To Scrapbook or Not?
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
Want to save this post?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I'll send you time- and money-saving tips every week!
Years ago, I was a scrapbooking queen. I spent every spare dollar on supplies. I drove miles to visit scrapbooking shops and to attend scrapbooking conferences.
This was all pre-internet, too!
As our family grew, I determined that I would make sure that every milestone of my children’s lives would be carefully documented within the pages of color coordinated scrapbooks. I was a dreamer.
Yes, yes, I was.
Fast forward ten years or so. The boys, ages 13, 10, 8, and 6, each have at least one album. The girls? None. Other things have taken precedence over my scrapbooking hobby.
However, I don’t want my girls to follow the typical pattern of “the baby doesn’t have a baby book.” So, I’m turning to you for advice and input.
What would you do?
As it’s been four years since I last cropped a photo, I’m a little “behind the times” in terms of products that are available and techniques that are being used.
One of my goals this year is to do something with our photos. I figure this project is a good one to figure out.
I don’t have time for cute or elaborate layouts. I have four years of photos stored digitally. The choices, as I see them, are
- do nothing
- do my best to physically cut and paste simple designs and get my girls’ albums complete
- create my albums online via Kodak Gallery or Shutterfly
- or ?????
Any suggestions?
If you had four years and two albums to document, what is the quickest and simplest way that you would approach it?
This is such a tough one and I’m right there with you. I LOVE scrapbooking, like the paper kind–but too, have years worth of photos stored on my computer. I have tons of scrapbooking supplies and yet all my most recent albums have been made digitally using Shutterfly, Snapfish, and Picaboo. I have yet to finish my 3 year old’s baby book or start little brother’s (who is 9 months).
So, here’s my take: Since your boys all have handmade albums by you, you don’t want to leave the girls out. Although the digital photobooks take less time, I personally don’t think they are quite as sentimental. When you are gone, your children will treasure having a book handmade by you, with your handwriting, etc.
So, I say do 1 paper book for each of the girls (even if it’s small or not as elaborate)–maybe just their first year. Then, for all the rest of the years, go ahead and do digital photobooks.
A sort of a compromise! 🙂
@Sara @ Mom Endeavors, I agree. Everything about our culture is turning digital–so handmade scrapbooks are going to be extra-special to our kids!
Personal opinion: We Moms got too caught up in the “perfection” of the books. The scrapbooking trends became more and more polished, professional, elaborate, and intimidating. It really went far from it’s roots of just using “scrap” paper to create a memory book.
I went to a craft night at church and got caught up on my books in about 5 hours–because I let go of the goal of perfection embraced “Made Lovingly By Mom”. I used what I had…swapped supplies with friends…and I’m caught up! Err…I was a few months ago anyway… 🙂
@Sara @ Mom Endeavors, I’ve had this same dilemma – my older boys baby books are done – the younger kids . . . hardly anything – and my youngest (adopted) has nothing. I’ve thought about switching to shutterfly – but after watching a friend of mine die suddenly and early from cancer – and leaving behind 2 young kids – it was neat to see her scrapbooks she lovingly made (and tried to catch up on near the end) by hand – with her own handwriting. I can imagine it will be something those 2 treasure as they won’t remember much about their mom because they were so young. You can’t duplicate that with digital printing. Near the end, our church even had a scrapbooking day where several ladies got together and helped her layout basic pages to get her caught up – and then she filled in some of the pages with her own journaling, etc.
Anyways – I’m still debating what to do with mine – but I do think I should at least have a handmade babybook for each of them. The 1st two boys have stuff through kindergarten in theirs – but the others may just have the 1st couple years. We’ll see. I am slowly getting rid of all my scrapbooking supplies though -as I realized I was no longer a scrapbooker – but a scrapbooking supplies collector. 🙂
I’m the same way. I finally decided to sell my entire collection of scrapbook and stamping supplies. I’m going digital now but as a designer I like to fuss a bit more. There’s all kinds of digital kits (a lot are free) that you can use. I love the shabbyprincess.com site.
I also have a friend who uses Picasa on her computer (which also manages your photos), creates collages (you can make them 12 x 12) and then has them printed. Costco will print 12×12 sheets and there are lots of other online places that do it as well. Cheapest I’ve found is about $1.49 a page. That would be a super simple way to go.
Check out Becky Higgins Project Life. While it is often used as a photo a day for a year type album, you could easily do it other ways. Each page has pockets (like baseball card holders) for 4×6 pictures & little journaling cards. Easy peasy to assemble.
Yeah, I got started on Hannahs (my oldest who is 6) and haven’t finished it, let alone put one together for my other 2. Currently I’m sick, but I would put one together. The easiest way to do that would be to create one online, but you are going to want something to put on the shelf like you have for the others. As far as I know, there are websites out there that will print the final product and send it to you (for an arm at least). Your other option is to print out the photos and put together a scrapbook by hand, which to me is much more fun..
I’m a scrapper too…or was one before I had children! I’ve been thinking on this same thing lately. I don’t want to spend the time and money to do scrapbooking the way I used to. I love the albums you can print on Shutterfly etc, but I think I’m am going to do something like this http://www.beckyhiggins.com/projectlife/kit.php
Only not doing the one pic every day, using the divided pocket pages with my own paper (because I have A LOT 🙂 )
@Sara,
You can by all sorts of different divided pockets pages for albums, doesn’t have to be hers. Although, the Project Life kits are really nice. My mom just got hers.
You should read Becky Higgins blog post today — inspiring! (I just started Project Life, and I have hope for catching up)
I feel the same way! I recently started using smilebox, which is digital scrapbooking that looks just like a hand made page, but completely digital. They even come out with new layouts all of the time. You can also personalize the layouts with text, and embelishments. I hope this helps. They have many site’s just like this, all you have to do is find one that suits your needs.
I think the quickest & simplest would be to do the online photobooks from Snapfish, Shutterfly, or one of those companies. Or, if you already have some empty photo albums lying around, you could simply order prints and fill up an album.
I love scrapbooking, but have only recently started to make *real* time for it. Before then, I ordered prints for blank photo albums.
Oh, I look forward to responses here. I was a scrap book junkie and have about 15 albums just like your picture. (Creative memories!) Used to spend all my time/money on my hobby. Once I went digital I quit “keeping up.” (The fact that six children and homeschooling leaves little time or money for such endeavors might have something to do with it!) I’ve not put a picture in a book in 5 years and I too REALLY want to do something about all these pictures. Can’t wait to get some advice right along with ya!
@Tina, Me, too!
Totally Shutterfly! That’s how we did our Year One book and I can’t recommend them enough. Well made and well loved!
I second the Shutterfly!
@Harley Mom, I 3rd Shutterfly…create and wait for a sale then buy!
I would definitely suggest digital scrapping. I don’t have a specific site or software in mind, but it’s so much easier than traditional scrapping. Plus, if you mess up, you haven’t demolished your photos! 😀