Finding myself through scrapbooking

By:Tina B, Salem, OR

I began scrapbooking when my darling sister-in-law gave me a starter kit for my birthday. At the time I had no idea how much joy scrapbooking would bring to my life. I had recently returned to work after being home with our first child for 18 months, and was a bit blue.

When I began cropping, it was to start a book for my daughter. As I looked back over the 18 months worth of photos, I began to realize that even though I couldn't be home with her every day now, I had given her the best possible start in life. It gave me a much better outlook on life.

Cropping became my way to unwind after a long day at work. It was very therapeutic. Scrapbooking has brought me together with friends from all over, and given me something to share with friends and family.

I love scrapbooking because it gives me a great outlet for artistic expression. I have always painted, drawn, or crafted, but this was a way to tie several aspects together. It is fun working with all of the different tools and mediums available to scrapbookers.

Scrapbooking is very important to me because I had my daughter a little later in life than I planned, and I may not be around as long as I would like, to share tales of her past with her. Through my scrapboks, she can glimpse a bit of myself and the rest of her family, and pass that on to her children someday.

Tomorrow at dMarie Daily: I Have the Time, by julie, mom of 3 DDs