unto itself. These days it is easy to find ways to craft multiple rad grad layouts. Scrapbook supply shops are filled with graduation-themed embellishments, from diploma-shaped die cuts to … Continue reading →

Hot dogs, ice cream, swimming parties and late-night strolls along the beach; these are just some of the many symbols of summer. Memorial Day is the unofficial kick-off to the summer season. The holiday weekend is typically a time when families gather to spend time in the great outdoors, and more often than not, those adventures are documented and showcased in scrapbook layouts. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend too much time or energy crafting Memorial Day-themed page designs, as most are pretty straight forward. For example, if going on a picnic is part of your Memorial Day tradition, remember … Continue reading →

With the busy summer vacation season kicking off in just a few weeks, many scrapbookers are getting into prep mode. After all, travel scrapbooks need just as much planning (if not more) than other themed memory albums. Whether you are traveling to the beach, Disney or the Summer Olympics, you’ll want to make sure you have your ducks in a row in order to craft a stunning scrapbook when you return home. Consider bringing along a small folder or pouch to keep mementos of your trip. For example, if you are planning to take a summer cruise you’ll want to … Continue reading →

In a previous post I detailed some of the elements I used in a baby-themed scrapbook I worked on with a friend. We created the book on a $5 budget and the results look like a million bucks. Fortunately, my friend owns a professional grade printer and we were able to use a ton of free printables in order to keep costs down. What many scrappers may not realize is that they can actually print an entire baby-themed memory album from the Internet for free. Whereas we just printed individual worksheets and other free digital embellishments, there are sites where … Continue reading →

Now that my daughter’s spring break is over I’ve been sifting through my photos to see how to best design seasonal scrapbook layouts. Unlike some families, we didn’t jet-off to Jamaica, Florida, California or New York for Easter. However, that isn’t stopping me from crafting page designs showcasing the spring-themed activities we did partake in. When it comes to scrapbooking seasonal events, try to personalize your layouts. While it’s easy to look at someone else’s page designs and simply make a carbon copy; you are better off tailoring your layouts to show-off your personal experiences. For example, this year our … Continue reading →

I just received a tip from a lovely reader who recently completed her own family reunion scrapbook. In response to my mom’s humble page design ideas, the reader advised creating an “In Memoriam” layout to pay tribute to family members who’ve passed away since the last family reunion. I love that idea! What’s more, you can make the spread as simple or elaborate as you wish. If you are blessed to have only a few deaths in the family since your last reunion, then design your page(s) accordingly. For example, in addition to adding a photo of the deceased loved … Continue reading →

Today, the seasonal aisles of Target, Wal-Mart and Kmart were packed with people stocking up on post-Easter deals. In addition, I can personally attest that Hobby Lobby and Michaels made a killing by reducing their Easter-themed scrapbooking supplies by 50 percent. By the time I got to Michaels this morning, all of the merchandise had been thoroughly picked over. Still, I was able to snag an Eater/Spring-themed scrapbook kit for less than 10 bucks. I am not a huge fan of scrapbook kits, as they often contain materials I already own. What’s more, you don’t get the chance to customize … Continue reading →