How to Make a Tribute Scrapbook

Scrapbooking is a hobby that preserves all aspects of a life. In addition to the happier moments, it can help someone deal with the pain of loss of a loved one or a tragedy faced by a family or group. The creation of the scrapbook can be cathartic to those involved or a lovely gift when done by a considerate friend. Tribute albums also work well to remember the ups and downs of a group of people like a sorority or volunteer group or even the history of a building or town. Here are tips for compiling a tribute scrapbook.

Things You'll Need

• Card stock
• Patterned paper
• Photographs and memorabilia
• Adhesives
• Embellishments
• Album and page protectors
• Computer with Internet access (optional)
• Printer (optional)

Instructions

1. Select card stock and patterned paper in a limited color scheme to simplify your pages. 2 to 3 colors of card stock and 1 or 2 patterned papers that all coordinate with each other are best. By limiting yourself to just these colors and patterns you'll create a continuous feel among the album that will let the pictures and memories shine through.

2. Organize your pictures and memorabilia into a nice flow of information. An album that is for or about one person or a historical site works well when arranged chronologically. On the other hand, if your goal is to pay tribute to a group of people, such as a sports team or sorority, your options include arranging the book alphabetically, by number or seniority, depending on the group.

3. Lay out your pages to best showcase the photos. For longer books it can help to choose a few layout designs and use them throughout the album to take away some of the guesswork. Other times it's going to depend heavily on how many photographs you have and what sort of story you're trying to convey.

4. Include personal memories in your journaling. Go beyond the basic name and date captions and include stories and recollections of your own plus others you may be able to interview or get input from. Even if you don't have an image for that particular story, fit them in anyway and pair them up with something from approximately the same time period or person.

5. Research the person or place you are memorializing; the Internet is great for this. In addition to adding valuable information about a town or building, for individuals who may have died of a rare or difficult disease, including information about their situation can offer insight for generations down the line. Print out this information and include it in a special section of the album.

Tips & Warnings

• Use photo corners instead of permanent adhesive to anchor photos that may be easily damaged or irreplaceable.