Scrapbooking – More Than a Photo Album
So what IS scrapbooking? Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, defines it as: “”Scrapbooking is a method for preserving personal and family history in the form of photographs, printed media, and memorabilia contained in decorated albums, or scrapbooks.””
A scrapbook is more than just a photo album. You can think of it as an enhanced picture album, but that still doesn’t describe it. The term scrapbooking is based on the principle of creative storytelling. When you assemble a scrapbook you are putting together pieces or “”scraps”” of materials which supplement and complement your photos. It is a special medium limited only by a person’s own creativity.
Let’s say you took a trip to Colorado and hiked into the Rocky Mountains. Sure, you will undoubtedly come back with dozens of pictures of areas visited which you can add to an album. But what about the Aspen leaf you brought back from the top of the ridge you climbed, or the bit of elk hair you found at your campsite? Saving that physical evidence is what makes an album into a scrapbook and reinforces the memories of the trip. Adding objects in this way has been described by another author as giving “”depth and texture to a memory.”” Are you seeing the possibilities?
To assist you in figuring out your options there are many materials available that you can use for this project. Did you know that paper is naturally acidic and harmful to your photographs? You may need help in preserving old photographs, to learn the best way to mount and protect them. Scanning a photo and then using a printout of it in the scrapbook is a great way to keep the memory alive long after the original fades. One way to avoid the deterioration issue is to use acid-free scrapbooking stickers to attach items instead of cutting and gluing pieces of paper. It also saves time and when used creatively will enhance the appearance of your scrapbook. You will never regret using quality materials in creating your scrapbook.
Remember, this is all about preserving and passing on precious memories. The end result will be a beautiful scrapbook which you will be proud of and which will make the time, effort, and modest cost all worthwhile.
You can read more about the fascinating history of scrapbooking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrapbooking