October 2023 -

What is it? I have been scrapbooking for 25 years and selling Close to my Heart for almost 20 years, yet so many of my own photos go left not in albums or even on scrapbook pages.

I have a large stack of finished layouts that I have done with the company over the years, but my picture-taking life started 50 years ago, and my mother’s started 75 years ago. They didn’t print in 4×6″ or 4×4″ prints back then. As a result, I have a bunch of 2×3″ 3½ x 4″ photos and well, you get the idea. I also don’t have a lot that matches the titles on these pages. “Pals” for instance, isn’t something my parents spend precious money taking pictures of. Sure, I had them, but no one was taking those pictures like they do today.

I have decided I will evaluate each finished layout without photos and see if it can be reworked to fit my pictures, and if so, I will show you the before and after of my progress. If not, I will list them on my Etsy page. Perhaps they will work for someone else.

When my mind goes, I want to be able to look back on these scrapbooks and remember the good times. What are you scrapbooking for? What are you struggling with? Please share with me where you are in your scrapbook journey (if you are a cardmaker, tell me that too so I can offer tutorials and sketches that apply to you as well)

Try in these days of digital, no wasted shot photos to get yourself in some of them. Even if you don’t like looking at yourself, your grandchildren, or even great-grandchildren might wonder at some point. After all, you are the matriarch of your family.

Creatively, Carol

I was reading an old scrapbook magazine when I came across a great idea for organizing scrapbook ideas. I think it would really work for any magazine you are reading or even a website. Whenever I sit down to read a magazine or a web article, I have a stack of 4″ x 6″ index cards. I write one theme ( like babies or color suggestions) on each card. As I read through the magazine and come across a layout or article with an idea I like that I would like to use, I write down the reference on the appropriate card.

Whenever I experience “scrapbooker’s block and can’t think of a creative idea for a page, I simply pull out my index card file. I look up the appropriate theme and have a selection of ideas to choose from. This will work great if you save all the issues of the magazine. But, what if you are like me and can’t handle years of magazines? I make a few more notes on the card. If I feel I need the particular page the idea is on, I scan that page and title it the same way the card is titled, along with the issue and date of the magazine. This may seem like extra work, but not having 5 years of back magazines gives me space for something else and the computer file is easy to find.

If you have a great organizing tip, leave it below along with your comments. If I can offer you any assistance, please reach out at [email protected]

I Think I Figured it Out!

Here’s a Great Tip When Reading Crafting Magazines or Even Websites!