Hobbies: Scrapbooks from scratch

In this economy, with most of us cutting back on expenses, cheap has become the new rich. In an effort to save a few bucks, I discovered the art of the handmade gift, and in the process, I came to realize that handmade gifts are actually more prized than their store-bought counterparts.

During the summer, nearly everyone spends a little time on vacation or a "stay-cation." Either way, photos are usually taken. Why not create a gift-able scrapbook to give those photos a place to live?

When creating a scrapbook from scratch, I usually begin with the covers. A simple way to make clear, acrylic scrapbook covers involves a quick trip to the hardware store. When you buy a sheet of Plexiglas, they will cut it to size and drill a few holes. Depending on the size of the sheet you purchase, several covers can be cut. I chose 5-1/2 by 8-1/2 inches for my scrapbook covers in order to make it easy to cut the inside pages from 8-1/2-by-11-inch cardstock.

The scrapbook pages are divided into sections that are cut in graduated lengths. The width of all of the pages is 1/4-inch narrower than the covers (5-1/4 inches). The lengths of the interior pages vary, depending on their placement in the book. The first five pages are 7-1/4 inches long. Each successive five-page section is 1/4-inch longer than the previous section. The first page of each section is decorated with fish or splash stickers to coordinate with the theme of the photos. The page is trapped between a pair of mirror-image stickers that protrude over the edge in order to create fish and splash-shaped tabs.

Because the covers are clear, the first page is decorated as if it were the cover, with patterned papers, a title printed with rub-on letters and a few more fish stickers. Using the acrylic covers as a guide, holes are punched in all of the pages with 1/4-inch-hole punch. The book is bound with two metal rings, purchased at a stationery store, and spray-painted blue.

When creating a scrapbook as a gift, you are not likely to have the photos that go inside, so completing the book may not be possible. The key is to create a book that is decorated to fit the theme of the photos so the recipient need only attach photos and add whatever narrative he or she wants in order to complete the book.

Just imagine returning home from a summer vacation with a camera full of photos. Instead of leaving them unprinted on your memory card, or stuffing the prints into a shoebox, you need only select your favorites and stick them into a customized scrapbook made especially for you. Short of returning to your vacation spot for another week, what could be better?

Contact Sandi Genovese and find free video demonstrations of more photo projects at www.scrapbookshowgram.com.