MORE BONUS ONLINE FEATURES
 
Scrap Blog
Product Spotlight
Technique Corner
ARCHIVES: 5 Min Scrap Chat
ARCHIVES: Tech Corner

The scrapbooking style I have developed , strongly reflects how I approach my pages and scrapbooking itself.
a. My work is SIMPLE so that I won't get overwhelmed,
b. MEANINGFUL so it's worth my time to do it
c. TIMELESS-so it will still look good in 25 plus years
d. EFFICIENT- so I can get it done - and keep going and...
e. AUTHENTIC - so that it is totally me.

The planning of my pages is strongly influenced by the message I want them to convey.The first thing I do is decide on the intent of my page and write out what I want to say. Then, I choose the pictures or memorabilia that will help support the message. Once I've gathered the journalling, pictures and a few sheets of paper, I arrange the paper and photos so the journaling will fit on the page. I don't worry about design elements or sketching out the page - I just make sure that my original intentions are on the page.

For me , scrapbooking is all about preserving my thoughts, my memories and a little piece of me. I'm driven to scrapbook the things that are most meaningful to me - my beliefs, my family and the stories behind them. I believe in first things first, what is most important. I scrapbook to get things on paper in case I don't get a chance to tell them or for my future family members to know who I was. My personal story is different than anyone else - everyone's personal story is different than anyone else, that's what makes scrapbooking so wonderful. It's the story that matters in scrapbooking, not the techniques or style. No two albums are ever alike. It's an amazing thing!

If I get stuck on a layout I reflect back on the original purpose of the project. I think of what my intension is for the layout, whether that be an artistic creation, the story or the picture. I always go back to the intension and worry about the embellishing later. The intent is the most important part of the album or layout.

When you're creatung a layout and don't know what to do next, Ask yourself some questions about the full picture. Imagine your great great granddaughter reading your scrapbooks in years to come. Are there missing pieces in the picture? Is she going to understand the message you're trying to convey? What is it going to mean to her? What is she going to learn about you that she can apply to her own life? Every legacy needs to encompass the full picture of its intent.