| Well, it's time for another general house cleaning. This is | | | | which ones to use in a scrapbook, which ones to |
| the time when you stumble across those valuable | | | | throw away, and a logical order for the ones you want |
| sentimental items you want to keep forever. Pictures | | | | to keep. |
| of you and your best friends, family gatherings, and | | | | There are several ways to group your photos and |
| those great shots of the kids doing the fantastic recall | | | | memorabilia: by family or family member, by how |
| happy times you never want to lose. Then the idea | | | | you're related, by friend or groups of friends, by clubs |
| strikes: How can I keep these in a safe place? | | | | or associations. Those are a few approaches for |
| This is the perfect time to start building a scrapbook to | | | | sorting by people. |
| preserve and protect your favorite memories. | | | | But you can also sort by events and times. Perhaps |
| Scrapbooking is a fast-growing hobby - so fast, in fact, | | | | you have a bunch of memories for a specific wedding, |
| a new industry is growing up around it. Scrapbooking is | | | | anniversary, or the birth of a new baby. Maybe you |
| a great way to express your individual personality and | | | | want to group them by a time in your life like your |
| creativity while creating something your whole family | | | | college days or your first job. You can also sort them |
| will treasure and enjoy for years to come. It takes time | | | | chronologically, showing the passage of time in your |
| and effort, but it's so worth it! | | | | life. |
| If you're a novice at scrapbooking, you may want to | | | | 3. Label Your Items |
| try some free scrapbooking catalogs for your first | | | | It's important to add some information to each piece |
| efforts. You can find free scrapbooking catalogs in | | | | you plan to use in your scrapbook. Short notes may |
| local stores and on the Internet. They are full of useful | | | | simply remind you when and where photos were |
| information that will give you a lot of great ideas for | | | | taken or the date and place where a ticket stub was |
| your scrapbooking projects. Even better, they outline | | | | used. You may want to write more about the event or |
| the basic steps in scrapbooking so that beginners will | | | | person, though. Detailed notes can be used to give |
| be able to create beautiful pieces right off the bat. | | | | depth and meaning to the items you mount in your |
| If you have a shoe box full or a big stack of photos, | | | | scrapbook. Clip or tape your notes to the item for later |
| why not get them organized? Sort them by event or | | | | use. |
| occasion or by specific people. This way, you'll get | | | | 4. Store Your Treasures |
| your photos organized and stimulate your mind to think | | | | Now that you've got them organized and labeled, you |
| about how you might want to present them in a | | | | may need a break before starting your scrapbook. |
| scrapbook. A very helpful addition to your photo | | | | This time, you'll protect them from further damage by |
| sorting task is attaching notes to each one. Your notes | | | | keeping them cool and dry. You can use any number |
| describe the photo, its context in time and place and its | | | | of organizing systems - bookshelves, filing cabinets, |
| importance to you. | | | | bins. Whatever is most appropriate for your space and |
| This is a critical step everyone who scrapbooks goes | | | | the way you operate is best for you. One note: when |
| through before they begin a project. Inventorying your | | | | you use plastic containers or bins, avoid PVC plastic. |
| materials and pondering the best way to assemble | | | | It's corrosive and can damage your photos and |
| them prepares you for your project and helps you | | | | delicate pieces beyond repair. And remember when |
| decide what materials you need. And if you can't find | | | | you prepare your storage space that there are three |
| a retail supplier nearby, you can order your materials | | | | elements to protect your treasures from: light, humidity, |
| through the catalog or the company's online store. | | | | and heat. |
| Free scrapbooking catalogs are a great tool for | | | | 5. Plan Your Scrapbook |
| shopping without getting in the car. They will describe | | | | Now the time has come. You've got your photos and |
| the following steps in more detail, and they will give you | | | | memorabilia nicely organized, and you know what you |
| images of the kinds of supplies available including | | | | want to include in your scrapbook. It's time to give |
| decorative papers and paper sets, stick-on borders | | | | some serious thought to your presentation. |
| and alphabets, ribbons and trims, cut-outs and die-cuts, | | | | Think about the type of scrapbooking album you'll use. |
| frames, felt flowers and paper blossoms, rubber | | | | The amount of photos and keepsakes will determine |
| stamps, glitter pens and cuts, and colorful acid-free | | | | the size of your scrapbook. Albums come in a variety |
| pens. | | | | of sizes and shapes. The smaller square ones (6x6") |
| And you'll find all the tools you need in free | | | | are portable and easy to handle. But they won't give |
| scrapbooking catalogs: paper cutters, scissors, | | | | you as much space for creative touches and |
| organizers, brads and clips, and the ever present | | | | embellishments. The larger ones, usually 8-1/2x11" or a |
| acid-free glues. These days, you can even find special | | | | foot square, give you plenty of room to decorate the |
| pieces and embellishments to use on the Internet when | | | | pages and insert larger mementos. |
| you decide to make your first web-based scrapbook! | | | | Now you know what you want to include and what |
| To get a free scrapbooking catalog, look for one of | | | | album type you'll use to present your memories. It's |
| these three outstanding companies who'll mail you a | | | | time to think about your theme. The theme will |
| paper catalog: A.C. Bailey Designs, Times to Cherish, or | | | | determine page layout, color scheme, and the types of |
| Creative Express. Of course, there are dozens of | | | | embellishments you choose. Themes vary widely. |
| online catalogs you can browse while you're surfing | | | | You'll want to think about your memento group and the |
| the web. | | | | common thread that ties it all together. |
| No matter what free scrapbooking catalog you use or | | | | Is your material related to a holiday season? A baby?s |
| what supplies you need, there are some basic first | | | | first years? Your family's history and heritage? A |
| steps involved in scrapbooking. | | | | specific person's whole life? A period in your life? A |
| 1. Gather Your Photos and Memorabilia | | | | favorite sport or family activity? A special relationship? |
| If you're like most of us, you have photos and other | | | | As you can see, the themes you can choose are |
| mementos scattered all over the place - ticket stubs in | | | | limitless. The important thing about YOUR theme is that |
| coat pockets, receipts stuffed in pants pockets or | | | | it's personal and meaningful to you. When you've |
| purses, invitations stacked with your old bills, confetti | | | | decided on a theme, it's time to get your supplies, and |
| from that great New Year's Party, buttons from | | | | that's where the free scrapbooking catalog will come |
| political events, and many other precious items. | | | | in very handy. |
| Gather these mementos in one place. Search closets, | | | | You can select and coordinate your paper and your |
| drawers, the attic, even the garage to find them. Now, | | | | decorative touches. You can find or make a |
| just pile them up on a table and start spreading them | | | | scrapbooking template that will be the basic design for |
| out so you can see what you have. As you go | | | | each page. You can choose from a wide range of |
| through them, put them in individual stacks of items that | | | | embellishments. You can spend a fortune or stick to a |
| are related to each other. You may have enough | | | | set budget. This may be the most fun part of the |
| treasures to build several scrapbooks! | | | | scrapbooking project, so enjoy! |
| 2. Sort Your Mementos | | | | See how great it is to use free scrapbooking |
| After you have separated the items into related | | | | catalogs? |
| groups, you'll want to sort through them to figure out | | | | |