Beat those back-to-school blues: Savor the memories

Excerpt from an article in the Buffalo News:
Full Article: buffalonews.com/life/next/article548216.ece

Sometimes one of the best things about the summer is looking back on all the fun times you had. A great way to do just that is by creating a scrapbook — you’ll be a lot more likely to stroll down memory lane if your pictures, postcards and ticket stubs are displayed with pride instead of shoved in a shoe box under your bed.

Attica resident Sara Bartz, 16, has been scrapbooking for about six years. She said it’s an easy way to express creativity and easy to do while watching a movie or TV, which makes it a perfect hobby for inclement nonsummer seasons. Not only are you staying busy and productive, you’re reliving summertime fun.

“Scrapbooks are a good way to show what you did that summer,” she said. “And then you don’t have to be so sad that it went, because you still have it with you.”

Scrapbooking can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want — Bartz said plan on spending around $30 to start for basics. You can use construction paper or standard white printer paper for your background, or buy sheets of patterned scrapbook-specific paper. There are tons of ways to make each page unique, like stickers, stamps, quotes and accents you can buy at places like Walmart, Jo-Ann Fabrics or Michaels.

Another option, if you’re feeling intimidated by the scrapbooking idea, is a photo journal, where you organize all your summer pictures into albums and write a little blurb for each so you remember what made it so special. Even just updating the framed pictures in your room can help keep summer fresh in your mind all year.

World-wide Phenomenon

Scrapbooking is truly a world-wide phenomenon. I stumbled upon this post online for a scrabook store in Kuala Lumpur.

Scrappingville – Sept 17

Indulge in a new feel-good hobby with a “Getting started” scrapbooking class — beginners will learn the essential tools and supplies needed to “scrap” their very first layout.

Once you’ve mastered a few basic tricks, paper trimmers, eyelet setters, brads and adhesives will be just as easy and fun to use. Remember to bring your own adhesive and two or three photos.

Class fee: RM55. Sign up for two, and you will be entitled to a 10% discount on your first purchase bill at the store. Time: 10am.

Scrappingville S7, East Wing, Bangsar Shopping Centre
285, Jalan Maarof, Bukit Bandar Raya, Kuala Lumpur

www.scrappingville.blogspot.com.

4 Fun Things To Do With Vacation Photos

Great article in the Sunday Parade Magazine:

http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/2011/07/sunday-project-vacation-photos.html

Keep your memories alive with these easy creations.

1 Decoupage a travel diary.
A blank journal can be transformed into a personalized book. Print out photos on white paper and lay them on top of the cover, overlapping and cutting out -images to come up with a creative design. Coat the surface with decoupage paste; press on photos. Let dry, then layer with more paste.

2 Create a photo garland.
Print out 60 photos on heavy paper stock. Stick the backs of two photos together, then slide the 30 pairs into plastic sleeves. Punch a hole on the right and left sides of each sleeve, loop hinged metal book rings through the holes, and connect the rings.

3 Make refrigerator magnets.
Place a clear glass pebble (it should have a flat back) over the area you want to highlight. Trace it with a pencil and carefully cut along the line. Affix the pebble with craft glue, then press a self-adhesive magnet to the back of your photo.

4 Cut out a silhouette.
Enlarge a full-profile photo of a loved one in action—say, skipping stones on a lake or jumping off a diving board. Place a sheet of parchment paper over the profile and trace the image. Affix the parchment to black card stock and follow the outline with an X-Acto knife, cutting through both layers. Attach the silhouette to white card stock with double-sided tape.

For more detailed insturctions for each project, including a list of supplies (all available at craft stores), click here! (takes you to Parade Magazine’s website).

 

10 must-have beach products

Sure, you’ve packed a towel, but did you remember your snorkel camera? Here’s your go-to guide to 10 shore things you never knew you needed by Colleen Clark, Budget Travel and the Today Show:  http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43158788

 

Up, Up, and Away!

