Scrapbook Ideas For the Busy Mom

 When I first began to scrapbook I would scrap everything into an album.  A whole year's worth of highlights.  That became too intense and time consuming once I started working again.  Then, I started doing mini-scrapbooks where I could have a finished product faster (and cheaper).

I love doing mini albums. They give me a sense of accomplishment without having to put so much time, energy and cash into a project. I also started making single scrap pages that I would put in a frame. Simply group your favorite pictures from a special day or event, some journalling, embelishments and tada! Done!! I have also added embelishments to the frame or matte if I am using one, and that works well. These can be lots of fun and really quick. I still get to scratch the scrap itch and I get to display my creation for everyone to see.

These are also great gift ideas. You already have the supplies and will just need to run out and pick a frame. Great thrifty gift made with love. The recipient will be sure to love it!!

One of my favorites is an album I started for my daughter when she was almost two. I call it "Letters to Emily". I use alternating shades of purple stock paper and try to stick with the same color theme with the embelishments for cohesiveness (but of course, if you try this it's all up to you). I would hand write little letters to her about things that were happening in our life, things she would do or say and then here and there I would include a picture. For example, if it was her birthday I would write up some Dear Emily letter on one side of the two page spread with some ribbon or other embelishment and on the other page I would include a photo taken on her birthday with some additional embelishments. Tada. Really quick, really cheap, and really cool.

On occassions where there are no pictures, it just ends up being strictly a letter that I would just dress up and make pretty with embelishments that matched up with whatever I wrote...or very simple and classic if there was no true theme to it.

I really love this for many reasons...it's fairly quick to do...you already have a stockpile of supplies (I KNOW YOU DO!!)...and it becomes such a precious snapshot into your life and your child's life. I like the 8x8 size albums and generally make a new album every year (though I've slacked off on this and hope this hub gives me just the right inspiration to start it up again).

If you can't get to it say, every weekend, you can keep a notebook nearby and write down your letters so you don't lose the memory. Then, when you have the time you can combine them or work on them separately as if you had done a spread every weekend.

When I look back at what I have so far I always have the same thought: I wish my mom had done this for me. It can give your grown up child great insight to not only who they were as children but who their mom (or dad) was. How you felt about them and the things they did...it will all be right there for them to treasure.

You can even add advice and life lesson pages as fill ins (or even an entirely separate album). You may not always have some event or might be lacking in something sweet to say (or not so sweet depending on your child!). I actually haven't done this yet, but would like to. You can scrap the sex talk!! The drug talk....and on and on....I was inspired by the movie "My Life" with Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman. He used video, we scrappers scrap!!

I hope you have fun with my ideas (if you didn't already have them yourself)!! I also hope that I'll start working on some pages of my own this weekend!

Happy Scrapping!!