Gift Scrapping

I think we often forget that scrapping isn't just about fabulous layouts and clever design. We need to remember that sometimes the most special ideas are about the way we group and preserve memories. This year for Christmas I am giving my sister a small album full of nothing but Christmas memories and traditions. It dawned on me recently that no matter what has been going on in our lives, no matter where we have moved that we have spent every single Christmas together- even if it has been just for a day or a few hours. This is quite a feat considering we live over 700 miles apart from one another!

For this small album I don't have time to put together intricate magazine worthy layouts- but, I do have time to include photographs of everyone in the family- those that are with us still and those that we have lost and a little something about them and how they have made our holidays special.

In between certain pages I've also included recipes from family members featured in the album that have become a special part of our tradition.
I made sure to make the album expandable so that I can add pages as our family continues to grow and as new traditions are formed.

Using binder rings as my binding allows not only for expansion, but the book can lay flat when opened and recipe cards can be removed when being used.
It may not be my best scrapping as far as critics are concerned- but, it is definately one of my favorite things I have ever scrapped. I'm hoping my sister will love it as much as I do and that it will become something she will pass down to my neice so that she can carry on some of our traditions and will remember exactly who they came from and where they started. For me- this is what scrapping is truly about...this is why I scrap.