Kits are a great way for beginners to start, say Jenny Weston, designer and marketing specialist, and Kelly Mooney, publicist, both with Making Memories, a Centerville-based scrapbook-supply company.

"A lot of people freeze up in the paper aisle because they don't know what to put together," says Weston. "Let someone else do it for you. Kits can contain papers, rub-ons and other coordinating embellishments." Then, she says, once you get more confidence, you can start putting together your own combinations.

Another way to get started, says Mooney, is to "lean on idea books. Scrap-lifting — or borrowing ideas that you see — is an encouraged practice."

The following projects are available as kits from Making Memories but could also easily be done on your own. They include things that would be good for home decor as well as scrapbooks, and could be done for yourself or as gifts.

Photo cubes

Supplies needed: Small, square cardboard boxes, patterned papers, coordinating ribbons and embellishments, photographs and glue. (A kit containing three cubes and other supplies costs $10.99.)

Cut squares of paper the size of the sides of the boxes and glue them in place. Attach photographs. Decorate with ribbon, rub-on words, stickers, flowers or other trimmings.

Tip: Make three or four to stack on a table or shelf as a conversation piece. Or they make great gifts for grandparents. Kids can even make cubes themselves.

Decorated picture frames

Supplies needed: Plain cardboard picture frames, ribbons, buckles, buttons and other embellishments. (A kit with frame and embellishments costs $10.50.)

Decorate as desired. One suggestion is to tape a different strip of ribbon on each side. Thread one piece of ribbon through a buckle or button for interest. Rub-on appropriate words to add additional interest and meaning.

Mini-photo books

Supplies needed: Mini 5x7 photo album kits, which come with cover, ribbon lacing and embellishments.

Add your own pictures, decorate with embellishments — and voila! A gift, a brag book or a record of a special event.

Tip: These make fun projects for baby and wedding showers. Leave some pages blank to write messages or to add pictures later on.

A favorite tool

Making Memories Tag Maker ($24.99) comes with rims and templates for making tags of all shapes and sizes.

Using the template, you cut out a tag shape using a photo, paper or other material. Lay it into the correct metal rim and use the tool to "scrunch the metal ends shut."

Tip: Use tags with photos of your kids on gifts. That way, those who can't read know which present is theirs, which adds to the anticipation.