Introduction

You see them everywhere—scrapbooks filled with gorgeous layouts and precious family pictures. They’re on magazine covers, hobby books, advertisements, or even the coffee table of someone’s home. Scrapbooking has become the hobby of choice for many women across the country.

Then there’s you. You, with your drawers stuffed full of photos—in or out of their envelopes—out of order, unprotected from time and its damage. Or, worse yet, your photographs are stored in magnetic albums wrecking daily injury to your pictures. You’d love to have scrapbooks of your own, but you don’t have the time, talent, or know-how to tackle such a big project.

Yes, you do! Scrapbooking is a wonderfully unique hobby. Your albums are just that: yours. You can make them as simple or as complicated as you choose. If you choose simple, you’re right in style. Many scrapbook publications are leaning toward more simplistic layouts for the time - pressed — and who isn’t? —scrapper.

Great, you say, but I don’t know a trimmer from a crop. No, problem! That’s where this course comes in! “Preserving Your Memories Through Pictures” will guide you through the entire process of getting started in scrapbooking. We’ll take you through each step, explaining every term, tool, and nuance of the scrapbooker’s language. Once you finish this course, you’ll be ready to complete your first album and feel confident enough to join fellow scrapbookers as well, if you’d like.

Six years ago, I received a scrapbook as a baby gift from my sister-in-law. I admit I had no clue what to do with it and it sat in a closet for months. While I appreciated the thought, I was clueless as to what specifically, I was supposed to do with this book. Why on earth would I bother to put my pictures in this strange book? I had plenty of photo albums; what was the big deal? Busy with motherhood, the scrapbooking craze had escaped me. I had no idea that women were gathering all over the country, preserving their families’ memories and bonding with other women! Scrapbooking is to our generation what quilting was once to generations past.

"Now, wait a minute," I know what you’re thinking. "That’s nice, but I don’t need another hobby where I make things and then have to find someplace for them to go! I can’t clutter my house up with stuff." Yes, if you’ve ever been into other hobbies: ceramics, macramé, cross-stitch, decoupage, tatting, etc. While it was fun, you soon had a houseful of things. That’s the beauty of scrapbooking! When you’re finished, you have something useful and precious to your family! A well-preserved family history. You don’t need to find anyone to give your crafts to, because this is all for you and your family.

I can hear what you’re thinking, "All right, what’s wrong with the photo albums I already have?" Excellent question! In short, they’re damaging your photos. Ever look at a really old photograph? Notice how the color is distorted and the edges may be worn? That’s because photographs are victims of the elements and prone to damage if we don’t take steps to preserve them. The focus of scrapbooking, first and foremost, is protecting your photographs.

Generations from now, when your great-great-granddaughter looks at the pictorial record of her ancestors, think of how excited she’ll be! Rather than the tattered, scattered photos we’re sometimes lucky to have now from generations before us, we are in the unique position to be able to leave the most preserved record for our offspring. What a privilege!

Six years after receiving that first gift album I have completed more than 25 albums, made many new friends, and have the peace of mind that our family’s history is safe and sound. I’d like to offer the same opportunities to you. “Preserving Your Memories Through Pictures” is the place to start!

Lessons

Click here to see course syllabus