So much for an extended January thaw. Our days basking in record warmth are about to come to an abrupt end. According to weather forecasters, 24 hours from now we’ll be back in the teens and buried under several inches of snow. Sigh! On the bright side, I can now resume designing my winter-themed scrapbook layouts with photos that include real snow, ice and sleet, instead of brown grass and bare trees. Nearly a decade ago my mom and I started a tradition of creating Year-in-Review scrapbooks. However, instead of waiting until the last week of December to design each … Continue reading →

Now that the holidays are over, snowbirds are taking flight to warmer climates. It’s January. Tis the season to go on vacation. Whether you are planning a month-long getaway to the tropics or you only have time to indulge in a weekend escape to the desert, don’t forget to plan for scrapbooking. Vacations are among the most popular themes for scrapbooking, and you certainly don’t want those special memories to go to waste, so grab your camera and a bag for mementos before you head-off into the sunset. While you are on the road you can already be brainstorming ways … Continue reading →

Twins! One of the moms from my scrapbooking group recently gave birth to healthy twin girls. I finally got to meet them last week. They are much tinier than I had anticipated, but are still cute as can be. Despite being overwhelmed by the constant feedings and diaper changing, the twins’ mom is doing something I would never consider attempting three weeks post partum: She’s piecing together the twins’ first scrapbook. She received a ton of baby-themed scrapbooking supplies during her shower, but I didn’t think she would get crafting so soon after giving birth. Apparently, she doesn’t want to … Continue reading →

In a previous blog I shared details of my latest scrapbook project. I am working with a bunch of moms from my daughter’s school to craft a Polar Express memory book filled with shots and mementos documenting the students’ winter/train/holiday-themed adventures. Since I have never attempted to create a scrapbook with a train theme, I took to the Internet and various craft stores to research our options. Frankly, I am shocked by the sheer magnitude of embellishments, paper and layout ideas there are for scrappers looking to design their own railroad-inspired albums. Scrappers with train-obsessed children have no shortage of … Continue reading →

Instead of celebrating the season with a monster Christmas party, this year my daughter’s school is hosting a Polar Express-themed winter shindig. The teachers are planning a series of activities and events, which feature lessons on trains, the spirit of giving and other topics covered in the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. With all of the hard work going into designing the massive soiree, naturally, the school wants to document the event from beginning to end. That’s where I come in. Last week I found myself agreeing to join the scrapbook committee. A bunch of moms will be … Continue reading →

When I think of the holiday season, the first thing that comes to mind is not Jack Frost nipping at my nose, jingle bells or dancing elves, it’s… food; mountains of meat, plenty of potatoes, and heavenly homemade desserts. Seeing the snow pile up on the East Coast today reminded me about all the eating I will be doing in the weeks to come. Moreover, it made me think about the holiday-inspired recipe scrapbooks I’ve crafted in the past. The memory books make amazing gifts for family members and friends. Fortunately, the instructional albums are also a cinch to create. … Continue reading →

I will be attending a baby shower this weekend, but have yet to purchase the gift. In contrast, my friend (and ride to the party) not only has her gift wrapped, she actually made the entire thing from scratch…kinda. She’s giving our pregnant pal a homemade baby scrapbook kit. I am having second thoughts about riding with her now. There’s no way my gift is going to be able to top the one she’s giving, yet I love it anyway. In fact, I wish she had made one for me. Wink, wink. She insists that it was a breeze to … Continue reading →

Have you seen the movie “The Help”? It’s the perfect friend flick. It examines the bonds that can be formed with individuals who don’t share the same DNA, skin color or social status. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. But, most of all, you will leave the movie theater thankful for your best friends. I happened to love the movie. I wish I could bottle up all the lessons that were featured in it and place them in a scrapbook. I have five very, very good friends who could benefit from a memory book dedicated to our 30 (plus)-year-old relationship. We’ve seen … Continue reading →

My daughter still has dreams of becoming a dog, which is precisely why I try to keep her out of our local scrapbook store during National Pet Month. Each May the shop’s owner devotes an entire display table to showcasing memory albums dedicated to the Fidos and Fifis of the world. One look in the books and my daughter would be howling about how she is the only child in the world who doesn’t own a dog. Fortunately, for those of you who do have a dog, cat or gerbil to care for, designing a family pet memory album is … Continue reading →

“Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts.” That quote was front and center on a hilarious scrapbook layout, which was displayed at a crop I attended a few weeks ago. Not every clan is like the Waltons. In fact, I would venture to guess that more families have their roots in reality TV shows, or at the very least, have closer ties to the Simpsons or the Brady Bunch than the Cleavers and Nelsons. Whether your family life is more like a sitcom than a sappy greeting card, there’s no reason not to document it in … Continue reading →