by Martha Sutton

Created on: April 25, 2008

The papers available in a specialty Scrapbooking shop today are as varied as the people who love this hobby. When I became more serious about "cropping", about eight months ago, I was impressed with all the themed papers there were. There are papers for occupations, military, sports, animated characters, countries, life events, hobbies, holidays, celebrations, etc.

There are many textures and numerous shades of colors to choose from and many patterned papers have coordinating patterns or plain on the reverse. (It is wise to check the reverse before purchasing as you may want two sheets.) You can use the bold patterned page to the right (your featured page) and the plain or milder pattern to the left to compliment.

Cropping is a great hobby for me because it helps me feel calmer and relaxes me. I have said several times that it is therapeutic for me.

A few months ago, one of my very best friends, living 1,600 miles away, was dying. I knew this gal for 48 years! She was too ill to speak on the phone but her family kept me in touch. How would closure and acceptance come to me so far away?

I pulled two beautiful photos her hubby had taken of us last summer at lunch at the Pickle Barrel Restaurant in Toronto. I looked at those photos, and then took them to the racks of paper at my favorite store. I chose vertical wavy stripes in various colors of turquoise to match our outfits. The two pages face each other and are embellished with fabric flowers, ribbon, brads and a small printout from the Pickle Barrel website. I inserted the e-mail firming our lunch arrangements. At the side, I have the quote, "I thank my God every time I remember you" (Phil. 1:3).

When I am "cropping" photos of Buddy, our Lhasa Apso, I use lots of cute doggie paper and embellish the pages with brads shaped like bones and paws.

Our young friend is graduating high school this year and although I do not have all the photos yet, I have selected the papers. He knows his gift is a scrapbook and so I know there will be lots of good pictures! I found papers with his school name, colors, and symbols: perfect! I also found some prom-themed pages. I will need a photo of his new car, a black Mustang, and I think that will be backed with a glittery silvery paper.

I dug out some old black and white family pictures because I wanted to give those a better home now. Time to come out of the shoebox! This was a challenge to pick papers! I am the only one left. I found pictures of my first memories at 486 St. Clement's

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