"The whole meaning behind scrapbooking is really deep," said Pacarro, 43. "It's basically about preserving family memories."

Pacarro is among a growing number of scrapbookers islandwide creating customized album pages to document special moments in their family's lives. With proms, graduations, weddings and summer vacations nearing, these crafters — novice and expert — will soon be up to their elbows in eyelets, borders, die-cuts, stickers and other scrapbooking must-haves.

It's a nationwide craze. The Craft & Hobby Association reported sales of scrapbooking materials and supplies in the country doubled from $1 billion in 2001 to more than $2.5 billion in 2003.

Laurie Aina, manager at Craft Supply of Honolulu, saw a boom in local scrapbooking popularity about four years ago.

"It actually has really taken over the craft industry," said Aina, who has worked in the industry for 25 years. "Before, there weren't enough scrapbooking materials and supplies to stand alone in its own department. Now, there are specialty stores."

Aina, mother of 15- and 16-year-old athletes, is an avid scrapbooker who has faithfully recorded her teens' endeavors in baseball, soccer, wrestling, softball, and track and field for the past eight years.

"As each season comes along, I go out and take their pictures," said the Waipi'o Gentry resident, 40. "And I take pictures knowing they'll go in a scrapbook, so I'm taking all kinds of angles."

Aina's daughter and son each have two full scrapbooks following their life events, with separate albums devoted to their sports activities.

"These will be lasting memories I can share with other people," Aina said. "It's really great."

Aina and Pacarro often scrapbook with their children, who work on their own albums. The women also take part in scrapbooking nights with friends.

The activity is a great way for family and friends to get to know each other, because they can share stories about events they're including, said Pacarro, a consultant with Creative Memories.

"It's a very social thing," she said.

Scrapbooks today range from 8-by-8-inch family photo albums with basic journal entries — names, dates and locations — to 12-by-12-inch masterpieces archiving significant events, such as weddings and anniversaries, in photos, stories and elaborate embellishments.

What's trendy now? "It takes time to choose papers to coordinate and embellish, so we're seeing more things that come in modular sets," said Brian Ching, owner of Photo Craft, a scrapbook store in Kaimuki. The sets make scrapbooking easier, with pages, die-cut frames and embellishments designed to be color-coordinated, allowing customers to pick and choose components that will always match.

Other popular-selling supplies include papers, stickers and other decorations with specific themes, particularly anything related to the military, sports, weddings and babies, Aina said.

While Ching hasn't seen a particular best-selling theme at his store, travel-, wedding- and baby-related materials are year-round favorites, he said.

"Our customers range from 8 to 85 years old, so it all depends on what phase of life you're in," Ching said.

Vickie Okamura, single and 33, has been scrapbooking for six years.

"I travel a lot, so I do vacation albums," said Okamura, an accountant.

The Honolulu resident has completed scrapbooks on her adventures in Las Vegas (including a few pages devoted to a day spent at various scrapbook stores in Sin City), the Bahamas and Walt Disney World. Upcoming projects include albums for two Alaskan cruises and another Vegas trip.

"I've also started one for my dogs, 12- and 14-year-old shih tzus," Okamura said. The doggie-devoted scrapbook includes everything from special holidays to summer lazy days, she said.

Okamura often creates scrapbooks as gifts. Okamura took pictures at a friend's wedding, then compiled the photos into a scrapbook as a gift for the newlyweds. She also made an album of a visit to her aunt on Maui, then gave it to her aunt as a present. Okamura is almost done with a scrapbook she made for her sister, documenting her sister's run for the Cherry Blossom Festival pageant last year.

With photos and some basic supplies, anyone can become a scrapbooker.

"You don't have to be creative to do this," Pacarro said. "You just have to have the desire to do it."

While scrapbooking can be quite time-consuming, as it involves thoughtful planning and effort to put the components together, it's well worth it, experts say.

"Make the time, because it's important to you and your family, and the history of the family," Pacarro said.

Debby Bitticks, co-author of BioBinder's "Cherished Memories: The Story of My Life," has taken scrapbooking to another level by creating a binder that chronicles a person's life story in writing and through pictures.

"Cherished Memories" lets users fill out detailed questions about childhood experiences, teen activities, family life, favorites, and one's health history.

"It helped save my own sister's life through early detection of ovarian cancer," Bitticks said.

Bitticks also included an "Ethical Will" portion to record personal values, philosophies and life lessons.

"Most parents really want to pass their values down to their children, but they get so busy and don't really write them down," Bitticks said. "Writing down your values and beliefs is the most important gift to give your children."

Whatever the size or theme, whether simple or detailed, scrapbooks come down to one thing, Aina said.

"A scrapbook should be a legacy of your life, a story," she said. "It is something you can share throughout the generations."