Yesterday l scrapbooked for what felt like the first time in ages. I've had a really big break from scrapping, sold off half my stash, and really pared things down to basics. After more than 7 years of being a scrapbooker it was time for a rethink and a big sort out.

One of the things that made me want to scrapbook again was my kid's school scrapbooks. I found this idea a few years back when reading a scrapbooking magazine (apologies for not knowing the correct mag or original scrapper!), and l thought it was great.  (read on...)

I call my version a 'quick school scrapbook', and as explained in the original article, it is a basic A4 white school ringbinder that you can buy from most newsagents or department stores. It is filled with a packet of basic school issue plastic pockets, and you then decorate the front cover of the binder (mine has a slide in plastic pocket on the spine and front cover) with photographs and patterned paper. There is one binder for each child, and it is a simple matter of slotting school newsletters, classwork, memorabilia and smaller artwork into a plastic pocket. Mine are arranged in chronological order, and l also scrapbook class and individual school photos for each year level. Anytime my girls bring home sports ribbons or awards they get added in too.

It's nothing fancy, there are minimal embellishments, and it wouldn't win any art or design awards, but for me it is simple, stress free and super fast. The kids love looking back on old artwork, l love that l have scrapped their school photos, and with very little fuss or bother we all have a simple scrapbook to sit down and enjoy.

ps. The plastic pockets are probably not photosafe, so l have purchased A4 scrapbook refills for the pages with photos on them.