Scrapbooking Everyday Memories

These albums are such an amazing way to record your family's history. No matter what system you are using, you'll need to be prepared to take on this major yearlong project. Taking a little bit of extra time to set yourself up for success will really pay off!

First, you'll want to put together your toolbox. What punches do you find yourself grabbing every time you craft? What shapes do you think you'll use again and again? Designate a special box or basket for your favorite tools. We suggest the following basics:

• Your favorite Fiskars trimmer
• A corner rounder
• 2-3 basic squeeze punches
• Fiskars scissors
• 1-2 border punches
• Adhesive
• A journaling pen

Next, you'll want to decide on a few basics for your project. You may find that with a long-term project such as this, you want a consistent style throughout. My go-to? Rounded corners! All of my photos and journaling squares have rounded corners. Other ideas –

• Choose which neutral color you'll use throughout the album – kraft, white, or ivory are all good choices.
• Print a yearlong calendar to tuck inside the front of your album, or to hang near your craft supplies. This will make it easier to keep up with which week you're working on.
• Stash a stack of post-it notes in your toolbox – you'll find them handy for jotting down notes about photos that you need to print, or events that you want to include

The most challenging part of this type of project can be remembering to make notes throughout your day! Create a special notebook to carry with you – jot down events, funny conversations, song lyrics, or quotes that catch your attention. It helps to also stash a poly-envelope in your bag to hold receipts, ticket stubs, business cards, and other ephemera that you collect throughout your day. You can also buy large poly envelopes at your local office supply store that can be attached to your fridge or a bulletin board – handy for collecting bits of paper throughout the week!
The key to staying with a project like this is actually really simple – JUST HAVE FUN!