A How-To for Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking can be a family activity that helps you preserve history.

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Scrapbooking is a hobby that helps you preserve family history and memories. Better than a simple photo album, scrapbooks tell stories. They are creative and exciting to look at and prepare. There’s no one way to begin scrapbooking. A few essential steps, however, can help you get started.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedScrapbook or photo albumScissorsGlueAcid-free paperAcid-free penAcid-free storage boxSuggest Edits1

Gather supplies. Store scrapbook supplies like glue, pens, paper and scissors in the same area. This saves time and frustration.

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Select a theme or purpose for your scrapbook. Use your imagination. You can dedicate your scrapbook toward weddings, birthdays, family, children or other topics.

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Purchase a scrapbook. Choose a scrapbook that can withstand aging and discoloration. These books are usually labeled as acid-free or lignin-free. Acid and lignin may cause pages to yellow or discolor.

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Gather photographs. Ensure the photos are simple and support the underlying story behind your scrapbook. If the photo has extraneous elements, you can use scissors to simplify the picture. For instance, if there's a distracting crowd of people behind the photo of a couple, cut around the couple so that the crowd is gone. This also adds variety to your scrapbook.

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Find details that support the photographs. Newspaper clippings, magazine articles and candy-bar wrappers can support the scrapbook's theme. A wedding scrapbook, for example, may benefit from having napkins from the wedding party attached to the pages.

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Place photographs on the scrapbook page. Some scrapbooks have templates that provide a placeholder for photographs. Alternatively, you can design your own layout. After you choose where to place photographs, attach the photographs to the page with photo-safe glue.

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Embellish your pages. Some people add stickers and stamps to their scrapbook pages. You can use an acid-free pen to write captions under photos or journal about special moments. Prepare what you will write on scratch paper to prevent errors.

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Protect scrapbook pages with page protectors. This prevents the pages and photographs from becoming damaged.

Tips & Warnings

Store scrapbooks in boxes labeled as acid-free or archival quality. This will preserve your scrapbook.

You can scrapbook digitally using photography software. These scrapbooks are usually archived on a hard drive, Web page or CD. You can print out the layouts and have them bound for a professionally produced look.

Some craft stores and local scrapbook shops offer beginner and advance scrapbooking classes. Some communities also have scrapbooking clubs you can attend to become inspired and learn new techniques.

Cutting photographs with decorative scissors may help photographs look more creative.

Don’t use the original photograph in the scrapbook.

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ReferencesBetter Homes and Gardens; Crafts; Gather Your SuppliesEverything About Scrapbooking: 9 Simple Steps to Beginner ScrapbookingEscrapbooking: Beginners Guide to Creative ScrapbookingPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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