Scrap SMART-Step 1: Decide on the project you want to start with.

You have seen a scrapbook and are excited! You are thinking you want to get started on your own…but what should you do first? You feel a little unsure of the next step and how to get going. No worries! That is what I am here for! I LOVE to scrapbook and I LOVE to teach people a simple system to create beautiful scrapbook albums! I have been doing this for 30 years now and I can guide you through the process step by step!

You are in the right place...this is where you begin, Step 1!

It is critical to decide what your end goal is before you start! Most people are not clear enough on their goal before they dig into this project. What type of album would you like to create? Why are you creating them? What will you do with them once they are completed? What is the best format for them? Would you like to use the traditional scrapbook or create a book digitally? What kind of a scrapbooker are you? Do you like simple, fast project completion? Do you like to spend time with color and textures and really add in some pizazz? What kind of time will you dedicate to this project? Do you have a deadline? Where will you store them once they are completed?

These are important questions to consider. I knew I wanted to give my kids a taste of their childhood in a few albums. It ended up being three albums a piece. Some people want to create an album for every year of life. That may or may not work for you- I knew I needed to simplify! With multiple children and other priorities, I needed to keep my process streamlined to not feel overwhelmed by it. What will they do with 20 albums when they are 20 years old? Will they like looking through each page or will that end up becoming more of a burden? Where will they be stored? You know yourself and your family- consider all of these things before you start. When I first learned about Creative Memories, I could hardly go to sleep! I told my husband about the zillions of albums I wanted to create! We are going to organize a notebook where you can put all your album making thoughts, so they free up the space to create in your head- you will appreciate the process so much more!

I had a client that made just Halloween and Birthday books for her kids! She loved Halloween and wanted them to have a benchmark for each birthday. She kept up with it and knew exactly what she needed in supplies. She was very settled in it. You get to emphasize YOUR story! Be true to yourself!

There are no overlying rules here- YOU get to decide what is important to you and what fits your lifestyle.

You can:

• Create a “Toddler to Teen” type of album with a 2 page spread of each year through graduation.

• Create a “tribute” style album with 20 enlarged favorite photos and write the story behind them and what you love about that person.

• Create a “3 Album series”- Baby and Toddler, School Days, High School and Sports or hobbies

• Create scrapbooks or digital books of vacations and trips you loved

• Create theme albums just for Sports or Dance or whatever your album recipient is really into

• Create a Christmas album with Christmas through the years

• Create a book of Family Traditions

• Create a book surrounding your favorite holiday- Halloween, Easter, etc.

• Create a “Home Improvement” or Gardening book

• Create Historical books with photos and stories of ancestors

• Create a “30 things we love about you” book when a friend turns 30, for a 50th anniversary, etc.

• Create a “what I love most about you” book for your spouse, friend, parent, child, etc.

• Take a few special photos and enlarge them for a canvas or piece of wall art

Take a moment to decide on your first three projects. Which one is first? Get your head around it, because all your energy will go here! YIPEE! You are ready to start! (Be clear on this before you move to Step 2!)