I am new to Scrapbook.com and I love it. I am finding so many things here that I have not seen before. I started Scrapbooking in 2000 soon after my Mother died and I became the owner of 3 huge boxes of photos, letters, and family memorabilia most of which I had never seen before. It has been wonderful to go through all of these priceless heirlooms and put them in order into a book. Well by now it is several books....but then that is true scrapbooking I guess. The best thing is to understand that this obsession I have with "pack-ratting" is obviously genetic. In these boxes I have found that not only do I keep stuff, so did my Mother, and Grandmother and obviously those before her.It is really wonderful that they did, so now I have all kinds of justification for all of my "storage boxes" in the garage, closets, attic  etc.

 I have never taken a class and I am teaching myself....trial and error method.....lots of errors I might add. In 2002 my oldest grandson graduated from High School and I thought it would be nice to give him a scrapbook of his first 18 years. He loved it as much as I loved making it. The thing I forgot was that I had 10 other grandchildren who now expect a book when they graduate. So I am now finishing my 4th book and another one graduates next year. WHEW!!!!! What was I thinking????? But seriously it has been fun and I have to say, that last year, when I looked through Matt's book again, I was less than thrilled with my beginning efforts, so I did his over and now his is up to par with the rest. He is now in the Army, and leaving for Iraq on May 1st.....He loves his scrapbook as much as he loves his family. I am so glad that my hobby has produced such wonderful results.....again Who knew????? I really have a lot to learn and love all the pages in the gallery.....it gives me inspiration and ideas, and I just love looking at them. I wish there was a place to go near my house to meet people and learn and just have fun scrapin'. Those of you who have a place to go to learn new techniques and share with others are very lucky!!! I am an avid Antique Dealer/Collector with leaning toward american primitives and shabby type stuff. I collected "Shabby-Chic" long before it had a name.....I also make primitive Christmas items out of old cutter quilts, and other antique items. I make altered art framed pieces and lunch-bag scrapbooks using authentic vintage pieces that I find..