Scrapbooking comes in many formats. You can choose to focus entirely on photos with very limited words thrown in. Or you can be an advocate for strong and meaningful journaling.

Whatever it is, when it comes to scrapbooking about you, I'll like to say that heartfelt journaling is crucial.

Because by giving substance in form of words to your thoughts, feelings and recollections about yourself, you are in a way reaffirming your sense of being. You're telling universe, "Hey, this is who I am!"

Occasionally, on my scrapbook pages, you'll see mainly journaling without a stitch of photo. And yet, some of these pages are among my most effective pages.

So don't be afraid to give strength to your words and let them pour forth and land themselves naturally onto your scrapbook pages.

Sometimes, certain themes might bog you down longer than others. Don't give up. The harder it is to scrapbook on a theme about yourself, bigger will be affirmation or breakthrough that you might experience.

Do yourself a favor.

Focus on scrapbooking all about yourself on some days. You'll be elated to uncover a growing sense of certainty of who you are, as you go about scrapbooking scattered pieces of yourself and your memories.

"There is only one person who can write story of your life, with all its foibles, follies, treasures and tears. That person is you." - Kathleen Adams

Need some inspirations or ideas that can spark up your session on scrapping about yourself? Look out for my "Scrapbooking Yourself as a Girl, Youth and Your College Days" and "Scrapbooking Yourself as a Mother, Homemaker, Worker and More".

Happy scrapping!

Always bear in mind that scrapbooking is permanent. For this reason, it is probably better to use copies of your only picture of Great Aunt Betsy rather than risk ruining original photograph forever. So just scan picture on your computer scanner and print image on lignin free and acid free paper.

Everybody loves looking at photos of family, friends and special places. That’s why they have such a special place in any scrapbook. It can be a lot of fun to use photos in imaginative layouts and for abstract effects -- don’t feel confined just to mounting your photos as you would in a traditional photo album.

You can find inspiration for new scrapbooking ideas from magazines and visits to art museums. Just keep your eyes open and let your imagination run free!

Nigel Patterson is a writer on arts and crafts and the publisher of Create Your Own Scrapbooks.