Ideas for a Memory Album

Supplies

You can buy specially made memory books at many book stores and craft-supply stores, or you can use a photo album or a three ring binder. It all depends on your budget because you will need to invest in archival paper and page protectors to preserve your photos and embellishments. If you're going to preserve memories, you want them to last for a very long time. You will also need good- quality markers or pens to add journaling and written highlights to your pictures. You can use your printer and some cardstock if your penmanship is difficult to read. Embellishments can be pressed flowers, old concert or movie ticket stubs, stickers, clipart or pretty ribbons to 'hang' your photos on to give your pages a dimensional feel. Include any memorabilia that you have collected over the years and that has a special memory associated with it.

No matter what type of memory album you are creating, the pictures take center stage. Many albums go in a chronological order, but it is not a law; go with how you feel. Of course, if you are making a baby book, going by steps and age is sensible. Decide if you want to use original pictures or photocopies. With photocopies, you are free to cut out the background, to give the appearance of burnt edges or to crop them.

In a memory album, you may want to create text to accompany your pictures such as writing the date, names, feelings and anecdotes about the people in the photo. If you are creating a baby book, you may want to include love letters to your child and put all your feelings down in writing. Consider writing a special poem, a Bible saying or quotes from other sources. You can even title your album with a song title that has meaning to you and your loved ones. Have friends and relatives come up with captions for each picture. There are endless possibilities.

Making paper look old is simpler than it sounds. You can use brown tissue paper or good-quality paper crumpled up then straightened out. There are also some tea- and coffee-staining techniques you can use. Embellish your pages or cover them with pearls, dried roses, lace and vintage clipart. Burn the edges of your pictures (only photocopies) or pages by lightly running some of them over a candle flame. You can do this yourself; just practice first and be very careful.