That is a wonderful idea, Sno. How cute, and could work for other Holidays as well. What fun! Thanks for sharing it. hugs, Karen

The dollar store sounds neat to get supplies. I will have to try that. Just remember when you get stickers, picture, tapes, glues, papers, etc...they need to be acid free to put with old or new pictures. If you want to use a newspaper clipping or something that is not acid free, encase it in clear plastic sheeting first then paste to your album. Norma

I use Dollar General's container soil. It's $3 a bag, and it has fertilizer in it. Very light and nice soil. I used it for tomatoes last year, and they did great.

I am in a repottting and dividing stage now. I started a lot of things in a fall - then didn't have place to put them - so they were in propagation trays under the domes. Now - the show and sale plants are gone. I have space. Soil - i use AV soil from "violetshowcase" - he sells on ebay. For me it works better than Promix BX. But Promix will also work. I prewet the soil - so it is moist, but not soggy - and when I am getting it out of the bin - I whip it up agan - so it is all loose and aerated. I use 10x20" black trays with the domes. Make sure they are not leaking - there are black trays around $2, and there are around $4 - heavy duty. I get these ones - because they last - and because Permanest trays are expensive nowdays. You can get tall domes with little vents from Internet. I fill the tray with my leaves and cuttings. On the bottom of a tray - I put a mat - a piece of felt or acrylic blanket - wet, but not dripping. I make holes in a bunch of solo cups, thread a wick, put a layer of coarse perlte on the bottom - and loosely fill the solo cup to the rim with the soil. I cut leaves with a razor blade - stem - and the tip - if it is a standard, only stem if it is a mini or semi. Label the pot with Sharpie - and 2 leaves go in this solo cup. I fill the tray with solo cups - cover it with dome - and put it under fluorescent lights. I leave the vents open - so it is humid - but the tray still can breath. If I see condensate on the sides - OK, if not - time to add some water. Since my soil is not preloaded with fertilizer - I use fertilizer in all my watering. Store bought soil is preloaded - so it will not need fertilizer. I add water so the mat is wet agan, no standing water and I try not to let the soil go dry between the waterings. I have 95% success and the babies come very fast. They have light, warmth, water and air. Fresh cut leaves - root immediately. Leaves from the mail - need some babying. If they are wilted - I will cut the stems and rehydrate them between wet paper towels. If they are bruised and rotting - I will try to remove all damaged tissue. Sometimes you can save just a wedge of the leaf - and it can root and give you one baby... takes longer - and you need to watch it.