How to Make a Family Tree Scrapbook

Making a family tree scrapbook is a decorative alternative to the usual written family tree. Traditional family trees include names, birth and death dates and locations. They also illustrate, via a series of lines, the marriages and offspring within a family. However, making a family tree scrapbook takes this process a step further incorporating pictures, mementos, awards and family documents into the family tree. When making your own family tree scrapbook, invite your children or grandchildren to participate. In doing so, you provide an opportunity for them to learn about their family history.

Things You'll Need

• Family history
• Scrapbook
• Family photos
• Family papers
• Scrapbooking decorations
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions

1. Decide how many generations of your family you want to include in your family tree scrapbook. It can be as few as three or as many as you prefer. You may choose to compile several family tree scrapbooks with each highlighting generations during a specific period of time.

2. Select the flow of your family tree scrapbook. Like traditional family trees, you can begin with the most recent generation of your family and track back through time adding branches, or generations. You can also choose to separate your family tree scrapbook by the different families within your larger family.

3. Collect information for each family member including each person's name, birth date and birth location. When applicable, add marriage dates, numbers of children, death dates and burial locations. You may also choose to gather information relating to military service, graduations, significant achievements and ceremonies such as baptisms or bar mitzvahs.

4. Collect pictures, certificates, records, diplomas and awards to develop a pictorial display of your family's information. Make high-resolution photocopies of each item to use in your family tree scrapbook.

5. Determine the page layouts for your family tree scrapbook. For example you may choose to include two photos and one additional piece per page, or you may choose a more random approach. Cut and glue the copies onto the pages of your scrapbook according to the layout and flow of information you chose. Be sure to label your images.

6. Adorn your family tree scrapbook by utilizing scrapbooking embellishments and stickers, which quaintly miniaturize life's special occasions. You can also use stencils, stamps, decorative pages and cutouts.

Tips & Warnings

• Use specialty tags or colorful card stock cutouts to write your family information onto and glue them next to the images in your family tree scrapbook. Instead of making just one family tree scrapbook, make several as you go to give away as gifts to your relatives.

• Make copies of the items you use in your family tree scrapbook. This will prevent damage to original photos and important documents. If you are making photocopies in a public location, double check to make sure you do not leave anything behind.

Resources

• eHow "How to Build a Family Tree"
• ancestry.com
• eHow "How to Start a Photo Scrapbook"
• Scrapbooking Warehouse