• If you like scrapbooking, you will love mini scrapbooking.MINI image by knirzporz from Fotolia.com
  
  Scrapbooking, a popular hobby for crafts lovers, has gone "mini." Mini scrapbook albums take up less space, cost less to put together and can be shelved with other books instead of hidden away in a box or under the bed. Getting started on a mini scrapbook can be as easy as purchasing a small spiral bound drawing pad to fill and decorate. Most bookstores sell beautiful cloth covered journals of unlined paper that can be turned into mini scrapbooks or you can create one from scratch. One-of-a-kind mini scrapbook albums make thoughtful gifts for family members and friends with whom you share memories.
  
  

Keeping it Together

• Mini scrapbooking starts with a mini book.scrapbooking image by Philippe MICHAUD from Fotolia.com
  
  Make your own mini scrapbook with a hole-punch device and ribbon to tie it all together, or use a prepared mini scrapbook kit to start. You can also repurpose an old bound book by carefully dismantling the spine from the front and back covers, sealing the exposed cover edges with good cloth book binding tape (obtained from an art supply store) and punching three to six holes that will accept plastic or metal rings, decorative cord or ribbon. If you lack scraps, you can purchase all the decorative paper, cardstock, templates, ribbon, beads, charms, stick-on graphics, glitter, photo mats, buttons, string, felt, material scraps, yarn, wood cutouts and anything else you can think of at most major crafts or fabric stores.
  
  

Finding the Inspiration

• Mini scrapbooks can be any mini size and can be about anything.color swirl scrapbook image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
  
  There are many perfectly matched occasions for mini scrapbooking---weddings, new babies, birthdays, retirements and anniversaries. A mini scrapbook for grandpa's birthday could begin with a record-your-own-message card containing a song by the grandchildren and a page of memories for every decade of his life. Ask each grandchild to contribute one memory or idea. An antique-themed mini scrapbook could contain old product labels, bottle caps, photos, newspaper clippings, greeting cards and paperback book covers, found in your home or at an antique mall.
  
  

Babies and Beyond

• The birth of a child is a popular subject of mini scrapbooks.Baby image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
  
  A new baby mini scrapbook can be oh-so-precious, with first socks, a birth announcement, hair clippings, photos, a short prayer or poem, hospital bracelet, a scrap of the baby's first blanket and more. Other life events, such as a high school or college graduation, can provide the basis for looking back-looking forward mini scrapbooks. Include reminders of past accomplishments, such as a "mini" copy of an award or diploma, mini cheerleading pom-poms in school colors, a mini book cover of a favorite book, images related to a favorite subject or sport and comics or famous quotes about school, careers or life in general.
  
  

Just for Fun

• Include a summer cruise in a vacation mini scrapbook.Summer image by jae young from Fotolia.com
  
  Complete a just-for-fun themed mini scrapbook, such as one that displays your favorite things about summer, while on vacation. Collect and insert pressed leaves and flowers, carnival souvenirs, summer recipes, cruise tickets, sand from the beach, a salt water taffy wrapper or hiking and camping artifacts collected (if small enough to include). If you recently added a new puppy or kitten to the household, you could preserve memories of puppy or kitten hood by including photos, a paw print and scraps of things your pet may have gotten into when you weren't looking.
  
  

Read and Re-Read

• Mini scrapbooks are for viewing--read them over and over and enjoy.reading a good book image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
  
  A mini scrapbook of poems can become a treasure of memories and meditation. You can match favorite poems to personal photos, images, drawings or mini collages. For example, Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" could have a small pine tree branch (real or fake) next to it with some artificial spray snow; Emily Dickinson's "'Hope' Is the Thing with Feathers" could have an accompanying page with lots of different colored feathers.
  
  

Best Friends and Birthdays

• Mini scrapbooking is a fun birthday party activity and can become take-home party favors.happy birthday image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
  
  Mini scrapbooks make meaningful keepsakes for best friends---especially if one friend is moving away. Include postcards, ticket stubs, friendship quotes, favorite songs and especially photos of time spent together. Mini scrapbooking is easily a great activity idea for children's birthday parties---have party attendees create pages about why they like birthdays---then have fun after the party pasting in the photos.