Aren't you having a great time on your trip to Amish Country? I bet you've taken lots of beautiful pictures of the lush, green rolling countryside dotted with sprawling Amish farms. And you've probably snapped a picture or two of a horse and buggy at the hitching post. Well, I've got a great way for you to share those photos, as well as other mementoes and memories of your visit here, with your family and friends back home. Instead of passing around a stack of photos, why not show off a a scrapbook of your total Amish Country experience ... made by none other than you!

At The Scrapbook Nook, located in the heart of downtown Berlin, owners/operators Mara Baker and Carolyn Cross can help you capture your whole trip in a concise, beautiful scrapbook. The store is tucked away on the lower level below Berlin Chile Traders and Boyd Wurthmann Restaurant, and it can be reached either by a walkway off Main Street (look for the book-shaped sign) or by the alley just to the north (use the alley to get to their parking lot).

Why all this fuss over scrapbooks, you say? Simple. People have begun to realize how important it is to preserve their photos and other memorabilia. Back when I began taking pictures of my growing family and our vacations and activities, I put the pictures in those "magnetic" photo albums that were all the rage (yes, it was the 70s!). That was the worst thing to do, as those photos have become all yellowed and deteriorated. Now we know photos must be preserved on acid- and lignin-free paper to prevent the aging process. This will allow all these memories to last forever.

Scrapbooking has become one of the nation's most popular crafts, as people discover innovative ways to preserve their photos, mementoes and memories. "Journaling" within your scrapbook helps tell the story of your pictures through stories, poems and quotes. Just starting its second year in business, The Scrapbook Nook offers "the area's best selection of scrapbooking materials," according to Mara.

"We offer everything needed for scrapbooking," she said, "whether it's for someone just beginning to take up the craft or for the experienced scrapbooker. Our customers will find things here they've never seen in other shops, plus a wide variety of the standard items."

The store carries a complete line of papers and vellums in a rainbow of colors and a myriad of patterns. The makers of these papers have become quite creative over the past several years, offering just about everything you can imagine! There is paper that looks like cornfields and country roads ... just perfect for your scrapbook about Amish Country! A couple of my favorites are the ones that look like popcorn, candy corn, and candy canes. Mara and Carolyn also offer custom papers with the names of local schools and their mascots... perfect for athletic or senior scrapbooks!

Stickers are a mainstay in scrapbooking, and The Scrapbook Nook has stickers "till who comes last!" Many popular brands, including Mrs. Grossman's, are available. Stickers can really add pizzazz to the pages of a scrapbook.

"Embellishments," eyelets and brads have become the "must have" in scrapbooks as of late. These three-dimensional additions are available for just about every theme imaginable, Mara said, and they carry Jolee's brand as well as others.

I was very impressed with the large display of punches, scissors and other tools available for you to create your very own custom pages. Punches are really a two-for-one deal, as you can create a "punched-out" look, plus then you can use what you punched out to accessorize.

Also available at the store is a wide assortment of pens, markers, adhesives and albums as well as a complete line of die cuts and cut-outs.

The hottest new tool at The Scrapbook Nook is the hand-held Quickutz, a system to cut dies and letters.

The Scrapbook Nook is a Mrs. Grossman's Red Heart store, and they carry a full line of products from popular companies such as Making Memories, K Company, and Colorbk.

Scrapbooking is an "endless" craft, according to Mara.

"You can do a little, or go as far as you want," she said. "You can spend a little or spend a lot."

Whether you're going to create a scrapbook about your trip to Amish Country, another vacation, a wedding, birthday, anniversary or your family, you can find everything you'll need to start preserving your memories at The Scrapbook Nook. About the only thing you can't purchase there is a little imagination, but classes are even available to help you with that!

When you're at The Scrapbook Nook, making your memories last forever, be sure to tell Mara and Carolyn you read this in Amish Heartland magazine!

The Scrapbook Nook LTD, 4813-B Main St. (US 62/OH 39), Berlin, OH 44610, (330) 893-2666; summer hours: Mon.-Thu., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri. Sat., 10 a.m.6 p.m.(July 2004 issue)