How Am I Going to Tell This Story?

Somewhere in the early to mid 1990's I had gathered the story of one branch of my family.  The McBees.  Along with the story I had gathered photos from the mid to late 1800's, identified many of the subjects in them, and was looking for some way to safely keep and display them.  (Identifying the subjects in these photos is a story for another day.)  Of course frames with UV glass were potentially the safest place but impractical in practice considering the number of photos I had.  Boxes of them, boxes and boxes and boxes!

A concern at the time for most genealogists when trying to preserve these pictures was exposing them to light.  The concern was so great we were careful not to photograph or copy them.  No one even had scanners yet!  Even so, all three mediums required a bright flash of light that was believed to cause the photos to fade faster.  The practical solution seemed to be a scrap book.

In most craft stores the selection of photo albums was limited to what I have always called sticky pages.  Remember those?  We all had them and just try taking a photo out of one of those things now.  I knew I was not going to put my 100+ year old pictures in one of those!  These horrible photo albums were beginning to be on their way out but real scrap booking materials were not easily found, unless you knew someone, which I did not! 

It seemed to me these photographs were a work of art which is what led me to a local art store.  There I learned that some people were preserving photos and making scrap books.  Nothing like what we do today, but I found a source for acid free paper which was huge!  I had read about acid free paper some where. Ah, but how to bind the acid free paper?  The beautiful embossed leather albums from the early part of the century were no where to be found.  But in the art stores I learned that people were making the actual album covers too.

After a nice chat with the sales lady where I obtained loads of information (no they did not have a class for this) I returned home armed with my acid free paper  More, I had silk paper and very heavy card board for making the album itself.  Did I forget to mention that my instructions also included 'sewing' the binding of my album together? 

This was an arduous project and frankly it was a bit of a lonely project.  My immediate family understood why it was important to me because they understood the genealogy work I had done.  Beyond that small circle I think my friends believed I had slipped a cog.  They certainly had no interest in joining me and 'having fun'.  .  But, once completed it was to me a great accomplishment.  One I might attempt again....some time.   But not too terribly soon. 

The boxes and boxes of pictures remained in their boxes for several years.  It is just as well that they did.   Today I have no worries about scanning a photo.  That is likely the best image that will ever be preserved as long as it is well backed up.  Of course new photos are already digital!  There are far more beautiful papers, great layouts, ways to embellish and journal.  Oh, something else I didn't have back then ... the Internet of course!   No email, no Google, no Facebook, no blog.  I actually believe a lot of us were facing the same challenges and opportunities alone back then.  Well, the rules have changed now!

A Little About Me

Hi, I'm Cindy Elliott.  I love scrap booking.  Like many, life has not always allowed me the time to do this as much as I would like....and I still have boxes of projects to do!   About a year ago a long time friend invited me to a Close To My Heart party.  I had so much fun putting together a scrap booking page,  making a birthday card and enjoying the time with others. 

Not long after, I was invited to a crop weekend held at a local hotel.  I had no idea what to expect.  I was told to 'bring my stuff' and I really wasn't entirely sure what they meant by that.  How much stuff?  Not long after arriving, I realized everyone really did bring 'their stuff'.  Everything they could!  From Friday through Sunday everyone worked on their projects, shared ideas and tips with each other and had great fun at the crop weekend.  The best part, I made new friends who I now look forward to seeing every time I go.  I got hooked.  This became my outlet; total relaxation and fun!  So much more fun then work or any of the things I was involved in.

My scrap booking experience did not start a year ago, as I'll share in the future.  But, it has now become a fun and important part of my life.  It is like taking time to smell the roses, with purpose!  As a young woman I often would sit with my grandmother, and any other family member I could find, and ask about our family.  In the early 90's I began a serious genealogy project tracing my family's history; a project I invested years into. This resulted in more boxes than I can count, the oldest of family pictures and oodles of notes and stories.  This is not something my children would appreciate in its 'filed' format.  I believe that scrapbooks are the ideal way to build and share these stories. 

Of course I also have scrapbook projects of my own children and of course one for Jack.  Oh, you'll meet Jack.  He is our 40 lb lab mix, rescued from terrible circumstance and now living a life of luxury with my husband, David and I. Actually Jack lets us live with him! 

I look forward to sharing my scrap booking projects, challenges and opportunities here.  As we go through this journey I believe you will understand why some of the projects I work on truly are 'Scraps From My Heart".  I know yours are too :-)