How I got started with scrapbooking

I can't remember exactly when I got started scrapbooking. I know it was well before it became the hobby that it is now. I don't even think it was called scrapbooking. I think they were just referred to as photo albums back then.

Anyway, my earliest memory of designing page layouts was when I was in 5th or 6th grade. As subscribers to the Disney Channel, we received a Disney magazine which I would cut up and glue onto printer paper and make into a book.

Then in 1987, when I was in 8th grade I got a camera! My life was never the same. I took photos and documented everything around me. Once on a youth group camping trip I took photos and was asked to make up a bulletin board of the event. I included captions and funny sayings from the trip. Then after they had been on display for a while I took them down and put them in a photo album. You know, the "magnetic cling" type that we now know are harmful!

In 1993, I went to Disneyland for the first time as a college student and wanted to remember all the fun I had. Back then there were no cute background papers, or die cuts or embellishments like we have now. Instead I drew my own, cut them out and used wrapping paper for backgrounds. (I'm sure these are not acid free!)


Only a few years later, my mom was watching AM Northwest and a women on the show was talking about this new hobby of preserving memories in acid free albums. She was giving workshops at her home, so we decided to go. Come to find out she was a Creative Memories consultant. I worked on my first "real" scrapbook page at her workshop. I wish I could find it...it's so cheesy with my photos cut in the shape of hearts and then random stickers placed everywhere.

Fast forward to the year 2001. I had just given birth to my very first baby. We had photos coming out of our ears. My friend Bekki invited me to go shopping at Scrapbook Sanctuary. Up until this point I had never set foot in a scrapbook store. Once inside I knew I was in trouble...stickers, diecuts and the cutest paper filled the store. I took my time and looked at everything, placing things in my basket as I went. When I checked out I think my total was around $20 or so and I remember thinking...I hope I don't get in trouble w/ DH!!! This is funny looking back, cause I can easily spend 2-3 times that now.

So, that's how I got started. Now I am a scrapbooker for life. I have a room dedicated to storing all my paper, embellishments, photos, and crafty tools. I wake up thinking about it and try to work on pages each day if possible. I love all the new scrapbooking supplies that are out now and I love the creative outlet scrapbooking provides for me, but the biggest motivation for me to scrapbook is when I look back at all the memories of my kids and know that these moments in time will be preserved for a very long time.