How to Pick the Perfect Paper for your Layout-Part I

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Meredith

Sometimes, beginning scrappers just simply don’t know where to start. Picking papers can be an overwhelming task. Especially if you are in a scrapbooking store. There are so many choices. But, what about when you have left the store, have a huge stack of papers already sitting at home, and you want to create a scrapbook page? What papers do you choose first? There are lots of ways that I decide on which paper to use. Sometimes, I simply pick the paper that I’m really itching to use. You know, the one that is newest on my shelf. The one … Continue reading →

Embrace Those Weird Photos

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Meredith

Sometimes it seems that we only scrapbook the precious photos. The ones that scream, “My baby is beautiful!” or, “I have the perfect family!” But, I say, embrace the abnormal and scrap those photos that show the imperfect moments too. I have found in my scrapbooking that those layouts end up being some of my favorites. After all, life isn’t all smiles and giggles is it? Here are a few examples of photos that are a little out of the norm that I have scrapped: My son crying in his baby blessing outfit. I love this photo. If we only … Continue reading →

Who Looks at Your Albums?

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Meredith

If I really stopped and thought about this question, it just might depress me. It sometimes seems like no one is looking at my scrapbooking. My husband humors me because I show him every layout I finish pretty much in a hopeless attempt to find someone that appreciates my work. My four-year-old has even become slightly interested in looking at my layouts, but mainly because she wants to steal those scissors away from me and cut some paper. But, it is really meaningful to have other people that scrapbook appreciate your work isn’t it? When I complete an entire album, … Continue reading →

Giving Your Photos Respect

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Meredith

Many times when I take a picture, I already have in mind what I want to do for the scrapbook page. Sometimes, I even take pictures just because I know it will make a great layout! I also think taking pictures is important for keeping very special memories alive for a long time. A few years ago, my husband and I, and our daughter, went out to California to see the dairy farm where my Father-in-law grew up. There were eight kids in his family, and he spent a lot of his childhood at a neighbor’s farm working and sleeping … Continue reading →

How to Have a Thrilling Thanksgiving

Posted on November 17, 2008 by Michele Cheplic

If your idea of a thrilling Thanksgiving consists of fishing Aunt Louise’s dentures out of the mashed potatoes and safeguarding your fine crystal from your overzealous uncle, who insists he’s a professional juggler after a few cocktails, then I have two words for you: Universal Studios. For the first time since opening in 1964, Universal Studios Hollywood will be open on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Ditch your dysfunctional relatives and head to a place where the thrills and chills don’t involve your wedding china. The amusement park has long been a favorite destination for families to celebrate special occasions. In … Continue reading →

Lighthouse Parenting Provides Stable Beacons

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Jen Thorpe

Lighthouse parenting is one of many different parenting styles. The overall goal with this parenting style is to provide your teenagers with a stable beacon that they can turn to for guidance. It is a balance between protecting your teens from harm and giving them the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. The lighthouse parenting style was created by Kenneth Ginsburg, MD, MSEd. He has a book called “Raising Kids to Thrive: Balancing Love With Expectations and Protection With Trust”. In the book, he describes lighthouse parenting by saying that parents should be like lighthouses for their children, “beacons of … Continue reading →

Birthing Moms Go Glam for Facebook

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Michele Cheplic

I am not on Facebook, and don’t have any plans to create an account. This, of course, means I am out of the loop about certain events and incidents, especially since I have a number of friends who communicate exclusively via Facebook. Prime example: One of my childhood friends from Hawaii recently gave birth to a baby boy. Whereas I heard (via telephone) from another friend that my pal had a natural birth and the baby was in good health, I had no clue what Junior and his mom looked like post-birth because I was not able to view the … Continue reading →

Wednesday’s Weekly Challenge-One Photo Pages

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Meredith

I’ve blogged a few times about how to fit more photos on your page. For me, and many scrappers, that is challenging. However, I realize for others, it is challenging to scrapbook just one photo on a page. Maybe some think it is a waste, or you just don’t know what to do with all that negative space. For whatever reason it is difficult, this week we are going to give you a few tips on how to make your layout beautiful with only one photo on it. First, one reason that I love to scrap just one photo on … Continue reading →

Scrapbooking is Supposed to Be Fun!

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Meredith

Do you ever feel bogged down by your scrapbooking? I do. Sometimes I look at all those photos, or I think about how behind I am already, and I just say, “What is the point?”. On those days, I don’t scrapbook. Shocker, I know. But, what IS the point if you are not inspired? What IS the point if you are not having fun? We could easily put our photos in your normal photo albums and look at them at our leisure, but in my opinion, the whole point of scrapbooking is to have fun creating a memory that you … Continue reading →