My latest Schoolwork Scrapbook–photos of the inside pages still to come.

Many of you have the Schoolwork Scrapbook Tutorial and have already used it to make your children a book that displays some of their work and art. Others of you are planning to make your first books at the end of this school year. But do you know what to do with all that stuff your child is bringing home now?

The Problem

Originally, I had a high-quality file folder for each of my children to keep their work in while the year is progressing. I found that not only did everything not fit into my folders, but they were too much trouble to deal with when I was in a hurry cleaning up, and instead of putting stuff in them, I ended up stacking all three of my kids’ work together in the cabinet on top of the fie folders. This was much easier for me, throughout the year. But when the school year was over there was a little confusion sometimes as to whose work was whose.

The Solution

At the end of the summer I held a live event for those who own the tutorial, and one of the geniuses in the audience shared a wonderful idea. (Terri, was that you???). She suggested using those giant zip-lock bags that many scrapbooking kits come in.

I started doing it this year and it’s working out perfectly for me. They’re easy to open, easy to label, and a great size. If you’re swimming in school and art work already, you might want to try this.

What Is The Schoolwork Scrapbook?

For those who are unfamiliar with my Schoolwork Scrapbook and the special edition tutorial that gives you step-by-step instructions, you can find out about it and see detailed pictures by following this link.

Dream Team

12×12 Layout

This layout’s journaling quotes a conversation with my children and includes my own thought-responses. It reads:

Trinity: “I feel good now that Aiden is at school with Blake and me. Everyday I’m always so excited to see him at the front afterward.” (warms my heart)

Blake: “Me, too!”–Sweet! And no wonder I always find you two with him and his kindergarten class. You 3 are such great friends. Aug. 2008.

How The Photos Tell The Story

When I saw the first photo of Trinity and Aiden that you see above, I immediately saw a big sister who watches over her little brother. Her arm leaning against the post almost feels like she’s got her arm around Aiden.

And do you see the slight difference between the picture of the three of them, compared with the one I used for the Daddy Documents layout? In this one, Aiden’s head is leaning on Blake’s side. These may be small details, but they’re details that communicate.

How The Design Visuals Tell The Story

This layout is very different in style from the previous two I’ve posted this week. It’s not because I suddenly changed moods or because I got inspiration from a page in a magazine. It’s because the story is about love, support, closeness, and friendship. The older two siblings are expressing maternal-like feelings toward their baby brother. And that calls for a more feminine design than the other layouts I’ve posted for the Back-To-School series.

Let’s talk about the specific elements that reflect the mood for this story. The red and pink polka dot flower peeks out from the children, bubbling over with joy (don’t the three embellishments look like they’re bubbling up from the flower?).

The loops of ribbon that cradle the golden flower a little lower on the page suggest ties of friendship– lives intertwined.

The colors keep it lively and energetic (these are kids…we can’t get too serious here!).

The birds, both on the background paper and in the epoxy sticker, suggest a bigger bird looking after a baby.

Paperclipping Pick: A Current School-Related Product

Dedra and I found this white strip of school-lined, scalloped edge paper when we were shopping together last week. We both bought one. But I’m going back to get more.

It’s wonderful! Creative Cafe, by Creative Imaginations, manufactures it. It is 12 inches long. You probably can’t see it in my photos, but it has the elementary notebook paper lines with the dotted line in the middle. It’s perfect for a school-related layout, but will work for any other subject, as well.

So far, I have four layouts related to the kids starting school this year. I have one other I want to do. Can you imagine me trying to fit all those different thoughts and experiences into just one layout? Or, can you imagine me not even telling those stories because all I could think of was, “Your first day of school this year?”

How many of our stories will disappear forever because we don’t notice their uniqueness? Scrapbooking can be so much more than decorating around photos. For me, it has become a reminder to be more aware and to show myself and my children who we are.