Travelin’ Duckie is proud to launch its new product focus this weekend at the CKC Show near Saint Louis (Collinsville, IL).  This is the first time that we will focus less on our Premium Page Kits and more on being your source for all types of Travel Scrapbook supplies.  We have tripled our retail display space and will carry all sorts of travel scrapbook paper, stickers, ribbons, tags, and other travel scrapbook embellishments!  We have also expanded our line of custom Travelin’ Duckie layered titles—you will not find these anywhere else!

Within the next few weeks, you’ll see this change also come to our website.  Some of our kits may be going away, but many, many new travel scrapbook items are coming to take their place.

Whether you’ve travelled across the country, round the world, or just to your back yard, you have great pictures waiting to be scrapbooked.  Come to Travelin’ Duckie to make them tell a story!

Travelin’ Duckie
Scrapbook Your Travels!

Where is the best place to start a travel scrapbook?

Sometimes we’re asked “Where is the best place to start a travel scrapbook?”  I think the best place to start your vacation scrapbook is on vacation.   I’m not suggesting you bring your scrapbook supplies with you (unless its that type of vacation), but doing a few things while on your trip will make your scrapbooks more meaningful and easier to make.

First step, take pictures. “Of course I’m going to take pictures” you say, but what about taking an extra picture of the sign next to the display?  It will not only help you remember what you took a picture of, but maybe also give you some facts to use when journaling in your scrapbook.

Speaking of journaling, take a few minutes each evening to journal the day’s activities.  It doesn’t have to be a novel, just a few words so you remember what impressed you that day.  Include the family—maybe something your son said the first view of the Grand Canyon, or how you felt when your daughter told you about the painting at the Museum, or maybe how your husband liked the food at that quirky little restaurant.

Oh, did you save a napkin from that restaurant? Save everything you can; every ticket stub, every program, menu, brochure, etc. You’ll be surprised what you might add to your scrapbook when you have it. These things add color and interest to your scrapbook. Postcards are another great take away (though usually at a cost) to add to your memories.

Of course, vacations are about fun. These ideas don’t take a lot of time while you’re traveling, but can save a lot of time when you go to scrapbook your adventure.  And if you need help with your Travel Scrapbooks, check out the premium page kits for sale at TravelinDuckie.com.

Travel Scrapbooks: Organize your Photos

What a great trip!  And what a pile of pictures to scrapbook.  Where do you start?  Weed out those that don’t cut it.  Face it, not every picture is a keeper, and if you’re like me you take the same shot 3 times to make sure you got it.  First, remove those that are of poor quality and those that are very similar to others.  If you have physical pictures, sort them out and set them to the side.  Don’t throw them out yet, you may want to come back to them for something as you are making your scrapbooks.  If you are sorting digital photos on the computer, many photo programs allow you to flag or rate your photos (or both).  Flag as “reject” or give the lowest rating to those you don’t want to use.

A travel scrapbook tells a story about the places you visited or the things you did.  Sometimes the story takes you to a series of what may be quite different locales over the course of one trip. Like a road-trip, this is a story that’s well-suited to being told in chronological order (more or less).  Create a list detailing the different stops on the trip. After you’ve listed them all, go back through and think about whether they all really need to be included.  Does every stop need to be scrapbooked? Are there points at which chronology doesn’t matter?  Could repeat visits to a location that could be scrapbooked together on a page?

Some trips take you to one locale. Instead of sightseeing, it’s more about enjoying people, place, and activities—like visiting family, going camping, visiting an amusement park, or hitting the ski slopes.  This story could be told chronologically, but might also be told by grouping people, places, activities, and feelings.

Now go back to your stack of photos and sort them using the list you created.  Good pictures to keep are those that convey the sense of the place.  That’s why you took the picture after all.  You will also want to keep photos of interesting and relevant things you saw while there or of events and activities that are important to your adventure, like learning to hula dance.  If it doesn’t add to the story, set it aside.  If you are sorting digital photos on the computer, give those pictures you don’t use a low rating (not lowest, you used that for rejects).

