Why You Should Start Scrapbooking

Some special moments can't be captured. For everything else there's scrapbooking.

What makes scrapbooking so great? It's fun! Scrapbooking is a cool project for those of us who miss construction paper and crayons just a little too much. For you arts and crafts lovers, scrapbooking provides the perfect opportunity to play with paper, stickers, glitter, markers, and any other craft materials that you've desperately wanted to get your hands on but were too embarrassed to purchase. With the resurgence of crafting amongst the young and hip, it's cooler than ever to channel your inner five-year-old and create that paper crafts project.

Unlike most photo albums, scrapbooks offer freedom when displaying treasured photos and other memorabilia. You can use those stickers and glitter and other decorative items to capture that fond memory in a special way.

Scrapbooks make deeply personal and special gifts (I spent weeks on creating a scrapbook for my brother and sister-in-law to commemorate their wedding). You can share happy memories with others and maybe even express feelings that seem a little sheepish when you say them out loud. A handmade gift like a scrapbook shows the recipient how special you think he is; that you are willing to spend hours (or weeks) of your time to create a personal item that captures a moment that you both shared.

Additionally, you don't have to drop a huge wad of cash to create quality scrapbooks (although you certainly can). For instance, specialty scrapbook paper can be expensive, but you should consider some alternatives. Magazine clippings and used wrapping paper are two obvious choices for decorative paper, but paper grocery bags and catalogs also provide neat colors and textures. Used creatively, inexpensive googly eyes and other kiddy items can help to make a cute scrapbook design.

Scrapbooking also presents a unique solution to pack rats who feel the need to save memorabilia from every random event they attend For example, until I started scrapbooking, my pile of birthday cards, special newspaper clippings, ticket stubs, concert programs and postcards filled several shoeboxes stuffed in random corners of my bedroom. Now, these treasured snippets are organized and have a place in my bookshelf. I can now pull out my scrapbook and enjoy the random moments and events I chose to commemorate.

Lastly, everyone is doing it (well, at least it seems like everyone's doing it). According to the Hobby Industry Association, more than 25 million craftsters have taken to making scrapbooks. So join the bandwagon. Scrapbooking classes and groups are popping up all over the country. You should join in the fun.