Spare Time Rules...Geology Scrapbooks In the Making

One of the best things about being out of school (until August anyways) is that I can do the things I have not been able to do for quite some time. One of the long-listed items is to put together some scrapbook pages of all my geology trips I took while at Modesto Junior College and University of Nevada.

Great memories that come along with photos taken of other students and friends hiking to some geologic structure, setting up camp, or cooking in a easy-up while its pouring rain outside all need to be preserved. As a geologist, the first thing collected is normally rocks and/or data from observations and measurements into a field note book, but there are so many memories I have that I need to save them in fun pages and albums.

Coming from a time when we shoved our Polaroids and 35mm photos into plastic sleeved albums, I have learned that those memories faded and some simply deteriorated beyond recognition. Fortunately, there are new and really fun ways to preserve our memories. One I found is using crafty machines like a Sizzix Big Shot or a Cricut (my daughter got me for my birthday), that uses dies to cut shapes and designs. Also I have learned to visit sites that inspire such as Pinterest and Scrapbook.com.

The greatest thing is using such modern techniques and equipment is that they are archival-quality, meaning your photos will not yellow or fade, and inks will not bleed through (a big problem I found with pics from the 70s and 80s). Another, is the fact that there are always something available for your skill-level. You do not have to be an artist, just need a little creativity and time to play.

I realize that there are far easier methods of keeping memories and making them into books such as using Shutterfly and other online services, but what fun is that? Scrapbook.com has more than you need to develop some cool scrapbook pages. They even have a Pinterest group you can follow for inspiration.

I am in the process of turning my "office" where I have been studying til ungodly hours of the early morning for the past three years, and with the help of my woodworking hubby, transforming it into a crafty room where I plan to create geology trip scrapbook pages and other fun little projects I have been wanting to do for quite a while. Wish me luck. Will post some finished items soon!