Scrapbooking - Preserving Memories

 

Now that summer’s waning and the kids are getting back to school, you may be looking for a meaningful project to help you wile away the hours between carpools, soccer practice and life in general.

 

If you haven’t already been bitten by the scrapbooking bug, why not give it a try.  Scrapbooks are a great way to record both your family history and present day happenings in a way that blends the old and the new into your personal family story.  They can be simple or elegant, depending upon your budget and are truly a priceless piece of family memorabilia which can be treasured through the generations.

 

If you’re like many of us, you probably have photos stored in boxes, photos haphazardly placed in a nondescript album or worse yet, stuffed in a bureau drawer long forgotten and never looked at.  Through the magic of scrapbooking, you can now organize your photos, journal about who, what, when and where and breath new life into treasured memories.

 

A family scrapbook keeps your loved ones close and creates a wonderful keepsake for years to come.  Each family gathering or event is an opportunity to capture more photos. This is a great way for both you and your children to experience moments in a loved ones life.  It also gives greater dimension and insight into that family member.  You may also discover things about friends and family members that you didn’t know before.  For example, maybe you never knew that Uncle Jim played the sax when he was in high school or that Grandma camped out at Woodstock!  You never know what hidden gems a photograph can uncover!

 

How great would it be for your son or daughter to have a scrapbook page with a picture of their grandparent when they graduated from high school or college alongside their own graduation picture -- a truly priceless memory for your family.

 

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned scrapbooker, there’s always new products to make your scrapbooking projects a real work of art.  There are many online sources to purchase scrapbooking supplies from and there may even be a store in your city or town dedicated to this fast growing hobby.

 

Scrapbooking, like everything else these days, has also gone digital.  You can now create beautiful online scrapbooks to share with family and friends anywhere in the world.  There are many software programs which allow you to create photo gallery quality masterpieces.

 

If you thought scrapbooking was only pictures arranged on a page, you’re in for a real eye-opener!  You can now create beautiful pages to display in a picture frame, create a work of art using an ordinary box and even embellish your picture pages using rubber stamps, stickers and cut-outs which come in many different themes.  The possibilities are endless and the only limitation you have is your own creativity.

 

Scrapbooking is big business -- it’s the fastest growing sector in the craft and hobby industry and has sales in the billions.

• Mark Twain was an avid scrapbooker

• Genealogy has boosted the interest in scrapbooking

• Scrapbooking is another medium for those interested in

photography and graphic design to showcase their work.

• In the U.S. alone, scrapbookers number over 25 million

• There are over 4,000 independent scrapbooking stores in

the U.S., not to mention larger craft and hobby stores

which carry scrapbooking supplies.

• On average, scrapbookers own about $2,000 worth of

scrapbooking tools and supplies.

 

Whether you consider yourself to be a “casual” scrapbooker (spend minimal time on it), a “hobbyist” (spending anywhere between five and twenty hours a month) or a “dedicated” participant (better known as a scrapbooking addict), there’s always something new to learn about in the world of scrapbooking.  You can sign up for a scrapbooking class and learn the basics or take your acquired skills to the next level.  A good starting point is your local dedicated scrapbooking store.  Most store owners are avid scrappers and are privy to the latest techniques and products before they hit the masses.  You can also contact your local craft/hobby store for a listing of upcoming workshops.  Your town or city’s adult education program may offer a scrapbooking class, as well as your community college or university.  You may even find a scrapbooking organization to join where you’ll find all levels of scrapbookers to learn from and share your creative projects with.

Having a hard time finding that perfect gift for a family member that has everything? Why not give them a beautifully crafted scrapbook that they can display in their home. There are many creative ways to display photographs and a little time and energy is all it takes.

Scrapbooking is also a wonderful way for older adults to chronicle their life and reminisce about their life experiences. What better way to spend time with older family members then by sharing in their personal stories.

Scrapbooking can also become a project for the entire family. It’s a great way to spend quality time together reliving Billy’s first little league game, Beth’s first dance recital and Dad’s yearly fishing trip. Turn off the TV and preserve your memories while making new ones – what are you waiting for?