| If your mother is an avid scrapbooker then sigh | | | | A great choice if you are working to a strict |
| with relief, there's no need to worry about what | | | | budget. 12 by 12 scrapbook papers are my |
| to give her on Mother's Day, a scrapbook related | | | | favorite but sadly the sheets are often difficult to |
| gift will fit the bill perfectly. No, this doesn't mean | | | | store. You can find folders specially for this size in |
| you have to take up the hobby yourself, don't | | | | most craft shops and even Walmart, or with a |
| try to do what Mom does, just give her more of | | | | little stiff card, some ribbon and pretty paper you |
| the tools she needs to have fun with the hobby | | | | can make one yourself for a truly personal gift. |
| she loves. In descending order of price, these are | | | | 6. A New Printer or scrapbook software. |
| my suggestions: | | | | There are two types of scrapbooking. The |
| 1. An Armoire. | | | | traditional kind done with paper, pens and cutout |
| Every scrapbooker has problems finding space to | | | | shapes, and the digital kind which is done entirely |
| store their bits and pieces. This armoire is | | | | on computer. Many scrapbookers use elements of |
| expensive, but it represents a dream for many | | | | both. One problem for the digital scrapbooker is |
| fans of the scrapbooking hobby. Filled with boxes | | | | that typical computer printers are not large |
| and folders and a fold out desk, just shut the | | | | enough to print 12 by 12 scrapbook pages, so |
| door and your space is neat and uncluttered. | | | | these have to be created on the computer and |
| Open it, and you have the organized mess that | | | | then sent to a photo printing service for print. |
| scapbookers know and love. You can find a | | | | This can be expensive if you get things wrong. |
| scrapbooking armoire at Amazon or | | | | The solution is what is called a 'large format' |
| hobbyhideaway. | | | | printer. Check them out on amazon, be sure to |
| 2. A Desk. | | | | check the maximum paper size is over 12 by 12. |
| I only just discovered this amazing piece of | | | | If you want to encourage your Mom to try digital |
| furniture, designed with the scrapbooker in mind. | | | | scrapbooking. try buying her a software package |
| The desk, drawers and cupboards have boxes | | | | designed to produce pages quickly and easily. You |
| and folders for all those pens, glues and inks, while | | | | could try Scrapbook Max, or for more creative |
| the desk surface is made of glass, allowing you to | | | | leeway, a more general graphics program like |
| see all the contents of the drawers beneath. No | | | | Photoshop Elements. |
| more rummaging and wasting time just trying to | | | | 7. A new die. |
| find what you want. This piece of furniture helps | | | | If your Mom already has a die cutting machine, |
| you keep it neat, save time and save space. | | | | why not get her a new die? She may well have a |
| Take a look at the EZ view scrapbook desk at | | | | favorite animal or shape she hasn't had a good |
| Overstock or Amazon. | | | | reason to buy yet. If not, some die's are just |
| 3. A Scrapbook Album. | | | | generally useful, like flowers and flourishes which |
| What every scrapbooker wants - a new | | | | can be added to most types of page. Check out |
| scrapbook to fill. Try finding a new format. If your | | | | the 'specials' page on the sizzix site for bargains. |
| Mom likes 12 by 12 pages, try buying an eight by | | | | 8. A set of themed stamps. |
| eight. Even smaller formats exists, and each one | | | | If you know there is a an event coming up in |
| has it's own thrills and challenges. Ideally buy some | | | | your family calendar, a significant birthday or |
| materials to go with your choice, or provide some | | | | anniversary, a wedding, graduation or even a new |
| pictures to complete the gift. Scrapbook Albums | | | | baby, why not buy your Mom a set of stamps |
| vary enormously in price, from over $200 to | | | | themed for the occasion? She'll be delighted to be |
| very little. | | | | able to use her present when she makes pages |
| 4. A Diecut Machine. | | | | about the event. You could buy a set of themed |
| Many scrapbookers enjoy making their own | | | | embellishments to match. |
| embellishments. One way to do this is to use | | | | 9. A set of themed papers. |
| pre-cut or die-cut shapes. Having your own die | | | | The worst thing about scrapbooking is having |
| cut machine gives you complete freedom of | | | | pictures and SOME of the things you need for a |
| choice when it comes to the color of the shape | | | | layout, but not others. That's why it is so useful |
| and the material it is cut from. Alphabets are | | | | to buy scrapbook paper in themed sets. When |
| especially useful, but there is a wide choice of die | | | | you start with one paper, you will have the |
| cut machines, so take your time and choose | | | | others you need to go on and create the layout |
| carefully. Machines like the Sizzix have been | | | | you wanted. |
| around for a long time and there is a huge choice | | | | 10. A set of pens. |
| of dies. Some machines specialize in embossing as | | | | Embossing Glaze pens are wonderful for coloring |
| well as die cutting, and these create particularly | | | | in rubber stamps, Sakura souffle pens create a |
| sophisticated embellishments. Take a look at the | | | | raised effect when you write journalling, and |
| Sizzix and the Cricut and keep in mind that many | | | | stardust gelly pens add a touch of glitter, while |
| scrapbookers need their equipment to be | | | | metallic pens create text that shows up even on |
| portable, so die cutters which need to be | | | | dark scrapbook backgrounds. |
| attached to computers are not always the best | | | | Whatever your budget you are sure to find |
| choice. | | | | something in the list above that will make your |
| 5. A Storage folder. | | | | Mother's Day! |