Scrapbooking has certainly become mainstream. We find new people getting involved all the time, all over the world. With each new person comes a new idea, but here's one that is not new: DOODLES! We scribbled on our notebooks in school, we do it when we are on the phone, and we even jot down our little photographic thoughts in special notebooks that we design with our favorite scrapbooking embellishments. Doodling is an art all to itself. Doodles are hot! Although it can be recreated it still has a flair all its own. Whether you are a doodler of flowers, alphabets, boxes, faces, scrapbooking sketches, animals, or just squiggly lines you are an artist, a doodler!

Some people say they cannot draw, and believe me I tease my husband that he cannot draw stick people, but the truth is that anyone can draw! When I opened the dictionary to see the meaning of the word doodle I was surprised to see the description read "to waste time in aimless or foolish activity". I personally do not see doodling as what the description tells. I instead think of it as an art form, a release, a creative ability. Sitting with my pencil and a scrap piece of paper can cause me to use my imagination doodling something I may not have even tried. You have heard "if you don't use it you lose it"; well I am using it and having fun doing it!

If you are a beginner and do not know how to get started you will need a few basic items. Buy yourself a white eraser. Pink erasers are what you probably used in school but they will not work for this. They will leave smears and lines, which are unsightly. Check out the artist section of your local scrapbook store. More than likely, they will have what you need. Any chain store should also carry them. Visit the pens, pencils, markers, crayons...you will see so many things to play with once you are there! Choose number two pencils since the softer lead will break so often that you will find yourself getting discouraged while starting to doodle. It might be a good idea to pick up some tracing paper too.

Doodling is simple and I have a great tip for you! Go to your local library and check out a few books from the children‘s section. There you will find many titles with cute pictures. If you are so inspired read it too, no one will know J The pictures will be adorably cute~this can be your inspiration. If you would like to trace these pictures, do that or try to do it free hand with pencil. You may find many ideas in those fun and colorful stories. If it turns out looking different that what the illustrator has drawn that is perfectly fine. You want it to be your own!

Another tip: after I draw in pencil, I then write over the pencil lines with a medium point black marker, erase the pencil lines with the white eraser and start to color. I may not be back in first grade but I can feel like it when I doodle. Whether you want to doodle in small amounts like I did with my nephew's name, or doodle while adding other embellishments, or bravely taking on one where you doodle the entire background you are sure to find the way that best fits your style.

Give it a try, perhaps you will find yourself adding more doodles to your scrapbook projects next time!