I really am at a point in my life where I want all the memorabila I've saved put in to a format where I can share it with people. The collection is quite impressive and even if no one else ever wants to look at it, I want it in a form where I can pick it up and look at easily. It is also important to my sense of fashion and design that it be visually pleasing. Scrapbooks seem to be the solution to this.


The questions I would like answered by doing research on a scrapbook are:


1. How to get started?

A. Will I need to take classes or can I teach myself?
B. What will I need to buy to start?
C. Logistically, what will I need for space?
D. How do I make a page for the scrapbook?

2. How to make a scrapbook personal?


A. What are design options based on topics?
B. What are design options based on a specific person?
C. How do I put individual pages in an order that makes sense?
D. How do keep continuity in the scrapbook that is going to be built
over time?


3. Once the scrapbook is built, how do I best preserve it?


A. What types of materials are the best for longevity?
B. Are there any special ways to store a scrapbook, based on the
materials used in it?
C. Are there advantages to different ways of building a scrapbook
that will contribute to its' longevity?

If you ever wanted to see a study in contrast, come spend a day with Lois and I. All the cliche sayings, "the difference between night and day", 'as much alike as black and white", etc... etc.. apply to us. Physically, we are very similar in stature, hair color, and even some features. Spend 10 minutes with us and you will see, that is where the similarity ends. Every morning starts for me with a shower, and then close to an hour buffing and puffing in a perfectly organized dressing room. Mornings start for Lois with a shower and then into the first two articles of clothing pulled out of a pile in a chair she has mistaken for a bureau for the last 10 years.

To see Lois and I walking down the street together, one might mistake us for sisters. We are both about 5 feet tall, brunette, and tend to be on the heavy side (me more so than her). That is where the similarites end. After spending time with us, one usually walks away shaking their head wondering what the common bond is that unites us. We often laugh about it ourselves. Our differences are superficial, I wouldn't be caught dead in clothes that don't match, she on the other hand has no concept that black and blue only look good together in a bruise. In addition to the superficial differences, our approach to life in general is exactly opposite. I'm the queen of organization, and she is a text book picture of chaos.

For my entire adult life I have saved momentos from any occasion I thought was special. It didn't have to be a huge life altering event, I saved any and everything I thought was special. Some are from big moments, such as my daughters' perfect attendance award in the 4th grade to her graduation from high school and all the events in between. The majority of these saved items though, came from seemingly insignificant events to anyone but me. A swizzle stick from a bar where I had so much fun I laughed till I peed myself, the movie ticket stub from the first time I went to the movies alone, or a picture of two eagles in the nest across form my house. No one else might care about these things but I do. In 30 plus years, I have accumulated quite a collection, you might imagine. Suitcases and boxes are home to this collection that represents my life.

A few years ago I decided I wanted to make this collection more presentable, something I could share with others, especially my grandchildren. Initially, I bought a few photo albums and tried putting some of the things in that, but it was tacky looking. About that same time, the scrap booking craze began. I kept thinking, I should buy a magazine, take a class, or do something to learn to scrapbook. But life kept getting in the way and more things got added to the suitcase. Then one of my friends had a scrapbooking party and I saw what could really be accomplished. Some of them were beautiful and they can be made uniquely for any person or occasion. I could make a page or two at a time, then leave it and come back to it whenever. My determination to learn to scrap book became even stronger after attending that party.

Lover, friend, acquaintance; all people interacted with on a daily basis, but on different levels. Lover, the person you share all with, friend, the person you may lament to about your lover, and acquantaince, the person you discuss the miserable winter we are having with. Conversations with acquaintances should be the easiest, but that is doesn't always seem the case. There is not the easiness that exists with a lover or a friend. Conversations with an acquaintance sometimes are nothing more than filling dead space, which can be exhausting. With a friend, conversation is easier, because the need to sound intelligent is not always as important as the conversation itself. With a lover, silence can say it all, which is extremely comforting in itself.

How about the havoc social events can cause with these three differnt relationships? The lover is the person you wish to spend time with and enjoy, but there is also the friend who is fun to be with. Then along comes the acquaintance needing to be entertained, because you are the only face in the room they recognize. Once again, the acquaintance seems to be a much harder relationship, than that of the lover who stands quietly aside, letting the events play out or the friend who has moved on to another place by now. Some more exhausting dead space conversation anyone?

Oh, and gift giving certainly presents its' own set of challenges in these different relationships. Acquaintances would seem to be the easiest, but once again, not always the case. A lovers' gift may involve a brain racking pull out your hair type of decision, but the final outcome is worth it. A friends' gift also involves a thought process to get that just right gift, but if it isn't perfect they'll understand. They are a friend after all. Now, comes time for the acquaintance gift. Do I buy for this one or that one, and if I do how much should I spend? What if I buy for them and they feel obligated to give in return? Or worse yet, they buy for me when I had no intention of giving them a gift. If I don't return the gift giving will they think I'm cheap or shallow and if I do, will they now assume we are friends? Again, the acquaintance seems to be the most exhausting of the three.

Finally, my all time favorite, running into one of these three unexpectedly. Running into my lover unexpectedly, for me, is a treat. An unexpected encounter with a lover can be the highlight of a day, a few unplanned minutes to spend together. Running into a friend unexpectedly can give us a chance to to catch up if we haven't seen each other in a while. If I'm too busy to chat or visit with the friend, they will understand, no harm no foul. Running into the acquaintance unexpectedly presents challenges. Will they think I'm rude if I don't stop and chat? Do they really believe I'm too busy to stop what I'm doing for a dead space conversation? Did they see me before I slipped into the next aisle? Guess who the last of these three different groups I least like to run into without warning?

Lover, friend, acquaintance; very different relationships, but each with it's own set of "guidelines." Lover at first thought would seem the hardest, but in comparison is often the easiest. Being with a lover or a friend can be much more comfortable than spending time with an acquaintance. Doesn't seem like it should be that way, but it is. A lover appreciates all of you good or bad. Friends are willing to accept you the way you are. Acquaintances, however, seem to require a certain facade so the best foot is always put forward.

Lover, friends, acquaintances very different relationships, but each with it's own set of challenges. Lover at first thought would seem the hardest, but in comparison to acquaintances, is often times easier. Being with a lover or a friend can be much more comfortable than spending time with an acquaintance. Doesn't seem like it should be that way, but it is. A lover appreciates all of you, good and bad, friends are willing to accept you the way you are, but acquaintances seem to require a certain facade so the est foot is always put forward.

Lover, friends, acquaintances, all people interacted with on a daily basis, but on different levels. Lover, the person you share the good and bad with, friends the people you may lament to about your lover, and acquaintances those you discuss the miserable winter with. Conversations with acquaintances should be easier, but that is not always the case. There is not the easiness that exists with a lover or a friend. Conversations with acquaintances sometimes are nothing more than filling dead space, wheras with a friend or a lover silence can say all that needs to be said. It would seem that maintaining a relationship with an acuaintance would be easier, but that is not always the case.