Preserve Family Memories in a Photo Scrapbook

A great way to preserve cherished memories of family and friends, of special places visited, as well as milestones such as graduation, weddings and the birth of a baby is with a photo scrapbook. If you have boxes and boxes of old photographs and mementos, a photo scrapbook is what you need to get your memories organized.

A visit to your local hobby and craft store will afford you the opportunity to examine the many different styles of photo scrapbook that are available. They come in all shapes and sizes, as well as in a multitude of colors. You may want to purchase a plain one, and customize the cover yourself. As for the inside of the photo scrapbook, there are endless choices when it comes to photo mounting pages, papers with pockets for securing mementos such as napkins, ticket stubs and matchbooks, and different tools to use for decoration purposes.

When selecting the paper for the pages in your photo scrapbook, make sure you get acid-free paper. If you use regular paper in your photo scrapbook, the chemicals in the paper will eventually seep out and destroy your photos. Since we are trying to preserve photos forever, it is wise to choose paper designed for the archiving of photographs. This paper is also sometimes called “archival paper” or “museum paper” as it is used by museums to preserve photos.

Some families are so organized, and so thoroughly enjoy putting together a photo scrapbook, that they end up having to purchase bookshelves just to store their photographic creations on! People who enjoy making photo scrapbooks as a hobby will make one for just about any celebration or occasion. I have seen a photo scrapbook made for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, the birth of a child, graduation from high school and college, retirement, as well as ones centered on a families’ genealogy. Many people also enjoy putting together scrapbooks that center on family vacations.

There are many ways in which to make your’s unique. Different colored paper can be used within the photo scrapbook, as well as different sizes and fonts for the text pages. Colored pencils, markers and paint pens will also add a personal touch. If you have loose mementos such as napkins, invitations, hotel receipts or the like that need to be secured, stiff paper featuring pockets can be put into your scrapbook as a way to keep these items together.

When mounting photos for your book, it is wise to first sort the pictures by date, occasion, etc. before placing them into the photo scrapbook. More than one picture has been ruined because it was mounted on the wrong page and then had to be removed. Also, to add some flair to your photo scrapbook, consider using both black and white, as well as color film when taking pictures. The contrast between the two when mounted on the same page is dazzling.

Don’t be afraid to experiment! Use stencils, glitter glue, border edge scissors, multicolored paper, textured paper, and different types of film to make your photo scrapbook one of a kind. It can be passed down from generation to generation, and will provide your loved ones with wonderful stories of all the memorable times your family has shared.