| Scrapbooking to Lift Your Spirits (Web Exclusive) |
From "Scrapbooking"
episode SCB-250 |
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By Holly Christian
Craft writer/designer and expert
I don't know about you, but for me it doesn't take much for scrapbooking to lift my spirits. After five minutes of looking through old pictures of my daughters I've got a goofy grin spread across my face that lasts for hours. The therapeutic value of scrapbooking is immediately evident but a closer look reveals long-lasting and life-enhancing benefits. Scrapbooking can help foster creativity, allow us time for contemplative work, provide a social outlet, and most of all, help us tell the stories of our relationships with loved ones. The Healing Power of Story Gathering photographs, organizing and assembling them in a scrapbook, and doing a bit of journaling about them is a fun way to spend an afternoon. But the benefits may be even greater than imagined. Studies show that when cancer patients are able to tell their deepest stories, their psychological and physiological well being often improves greatly. Scrapbooking, part of the family of story-telling modalities which includes journaling, art therapy and creative movement, has been shown to actually help strengthen the immune system. Creativity The process of scrapbooking -- choosing paper, thinking about placement of objects on the page, playing with color, line and form -- expands our minds in other ways as well. The creative act, whether it's making a fabulous meal, painting a picture or telling a story in a scrapbook, often bubbles over into other areas of life, allowing us to experience and respond to life in new ways. Solitude Solitude, though not highly valued in our culture, helps us get back in touch with ourselves. Contemplative time spent alone, journaling and scrapbooking, helps us access and strengthen our essential nature so that we can see more clearly when we venture back out into the larger world. Social Time For many scrappers, getting together with others for scrapbooking is a wonderful way to lift spirits. Regular get-togethers are especially welcome during those long winters that never seem to end, particularly for moms with little ones at home. Family History Scrapbooking is a fun activity for a mother and child, to organize and relive happy experiences, but it's also a great activity for larger family groups. There is some family history that is forever lost when the eldest member of a clan dies. At your next extended-family gathering consider pulling out some old family photos. You might be surprised at the stories grandpa and grandma have to tell! Be sure to have a "secretary" ready to write down these bits of family history. Processing Grief Grieving the loss of a loved one is a natural process that is sometimes not fully supported by friends who want us to feel better fast. It's important to honor difficult feelings as they surface. Making a scrapbook in memory of a loved one can be helpful in processing and working through the feelings of grief. Scrapbooking for Others Helping others make scrapbooks or making a scrapbook for a dear friend is an uplifting experience for all involved. A tiny scrapbook I made for a dear elderly neighbor who moved away meant so much to her that I later wished I'd made it bigger. I included notes from neighbors, photos, and neighborhood newspaper clippings that told about her 50 years in the neighborhood. This little scrapbook gave her an idea of what an inspiration she'd been to us all and how much we'd all miss her. Many folks, young and old alike, need help with scrapbooking. One organization that provides such assistance, the Picture ME Foundation, helps enrich the lives of disabled and seriously ill children through the use of photography and scrapbooking. Their volunteers assist families and children with the process of scrapbooking and the end product, both of which provide therapeutic benefits. Holly Christian was a frequent contributor to HGTV Ideas magazine and has written for other national publications.
RESOURCES :
Joy of Scrapbooking: Creating Keepsakes
ISBN: 0848718402
Author: Lisa Bearnson
Leisure Arts (Hot Off The Press, Inc.)
Website: www.craftpizazz.com
500 Great Heartwarming Expressions for Scrapbooking and Cards
ISBN: 0968664814
Author: Sandy Redburn
(2001)
Crafty Secrets Publications
Website: www.craftysecrets.com/aboutus.htm
More Than Memories: The Complete Guide to Preserving Your Family History
Model: 0873416899
Author: Julie Stephani, Editor
(1998)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Krause Publications
Website: www.krause.com
Crafting Your Own Heritage Album
Model: 1558705341
Author: Bev Braun
(2000)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Betterway Books (F & W Publications)
Website: www.fwpublications.com
A Lasting Legacy: Scrapbooks and Photo Albums That Touch the Heart
Model: 096633180X
Author: Souzzann Y.H. Carroll
(1998)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here
Living Vision Press
Bountiful, UT 84011
Holly Christian
Craft artist and writer
Holly Christian
Website: www.hollychristian.com
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