Scrapbooking: Memories Made Simple

My great-great grandmother started a scrapbook in 1862, but despite family tradition, I myself panic when I try to work on my sons' albums. Modern scrapbooking seems to feature so many “rules”—and requires so much expensive paraphernalia—that it's downright intimidating. Taking a kinder, gentler tack, host Sharyn Pak reminds viewers here to “have fun—don't stress” as she demonstrates scrapbooking with six different project themes (birthday, baby, pet, Christmas, “little boy,” and vacation) using a wide variety of materials (cardstock, rulers, X-ACTO knives, scissors, glues, and stickers) and techniques. Pak progressively brings more complexity to each layout, eventually adding ribbons, raffia, rope, diecuts, paints, tags, feathers, beads, slide mounts—even a key and a tiny bottle—as embellishments (she also points out how to make letters on vellum using a home printer). A solid production that employs overhead camera angles as well as close-up shots to clearly illustrate Pak's work, this is recommended. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)