Step 1: Buy or make your own SMASH book. They really aren't too expensive ($9-$15 on Amazon) and they are a great creative outlet for recording your memories. My first book is this lovely green (eco-style) book. If you don't want to buy one, I've seen plenty of printables on Pinterest for making your own.
Step 2: Plan what you want your book to be used for. I actually used sticky notes and wrote out my plans for each page of my SMASH book. Throughout the year I can look ahead and know what I should be planning to get extra memorabilia from or to make sure to snap some pictures.
Step 3: Print off photos at the end of each month, quarter, or year depending on how quickly you create your book. I'm doing one for the whole year and am planning on printing the photos off in December.
Step 4: SMASH! Basically you glue in your photos, memorabilia (tickets, programs, leaves, flowers, recipes, newspaper and magazine clippings, hand prints, etc.), and any notes you want to make. The books come with a handy pen/glue stick so you can glue and write to your heart's content.
Some ideas for SMASH book themes/topics:
- Wedding
- Baby pregnancy, birth, or first year
- Road trip
- School year
- Summer vacation
- Scripture study
- Art notebook
- Project inspiration
- Bucket list journal
What do you use your SMASH book for?
