Scrapbooking

Tips and Tricks of the Business

Why does Cheryl Mittelman scrapbook?

"I enjoy sharing all of our memories of our family events, good and bad, and I wanted to be able to pass on these family stories to our children and grandchildren for years to come and to pass on our legacy to family members," said the scrapbooker, who takes seriously her mission of recording the events of her family's life.

Mittelman, who lives in Northern Virginia, was online Monday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. ET to provide scrapbooking tips and to discuss how to get into the business. Mittelman has been scrapbooking for nine years and has worked as a consultant for Creative Memories for eight years.

Read Washington Post staff writer Stephanie McCrummen's article in The Post:

Savoring Life's Memories, by the Book

(Post, Jan. 30)

From McCrummen's story:

In a way, legions of women have become amateur documentarians of 21st-century suburban life. With devotion, and, some say, obsession, they have fueled the thriving, $2.5 billion scrapbooking industry, an ever-expanding, ever-more-elaborate supply of photo-safe minutiae: corner lacing punches and circle cutters, rickrack and paisley paper and brads eyelets and packages of thematic word stickers -- on love, on vacation, on childhood -- the better to frame a life.

According to a 2004 survey, "Scrapbooking in America," commissioned by Creating Keepsakes magazine, scrapbooking devotees are most likely women between 30 and 50. Most have a college education and half of them work full time. The survey estimates that the number of "scrapbooking households" has increased by 4.4 million since 2001 and that the total number of scrapbookers is more than 32 million.

The transcript follows.

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Reston, Va.: This is an incredibly timely topic, as I just decided to put together a scrapbook for my SO as a Valentine's gift!

I'm fairly artistic, but scrapbooking is new to me. I spent the morning at Michael's and was a bit overwhelmed by the options. I finally got a few basic items (binder, pages, glue, stickers), but I'm in need of some guidance. I'm afraid I'll end up with a hodgepodge of themes and styles that will look amateurish and slapdash.

How do I approach this simple -- and yet daunting -- project?

Cheryl Mittelman: I have to say that I have been a Creative Memories consultant for almost nine years, working with their products makes it so easy in what ever step you are in. Creative Memories is the "Grandmother" of scrapbooking. They make every product with the safety of your photos at the top of their priority. All of the products are rigorously tested in an intensive technology lab. All of the tools have a guarantee and the albums have a life time guarantee. All of the products are made to coordinate with each other and are extensively researched before available for purchases through all of the 90,000 plus consultants world wide. You do not have to have any experience with scrapbooking to start. A consultant like my self could assist you every step of the way from sorting to creating themed albums. There are many safe tools and supplies available to you with many different themes, as well as idea pages and books through Creative Memories. Also I would suggest to make your pages very simple so that you are looking at photos and journaled stories about you and your family and not over populated with "embellishments" that 100 years from now will not matter, but all the family stories will.

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washingtonpost.com: Thank you for joining us today. What made you decide to start scrapbooking? Can you briefly explain how you first began recording the events of your family's life in the form of scrapbooks? What was your first step?

Cheryl Mittelman: Thank you for having me today. I am honored to answer any questions about scrapbooking. I decided to become a Creative Memories Consultant at first for the extra income I could provide for my house hold. I have had a camera in my hand as long as I can remember, so when I began looking for a home based job that is now my business, scrapbooking sounded really interesting to me. I firmly believe in the Creative Memories Mission: to preserve the past, enrich the present and inspire hope for the future. I can relate to this mission as a photographer and as a mom and having an interest in my personal history. I went to a Home Show which was a "class" back then, never purchased anything, but called the consultant and asked her about the business. That was almost nine years ago. My motivation has changed and now is providing me with income to pay for my daughter's college payments as well as the fellowship with a lot of wonderful ladies.

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How do I get started??: I've got a bunch of photos of my nearly two-year-old son, but I feel overwhelmed. What's the best way to start?

Cheryl Mittelman: The best way to start your album projects is to first sort your photos. Creative Memories has a wonderful organizational tool called the Power Sort Box. It hold 2,700 photos, now that may scare you if you don't think you have that many, but for those that do it is a blessing. Sorting can be as original as you are. Personally I sort chronologically and by project. For example, I have three children so I would like to have a album for each of them in addition to the family album. Now they will be volumes for me, it depends on how many photos you take. When you are ready to start it is best to start current because all of the information and facts are still very fresh.

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Cheryl Mittelman: Developing your photos onto the right type paper is critical. It has been researched by Creative Memories in a testing lab that, Fuji paper is best. Where I can suggest where to go, I would ask if your developer uses Fuji paper. The longevity has been tested and is the best.

