Scrapbooking
More than compiling a record of a gathering, creating scrapbooks can be a rewarding, creative hobby. And, it’s one that can be shared with others. Complete a scrapbook of your gathering. Then take it to the next gathering for everyone to enjoy. Who knows? It could be the start of a family tradition.
What you'll need:
- An album. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Select one with acid-free pages that won't turn photos yellow. You may also prefer one that lets you add pages at any time.
- Adhesives. "Photo corners" are the traditional way to hold photos. But you can create a more modern look by using double-sided photo tape.
- Scissors. Get a sharp pair of straight scissors for trimming or "cropping" photographs and creating designs from paper stock. Special-edged scissors can create interesting borders for your photos or paper. Use a straight-edge paper cutter for cutting long straight lines.
- Page protectors. Clear page protectors protect photos from spills and children's fingerprints.
- Paper. Use paper of different colors and textures to create design elements. Or use large sheets as backgrounds to give each page a different look.
Tips
- If your gathering has a theme, use it in your scrapbook. Weave visual elements throughout the book. Example: If your gathering has a Western theme, use cactus, cowboy hats and six-shooters as visual elements.
- Use magazine articles for page layout ideas.
- Place small photos or portions of photos in strategic places atop larger photos to create collages for visual interest.
- Glue small three-dimensional objects reminiscent of the event over photographs for even more interest. (For example, the invitation, bottle caps, game tokens, pressed flowers, etc.)
- Ask each person to sign one page in the book and possibly list their age. This is a great way to record who attended the gathering and show the variety of generations in attendance.
Follow one of these links for more helpful scrapbooking ideas:
www.scrapbooking.com
www.creative-memories.com
www.learn2scrapbook.com
Here’s a helpful idea submitted by Gatherings user Susan Berlin, from Berwick, Pennsylvania:
"Supply a photo album and ask each attendee to bring family photos. Give attendees as many album pages as needed and ask them to provide names, dates and ages at the time the photo was taken. By the end of the reunion, you will have a photo keepsake to share at each future reunion."