The new year has come and gone already, and that means that it’s time to gear up for the next major holiday – Valentine’s Day! And yes, we know that Christmas and New Year’s JUST finished, but when it comes to making a scrapbook, you need all the time you can get to make the best scrapbook you possibly can to give to that special someone for Valentine’s Day!

The year 2011 is already ending right before our eyes! It seems that as soon as we get used to writing out 2011 on our checks, assignments, memos, and other important documents, the year ends and we must get used to writing 2012 instead!

There’s no doubt about it – December is a stressful month for many people. Many of us are inundated with long Christmas lists, crowded shopping, insane amounts of get-togethers, and nearly insurmountable numbers of family holiday parties that go with the last month of the year...

It's now December and the chilly autumnal wind has been permeating the air, sending the masses to seek shelter in their jackets, scarves, and gloves. Even though Thanksgiving has just been celebrated and many people around the country are preparing for the wintertime merriment of Christmastime, decorating their homes in red and green, penguins, Santa Claus figurines, Christmas trees, and polar bears. In addition to the decorations and lights, many people have Christmas picture frames filled with photos of Christmases past out on display for all to see.

Thanksgiving is coming just around the corner, and everyone is gearing up for the holiday by decorating their houses with pumpkins, pilgrims, and cornucopias. Families and friends will be gathering together in just a few short weeks to dine with one another on turkey, potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pies, and more delicious food.

How do you celebrate Halloween? Do you take your kids around the neighborhood to go trick-or-treating? Do you and your friends get together to have a good time and enjoy the festivities? Do you dress up your dog to go out somewhere or to just prance around the house and show off to any visitors you get?

Weddings. Vacations. Pets. Family get-togethers. What do all these things have in common?

Why, pictures, of course!

After a wedding, a vacation, or a fun night out with friends, the first thing people ask is, "Where are the pictures?!"

If you have kids, then more than likely they are involved in some sort of sport oractivity, be it soccer, football, baseball, music, marching band, dance, or some other sport or activity. As a proud parent, not only do you go to those matches, games concerts, parades, and recitals to support your child, but you also take pictures of them at work at their activity – LOTS of pictures...

There have been a lot of great things going on here at Board Book Albums this summer!

First of all, we are delighted to say that we are a winner of the Pitney Bowes Small Business Makeover contest! It was an honor to be selected among many other small businesses!

Summertime for many families is vacation time, with many families returning home with digital cameras filled to the brim with photos of their time away.

Who in your family is usually taking these pictures? Mom? Dad?  With the rise of digital photography, many children are now curious to put themselves behind the lens.  If your child seems to take an interest in your camera and is asking to experiment, let them take it – you could have a future professional photographer on your hands!

Young children learn faster than we sometimes realize, so teaching your child about framing, composition and tips on photography can be beneficial to them and can be a fun way to spend time together.
Here are a few tips to get you started!

Time and time again we find ourselves going through the bookshelves looking for the perfect bedtime story. Well, now you can create the perfect bedtime story with a Board Book Album, a camera, and a little creativity! Here are some step-by-step instructions to help you make your very own storybook adventure.

You would think with the digital movement of the new millennium that scrapbooking would’ve been thrown by the wayside. But, despite everything going digital these days, scrapbooking is even more popular than ever.

Let’s face it, even if you don’t scrapbook, you know someone who does scrapbook. It’s almost like an addiction, once you start scrapbooking you can’t get enough! This would explain the nearly 4 million “scrappies” in the U.S. and the whole section dedicated to the craft in many popular stores like Michaels, Walmart and even Target.

Scrapbooking is certainly here to stay, and here’s why...

Mini Board Book embellished to be too cute!  Done in 2 hours flat!  Check out these fun ideas!

Thank you "Kiss and Tell Scrapbooking" by Katie Scott

A few years ago when my daughter Lucia needed a photo album to help her speech development, I searched all over for an album that she would not easily tear apart. Unsuccessful, I decided to create a sturdy cardboard album like her board book story books. I thought that other parents and children could also benefit from this durable kid-friendly album. Along the way, I learned from parents of children with autism that our albums work well with the PECS system that many autistic kids use to communicate. Board Book Albums strives to enhance the lives of children and families and we hope to bring you valuable information and ideas on our blog. Here’s some information about photo books and the PECS system.