How to Get Your Spouse More Involved in Your Scrapbooking Hobby

Many couples are lucky enough to have hobbies in common with each other. If your hobby is scrapbooking and your spouse is not into it, you are not the only one. Chances are your spouse appreciates your hard work in preserving your family's memories, but doesn't quite understand why scrapbooking can be so enthralling. Here are seven ideas for getting your spouse more involved in your scrapbooking hobby and preserving a point of view different from your own.

Encourage your spouse's input on which photos you scrapbook. Encourage your spouse get involved in the photography side of scrapbooking by taking pictures. Often those who scrapbook are also the photographers and therefore get left out the pages. Giving input on what pictures you select to print, or suggesting pictures to use on a scrapbook layout are other easy ways your spouse can be involved creating your family scrapbook.

Have your spouse write journaling for your layouts. Have your spouse write on a tag you can use as hidden journaling, or hand him your completed layout, or a journaling block, and a pen and show him where to write. Getting your spouse's memories of an event is just as important as recording your own. If illegible handwriting is an issue, use hidden journaling, or have him do the journaling on the back of the layout.

Put layouts in albums together. If your layouts are piling up, set aside some time together with your spouse to put them in albums while you talk - and reminisce about the memories you're putting in the scrapbook

Shop together. If you can control yourself, take your spouse to the scrapbook store with you and let him pick out some supplies for you to use. You'll know if this idea will work for him or not. You may be surprised at his enthusiasm - or at least at what he picks out. It may be time to try a new product or embellishment you wouldn't have selected. Another option is to shop or browse scrapbooking products online. Be warned though: shopping with your spouse isn't a good idea if he isn't aware how much scrapbooking supplies cost.

Ask for and accept suggestions. Asking a specific question such as, "Which of these two stickers should I put here?" will get you a better answer than a generic, "What do you think?"

Don't criticize his efforts. Even if your spouse is just offering his opinion, snapping back isn't likely to get you more involvement. If he is willing to write some journaling, pick out some supplies, or even make a layout on his own, praise, don't criticize.

Look at completed scrapbook albums together. No one will appreciate photos of your family vacations and children more than the people who are in them. Browsing through completed scrapbook albums is one of the most enjoyable parts of scrapbooking. Hopefully this will help your spouse appreciate all the effort you put into preserving your family's memories.