Why has scrapbooking become such a popular pastime? One reason is that it combines the memorabilia you have collected from significant events, with the more intimate photographs of your loved ones. Creating a scrapbooking album is more personal than a traditional photo album because you can include anecdotes and family history to create a unique keepsake for your family. Finally, most women enjoy using their creativity to enhance and memorialize important milestones in their lives.

Where to Begin the Journey

The key to successful scrapbooking is to start where you are. Don't worry about the Christmas pictures from two years ago, instead focus on making scrapbooking a habit and part of your routine. Once you establish that every Wednesday night cropping routine, you will be amazed at how quickly to will begin to ?catch-up? on past photos.

1. Pick a Theme: Sit down with your album and your most recently developed or downloaded pictures. Your first step will be to decide on a theme for your pictures. It may be self-evident like ?Dad's Birthday? or ?Arizona Vacation.? If not, try to focus on the event, location, or season. It can be non-specific such as, ?Fall Family Fun? or ?Baby Love.?

2. Choose a Background: I recommend beginners use a pre-made kit that includes pre-cut paper, embellishments and some suggestions for layout. Soon enough you will be comfortably creating your own designs, but it's always good to have a starting point. It's also better to work on color than a white background, for aesthetic appeal.

3. Pick Your Pics: When deciding how many, and which, pictures to use on a page, consider the size and quality of the image. You may choose to keep a special image full size as the focal point of the page, or to make several similar images different sizes of the same shape.

4. Embellish: Decide if you want to journal a few comments, or merely enhance the photo with letters, stickers or relevant quotes. You will find numerous sources that will give you ideas. This is where you get creative and let loose!

Discovering Your Muse

Scrapbookers are incredibly diverse in their likes, dislikes, abilities and strengths. Try some of these methods to help you uncover your hidden talents and inspirations.

Some scrappers claim their muse is in the materials. So in addition to browsing through websites and catalogs, hit the local dollar store and see what catches your eyes. Once you have the perspective of a scrapbooker, ordinary items like ribbons, jewelry, cords and buckles look like treasures.

If writing is the right thing for you, consider journaling. This entails more than just listing dates, names, and birth dates. You may choose to record a funny story, a favorite poem, or to explain why a certain photograph is so significant. The difference is a picture of Mary blowing out the candles on her birthday cake versus that same picture accompanied by the story of how Mary's mom accidentally broiled the first cake, and had to run out and buy this store-bought version at the last minute.

If you have an artistic flair for drawing, you may choose to add swirls, doodle or cartoons for your commentary. This album will be an expression of you, so don't be afraid to make it personal. In fact, don't let fear get in your way at all. Just give it a try. Once you have done a page or two, scrapbooking will be effortless and fun. Creating a scrapbooking album is a great way to relax with friends, preserve family history and create something that is uniquely yours.