Sometimes it’s fun to break away from scrapbooking the traditional events that occur year after year, and dig up an old photo that inspires you! Perhaps one from your childhood or a family member from way back when. After all, that is part of your story as well! I scrapbooked this layout of my mom and her sister from 1959 using Close to my Heart’s Silver and Gold kit. I love the way the monochromatic paper compliments the old black and white photo, and yet the unexpected pops of gold add life and sparkle to the page! What pictures do you have stashed away just waiting for their story to be told?

Every year for Presidents Day weekend, my sisters and I, along with some good friends, get together for our own scrapbook retreat! Its three days of uninterrupted scrapping time. We started a circle journal over ten years ago that holds an entry from each time we get together for these scraptacular weekends.  A group photo, along with a journal excerpt from each of us goes into the 6×6 album. We write about whatever crazy thing happened during our scrap time and of course, all the yummy food we shared. Its an album we all cherish and a tradition we will always continue!