Chances are that you have a bunch of little things–ticket stubs, letters, receipts, photos–lying around your room that you don’t know exactly what to do with. You couldn’t possibly throw these things out (oh, the memories!), but you also don’t want to be selected as the next contestant for TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive. How can you start to declutter your space?
I present… the scrapbook!
There’s a reason old-school scrapbooks have resurfaced this year. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing and pleasantly time-consuming, but they also present an opportunity to find a home for all those odds and ends you haven’t had the heart to throw away just yet. If you’ve never scrapbooked before, I recommend gathering supplies first. Luckily, most of the things you’ll need are common household items!
My Scrapbooking Supply List
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1 Scrapbook (you’ll have lots of options for color and size at your nearest craft store)
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Magazines (as many as you can find–Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Time, Bon Appétit, etc.)
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Pens and markers (I like Stabilo Fineliner Pens & Zebra Mildliner Creative Markers)
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Odds & ends: Stickers, stamps, ticket stubs, photos, letters, feathers, old ID cards, magazine perfume samples, friendship bracelets… the list goes on and on!
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Scissors, glue stick, ruler, tape
After I’ve gathered all my supplies, I like to sit down on the floor of my bedroom and spread them out around me in a circle. This helps me keep track of everything. Then, I flip through the magazines, cutting out quotes and recipes I want to try someday and pictures of my favorite celebrities (Harry Styles, anyone?). Once I’ve assembled a pile of magazine cut-outs, I begin laying down everything I want to include on the first page. When I’m happy with how the page is organized, I whip out my handy glue stick and tape dispenser and make my art official!
Possibly my favorite part of the whole shindig is showing off my work afterward. I call my sisters to my room and smile as they pore over my memory book, squealing at my Boy Bands collage and snickering at my photo ID picture from freshman year of high school.
Maybe you’d prefer to keep your memory book private, though, which is totally okay. One way or another, I hope you’ll give scrapbooking a try this Thanksgiving or Christmas break. :)
