Calling All Scrapbookers...

You can make it as simple or as complicated as you like. I would recommend keeping it relatively simple to begin with. You can always go back later and embellish to your heart's content, but bottom line, scrapbooking is meant to preserve your memories on paper. So the most important thing is to get the pictures into the scrapbook, and write a short description of the event or memory.

If I may suggest, when I was first starting out scrapbooking, I found a Creative Memories consultant and went to a workshop. Generally the workshops are inexpensive ($10 or so) and they can go over the many options with you. Options range from digital scrapbooking (literally drag-and-drop your digital photos into a template, type in whatever you want to say about each photo, and send it off to print), to the more traditional type of paper scrapbooking, and even a couple of options in between. There's a lot out there and a good consultant can point you in the right direction and help you get your memories into a scrapbook in a way that suits your personality and your needs. Also, I do like Creative Memories' products. The products stand the test of time and the company stands behind their products. I've been very happy with the items I have purchased from them.

Best of luck and enjoy!!

Definitely consider digital scrapbooking too. It is much faster and cheaper (depending on how you buy it) and you can purchase multiple copies of the books you create. I am doing a baby book for each of my kids and then a family year book each year. When they get older and move out, I'll purchase them their own set of family yearbooks! Plus, they can look at them as much as they want now - if they rip pages or ruin a book, I can just order another one.
www.HeritageMakers.com is a great site that allows you to design your books online and has all the digital art available for you to use so you don't have to buy kits.

I've been a scrapbooker for about 7 years. I have three little boys and have found the best way to get my albums done is at a retreat. I do make seperate albums for each child (think about when they are adults and want their own pics). I'm careful to include pics of them with their siblings, which means some pictures I need several copies :) The least time consuming is to cut your creative & decorating time down. You can do this several ways 1) purchase premade page kits 2) lay down very little paper for background only 3) only use pictures and no decorations. The MOST important thing is your handwriting. That will mean so much to them when they show these albums to their own kids. They will have all the stories and in their sweet mama's handwriting. I used to sell Creative Memories when we lived in the Dallas area, but opened a retreat center when we moved to the Austin area. Check out our place at www.PerfectlyCraftyRetreats.com

I always loved scrapbooking, but due to a problem with my hands, I haven't been able to do anything much. I recently discovered Digital Scrapbooking. I love it so much and when I'm done, I can get it printed or print it myself. They have really nice simple programs out there you can use, I've used the Hallmark scrapbooking program, it was really simple. I like it also, cause if I screw up, I'm not out of the pretty paper, I just start anew.

What I did is to use a baby book I already had as a template and made a baby book for each boy (I have 4) for the first year. Then I'm doing each year as a book for the whole family to enjoy. I like journalling to help me remember what was so special of that day, but I don't do it all the time, cause some pictures I just took cause the boy was just being cute.

Definitly keep it simple.... like Catherine said you can embelish later. And to keep you tots busy while you are scrap bookin g, let them do it too. Give them some pages - you can even let them pick out from singles sheet paper sold at Michael;s or A.C. Moore, etc. Then let them color or do stickers, put a date on it and you now have an art project saved...

Not for a scrap book page, but it could have been - I let my daughter decorate a "dog" page for a photo of our dog I had taken for her to give to her father. I just drew a rectangle where the picture would go an had her decorate everywhere around it however she wanted with dog related stickers etc.

Good luck!

Scrapbooking can be so much fun! Plus, it's such a great way to preserve and pass on memories to your kids. Personally, I wouldn't worry about making 2 different books (although you will probably end up needing more than one book to hold all of your pages if you continue scrapbooking!). Keep it simple and don't get overwhelmed at the store (if you don't decide to use Creative Memories), just get the basics (my must haves: paper trimmer that will cut 12" sheets, sticker squares for glueing pics, stickers, pretty cardstock/scrapbooking paper). Albums go on sale frequently at Michaels, as do the page refills (can get pricey). I definitely think it's important to write something on each page. Scrapbooking is a way to journal, and one day your kids will appreciate reading your thoughts. It doesn't take too long either. Keep your supplies organized and in a central location so you can pull everything out whenever you have the time to work. Have fun with it!

