Scrapbooks have arguably become an archival standard for family photos. All the papers, inks, and adhesives are acid-free and designed to resist fading or yellowing over the years. The freedom to add accessories and design elements can preserve a context for photos, lending the photographs more power to capture an experience and evoke memories over time. It’s easy to love scrapbooking supplies, and it’s easy to collect the supplies with the full intention of creating a lovely scrapbook with them. But it can be hard to find the time to actually sit down and put a scrapbook together. Most people who get started find that they want more supplies and more tools to be able to make the kind of book their imaginations want them to make. Then, with so many pictures and a collection of all these fancy supplies, the amount of decision-making can be overwhelming. Non-designers can easily disappoint themselves with the way their pages look. NOPL wants to help with this process of creating a quality record of the important milestones and events you have documented. Starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday March 5, we’ll meet once every month in 2011 at the library in Cicero, and everyone will leave each meeting with at least one completed scrapbook page. By the end of the year, you’ll have a whole book documenting your best shots from the year. We have core tools and supplies on hand, including a Cricut machine, which is a user-friendly programmable cutting tool to make custom stickers and paper shapes. Most importantly, we have the expertise of veteran scrapbooker Pam Marion, who will be on hand to offer design suggestions or advice. Bring three to six pictures with you, and any scrapbooking materials you’d like to incorporate into your book and/or share with others. Register online at nopl.org, or by visiting the library or calling 699-2032. There is no cost for this program. Get excited and inspired for scrapbooking with these big, colorful books from the library:
365 Days of Scrapbooking Ideas, from Better Homes and Gardens (2010). This book contains a year’s worth of the most popular projects from the editors of Scrapbooks, etc. The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker, by Wendy Smedley (2010). Overflowing with tips, quizzes, projects, and inspired scrapbook spaces, this book will help you define your scrapbooking approach, and will guide you as you create a scrapbook space that works with way you work. Did you know scrapping is such a hit that it’s able to support a whole sub-genre of fiction known as the Scrapbooking Mystery? One popular Scrap-n-Craft series, by Joanna Campbell-Slan, has titles such as Paper, Scissors, Death (2009, an Agatha Award finalist!), Cut, Crop and Die (2009), and Photo, Snap, Shot (2010). Even kids can get in on the fun of a reading a cozy that drops scrapbooking tips throughout with books like Fiber and Brimstone (2010), by Laura Childs. Other Upcoming Programs at NOPL
Saturday, Feb 26
A Nursery School and Pre-K Open House will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at NOPL at North Syracuse,100 Trolley Barn Lane. Meet representatives from many local nursery school and preschool programs, and learn what makes each school unique. Representatives from a variety of schools will be on site to discuss their programs and answer questions. Tuesday March 29
The Beginner’s Coupon & Savings Class will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at NOPL at Brewerton, 5437 Library St. Local resident and blogger Andrea McCarthy (mycnymommy.com) knows all about deals and coupons pertinent to the Central New York Area. She teaches people how to “coupon” to save money on their grocery bill, cutting it by 50 percent or more. Registration required. Visit nopl.org for more information, or call 676-7484. Meg Backus is the adult programming librarian at NOPL.