Now you have an outline and great photos ready to scrapbook.

Travel Scrapbooks: Collecting Free (or near free) Souvenirs

Scrapbooks are more than a photo album of pictures.  So why should you limit your Travel Scrapbook to just pictures?  Many things can go into a scrapbook to relive your adventure.  Scrapbookable souveniers need not be expensive, nor come from the gift shop, but they are all around you and many times they are free!

Do you stay in a hotel when you travel? Did you get a plastic key card with the logo of the hotel on it?  Was there a rack of brochures of local places to visit in the lobby?  Was there a map of the Park or Attraction you went to?  Did you buy tickets to get in?  If you said “yes”, then you have a ton of free souvenirs to add to your scrapbook.

Oh, don’t ignore the gift shops though. You can find a number of inexpensive souvenirs here perfect for your scrapbook. Post cards are ideal. They are inexpensive. The photography is good (sometimes better than you can do yourself). Many show a view, or angle, or lighting condition that you could not do on your own. And they usually include a name and description of the place you are visiting.  Have you thought of using a postcard as a page title?

Don’t get too bogged down in finding the perfect scrapbookable souviner.  You’ll miss what you really went there to do. Just pick up those maps, brouchures, etc., as you walk past the information desk and put them in your bag.  You’ll have plenty of time to sort them out when you get home.

Here are just some ideas of the free or near free scrapbookable souveniers:

• postcards
• paper luggage tags
• stickers and decals
• invitations
• maps and tourbook pages
• itinerary
• candy wrappers
• business cards
• airline/train/admission ticket stubs
• journal/diary/sketchbook pages
• plastic room keys
• hotel stationery
• hotel map
• restaurant menus
• drink coasters/umbrellas
• wine/champagne labels
• promotional postcards
• noteworthy charge card receipts
• colorful stamps
• flags
• currency
• swatches of material
• ribbon and wrapping paper
• dried flowers

Four Mounds Scrapbook/Craft Retreat

Travelin’ Duckie Sponsors:

May 14-16, 2010

Grab a few friends and come join the fun!

It’s time to get caught up on your craft projects! We’ve been doing this yearly retreat for 7 years now and we love it! Bring your scrapbook supplies, stamping, beading or knitting stuff… or nothing at all! Need more details? email “sales @ travelinduckie.com” (no spaces).
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Four Mounds Inn
4900 Peru Rd., Dubuque, Iowa

Just 20 minutes outside of Galena!

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this is a wonderful place to get away to.
For more information and pictures, please visit their website at: http://www.fourmounds.org

Cost $175 (Breakfast included on Saturday and Sunday)

Check in: Friday 11am              Check out: Sunday 2pm

St. Patrick’s Day Scrapbook Page Kit

You can say “I did it myself!” with the St. Patrick’s Day premade scrapbook page kit from Travelin’ Duckie.

This Travelin’ Duckie premade scrapbook page kit features custom-designed paper titles and unique embellishments. Notice the custom cut 6-color rainbow raising from a pot of gold, the glitter shamrocks that lift off the page, and the St. Patrick’s ribbons that frame the bottom of the page. Complete your St. Patrick’s Day scrapbook page with your favorite 5×7, 4×6 and 4×4 photos.

Scrapbook Kits by Travelin’ Duckie feature photo-safe, high quality paper and embellishments. All pieces are pre-cut and die-cuts are assembled. They come with professional, easy to follow assembly instructions. Unless otherwise noted, all Scrapbook Kits include all the pieces to build a scrapbook page as pictured. All you need is scrapbook adhesive and a pen for journaling.  *Due to the handmade nature of the kit, contents may very slightly.

Purchase the St. Patrick’s Day Scrapbook Page Kit here.