Shana Davis wanted to scrapbook, but after the birth of her triplets and the mountain of pictures that came with them, she found it difficult to find the time to make one.
When the boys were little, Davis used to get all her supplies out and sit on the bed working while they napped, but once they got older and were awake more, the window of time she had available became smaller. She still had boxes of pictures to wade through.
After attending the Scrapbooking USA Expo in search of a more time-efficient method of scrapbooking, Davis found the perfect solution in a company called Heritage Makers.
Heritage Makers, based in Provo, is an online publishing system, designed to help participants storybook, or record pictures, text and other important mementos in a hardbound, published book. Users can go to the Web site, heritagemakers.com, and enter their information either into a template or their own design and come away with a book.
Davis says it's a great way to create a priceless keepsake.
"If you publish a book and give it to someone as a gift, (they) will never get rid of it," she said. "People will always remember that you gave them that book."
In addition to helping Davis keep on top of her own photos, Heritage Makers has also become a good home-based business opportunity. Davis is an independent consultant and says it's ideal because she can be at home for her sons during the day and do parties in the evening when her husband, Jeff, is home.
"I'm a people person, and I love (Heritage Makers). It's such a positive product," she said. "I've made a lot of new friends and some great books for myself.... I love seeing someone's face when they get a book like this in the mail."
The prices to publish a book range from $79.95 for a 12 x 12-inch book to $34.95 for a 3-by-3-inch brag book. One of the most common is an 8-by-8-inch story book for $49.95. Davis says the result of publishing makes the cost worthwhile.
"It costs money to publish the book, but once it's done, it's priceless," she said. "Memories not written down and not captured are forgotten."
In the short time Davis has been with Heritage Makers, she has had many memorable moments. For Christmas, she made a book for her sons' kindergarten teacher of the traveling gingerbread man class members or their relatives use to document places they have been. The teacher loved it, Davis said.
Davis also did a book highlighting moments of her mother-in-law's life. As a surprise, she had all Jeff's siblings write tributes to their parents that she included in the book. Her mother-in-law was so touched she cried.
Anyone interested in learning more about Heritage Makers can contact Davis by calling 801-550-5571 or e-mailing Shana.Davis@comcast.net.
Although her method of scrapbooking isn't what most would call traditional, Davis said she intends to continue and loves the result.
"The reason I like it so much is because it's so positive. It's just fun," she said. "I love helping clients and friends turn something into a beautiful, priceless book, their own designer book."
E-mail: twalquist@desnews.com