Do you have collections of photos and other souvenirs tucked away in boxes? Why not organize them in a scrapbook? Scrapbooks are a great way to save keepsakes and remember a special time of your life. Decide on the Event What should your scrapbook be about? Here are some ideas: a birthday, a graduation, a school dance, a class trip, a holiday, a family vacation. Gather Supplies Look for scrapbook supplies at craft, photography, and office supply stores. Some basic things you'll need are an album or three-ring binder and acid-free paper, permanent pens, glue or tape, and photo corners. You'll need to use acid-free materials if you want your scrapbook to last. Most paper contains acid, which will cause photos and other materials to change color

over time. Some other useful supplies are labels, stickers, stencils, rubber stamps, and paper punches. Organize Your Memorabilia Gather all the materials about your event--photos, ticket stubs, programs, invitations, letters, and so on. Sort through the pile and pull out anything you want to include in your scrapbook. Then arrange the materials in a logical sequence. Design Your Scrapbook Before you get out the glue or tape, lay out each page with the items you want to include. Try different arrangements until you find what you like. Remember to leave room for page titles and photo captions (and room to three-hole punch the pages if you are using a binder). Then sketch your design lightly in pencil as a guide for each page. Once you've glued or taped down your photos and other items, add captions or journal entries to the pages. Make your scrapbook more personal by including quotations or comments from family members or friends. Scrapbook Resources For more ideas on scrapbooking, see Making Memory Books by Amanda Lewis (Kids Can Press, 1999). There are a lot of resources available on the web, too. Check out the Scrapbooks section of the Family Crafts site on about.com for great tips and ideas. Many web sites include information about scrapbook techniques as well as printable forms and patterns. There is even information about scrapbook clubs whose members share ideas and materials. You might find that scrapbooking becomes a lifetime hobby!