Make Personalized Scrapbook

4 Parts:

All About Scrapbooking

How to Make Personalized Scrapbook

Tips, Tricks and Warnings

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There is truth to the saying that you don't really know what you've got until it's gone. All that remains are the memories to hold onto them. Sadly, human's ability to remember can be limited by time, age and health, and it may sometime fail. What you thought you'd never forget can sometimes fade from your memory as time passes. The details you think you'll always remember will often slip into an oblivion you cannot reach. Unless you preserve memories more tangibly you won't remember them all. Thankfully, there are many ways to preserve memories: photo albums, journals, video recordings, blogs, and online uploading on social media sites are but a few.

Perhaps nothing can beat your dedication to enshrine precious memories if you know how to make personalized scrapbook.

The History of Scrapbooks

1. 1
   Yesterday

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   Modern scrapbooks take their form from the "commonplace books" that were popular in England during the 15th century. Each commonplace book catered to the special interests of its creator's desire to compile objects worth keeping, such as letters, recipes, poems, quotations, and more. As the years passed, it became fashionable to include colored plates depicting popular scenes and places. Later, engravings, illustrations, and even disassembling the pages to insert new materials then rebinding them became the practice.

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2. 2
   Today

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   Most of these procedures are applied to making contemporary scrapbooks. The only difference lies in the abundant supply of materials and methods to help you become more organized and creative while at the same time, preserving precious memories. While it is always convenient to purchase a blank scrapbook from craft stores, there are certainly more advantages to enjoy making a personalized memorabilia keeper.

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Benefits of Personalized Scrapbook

1. 1
   Enrich creativity

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   Your own personality is stamped in every color, design, and theme you conceptualize in making the scrapbook. There is always the flexibility to add or remove elements as desired. The scrapbook becomes a beautiful collection of pictures, words, cutouts, quotes, and accessories making it truly a product of art and hard work. In itself, the scrapbook is a good piece of memorabilia worth treasuring.

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2. 2
   Keep photos intact in one place

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   Organizing the photos depends on your preference. You can arrange them in chronological order from childhood to teenage to married years, or perhaps according to who or what your priorities are. You may start putting family pictures on the first few pages then add pictures from school and work. The endless possibilities are in your hands.

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3. 3
   Keep memories fresh

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   You only need to flip the pages of the scrapbook to see the scenes you want to relive. It is not only for safekeeping, the scrapbook becomes your bridge from the past to the present, which you can always review anytime, anywhere. Looking at the pictures will either make you smile or cry as you reminisce on the good old days.

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4. 4
   Strengthen relationship

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   You can share the scrapbook with family, friends, and other people. Together, you can recall the past, create more stories, laugh repeatedly, and be nostalgic about everything. They may even suggest some ideas or provide more photos. More importantly, they will feel honoured to be included in your collection and strengthen the bond that holds your relationship with them.

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5. 5
   Therapy

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   This may seem morbid, but if you end up with Alzheimer's or Dementia, your scrapbooks may help you hold onto your memories longer. If someone in your family has either of these, or has had head trauma causing a loss of memory, you might use your scrapbooks to help stimulate their memory.

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Things You'll Need

* cardboard or card stock

• Patterned paper
• Glossy pages from old magazines, calendars, gift wraps
• Embellishments such as beads, buttons, laces, stickers, glitters
• Multicolored permanent pens and pencils
• Crafting scissors
• Glue or adhesives
• Puncher
• Strong thread and needle
• Binder rings
• Craft punches, optional

Creating the Title Page

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   Conceptualize a Theme

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   Themes can be anything from being specific, such as last year's Disneyland Holiday, to general, such as a collection of pictures portraying diverse family experiences. Creating categories and organizing events into categories can help you select a theme.

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2. 2
   Organize the photos and other mementos

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   Choose pictures that belong to the theme you want to establish. Look for relevant things like movie tickets, gate passes, invitations, place cards, programs - anything that will provide description or spark memories when placed on the page alongside the pictures.

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3. 3
   Design the cover page

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   Choose a pattern that adds depth and reflects the theme. You may also look for images from old magazines depicting the theme. Paste the patterned paper or magazine page over the card stock.

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4. 4
   Choose one or two photos you want to place on the cover

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   The photos will provide an idea of what will be seen inside the scrapbook. For example, a photo of the entire family in front of the Christmas tree is enough to reveal this scrapbook is about holiday celebrations.

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5. 5
   Frame the photos

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   Pick the primary and secondary colors in the photos to choose the contrasting or complementing colors to use for the cardstock frame. Glue the photos onto the cardstock. Cut the cardstock, leaving ½ inch margin from the edge of the photo. If desired, you may double the frame by gluing another cardstock and leaving a smaller margin between the two cardstocks.

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6. 6
   Paste the photos on the cover page artistically

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   Arrange the photos in the angle or position you think looks best.

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7. 7
   Decorate the cover page

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   Dress up the page by adding embellishments that mirror the theme of the scrapbook. You may consider spelling out the theme by cutting out letters from patterned paper, or using alphabet stickers across the page.

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Filling the Scrapbook Pages

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   Group the pictures

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   Sort the pictures and form cohesive groups for each page. For example, if you're making a wedding scrapbook, you may group pictures taken before, during, and after the ceremony. Supplement them with significant items are memorable, like the wedding invitation, dried petals from the bridal bouquet, and gift cards from guests.

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2. 2
   Lay out the pages

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   Arrange and rearrange the photos on each page to achieve the best composition and combination of elements. Try to position the photos diagonally, horizontally, or even upside down to create an interesting angle.

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3. 3
   Embellish every page

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   Create an individual look for each page while maintaining the general theme of the scrapbook. You can write a shout-out, add poems, captions, quotes, phrases, and anecdotes to tell a story in a way that grabs attention. Accentuate each page with colourful embellishments that match the theme.

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Putting the Scrapbook Together

1. 1
   Punch holes on one side of the pages

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   Decide which side where to punch the holes for binding purposes. Like most books, scrapbooks are typically bound on the left side. You may, however, opt to bind the top portion. It is crucial for holes to be aligned from cover to cover.

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2. 2
   Bind the pages

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   There are many ways to bind all the pages together.  

   1. You may use needle and thread to sew from one hole to another.
   2. Instead of thread, you may also use ribbon, lace, raffia, and binder rings to assemble the pages together.

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3. 3
   You can also use Chicago Bolts.

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• Apply minimal amount of glue to avoid a messy work.' Too much glue can ruin the scrapbook pages.
• Don't overload a page with too many photos. More than three may be an eye sore already, especially if there are mixed embellishments with them.
• Use strong and durable cardboard or card stock to hold the scrapbook elements. This is crucial especially if you're embellishing with beads and other heavy accessories.
• Use acid free paper. Not only will it last longer, it is also good for preventing photos and keepsakes from yellowing in the future.
• Include the date and other important details to make the trip down memory lane easier to recall.
• Create fun headings to add more appeal to the photos in display. After all, the scrapbook is about bringing back the memories of great times in the past.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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