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Washington, D.C.: Help! How do you get started when you have 15 years of photos to go through -- the project is so overwhelming that I am stuck in neutral!

Cheryl Mittelman: You need to begin by sorting all of your photos and memorabilia in chronological order. Creative Memories has a wonderful organizational tool to help you do that and is available through any consultant, it holds 2,700 photos and there is also a mini box as well. Once that overwhelming task is complete you will feel a sense of relief and you will be able to begin putting your memories and stories in an album for your family to share for generations to come.

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Cheryl Mittelman: If there is anyone out there who would like some assistance, with your scrapbooking needs here in Northern Virginia or may be looking for a home based business, I would be more that happy to set up a time to get together with you. Please feel free to e-mail me at cphoto103@gmail.com.

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Washington, D.C.: How does one get past "Scrapbookers' Block"? I have a couple of projects I want to work on, but I think I'm afraid of screwing them up (wedding and major vacation).

I tend to use a lot of memorabilia rather than photos, and I don't like most of the templates/sample pages I see, because they're too big on embellishments and distract from the pictures/items (I prefer a more simple style).

Any other ideas, besides templates and "just do it"?

Cheryl Mittelman: I tend to use a lot of just rectangles on my pages to make them very simple. A hundred years from now my family would appreciate seeing photos and stories about their heritage and not the embellishments that can look very busy, and can damage the photos in the album and not to mention the album itself. Be simple and journal. Let your journaling be your decorations.

For a start a finish album, you may want to use what is called the Power Layout system, with this system you are able to layout an entire album out to make sure that it flows. I have done several wedding albums this way. I can teach you how to finish an album in three to four committed sessions, if you can commit to being simple. Simple is better, better is done.

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Springfield, Va.: Have you ever heard of a scrapbooking kiosk? Something a scrapbook store would have where scrappers can use the touch screen to choose and customize digital pages? Pick a frame ... add photos and text, then print out right there. Does such a thing exist? Would scrapbookers use it?

Cheryl Mittelman: I have not heard of this before so I can not comment on it.

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Bethesda, Md.: Is there usually a 'cover charge' to attend the scrapbooking parties? Or do people just generally buy items while at the event and that supports it. Thanks.

Cheryl Mittelman: Yes usually there is. This is for time space, personal assistance, and sometimes door prizes and refreshments. But you can always tell a consultant that you would like to stop by and shop and I am sure that she would not mind, nor answering any questions. Is is our mission to assist you in creating your album projects any way we can.

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Rochester, N.Y.: Over how many years has Creative Memories tested the paper type? Is Kodak paper really so bad that it's not worth supporting an American product? If we run all of the American companies out of business, then I guess Fuji will be the only one left!

Cheryl Mittelman: Creative Memories is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. I have been a consultant for almost nine and I know that that have tested all of their products since the beginning. I cannot say however the exact date as to the results of the Photo papers, they are not saying that Kodak is bad just not the best product available for longevity.

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Manassas, Va.: Why do you think women take so many photos of their children? Do you think there is something different about society today than, say, 50 years ago that makes women take so many photos?

Cheryl Mittelman: Probably because they are in so many different activities and maybe purchased to be in more. As moms and dads we are very proud of everything that our children do and love to celebrate every aspect of the lives. This is wonderful. What price could you put on an album of your child hood? Better yet how about an album that you created in your own hand writing? Priceless. I would love to know what I was thinking as a child. I would encourage every child to scrapbook, they will cherish it more as an adult

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Scrapbooking Question: I read the post on-line and that is how I found this chat. As a woman--I fail to understand why a woman would take perfectly good photos and crop them and stick them in a book with captions. Doesn't the photo of your sister and your mom smiling at a birthday party or something like that speak for itself?? I know that my parents scrapbooks from the early 1970's do just that.

Cheryl Mittelman: Yes that photo is a great photo. how can you share that photo with family members 20, 50, even 100 years from now with out the story behind the photo? Captions can be good but stories are so much better. Creating visually appealing keepsake album with stories would be a blessing to anyone or any family. I am blessed to still have my 90-year-old grandmother to be able to capture the stories of her childhood and her life.

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Bel Air, Md.: I work with a CM consultant near my home and I plan to discuss this with her more fully, but would love your opinion. How do I decide on the themes for my scrapbooks? I have pictures of me, pictures of vacations, pictures of my cats and horses and pictures of my nieces and nephews. Do I just start a scrapbook and throw everything in going chronologically? Or do I break each out and do a cat scrapbook and a nieces and nephews scrapbook series?

Thanks!

