New Trends: Mini Scrapbooks

I'm not sure if you've seen these in your local scrapbook store lately, but one of the newest trends to hit scrapbooking this year is the "mini scrapbook".

I started with my first mini scrapbook last year as a sort of birthday card for a friend. I used a mini book from Making Memories for my first attempt, and they really were the first to market with the mini scrapbook "kit". The book was so well received by my friend, that I decided to do several more.

A mini scrapbook generally is 5" x 8" or smaller and has roughly 8-12 pages. Many are tied closed with ribbon. Several months ago, I ran across a new product on the market that made my mini scrapbooks as birthday cards idea much easier to accomplish. Simple Scrapbooks magazine has a mini scrapbook that is available in most scrapbook and craft stores. These mini scrapbooks are entitled "ten things I love about" and are themed by the recipient -- husband, friend, sister, mother, etc. Inside the book, the page spreads are preprinted on the left-hand page with a space for journaling each "thing you love" about that person, and on the right-hand page is a space for a corresponding photo.

For our anniversary, I gave my husband one of these books. I was able to assemble it quickly since it was sort of "prefab", and I printed out photos and adhered them. I think he was really touched by it -- he keeps it in his bedside table.

There's nothing like that personal touch for a card, and I can tell you that everyone I've created a mini scrapbook for has not only saved it but has been very proud to show others. While they take more time than a traditional card, they can double as a gift and a card, and they show how much you think of the recipient.