| Scrapbooks are the perfect place for preserving your | | | | and blue for patriots; beige, sand, turquoise, and salmon |
| timeless memories. They can document your family | | | | for that Santa Fe look; or different shades of blue for |
| history and preserve the joy of celebrations and | | | | the sky or ocean). The combinations are limited only by |
| gatherings. They can include your descriptions of | | | | your imagination. Be sure that the entire scrapbook |
| events and people, adding to the personal nature of a | | | | maintains your color scheme, including your |
| scrapbook. And they can last a lifetime or two if you | | | | embellishments like buttons, die-cuts, and stick-ons. |
| use the proper materials. | | | | 2. Layer your papers and fabrics to add interest and |
| Parents use scrapbooks to record their children's early | | | | impact and to create a fluid, interactive effect. |
| years by collecting photos, report cards, artwork, | | | | 3. Use straight classic lines to create a balanced, |
| letters, articles, and announcements that tell the child's | | | | organized effect. Or use curves and classic shapes to |
| story. They assemble precious treasures in one place, | | | | soften your pages. Whichever you choose, be |
| eliminating the need for chaotic shoe boxes full of | | | | consistent. Don't use straight lines on one page and |
| memorabilia mixed with junk. | | | | curves on the next. |
| If you have some time, why not make scrapbooking a | | | | 4. Be sure your colors blend well with the photos and |
| family project. It will give you hours of conversation | | | | memorabilia to maintain a unified look and feel. |
| talking about events that your photos and memories | | | | 5. Don't overload your pages with bulky |
| recall. It will fine-tune everyone's creativity and | | | | embellishments. Keep as shallow a dimension as you |
| imagination. It will bring you closer together in a world | | | | can without letting your scrapbook become boring. |
| where busy schedules often drive you apart. | | | | You can use charms, thin foam, lace, ribbons, alphabet |
| Ideas for Your First Scrapbooking Project | | | | tiles, and tassels to add dimension. But don't overdo it. |
| If you want to create a scrapbook around your child's | | | | You don't want to detract from the main pieces - your |
| keepsakes, here are the steps you'll want to follow: | | | | photos and memorabilia. |
| 1. Go through your keepsakes to select the special | | | | 6. If your photos already have a common theme or |
| ones you want to keep forever. Toss what you don't | | | | design, be sure that your scrapbook reflects the same |
| want to keep, and mount your treasures on textured | | | | theme. Your added touches should complement your |
| paper, a thin mat, or heavy-weight fabric. | | | | memories, not distract viewers from them. |
| 2. Get some paper clips, ribbons, tassels, buttons, dried | | | | Making Tassels to Brighten Up your Scrapbook |
| flowers, and other small objects to use to embellish | | | | Tassels are favorite scrapbooking embellishments. |
| your pages. | | | | Used often by those with the artistic touch, they |
| 3. Attach a note to each keepsake that describes it. | | | | include embroidery thread, yarns, loose threads, straw, |
| What event does it represent? Who gave it to them? | | | | cords, or raffia. They're great for scrapbooking, and |
| How was it used? As your children to add their own | | | | they're perfect for other projects like scarves, |
| notes about it. | | | | bookmarks, knitting, pillows, afghans, and draperies. You |
| 4. Make a title for the scrapbook using your own | | | | can find tassels at home craft or fabric stores, but you |
| handmade cut-out letters or find stencils or stick-on | | | | can make them yourself to assure they're unique. To |
| letters. Use it for the cover of the scrapbook and for | | | | make your own tassels, follow these simple steps: |
| special pages you want to highlight. | | | | 1. Get a piece of cardboard cut to the size you want |
| 5. Now, order your photos and memorabilia the way | | | | for your tassel. |
| you want to present it in your scrapbook. You may | | | | 2. Wrap your tassel material (thread, yarn, etc.) around |
| want to keep things in chronological order, or you may | | | | the cardboard many times. Make it as thick or as thin |
| want to group them according to some other theme | | | | as you want your finished tassel to be. Use materials |
| like your child's favorite subjects or talents. | | | | consistent with your color theme. You can mix colors |
| 6. After you know what order you want things in, | | | | or use only one. |
| decide on how you want to lay them out. Page by | | | | 3. Use a long piece of yarn (or ribbon or thread) |
| page, just place them without glue until you find the | | | | around the cardboard, about an inch from one end of |
| perfect arrangement. To make it more fun for the | | | | the cardboard, and tie it off loosely. |
| whole family, let people try different things and then | | | | 4. Gently remove the cardboard and draw the long tie |
| vote on the "best" arrangement. | | | | off up to make a tight knot. Now, wrap more of your |
| 7. Now, glue the items onto your pages. Let them sit | | | | material around the knotted tie-off to give it strength |
| for a while to ensure the glue dries properly, and then | | | | and texture. |
| assemble them in your album. | | | | 5. Use a thread to tie off the 1" end of the tassel and |
| Your finished product is a wonderful story-telling | | | | attach to an anchor or hook. |
| scrapbook that tells your children how important they | | | | 6. Clip the folded long end of the tassel to create loose |
| really are to you. It's a treasure of memories you'll | | | | threads, and trim the ends to give a clean, even look. |
| want to revisit time and time again. When your child | | | | You have created your own tassel. For using in y our |
| goes to college or gets married, it will be a precious | | | | scrapbook, you'll want your tassel to be thinner, enough |
| special gift of love. | | | | to create dimension without being bulky. For other |
| After you have some experience with scrapbooking, | | | | projects, the thickness is up to you! |
| you'll want to move on to more sophisticated methods. | | | | We've outlined the basic steps to creating a basic |
| You can use a wide variety of items to decorate and | | | | scrapbook and to bring it up a notch. We've shown |
| add interest to your pages. Your theme, color scheme, | | | | you how to create your own tassels. Keep in mind |
| design, layout, and embellishments will tie your | | | | that these are basic steps and suggestions, not |
| memorabilia together in a beautiful elegant format. | | | | hard-and-fast rules. |
| Creating a More Sophisticated Scrapbook | | | | Scrapbooking is an individual art, an expression of your |
| When you're ready to move on to your next project, | | | | personality. If you want to bend or even break these |
| here are some things you'll need to remember to | | | | rules, feel free! The point is creating an object of |
| create a sophisticated, elegant scrapbook: | | | | beauty that expresses your personal uniqueness and |
| 1. Choose materials that reflect a classic color scheme. | | | | that presents your memories in a well-coordinated |
| Your color scheme can reflect a theme (like red, white, | | | | beautiful package. |