I have been scrapbooking for about 10 years now, and I can bet you I have probably spent about $1000 maybe more. Between paying to develope pictures, buying the papers, stickers and tools, I may have payed maybe $2000 or more. It is really hard to calculate that many years of scrapbooking. I started scrapbooking shortly after seeing my old friend Andria's scrapbook. It truely inspired me. I did actually have a scrapbook that my friends from Jobs' Daughters had made for me filled with sentiments from my term as Honered Queen. But I wanted to try it myself. So I gathered all the pictures I had and bought a scrapbook with my birthday money. It turned out okay, but I added way to many pages because after awhile it started falling apart. I have found that really a scrapbook, should have no more than 25 pages otherwise the binding gets overstressed and starts to fall apart Now I am sure lots of people will say, why bother, why not just stick it in a photo album and be done with it? It certainly would be cheaper, and quicker. Yes it is time consuming and if you want to make it look fun or special than it costs money. But I personally feel like it helps you relive the moment better. Over the years my scrapbooking has evolved a bit, but I know there are people who are a bit more creative than I am. I have finished my daughters first scrapbook and am now working on her second, her brothers first, our vacation, holiday, and "Gasp" Our wedding book. Yes, yes, we have been married nearly 8 years and I have barely toched it. I started one, but I lost the peices, so I bought a new one last month. I need to get pictures from our bridal shower, and figure out how to nicely take our invitation out of the one I started. If only we hadn't lost the box of invites we had left over,lol. Oh well such is life. Included are three of my favorite pages from my daughters scrapbook. I journal as much as I can to hold on o special moments, but that is difficult becuase, I just cannot remember everything. I wrote a nice little story for my sons scrapbook about when he was conceived and of the people who love him and of My Grandmother who died 6 months before he was born. I am not a big writer, so it took me a little while to think of what to say. Someday I hope he will grow to appreciate his book. There will be more to come. His sisters went up to her 3rd year, so I imagine his first one will as well. His sister Loves hers very much, she asks to see it, whenever I bring it out. Thanks for reading my hub, This is my first so bear with me.