wine on the keyboard

The Ultimate Scrapbook-or Not

by Kay~Kacey on 10/21/2008

You know how some people carefully plan out their pictures? They crop them and set them up in beautiful designs in their scrapbooks? Or at least they buy photo albums and stuff their photos in there?

That is so not me. You’re more likely to find photos I like tucked all around my house.

photos on window

Like taped up all around my window beside my computer where I can see them every time I look out the window. Or tucked under a magnet on my fridge. Or slipped into the mirror’s edge on my dresser. At Christmas time, when anyone sends me a photo in their Christmas card, I tuck it into the “seam” on my kitchen cabinets. The kitchen is cheerfully decorated with pictures of friends and family for the holiday season.

I WANT to be a scrapbooker. I really do. It’s such a great idea. It’s just that I never take the time to do it. I also worry that I’ll tuck all these photos in gorgeous scrapbooks…and hardly ever take them out to look at them. The way I have them scattered all around the house, I see them all the time. An ever changing vista of happy memories.

I also love to make DVD slide shows of photos set to music. Though, once again, how many times do people really play these DVDs?

How about you? Are you a scrapbook person? A blow them up and frame them person? Stuff them in a box? Make slideshows? What do you do with your photos?

Moms At Work October 21, 2008 at 5:15 am

Scrapbooking is too time-consuming for me…but I do like the artfulness of frames…I collect them in in all shapes and materials, add my favorite photos (usually black-and-white) and scatter them all over the house. I also adore flickr for sharing with friends.

Mary Cluley October 21, 2008 at 6:31 am

Yes, I do scrapbook. I got started 5 years ago when I was like YOU….pictures were everywhere around the house and in the old “sticky” albums. One of my friends and I were talking and she said that the photos were my children’s “history.” When she said that, it woke me up. I decided to give it a try. My friend said not to think of EVERY photo…just choose one project. So I decided upon my middle son who was about to graduate from HS.

In 3 months I created his “history,” an album with my journalling (that will come easy for YOU!) and his photos, with my love. He had tears and he rarely had tears..typical 17 year old. It was the greatest gift I ever gave anyone.

Since then, I am working on all of my children’s albums…their history. I do it simply….not with tons of stickers and embellishments. The focus is their PHOTOS, and my journalling, “to” them. I use their names a lot.

Anyway, if I can help you in ANY way….I would be honored to. I am a full time teacher and on the side I am a consultant for a company called Creative Memories. I would be honored for you to check out my website…especially “project center” which has tons of great ideas. Our albums have a lifetime guarantee…and are very different than the ones in stores that are held together with a screw and 1/8th inch of plastic. Do take a look.

With every sincere good wish,
Mary Cluley

Jacque Ruch October 21, 2008 at 6:55 am

For me…avid scrapbooker, own more stuff than I could ever use in a lifetime…I’m VERY behind in my scrapbooking, but I do love what I’ve made so far!

Dru October 21, 2008 at 8:14 am

I’m a store all digital pictures on my external drive under specified folders so when I am looking for a picture, it is easy to locate. The other pictures are in a organizer box waiting for me to scan them so they can join the other digital photos.

Kacey October 21, 2008 at 8:21 am

Dru makes a good point. I do have the photos backed up to an external drive. Every so often I burn them to DVDs and take those over to my mom’s house. I’m a bit anal about this stuff. Which reminds me…I need to burn another DVD with my more recent photos and go visit my mom!

Deb October 21, 2008 at 8:31 am

yes, I am a scrapbooker and will confess, it does take a lot of time, money and creativity. although, when I want to reminisce about that trip we took to hawaii in 03, I know exactly where to look. the same goes for when I want to see the photos from my 50th birthday or 30th anniversary…I can find those shots. however, today, I have gravitated toward a more digital approach and use my laptop a lot more for photo archiving…thanks to the digital camera influx. so, both avenues have their purpose and I will probably continue with both. my suggestion, give it a try. you may like what you find.

Mental P Mama October 21, 2008 at 8:57 am

I have 30+ years’ worth of photographs, artwork and hallmark cards stacked in a corner here. Someday it will be organized into some great organized thing-y.

Rene October 21, 2008 at 10:59 am

I collect scrapbook materials but in the last 12 years I’ve only done one scrapbook page. I just don’t have the time.

We hoard all our photos on the computer and during Christmas my husband sits down at the computer with a crate-load of frames and photo software and starts printing. We hang our pictures all through the hallways. We’ll get those multiple picture frames and keep to a theme like Hawaii or sports.

Gayle October 21, 2008 at 11:15 am

Ugh, I am horrible about just having photos on my computer. I have the old style photo albums put together from when my kids were little, but haven’t even done that since I switched to a digital camera, and that was in 2002!

TSannie October 21, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Oh yes, I’m a scrapbooker! I have 10 – 15 of them in my basement. They have been there between 10 – 15 years. They have had nothing put in them. Sure, I do the same with pictures as you do, Kacey. However I have a large Rubbermaid container filled to the brim with photos….unorganized photos.
Yep, scrapbooker extraordinaire here! 🙄

MAYBELLINE October 21, 2008 at 12:51 pm

I’m terrible. I have become my mother. No notations on any photos. 😥

Debra October 21, 2008 at 1:43 pm

Yes, I am a scrapbooker. I also love photography and beading (as in making jewelry). We have a circle of five close friends who love scrapbooking. We meet at my home on the 1st Sunday of every month for Scrap Club. It’s a joy to spend time with these wonderful ladies, being creative, sharing stories, a glass of wine, chocolate, and…oh yes!…scrapbooking! My scrapbook room(s) are a bit over the top. Here’s a link to a few photos of my scrap sanctuary… http://georgiarectors.blogspot.com/2008/01/scrap-sanctuary-part-deux.html.

Someday you’ll catch the scrap bug too!

Debra October 21, 2008 at 1:52 pm

Apparently the link I posted doesn’t work. Anyway, if you care to check out my scrap room, click on Labels, and Scrap Club. Enjoy!

mary October 21, 2008 at 2:14 pm

I’m like you — the ones that actually get printed seem to find a home tucked in the chair rail or into the corner of my bedroom mirror. When I see these beautiful scrapbooks, I just feel as though I’m a bad mother for not preserving their memories for my kids… the DVDs sound nice, though…
xoxo,
mary

Jakki October 21, 2008 at 10:48 pm

I am a scrapper….have been since I was 13. I love photo’s. Something about documenting time. Keeping it still, not moving. I have scrapbooks. Photo albums, photo boxes. Ummmm I’ve got them framed on tables, on the fridge. On my desk. On walls at work. on my computer. On screensavers. You name it. Whatever medium I can find to do it. I just like to capture moments in time right when they happen.

Suzanne October 22, 2008 at 6:53 am

I like to keep photos around the house, too, but most of my photos are digital anymore and never make it off the computer….

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