So You Think You Can...Scrap? Long Island Exchange: I've been keeping a journal since junior high and I always thought scrapbooking would be a really fun way to capture my memories as a mom. But I just can't find the time. What's your advice? Pedersen: Not enough time is one of the most common complaints among scrapbookers, who are also often wives and mothers. There are a couple of ways to get past this roadblock. One is to break projects down into smaller steps that can be completed in little chunks of time, like 15 minutes. If you're working on a layout, put a load of laundry in and then choose your photos. Change a diaper, and then choose the background paper. Swap out the laundry and then jot down some notes for journaling. At the end of the day, the layout is just as done as if you had sat down to scrap for an hour straight. Another way to get more out of the time available is to *simplify*. Many scrapbookers think each layout must be some elaborate piece of art. But a lot of art is beautiful in its simplicity. Don't make things harder on yourself than they need to be. Scrapbooking is about preserving and documenting memories. However you achieve that is fine. A simplified approach to scrapbooking is to use those photo albums that have the slip-in pockets. Slip photos in some pockets, and use the other pockets to house the story written on a scrap of cardstock. You can see my example of this approach on my blog: Long Island Exchange: My kids are getting big, and I lost so much time already. Where should I begin? Should I break [out] the pregnancy photos? (Oh dear). Pedersen: There's no "right" place to begin -- pick some photos and scrap them. But advice that experts commonly give is to start with recent photos: "start current and work your way back". The memories are fresher in your mind, and you'll approach the project with less dread, because you remember the fun you had. Then, as you become more familiar with scrapbooking, you can start theme projects: your pregnancy, a specific family vacation, holiday traditions. You'll eventually work your way through your photos -- every page done is another memory preserved, and that's "a good thing". Long Island Exchange: You specialize in scrapbook journaling. What exactly is that? Pedersen: Technically, the term journaling means any writing or sentiment on the page, which can be the title, a quote, a poem, a caption, or a write-up of events. But to me journaling is more specific; it's how you tell the story of the memory. It's the Who-What-Where-Why-When-and-How of the story. If your grandmother took the time to write down some of her memories, would you think it sounded stupid, or would you be grateful for the keepsake? Long Island Exchange: Can you briefly explain what a "BOOK OF ME" is? Long Island Exchange: How long have you been scrapbooking and why did you start? Pedersen: I made my first scrapbook layout on July 17, 1998. I know that because that's the date on the check I wrote to the Creative Memories consultant! I started scrapbooking because I wanted a way to creatively display my piles and boxes of photos, and a place to document all the stories and memories that went with the photos. Scrapbooking allows me to do both. Long Island Exchange: Scrapbooking is a craft and I'm so not crafty! I am creative though. What's your advice for those who want to start, but feel intimidated? Pedersen: Just jump in and start. Remember that scrapbooking doesn't have to look like the examples you see in magazines. Looking at layouts done by experts can often be overwhelming. (You should ask to see those
experts' first pages -- you'll feel a lot less intimidated!) I strongly suggest trying a beginner's class in scrapbooking from a local consultant or store -- you'll learn about safe products to use, and how to build a layout from scratch. You'll see that it doesn't have to be hard or complicated. Long Island Exchange: Your website has such amazing information, tips, articles. What's your most frequently asked question? Pedersen: The most frequently asked question on OneScrappySite.com is probably how to install a font. Because it's been asked so many times, I put together a tutorial, and just direct readers there: Long Island Exchange: Do men scrap? Pedersen: Yes, definitely! The majority of scrapbookers are women, about 98%. But there's still that 2%. An idea book actually came out recently that's authored by a man: Scrap City: Scrapbooking for Urban Divas and Small-town Rebels, by Paul Gambino. And another man recently shot a docu-drama about scrapbooking: http://www.scrappedmovie.com. Of course, there are hundreds of other men who scrapbook, and just don't make a fuss about it, or become as addicted as women. They may also call their hobby something else, like "illustrated journals" or "photo journals". Long Island Exchange: What are three tips you would give to a beginner? Pederson: Don't worry about doing it "right". Just have fun! #### Janene Mascarella E-mail This Page | Talk About It | Return to My Column
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So you think you can scrapbook? Don't worry, neither can I. But I'd really love to start. So I asked scrapbooking extrodinare, Angie Pedersen, to help. She's the author of The Book of Me: A Guide to Scrapbooking about Yourself, Growing Up Me: A Guide to Scrapbooking Your Child's Stories, and The Book of US: A Guide to Scrapbooking about Relationships. If anyone can make scrapbooking simple...it's her!
