How to Make a Headstone or Gravestone Rubbing for Your Scrapbook

Gravestone rubbing must be done with care.

A simple headstone rubbing can be done with a piece of paper and a marker, but not all headstones can handle this action. Some older headstones are deteriorating and may not stand up to the rubbing process. For this reason, some cemeteries will not allow rubbings. Always get permission from the cemetery before attempting the rubbing.

Things You'll Need

• Crayons or artists charcoal
• Light colored paper
• Painters tape

Instructions

1. Gently tape the paper over the head stone using your painters tape.

2. If you are using a crayon, remove the outside wrapper and lay the crayon on its side. If you are using charcoal, just lay it on its side. Start at the top of the paper. Gently rub the crayon over the headstone all the way to the edges of the paper. Work your way down to the bottom of the piece of paper.

3. Use even pressure as you rub to avoid uneven breaks in the rub.

4. Make a note of where the rubbing took place and the date. Include that information in the scrapbook with the rubbing or a digital picture of the rubbing.

Tips & Warnings

• Tracing paper or printer paper works well for this purpose.

• Use a fixative such as hair spray to set rubbing done with chalk or charcoal. After the fixative dries, place the picture in a plastic sleeve for further protection.

• Be careful of making rubbings on older head stones. Often they are deteriorating and even touching them can damage them further. For this reason some cemeteries will not allow rubbings. Always check with the cemetery first to make sure it is okay.

• Always check the cemeteries hours prior to going to make your rubbing. Some are only open during certain hours and during autumn and winter months these hours may even be shorter.

References

• Ancestry Printing