Cheryl Mittelman: You are able to sort anyway you wish. My theme or by date. sometime both. Maybe you may want a family and friends album. May just a pet album. Most of mine are life as it happens album, because life is still happening there will be no end. There are no rules to scrapbooking, no one is going to tell you that you did it wrong. Just start if you haven't. That's a good place.

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Rockville, Md.: I'd actually recommend to beginners who have an album they want to start, to look at their photos & see which colored/patterned papers might complement the photos they want to use. Pull together your supplies one day. (paper, stickers, scissors) And then type up your journaling on the computer based on the pictures you're using, or the memories you want to include. You can use interesting fonts & resize it to fit onto your page. Print onto acid free paper & then when you have time, start to pull the pages together.

And no, you don't have to just use Creative Memories stuff - you can organize your photos in a shoe box if that works for you.

Cheryl Mittelman: There are many different digital programs out there. Creative Memories now has one called the Memory Manager, for $30. You are able to track the photos that you have printed and can even journal and then later print onto photo safe paper for your albums using many different fonts. You are able to sort and sub sort to your hearts content.

And yes you can use a shoe box it is safer that the magnetic albums out there. Stay away from those. They are the worst album out on the market. Your photos are in a chemical sandwich.

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McLean, Va.: This is such a great topic today! I am an avid scrapbooker, and am looking for new and innovative ways to make my scrapbooks look more professional. I'm in the process of putting together an album(scrapbook) for a friend of mine who is a wedding florist and wants to showcase her work in a fabulous but professional looking book. Any tips on where to being with a project like this? Thanks!

Cheryl Mittelman: You can showcase any profession or services in an album, in many different album sizes. There are a lot of sharp looking albums out there that would look professional. Keep it very simple to showcase their products, not paper and stickers and such. Provide any information about each product being offered but leave room for changes, such as prices and sizes.

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washingtonpost.com: Beyond your work as a consultant, can you share a favorite memory that you've had with your personal scrapbooking experiences?

Cheryl Mittelman: My family celebrated a family reunion. It had been 20 years since the last reunion. We had many coming from all across the country. We decided to have every family be in charge of an activity or meal. All the photos of the planning and the event itself was included in this album. One of my grandmothers was not able attend due illness. I created the album and presented it to her as a gift. I did have the album color copied and family members received a copy. Only a couple of years after the event that grandmother sadly passed away, she cherished that album, reliving every moment through the journaling inscribed in it. It was an honor to be able to provide such memories to a loved one I also cherish that album. It is one of many albums on my shelf. I have also had the opportunity to assist others in giving an album to a loved one as a tribute album before they passed away.

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Guilty in, N.Y.: I am fairly new to scrapbooking and do not have much time or excess money to devote to it. But I do enjoy occasionally attending a scrapbooking event in my area. Is it wrong to use non-Creative Memories items at the get-togethers? Sometimes I find stickers and papers on sale at Michael's and like to use them. Also, in addition to my CM 12x12 album, I like to work on 'scrapbooked' collages which I make on an 8x10 piece of paper and then put into a frame for my parents to hang up on their walls. I once got a disapproving comment from a fellow scrapbooker and so I have been careful to not let my host see my illicit items ever since. But I feel so guilty!! I bought and use the CM tape, paper, cutting system, etc., but sometimes I just don't want to be limited by doing it in an album. Please help to assuage my guilt!

Cheryl Mittelman: As a consultant, I would recommend that you use Creative Memories products, but I know that there are many other sources out there. Just be ware that there are products in the retail environment that are not safe, but all of those supplies do not coordinate. All of Creative Memories products are safe and are created purposely to color coordinate: pens, paper, stickers, die cuts, everything.

Making collages are wonderful too, they too can showcase memories, no one says that you have to be limited to a scrapbook. I would hand a "scrapbook page/collage" out of direct sunlight though to avoid fading.

If you do attend a Creative Memories sponsored event you may want to ask that consultant how she feels about you bringing outside supplies. For me You are scrapbooking and that is what is important, but I do prefer you use CM albums at my events. You may want to also ask if she periodically has specials on products that she might want to move.

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washingtonpost.com: Besides Creative Memories, what are some other places where scrapbookers can buy products and attend classes or meetings?

Cheryl Mittelman: There are many scrapbook stores out there that offer classes and workshops. There is one in Chantilly , but I don't know the name of it. Just be cautious and know that just because that there are products in a store that they are safe. My suggestion is keep it simple and don't use a lot of embellishments, save those for cards. Guarantee that your photos will be safe for generations to come.

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washingtonpost.com: Thank you all for joining us today.

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