I'm glad I saw that - I need to do this. I have some before photos - ones taken at Easter and my dd's confirmation and I look horribly fat. I'll get some more photos taken tomorrow and surgery is on Tuesday! Wahoo! I like the monthly photo idea and I think I'll add monthly weight and measurements. This will be for my eyes only -- until I am showing progress and then I'll probably be showing it to everyone. I have a 9x9 CTMH linen album in my favorite shade of green that will be perfect! Thanks for the ideas!

I'm Karen. I'm a CTMH demo and in Houston, TX. I'm having my surgery on Tuesday this week! I was very happy to see the scrapping and stamping boards! Just wanted to say hi and then I'll disappear for a bit but I'll get back online as soon as I can.

A medium sized pizza box works pretty well. I go to a local shop and ask to buy clean ones. They only charge like 1.00 each.

Melissa, I love scapebooking. I will tell you how I started out a couple of yrs ago. I learned so much by watching it on TV. My local pbs station had a show, diy channel also has a scrapbooking show. Then I would watch the pros on qvc and hsn when they would be on there. They give u simple ideas that make a big bang on your pages. They also sell kits that will give u pages with all the matching embellishments to go with them which helps when u are a beginner and then as u learn u will be able to cooridinate your pages and buy things on your own. As for things u need. I would reccomend a zyron machine and a tape runner. A good paper cutter. If u start out with a few great pieces and build from their I think its better than getting a whole lot of cheaply made things. Also I learned that its best to scrap your most recent pics and keep them done up as u get them. Then as u have time go back and do older pics. This way u are scrapping the most recent things while they are still fresh in your head and u get all the things said in your journaling that need to be said before u forget them. I hope this helps all the newbys. Mariah

Just start with a blank sheet of paper and a couple of pictures that you especially love. Think about what was going on when the pics were taken. Are they kids? do you remember if they were laughing? What were they doing? What were you doing? One of my fav pics is of me and my niece and we're both looking into space. Gave me a great idea of how close we are and I journaled using the thougths that I had as I looked at the pic. Just let go and your brain will create. If all else fails....scraplift from someone or a magazine! Cathy