Scrapbooking is big. Huge. So, here are some of the more fun ways to preserve your family’s stories, successes, and even unusual events.
What Kind Of Memories Do You Want Immortalized?
Think long and hard about the types of memories you want preserved. We all have painful memories that we’d rather not remember, but there’s more than just happy memories in our lives too.
It might be easy to come up with photos and keepsakes from times when we were having fun. Try to also come up with memories of challenging times – not necessarily negative, but challenging.
For example, have you, or any of your family members, ever competed in an event before? What was that like?
Do you have any photos that commemorate it? By including these in your scrapbook, you’ll not only be able to look back and laugh, you’ll be able to look back on all of your hard-won victories.
Getting Organized – What To Do And What To Avoid
Get organized. As you start accumulating photos and materials, try to work towards organization of life events, time periods, and “moments.”
You could also divide photos and keepsakes into groups – piles with people, places, or even by family and friends.
This will ultimately help you make sense of your scrapbook as well as help you find things when you need them. Most people choose themes for their book, which is another great way to organize your scrapbook.
What Themes Should You Pick?
Themes can be tricky because everyone has a different idea about what the best themes are. Even so, themes can make your scrapbook much more memorable. It can also help you relive specific memories.
For example, let’s say you want to relive a particular Christmas when you were young. Or, maybe you want to relive all of your Christmases. Making a scrapbook oriented around that theme will let you focus on just the things you want to remember or relive.
Getting Supplies
What kind of supplies will you need? That depends on your scrapbook. But, in general, you’ll need an album, adhesives, scissors, and journaling pens.
The album should contain acid-free pages or allow you the option to add them. It should also have PVC-free sheet protectors so that you can protect your pages and photos. As for the size of the book, it all depends on you and how big you want it. Most scrapbooks are either 8 ½ x 11” or 12” x 12”.
There are a variety of adhesives you can choose from too, but look for ones made specifically for scrapbooking.
Get straight-edge and decorative edge scissors so that you can cut photos into interesting shapes and crop out any unwanted areas.
Finally, get yourself some journaling pens – acid-free, permanent pens for writing down important names, family memories, dates, and even just for doodling and stick figures.
Printing Your Scrapbook
If you want a more formal scrapbook, download some templates from the Internet, stock up on ink from StinkyInk, and print your scrapbook after you’re finished scanning in all of your photos and keepsakes.
While it’s common to create a “live” scrapbook that’s not printed or made from copies photos, many people are finding that copying photos allows them to preserve the originals for future use, while also allowing for creative use of the copies.
John Sollars started Stinkyink.com in 2002, a printer cartridge supplier in the UK. He knows a thing or two about printing and he enjoys sharing his ideas and insights online through blogging.
