Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Kansas City, KS

Y'all, I have to admit something. I do not scrapbook. I tried for a while, to at least compile picture books of my kids. And then I started just writing the month/year on the envelopes and organizing the photos and CD's from Walmart into photo storage boxes. And then everything went digital and there was webshots and flickr and facebook and now I don't even print pictures off the computer anymore. I suck, I know. So, when the Being Savvy calendar showed the topic turning to Scrapbooking and resources, I knew I better call for backup.

So, Welcome Angie!
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We took down Christmas at our house this past weekend, evidence that the holidays are truly over, and it's time to get back to whatever we might call normal. In the process of putting away all the trappings of the holiday, there was time still to sift through some memories; memories from events just celebrated, and those from years past. As I took down each ornament, I couldn't help but smile with mom-like nostalgia at the little four-year-old handprint, the carefully glittered pine cone, the craft stick frame around a school picture of my son with his wide gap-toothed smile.

Since I started scrapbooking, I have made a point of using photos to create ornaments to add to our collection. These ornaments are among our most meaningful, because they help capture the moments of childlike wonder and joy of the holidays. Useful reminders of the sweet children who once were, in anticipation of the attitude-spouting teenagers they may yet become.

Thinking of creating some mementos with your own holiday photos? Then you'll probably want to check out some of the scrapbooking and paper-crafting resources Kansas City has to offer.

Local Scrapbooking Stores

One of the largest and oldest scrapbooking stores in Kansas City is The Scrapbook Page. Located at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Pflumm in Overland Park, the Page as it's known to its regulars, boasts a large selection of paper and embellishments, as well as a full class schedule, including digital scrapbooking how-to's. Visit them at http://thescrapbookpageonline.com, and read their blog at http://www.scrapbookpage.blogspot.com.

The Paperie Place is located in Liberty; yes, perhaps considered the northeast outskirts of Kansas City, but definitely worth visiting. They host great seasonal retreats and have recently partnered with The Loft at Heritage [http://www.theloftatheritage.com/] to offer a private cropping getaway. Visit them at http://www.thepaperieplace.com.

Also check out:

Stampers, Ink in Shawnee: http://www.stampersink.net/

All About Scrapbooking in the Northland: http://www.aascrapbooking.com

Creative Creations Scrapbooking in Liberty: http://www.creativecreationsscrapbooking.com

Wishes of the Heart in Bonner Springs: http://www.wishesoftheheart.com

Scraps in Larned: http://www.scrapslarned.com

The Scrapbook Workshoppe in Blue Springs: http://www.scrapbookworkshoppe.com/

Urban Arts + Crafts on the Plaza: http://www.urbanartsandcrafts.com/

Chain Craft Stores

Archiver's offers two Kansas City locations: North Kansas City and Overland Park. They have weekly crops and regular classes. Visit their website at http://archiversonline.com/store_markets/kansas_city.html

You can also check out the scrapbooking/papercrafting resources at Michael's , Hobby Lobby, and WalMart .

Angie Pedersen is a blogger, freelance writer, and marketing consultant. Her scrapbooking career began in 1997, when her first page proudly featured photos cut into several imaginative shapes, as well as several decorative edges. Her vastly improved work has since appeared in eight nationally recognized magazines. Angie is the best-selling author of The Book of Me: A Guide to Scrapbooking about Yourself, Growing Up Me: A Guide to Scrapbooking Your Child's Stories, and The Book of US: A Guide to Scrapbooking about Relationships.

Angie also blogs at The Blog of Me and twitter.com/angiepedersen.