The Eight Steps to Scrapbooking Nirvana

Late in life, I set out on a quest to discover the secrets of scrapbooking. Many before had tried to convince me of their wisdom and experience, but it all sounded like veiled sales pitches: "Buy kits. Buy stickers. Go digital." But what was the true, pure path to enlightenment?

At last I found her. Wizened with adhesives. Anointed with paper cuts. Peaceful in spirit and rich with memories. I asked; "What is your secret to making scrapbooks filled with the essence of life?" She smiled, flicked some glitter from her nose, and replied: "My child, you must embrace the Eight Steps to Scrapbooking Nirvana..." And she began...

First step: Organize your memories. Start with your photos. It may be just you, but even better with family or friends. Label acid-free sorting boxes for each theme in your life; family, friends, babies, vacations, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, achievements and other precious events. Focus on the moments you want to remember, share and preserve. As you sort, mark the dates and names on the backs of the photos with a photo-safe pen. Abhor the ballpoint. Along with the photos, capture the ephemera of life; the cards and notes, drawings, documents, certificates, awards, newspaper clippings, tickets - even jewelry or locks of hair. Remember - anything you can hold in your hand can be scanned into a computer.

Second step: Organize your space. Find a table where half-finished pages can be left undisturbed. Create a simple, accessible storage system for your tools, your glues and tapes, your paper materials, your embellishments. Categorize your rubber stamps and ink pads. Store markers and blender pens horizontally. Invest in good lighting.

Third Step: Envision a single memory. Jot down your top-of-mind reactions in terms of colors and textures, meaningful items, elements from nature. Think about the sounds and smells and feelings. Examine the photos from that event - who is there? What are they wearing? What is in the background? What happened before and after? How can my page be an extension of not just what the event looked like, but what it meant to be there? Remember: This can be a family activity.

Fourth Step: Journal from your heart. A scrapbook is a diary of life, and your story is told in pictures and words. Journaling is the difference between a scrapbook and a photo album. Think about your great-great-grandchild finding this in the attic someday. What would you want your scrapbook to say? Write the who, what, when, where and why of each memory, narrated in your unique voice. Don't forget the magic of laughter or the power of an evocative heading.

Fifth Step: Map it out. It may be a single page. It may be an entire album. Sketch your visual ideas, always considering the focus of each page; the connections between the photos and your journaling; leading the reader's eye; creating emphasis through size, color or technique; headlines; embellishments. Trust your design preferences. Like white space? Use it. Wild colors excite you? Get wild. Be influenced by what others have done, the techniques and products you want to try, but don't lose sight of the story you want to tell. Use copies of photos and scraps of actual materials if it helps you. Always remember: Coloring, resizing, cropping and silhouetting can be the ultimate makeovers for the average photo.

Sixth Step: Gather ye stuff. Make copies of your photos and protect your originals - mistakes happen. Select your papers, adhesives (archival, of course), cutting implements, and decorative elements. If you must, put what you have in a zip-lock bag and hasten to the craft store to choose the right details. Have everything close at hand. Do not run with scissors.

Seventh Step: Bring your page together. Cut your papers and materials. Lay out your elements according to your sketch. Leave space for hand-writing your journaling, or print or rubber-stamp your words. Keep your hands off the glue until you have staged your page, closed your eyes for 10 seconds while repeating "I've never seen this before," and then viewing it again with new eyes. You'll probably move some things around.

Eigth Step: Finishing touches. If your project was a single page, add the final embellishments: embossing; antiquing; buttons, bows, grommets, lace, stitching or anything that adds a touch of whimsy or nostalgia. Always ask: Is everything here a part of my story? and, Just how heavy and busy should this page be? Your final reckoning will come with your cover binding, so keep your ambitions practical as well as meaningful.

With those words, this wise, wise woman picked up a photo of a tiny, newborn baby. With a glistening eye and a tremble in her hand she said, "Someday he will be a man and begin to contemplate his past and how he came to be. Let him find his answers in a scrapbooked story lovingly told and masterfully presented, and he too may choose to follow the Eight Steps to Scrapbooking Nirvana for his child." She closed her eyes. Her voice became a murmur. "Unless, of course... acid..." And she began to snore.