Book Review - Ethnic Scrapbooking by Lisa M. Sanford

Ethnic Scrapbooking by Lisa M. Sanford

Don’t let the title fool you, this book is about so much more. Ethnic Scrapbooking is truly a book for EVERYONE, even if you don’t think of yourself as being “ethnic”. The word “ethnic” encompasses more than just race; it also includes culture, religion, heritage, and tradition.

One of the great things about living in the U.S. is that we are truly a melting pot. We are fortunate to be exposed to food, music, colorful clothing, and celebrations of many different cultures. Ethnic Scrapbooking teaches you how to find ways to incorporate that cultural inspiration into your scrapbooking.

This book makes you think about how we scrapbook our photos the old-fashion way – who, what, when, where, why, and how; and teaches you tips and techniques that will help to make your layouts more rich and meaningful.

Ethnic Scrapbooking covers over 40 countries and cultures. The book contains over 100 pages filled with colorful layouts, tips, and techniques for beginner and advanced scrapbookers.  It is the first culturally inspired book that offers ways to live a lifestyle of cultural awareness and preservation. 

The chapters, which include Heritage and Tradition, Everyday Living, Culturally Speaking, People, and Places, show us how to make cultural connections to our photos, our memories, and the everyday activities that fill our lives.

Author Lisa Sanford is a speaker, paper craft instructor, and an award winning scrapbook artist. Lisa has multiple publications to her credit, including articles, stories, and interviews.  She was a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Scrapbooker’s Soul and a guest on DIY TV Scrapbooking. You can find Lisa’s most recent articles at Scraps of Color, where she is a contributing editor.

One thing that is prevalent throughout the Ethnic Scrapbooking book is Lisa’s belief that “being exposed to traditions and experiences that are different from our own will teach us all to be more sensitive and understanding of people in general.”

I recommend that everyone read this book, even if you don’t scrapbook. It’s a great book to share with family, friends, and educators. As we can all use a little inspiration to help us incorporate culture, religion, heritage, and tradition into our scrapbooks, and more importantly, into our lives.