27 Ways you can use one of my Take Along memory keepers

As a Scrapbook:
These little books make great mini albums.  You can document as you go and the book can act as the scrapbook.  Or it can be the holding place for your notes, photos and memorabilia until you get a chance to scrapbook it.

Use one to document:

1.  a small event.
2.  a baby's birth story.
3.  a milestone birthday.
4.  a milestone anniversary
5.  a child's milestone.
6.  any theme.
7.  cute things your children or grandchildren say.
8.  day in the life or week in the life. aliedwards.com
9.  a trip.

10. Or give one to a child to use as a scrapbook.

As a Planner:
I love to use a Take Along to plan things, one time events as well as my everyday life.  It's ever so practical :D

 Use one to plan:

11. a small event.
12. a trip.
13. a scrapbook.
14. any project.

15. Use one to try something new before committing to it in your daily planner.
16. They are perfect to keep papers and things as a holding place if your daily planner is too big to take along with you.
17. They make a pretty addition to your midori, fauxdori or traveller's notebook :D 

As a Journal:
The Take Along books are great multi-media, multi-purpose journals. Lots of room to write, but the pockets and the photo album to make it all the more rich.

Use one as:

18. your daily journal.
19. an art journal.
20. a prayer journal.
21. a pregnancy journal.

As a gift:
Do you know someone who loves to papercraft?  Or maybe someone who you think might like it?  Give them a Take Along as a little present :D

22. Give an empty one to a scrapbooker, planner girl or any paper crafter.
23. Give one to a child going on a trip or staying away from home, especially if the child will be staying away from you.
24. Give one to someone who you'd like to turn into a scrapbooker, planner girl or paper crafter.  They make a wonderful 'gateway drug'!
25. Fill one with advice for a new mother and give it to her for her baby shower.  Better yet, take a blank one to the shower with cards that fit the photo pockets (or any of the pockets) and let the other guests write their advice.
26. You could do the same thing for a bridal shower. :D
27. Send someone one as a 'happy mail.'  Write a nice letter in the journal part, add some photos and papercrafting goodies in the pockets and make someone's day when they open their mailbox!

So, what are you waiting for? ;) Make yourself a Take Along today, or grab one in my etsy shop.  If you don't have my free class, you can sign up in the little green tag right below!

A Meaningful Gift for Everyone on Your Holiday List This Year

 

Of course if you don't have a small children in your life, you can get older children to take photos, use your own art or use month-themed photos.

These calendars are so easy, you just need to scan or take of photo of their drawings and upload them to your favourite photo printer, granted that they make calendars ;)

12 is a great number for dividing things up. No matter if you have 1, 2, 3 or 4 children, it all works out to an even number of drawings for each child.  But, when I 'only' had 5 children I found a way around it.  For 2 of the months, they would each draw the same thing together on the same page, for example one Easter egg or one Christmas gift each. 

When they were too little to draw but old enough to colour, I would sketch out a little drawing for them to colour in.  This also served as a model for the older ones to copy. Hector was only just two when he coloured in these lily of the valley leaves.

It's also a good idea regardless, to sketch out sample pictures, making sure that you keep the designs simple.  Not only is it easier for their little hands to draw, but they also tire of drawing so many. The easier it is, the better.

When they were too little to even hold a pencil I used photos of them with the theme of the month in mind.

On the front I always add our Christmas card photo for that year.

Cedric is in the 2013 photo, he was born in time for Christmas, but I had the calendars all made up before he was born, so he didn't contribute :D

What is your go to Christmas gift?