Reasons to Craft: Keep Your Memories Close
How Crafting Can Keep Memories Close
Crafting is a simultaneously relaxing and invigorating way to relive, capture, and share your favorite memories. And whether you choose to do it alone or with friends, the act of creation is one of empowerment and true joy. So, what better way to express yourself and more fully experience life than by bringing your favorite moments to life in a tangible creation like a scrapbook?
Starting with Stampin’ Up! Scrapbooking Supplies
And if you’re going to start creating your own scrapbooks to preserve those precious, humorous, impactful, everyday, and once-in-a-lifetime memories, having the best tools and materials for the job is the best way to begin. Stampin’ Up! is a community-driven company that provides high-quality products for handmade paper crafters in hopes of helping preserve and share our most precious memories. Offering everything from cardstock, Designer Series Paper, stamps, ink, paper trimmers, acid-free adhesives, scrapbooking ribbon, embellishments, and more, Stampin’ Up! has all the scrapbooking supplies you need to preserve your very favorite moments.
Choosing Your Crafting Supplies
If you’re just getting started with memory preservation, there are a few foundational items you’ll want in order to ensure your scrapbook looks good and lasts so you and your loved ones can enjoy it for years to come. A sturdy album, a quality paper trimmer, and a good acid-free adhesive are at the top of that list. After that, and as you expand your collection of scrapbook accessories, you can increase your supply of things like:
- Sturdy cardstock—great for base pages and photo framing
- Designer Series Papers—perfect for giving the page a little personality and adding to memory themes
- Stamps—add visual depth and messaging in your scrapbook
- Dies—create dynamic layers with perfectly cut-out sentiments and image-based ephemera
- Embellishments—ribbons, gems, cutouts, and more add dimension and that ‘finishing touch’ feel
- Memory Protectors—keep your handcrafted scrapbook layouts safe with clear sleeve page protectors
Use Kits for Scrapbooking Projects
Another way to easily preserve your memories, particularly for beginning scrapbookers, is with Scrapbooking Workshop Kits from Stampin’ Up!, which provide you with things such as designed papers, ephemera, stickers, and instructions on how to make three two-page layouts. This is an incredible way to produce beautiful memory page layouts without complication.
This can also be a way to jumpstart your creativity, ensure harmony within a particular scrapbook, and even share in the joy of creation by sharing supplies with someone who is preserving a memory for their own keepsake craft!
Creative Ideas for Your Next Project
Ready for some scrapbook layout inspiration? Here are three fun ways to go about creating your next memory-saving project.
Focus on an idea or characteristic rather than a specific memory.
Sometimes you can get caught up in page after page of calendar-based events—which is great! It becomes like something of a journal of your life to remember and share with others. But to round out the full picture, it can be fun to focus on something specific about a person that makes them who they really are. Try finding pictures of the family’s funniest member making silly faces, telling jokes, and smiling wide—bring them all together with bright, happy colors and patterns to complete the theme. Or devote a page to your favorite furry friend!
Combine your own memorabilia with photos and premade embellishments.
Scrapbooking is joyful and relaxing, and it can even be a little bit about cleaning up—in a good way! Instead of storing concert tickets or play programs elsewhere, incorporate them into your scrapbook layout using Flip Flaps on your pages. Use photo pockets to easily match trip photos with pre-printed messages so you can treasure those memories and look back often.
Design around your favorite stamp set or embellishment.
Let the design of your favorite stamp, sticker, or die set direct your path sometimes. Not only do you get to take a minor creative break, but you know the results will be beautiful because they begin with professional design at their center. Whether a day at the park is enhanced by a variety of flower stamps or you add graphic interest with these abstract, irregular circle dies pictured below, enjoy letting the pros take the reins occasionally.
Making the Most of Scrapbooking Projects with Stampin’ Up!
Whether you’re looking for specific scrapbooking tools, pretty embellishments, crafting kits, scrapbook inspiration, or simply some crafting community camaraderie, Stampin’ Up! is the place to find it all. The power of crafting and the positive impact of memory-saving through scrapbooking is amazing, and we can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Need a little guidance along the way? Find a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator near you today!