Scrapbooking scraps come in handy!

I just returned from a scrapbooking retreat and completed 50+ pages!  I used to work for a scrapbooking company so I have been doing it for many years.  I do a book for each child and try to do a family book as well.  I really love preserving their every move in a scrapbook.  I just finished one of our daughter's 3rd book and she isn't even 2 yet.  I should really count how many I have done in total - I am sure it is around 30 or so.  Although it takes a lot of time, I think it is so important to preserve our family memories.  The kids love to go back and look at the pictures and stories from back when they were younger.  I know I will cherish them when all the kids are grown up. 

As I was working on my books this weekend, I found that I had a lot of scraps left over - extra paper mostly.  Most of the paper is oddly shaped, ripped, etc. so the likelyhood of it being used again on a page isn't very high.  However, I do not throw these scraps away.  All of my scraps go into a special container so that they can be used again.  They are especially great for the kids!

Here are a few ideas to use your scrapbooking leftovers:

• Use them for the kids art projects
• Frame the paper if it can add decoration to any room
• Have your young ones practice cutting
• You can cut out shapes and have your kids play a game with the shapes or just go through them to learn their shapes
• Use the scraps into a memory game
• I use most of my scraps to make cards! You can let the kids make their own cards as well.
• If you have a cricut, you can use your scraps to cut out different things with this machine either for future pages or for your kids

Whether you scrapbook or not, I hope you preserve your family memories in a way that suits you!