Dad, Dirty Dash creator captures family memories in scrapbooks

Dad, Dirty Dash creator captures family memories in scrapbooks

(Chari Pack/PersnicketyPrints.com)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Matt Ward most definitely stands out in a crowd. With his long dreadlocks, larger than life persona that has been on display in many of his well-known race events (Color Me Rad, Dirty Dash, Red Rock Relay), and a successful marketing consulting business, Ward is a face recognized by thousands across the state and even the nation.

However, it isn't his face that Ward wants to take time to look at. This single father of four spends countless hours looking at the faces of his children, as he carefully crops, rotates, adds graphics and other touches to their photos in one of his favorite pastimes: scrapbooking.

Yes, scrapbooking — and not the digital kind, but the scissors, double-sided tape, put-it-in-a-hard-bound-notebook kind.

More than that, this dreadlock dad is not afraid to tell the world about his scrapbooking passion, doing so in a video produced by Chari Pack of Persnickety Prints.

While visiting Ward and his family one day, Pack noticed all the printed photos on his wall. Ward then showed her the scrapbooks he had put together over the past 15 years.

"I knew Matt was a sentimental soul, but these scrapbooks? I've never seen anything like them," Pack said. "Few people understand the hours of cutting, gluing and journaling that goes into telling our stories through photos."

When Pack, who founded Persnickety prints in 2010, saw Ward's passion about his prints and the stories on his walls, knew she needed to share them with others.


Scrapbooking has a way of putting things in perspective and making you feel grateful.

–Matt Ward, scrapbooking dad


Ward was excited about doing the project, too, and showing others — especially his children — the importance of creating lasting memories.

"I love being a dad, and I miss my kids so much when they are with their mom," Ward said. "I guess that's part of the reason why I work so hard to make amazing memories and adventures with them. I want them to know that they are my world, and to be raised with confidence, self-worth, self-discovery and passion.

"Scrapingbooking is just the physical manifestation of a life well lived. I grew up with two very hard-working, but never really 'monetarily well off' parents who did rad stuff with us. I don't remember all the things we did — not even close — but I love looking at the picture and albums and scrapbooks my mom made because the feelings come back — feelings that they did their best and worked hard to make memories with me and my brother. Plus, who doesn't like to see themselves all pimply and brace faces in junior high when you thought that the world would end because you didn't have name brand jeans like 'everyone else?'

Watch the Video:

"Scrapbooking has a way of putting things in perspective and making you feel grateful."

While Ward loves to spend time making these memories last forever, he says parents also need to know when to put the camera and scrapbook paper down.

"Don't let picture-taking take you away from the actual moment," he said. "Snap a few shots and put the camera/phone away. Wait at least until the kids are asleep to do your scrapbooking, so that the time you have had with them is maximized."

To learn more about Ward, his scrapbooking adventures and Persnickety Prints, watch the TV segment from Tuesday's episode of "Studio 5 with Brooke Walker" at studio5.ksl.com.


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About the Author: Arianne Brown -------------------------------

Arianne Brown is a mother of six young children and an Altra, PROBAR, Nuun, and Unshoes sponsored athlete. For more writings by her, search "A Mother's Write" on Facebook or Twitter @A_Mothers_Write

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