Jacqueline M. Schimmel

There are so many reasons out there to scrapbook! For one, it's history, right? And it's important for us to remember and cherish these memories, especially for our generations to follow. I would have been so thrilled had my mother saved stories to go along with all her photos. She still keeps my baby photos and photos of her and her family in shoeboxes. Awful thought isn't it?

Have you ever wondered what kind of gift to get for that someone special on Valentine’s Day? How about a scrapbooking album depicting your romance from the time you met until now? I know I would certainly enjoy something that special!

So, you've sat down to do your scrapbooking and now your wondering, "How can I pep this layout up?" Well, read on, because there are plenty of tips for you in this article.

The first thing to do is get those photos out of the magnetic albums immediately and throw away the albums. That takes care of a lot of it right there. But then you might have some pictures that are stuck! You'll want to remove them very carefully, maybe with a letter opener or a butter knife as they might tear. If they are very valuable to you, take them to a photo shop and have them do it for you.

There are a number of very good reasons for scrapping your photos! Some of them you might seem logical and others you may never even thought of. The number one reason to scrap your pictures is.....*drumroll* to preserve them! Yes, by using acid-free materials including page protectors and the proper glue you can preserve your cherished memories for generations to come.

Scrapbooking is not just for your photos! You can use scrapbooking techniques for so many different projects. I'd like to give you some ideas.

So, you've started the wonderful hobby of scrapbooking, but you have no idea how to organize yourself? Here are some cool tips you can use to get organized.

First, you'll want to begin to purchasing an archival safe and acid-free album of your choice. Sizes can range anywhere from 6"x6" to 12"x12". If you want to make one as a gift, you might want to use a smaller size. You can include page protectors, but it's not a necessity.

Scrapbooking has become a very popular hobby in the U.S. and is becoming increasingly popular around the world. Although it is a craft and hobby, the materials and tools scrappers use can become quite expensive. I would like to give you a few tips on how you can save money.

Mistakes, we all make them. After all, we're human, right? Whether you're just a beginner or a truly advanced scrapbooker....there will always be mistakes. Either we're in a hurry, because one of the kids is calling or our thoughts are elsewhere, but sometimes they just can't be avoided. Here are a few helpful tips to take care of those mistakes and actually make your layout special: