Scrapbooking

I've been in love with scrapbooking for a long time, we probably started our affair in 2002... but things were so slow to get going. I was in the ninth grade, and although time was plentiful, I was only in love with the concept of having my own beautiful album full of intricate scrapbook pages and all my memories. On top of that, I was a student on a budget, so I spent what little money I had on a 12 x 12 Pioneer album, and one of those "big packs" of paper at Michael's. This was all I had... and needless to stay those items just stayed as a album and paper. The magic didn't happen on its own... and I was disappointed.

I started watching Sandi Genovese on DIY Scrapbooking, spending my free time admiring all the new products and ideas she introduced with each show. This had me convinced that I needed more things so that I could scrapbook the "right" way. I saved up some money and bought specialty glue that could be used as permanent adhesive or re-positionable adhesive, and then splurged on a palette of art chalk, just like I saw on the show. I had episode upon episode of DIY Scrapbook saved on the TE-VO. Seven years later, I had two 12 x 12 albums, but only three pages were filled.

I spent the first half of this year bargain hunting for scrapbook items. I found Martha Stewart stamps and great stickers for only a buck at Big Lots, and discovered that Ross and TJ Maxx is the place to buy paper packs. I used my new goodies to make a few cards, but for the most part they sat there collecting dust. I feared that I was again buying scrapbook goodies because I loved the idea of expressing my emotions behind a memory through beautiful scrapbook layouts. 

Then during the second half of this year, I suddenly had an urge to start my scrapbook and finish some layouts. So far I've completed about five pages , and I find myself searching for time to start my next layout. What has finally put the spark in my relationship with scrapbooking, bringing our romance to a full flame? My problem wasn't that I needed mountain upon mountain of scrapbooking tools, papers, and embellishments, I needed something constant that I loved and wanted to record. What is my new found love and passion that fuels my scrapbooking? In July, I gave birth to my wonderful daughter, TD. I scrapbook in part to remember these days when she is so small and needy, in part to record and celebrate each "first" and achievement, in part so that I can show her about herself later, and in part so that she will always have a part of me when I am gone.