When I became pregnant and had to stop using oil paints (too many heavy metals and chemicals) I was desperate for a new medium that was non toxic. Acrylic paints make me miserable. I absolutely abhor them. Watercolor is fine, but totally different and didn't satisfy my desire. Anyway, on a whim, I went to the craft store and began checking out paper. Suddenly, I was head over heals in love with scrap booking and paper arts.

Scrapbooking can be *anything* you want. My suggestion is to begin by getting inspiration. If you need a visual aid, do a google image search for "scrapbooking ideas".

Get inspired by color and texture. Keep your eye out for light flat objects, paper (not just from the store, but scraps, old letters, faded/died/tarnished/aged, little pieces of cards/magazines/sheet music/newspaper/etc., favorite photos, stamps (or things that can be used as a stamp), even fabrics, lace or ribbon - anything and everything that catches your eye. I really like to sort things so I separated my Papers by hue. Very visually yummy.

You could make your children a book each, or start by making a family book. It's a fairly addictive process, so my guess is that you might end up making separate books for them. A good place for me to start was one book that charted our history, as a family. Try, picking out your favorite 25 photos. (Mine were before pregnant, during pregnancy, new born w/ and w/out family members, and then "milestones", memories that are significant, moments I cherish, etc. I also included letters from me and her Dad - made photo copies that shrunk the letters down considerably and then I died the paper w/ tea. The real copy is in a handmade envelope also in the scrapbook.)

Also, while your at the craft store, get some good glues, one or two scrapbook bases - basically like a photo album, but geared towards the craft (you can make your own, but it's a pain), drool over papers and pick out a variety. Also, make sure you have a good par of paper scissors and later, consider a paper cutter. They have packages of matching papers (mismatched patterns in the same color family) that can act as a descent platform if you're feeling overwhelmed. There are so many options for scrapbookers, stickers, stamps, cutouts, "frames". You've got to get what fits you, and makes you feel good to look at and work with. Go wild and have a blast!

I do mine in chronological order, so just one book at a time and whatever the current pictures are I fit as many as I can into one album before starting the next. I have done a few special ones that have a theme, but they overlap my main ones. I've done 12x12, but currently use 8.5x11 paper. I buy the big packs of solid colored paper and by sheet protectors from a office supply store that are acid free and archival safe. Not quite as pretty as many albums, but more cost efficient since I can usually fit 1-4 months in one 2" notebook. I do have a ton pf pictures printed from various things.

Some pages I don't do anything but put the pictures on, some I mount the pictures on another color of paper and then onto the page. I sometimes add stickers or other embellishments you can buy. I add captions or will write more if there is a story behind a picture. I use ribbon for decoration, most craft stores will have little spools for 99 cents that are great, Target also has some in their dollar section usually. Occasionally I will use special pages. You will want to have a small paper cutter at least to make trimming quicker and easier. The different edges scissors and circle cutters can be fun too for more design. I love tearing one color of paper length wise and then putting that on the page I am going to do on a side or in the center to add some color. You can really go out or keep things basic and do some of each. Right now I am keeping a lot of stuff more basic since I am far behind in my scrap booking and trying to catch up a little. To contain all my stuff I have plastic containers with several drawers that are wheels, so I can just move them around. You will also want photo squares or some kind of tape to mount the pictures. I like the squares that are two sided and go on the back since you don't see them and it doesn't matter what shape your picture is. I also use the dots for embellishments that don't have a sticky backing. I have a circut machine that I got as a gift. I do use it some, would love to use it more and probably should.

Have fun and go with whatever you enjoy when you do it.

It's whatever you want it to be. I would definitely see if you can get in contact with a Creative Memories consultant. They have an online site that can connect you to a local representative. They can sell you a beginning's kit that will help you have all the 'toys' you need. They can also offer suggestions to streamline the process.

Remember...this is suppose to be fun and it's whatever you what your creations to be.

It's funny, my husband use to wonder outloud why I was scrapbooking. He said that our boys would not want the books. I continued anyways and kept up until I had a third child. Just yesterday he said to me, "Instead of watching tv at night, you should scrapbook." I think he misses my creations!

Digital scrapbooking with a creative memories consultant to help you every step of the way! Good Luck & have fun-I love it : )