Unwrapping creativity
The scrapbooker's guide to Christmas
If you’re looking for a fun activity to do this holiday season, let your creativity shine by scrapbooking. As Nicole Butler, a St. John's, Nl-based Creative Memories independent advisor explains, “Christmas is a fabulous time to scrapbook. There are all kinds of traditions and memories to share and document that will be cherished and remembered for future generations.”
Because there are so many aspects to Christmas, Shawna Leigh, a Charlottetown, P.e.i.-based artist who specializes in scrapbooking and cardmaking, suggests determining your direction before you start.
“Is the scrapbook or pages devoted to Christmas going to be family-themed, or are they geared toward the kids and their experience?”
Butler agrees, “Begin with one small subject; don’t take it all on in one go.”
CAPTURING MOMENTS
Now it’s time to get in focus with your camera. Leigh encourages scrapbooking enthusiasts to take pictures before Christmas Day. Ideas include everything from outdoor light displays to visitors spreading the holiday cheer, opening gifts, and topping your Christmas tree with a star or angel.
“Great pictures are when you’re decorating the tree as a family and catching silly moments," she says.
Traditions can also take on great significance, and make for meaningful memories. One that Butler treasures is the presence of her late mother, who was fond of glass ornaments. She was brought home from her longterm care residence every year so she could watch as the tree was decorated.
Melissa Benvie, a consultant for Close to my Heart who lives near Debert, N.S., encourages a relaxed approach to photography.
“I’ve tried to force poses upon my kids many a time. It usually doesn’t work. Capture the moment as it is in their hearts. It’ll radiate on its own. The ones I sneak when they aren’t aware are the ones that most often produce the best results; tender moments are found there.”
USE PAPER CREATIVELY IN DECOR
Leigh suggests using cardstock for the layout, and although she acknowledges the popularity of scrapbooking kits, she encourages people to think outside the box.
“Allow your creativity to flourish by purchasing materials as you go at Michael’s or dollar stores. Rather than buying full pads of cardstock, they can be bought individually. Also, a lot of the time, coupons are available.”
As for Benvie, she likes to ensure the paper and embellishments can be coordinated around the colours and textures visible in the pictures to ensure intentional flow from picture to paper and page to page.
“I’m guilty of purposefully posing my children for photoshoots in certain outfits so that they match papers I already have, but I actually recommend the opposite for special, very important occasions that are to be scrapped. Let the subjects be natural in their merriment.”
And, to capture that very sentiment, Butler stresses the importance of journaling.
“Write a little note about the stories affiliated with the photos that are on your page.”
Handwritten notes have a warm and sentimental feel, and Leigh mentions calligraphy pens add a nice touch.
EASY SCRAPBOOK PAGES
Butler says simplicity is key.
“You don’t need to get overwhelmed with paper and embellishments," she says. "For tools, invest in just a few to start: A 12-inch trimmer for cutting your papers and photos, a good tape runner, and an album to keep all your pages in.”
She emphasizes it’s important to ensure any materials you use in your album (such as cardstock, glue, and markers) are acid and lignin-free. That’s a must when it comes to archival quality, as far as pictures are concerned.
Leigh points out that while red and green are predominately used, other colour combinations are just as festive.
“Silver and blue go together nicely, and in terms of embellishments, outlining Christmas-themed images using stencils, using stamps with different-coloured ink pads, stickers, and embossing are all great ways to add some sparkle to your pages.”
For Benvie, it's all about the sparkle.
“I personally think a Christmas scrapbooking layout looks its best when it’s healthily dosed with a layer or two of glitter," she says. "Getting creative with paper in decor is also fun. You can use any patterned paper you wish or cardstock. I could never do without my Cricut, which is a digital die-cutting machine that loads images and cuts them to the size you need.”
With countless directions, Butler offers a friendly reminder of what's most important: “Have fun!”
GIVING SCRAPBOOKS AS GIFTS
Scrapbooks are all about capturing precious moments, and Butler thinks that’s what makes them so special.
“A scrapbook makes a wonderful gift for a child, family member, or friend to celebrate photos of special events, everyday moments, and time spent together," she says. "It’s a little reminder of how important they are to you, that you took the time to create something special just for them.”
Benvie has given scrapbooks as gifts to her mother, who treasures a collection of special memories of her grandchildren, and to friends and family for wedding or anniversary gifts.
“I have a tendency to collect decor from the weddings I’ve attended, such as handmade nameplates from the tables, sparkly decorative branches, real starfish, and shells. I then use those items to create a scrapped 3-D shadow box, along with pictures I took from the special day," she explains.
"It’s my special way of helping them remember their day, and showing them how much I care.”
And with Christmas set to look different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘the more the merrier’ attitude just might have to wait. Instead, capturing the joy in the moments we do have with those near and dear to us is something you can still check off your list and perhaps give as a gift to a loved one who can’t be at the dinner table this year.
“Working on a scrapbook as a family can help capture the spirit of the season," says Leigh. "Let the kids get involved by taking some pictures and picking out which ones should appear in the scrapbook. It’ll make for a unique experience, and be special to look back on in years to come.”