| Every Valentine’s Day, anniversary, and birthday | | | | you. Write down a little about what you did that day, or |
| you’re faced with the same dilemma: what to get | | | | how you remember feeling. How did she look? Smell? |
| your wife or girlfriend. Most of us have spent plenty of | | | | Just write as much as you can and then you can pick |
| time agonizing over this one. You probably have | | | | out the good stuff and rewrite it into something |
| yourself, or else you wouldn’t be reading this. | | | | coherent, and hopefully, romantic. |
| You’d already have your flowers and box of | | | | Once you’ve decided what you want to write, you |
| chocolates all set. But maybe you’d like to do | | | | have a few options. One option is writing it directly |
| something more special. | | | | onto the scrapbook page (first plan out where |
| Making a little record of your time together and your | | | | everything’s going to go, and then write before you |
| feelings for her in the form of a scrapbook (or even | | | | put your pictures on the page –in case you screw |
| just a page or two) is a great way to show her how | | | | up somehow). Or you might want to type it up, format |
| you feel. It’s a gift that she’ll cherish, knowing | | | | it into a size and shape that will fit, and then print it out |
| you put time and effort into it, and she’ll also be | | | | onto a nice piece of paper. Once you’ve done this, |
| impressed that you tried something new (probably) just | | | | then you can cut it to fit (or tear it, or burn it around the |
| for her. If you have kids, they’ll also be thrilled to | | | | edges), and maybe put another piece of paper of a |
| have this in later years to see how mom and dad | | | | different color under it, cut a bit larger so that it acts as |
| used to be. | | | | a frame. |
| It doesn’t have to be beautiful. Hell, it doesn’t | | | | If your girlfriend does scrapbook, you might want to |
| even have to be any good! The most important thing | | | | just do a couple of pages, then she can put them in an |
| is to just do the best you can and put your heart into it. | | | | existing scrapbook, or use them to start a new one. |
| That’s what will matter in the end. You’re not | | | | But you can also just do an entire scrapbook. It |
| trying to win a contest. What you’re aiming for is | | | | doesn’t have to be long, depending on how you do |
| for her to be able to look at that book and see inside | | | | it, even half a dozen pages could work. |
| your head and get some idea of how you feel when | | | | If you want to do a complete scrapbook, you can |
| you look at her. | | | | either buy a book or create your own. To buy a book, |
| If your girl scrapbooks, this is an easy exercise. | | | | go to the local craft or scrapbooking store and talk to |
| Chances are, like most scrapbookers, she has tons of | | | | the people there. They’re happy to help. Just let |
| paper, supplies, embellishments (the stuff you glue on | | | | them know you’re doing a short scrapbook and |
| to decorate pages), rubber stamps, pens, adhesives, | | | | looking for a book that would display it well. Most |
| etc, etc. Poke around into the supplies a little bit and try | | | | scrapbooks come in the large square size, but you can |
| to get some ideas. If you need more, the local craft | | | | also get smaller ones. |
| store or scrapbook store should have whatever else | | | | If you’d like to make your own, that’s simple too. |
| you might need. Then, just wait for her to go out, or | | | | You can simply take two stiff pieces of paper for the |
| take all your supplies to the garage, and get started. | | | | covers, punch holes through all the pages, crease the |
| Scrapbooking is a simple thing that anyone can do. | | | | covers near the edges so that they’ll fold open, |
| What it comes down to is taking a piece of paper and | | | | and then fasten the pages together with rings, brads, |
| decorating it with pictures, mementos, artwork, cards, | | | | whatever. You can also try poking holes in the |
| collages, whatever. Anything relatively flat is up for | | | | “spine” and sewing the binding together using |
| grabs here. You can also use rubber stamps, write or | | | | fishing line or upholstery thread. Experiment and see |
| draw on the pages as well. You can sketch it out | | | | what works for you. |
| beforehand to plan it, or just make it up as you go | | | | Once you’re done with your page or book, sign it |
| along. There are plenty of scrapbooking sites online | | | | and date it on the bottom or back. |
| that can give you info on the basics as well as ideas | | | | There’s a lot of room for creativity and |
| for layouts. | | | | self-expression with a scrapbook project, and |
| I recommend a technique that my girlfriend uses, which | | | | that’s what makes it such a special gift. It really |
| is writing down memories or stories about the pictures | | | | shows how much you care, and it’s a gift she’ll |
| on the pages. To get ideas, brainstorm a little. Get | | | | always remember. |
| some of your favorite pictures of her or of the two of | | | | |