by Nancy Monson, the author of Craft to Heal: Soothing Your Soul with Sewing, Painting, and Other Pastimes
Scrapbooking is a passion for millions (and a multi-billion dollar industry) but you don’t have to be an artist to put together a page of memories. Initially, "I was a bit intimidated by the process of scrapbooking," admits Gibbons, who quickly got the hang of the craft (and the scrapping bug, so much so that she regularly plans scrapping parties with her friends, and has even written a book on the subject Scrapbooking Traditions, as well as come out with a line of coordinated products). Likewise, you’re never too old to learn something new, says Cotton, a common refrain she hears from caregivers when she suggests taking up a craft or hobby. Nor is the expense of scrapbooking prohibitive (see the sidebar on tools of the trade you need for the craft). Here, then, all excuses aside, are tips on getting started:
- Plan your craft experience around the abilities of the care recipient. Don’t attempt to do too much in one session—a page at a time, or perhaps a card instead—and don’t get frustrated if the person doesn’t participate very much in the actual scrapbooking process. “If they have dementia, they may get distracted or not remember stories about the pictures,” Cotton says. Of if they have a physical illness, they may tire easily or even fall asleep. But they may also enjoy watching you work, or looking over the page you’ve created.
- Choose a theme. Rather than attempt to scrapbook a shoebox-full of photos that have been squirreled away in a closet for 20 years, be selective. Choose a few photos that revolve around a special theme—a wedding or anniversary, a holiday gathering, a favorite vacation or another event. If you’d like to do a memory book (usually a small-size scrapbook commemorating someone’s life), chose a couple of photos from each decade of a person’s life and create pages around the snapshots, suggests Stacy Croninger, former editor-in-chief of PaperCrafts Magazine (www.papercraftsmag.com). Often, the photos will help you decide the color of paper you’d like to use to cover the page or as matting for the photos (a process of adhering a photo to a piece of paper leaving a border around it, to make the picture stand out on the page). For instance, if you pull out a photo of your family opening Christmas presents, you might opt for a red and green color scheme. Just be sure to choose colors that complement those in the photograph.
- Start a page with a main photo and build from there. Add a title to the page and the person’s name in pen, with stickers or rub-on lettering. Add additional photos (most scrapbook pages have three to five photos on them). Then jot down a few notes about the photos, or mix in a ticket stub, newspaper article or a letter the person wrote or received that relates to the theme. “I find that an odd number of elements on a page looks better than an even number,“ says Croninger. Before you paste anything down, check that the design moves naturally from one element to another. You want your eye first to go to a focal point—usually your main photo—and then travel in a natural flow that mimics the letter Z, according to Creating Keepsakes magazine (www.creatingkeepsakes.com).
- Mix it up. Don’t just cut paper and photos, tear them into irregular shapes for a textured look. Add different size mats to your photos. Place type on the page both horizontally and vertically. Set items off-center and on the diagonal.
- Add embellishments. Fancy up the page with ribbons, metal charms, rubber-stamped images, die cutouts and buttons.
- Sign the project. Record the date and the names of the people who worked on the project so you’ll remember how you felt and what you shared while creating it.
Tools of the Trade
It’s easy to find scrapping supplies at general (Wal-Mart) and craft stores (Jo-ann’s, Michaels, AC Moore), as well as specialty scrapbooking stores such as Memories. You can buy a starter kit, many of which center on a theme or holiday, or you can purchase your supplies a la carte, says Croninger. Either way, you can get started with about $20-$30 worth of supplies, especially if you use the coupons that craft stores regularly put in their flyers. The basics you’ll need:
- An album. Most scrapbooks are 12” x 12” or 8 ½” x 11”, but you can also buy smaller-size books. Bindings also vary, from 3-ring albums to books with bound or expandable spines. Choose what you like and think will best suit your project.
- A cutting device. Scissors work well, and if you want to get fancy you can buy ones that make decorative cuts such as wavy lines. A paper trimmer is another good option because it has a straight edge you can use as a guide when cutting. You can also buy paper punches in all sorts of shapes (leaves, birthday candles, etc.) to create fun designs and edges.
- Adhesive. There are more types of glue available than you could ever imagine! Glue sticks are an all-purpose favorite because they’re so simple to use and easy to clean up, but they may not adhere well if you live in a dry climate. Popular adhesives include Herma® glue dots and Crop & Glue® because they aren’t wet and messy and they don’t wrinkle the paper. Whatever glue you choose, be sure it is acid-free and photo-safe, so that it doesn’t damage your photos or make your pages yellow and disintegrate over time.
- Paper. Start with cardstock in a variety of complementary colors to serve as mats and borders for your photos and journaling. If you want more options, select patterned and decorative papers that fit your color scheme and theme.
- Writing implements. Purchase a calligraphy pen or marker to write notes on the pages.
- Embellishments. If you want to go beyond the basics, buy rub-on lettering, ribbons, stickers, foils, metal charms and buttons (but beware, it’s hard to stop with just a few of these trinkets!).
Scrapbooking Websites
Visit these websites for scrapping ideas and suggestions on where to purchase supplies:
Creating Keepsakes
www.creatingkeepsakes.com
Craft Place
www.craftplace.org
HGTV
www.hgtv.com
(Once on the site, insert the word “scrapbook” into the search engine to be directed to scrapbooking projects, tips and videos)
Nancy Monson is the author of Craft to Heal: Soothing Your Soul with Sewing, Painting, and Other Pastimes, which details the mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of pursuing a hobby you love. She also writes for many national magazines on craft, health, and relationship topics. Visit her website at www.nancymonson.com.
