How to Build a Book of Memories
Building a book of memories is similar to assembling a scrapbook. The book of memories is a place to keep your photos and mementos. You can enhance it by adding descriptions, clippings, drawings and anything else that evokes a person or event in your life. Consider the book as part of an autobiography or a biography of someone close to you. Here is how to begin.
Things You'll Need
- Scrapbook
- Archival or scrapbook quality paper
- Photos
- Pens, pencils
- Mementos, ranging from ticket stubs to poems
- Scissors, glue, paper punches
- Decorative elements such as ribbons and stickers
Instructions
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1
Decide on the "theme" of your memory book. You can choose to organize your life any way you choose. For example, some mothers begin books for their children that include baby pictures, locks of hair and their first drawings. Some people create memory books of their wedding, including pressed flowers.
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2
Assemble your photos and mementos. Lay them out on a table and group them as you would like to see them on a page. Remember not to make the page too cluttered. A simple page with two or three photos and mementos is easy on the eye.
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3
Place, but do not attach, the items on your first page. Set it aside and do the same with additional pages until you have about a half dozen before you. The set should span a particular time frame or represent a theme. Take a moment to make sure that the pages flow well together. Switch photos and mementos around until you are satisfied with the layout, making sure to leave room for captions and other descriptive matter.
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4
Glue down the photos and page embellishments. Be careful; once attached, an item will be hard to remove without causing damage.
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5
After each page is complete and dry, place it in the book. Once all the pages are done, you are ready to share the book at your next family gathering.
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Tips & Warnings
Use online layout websites to help with design ideas (See Resources below).
Photos will yellow and deteriorate unless mounted on acid free paper and with archival-quality glues.
