Tell a Story through Scrapbooking

From the beginning of time people have told stories. There are cave wall drawings and legends passed from generation to generation at family reunions and around the campfires. Telling tales and sharing memories has been a favorite pastime for centuries. Storytelling is a craft. Now you can combine the art of storytelling with scrapbooking and photographing. Photos merely placed in albums only tell part of the story. Tell the rest of the story by writing details based on the photos and use the photos as a means to bring back the special memories.

Here is how to tell a story though scrapbooking:

Sort through the photos that are in the albums and boxes. Check your computer and camera to see if there are any photos you would like to add to your scrapbook story.

Look at the photos you chose and study them. Write down the thoughts, memories, and details that you want to include in the scrapbook.

Take note of how each photo makes you feel. You do not have to be a journalist, just write down phrases, comments, or even the images that the photos invoke. It is your scrapbook. Tell the story your way.

Whatever you write, do it from the heart. Remember that your friends and family for generations will treasure the story you told through the scrapbook.

If you are writing about the past, try to get some research done about the subject. Future generations will cherish each word you wrote about the family members of years past or the first family homestead, things like that.

Sometimes when you start remembering and writing you will write a longer piece. It could end up being an entire page. You can still use the longer tales in the scrapbook and embellish the margins with drawings and graphics.

Use the shorter thoughts and comments by referring to poems, quotes, and songs of the day. You can blocks and journaling tags. Another good idea is to cut and paste from your computer, using images plus journal and diary entries that may already have available.

You can transfer your smaller sayings, thoughts, details, and comments on to the blocks and journaling tags and then place them strategically into the scrap book to coincide with the photos and stories.

Use other memorabilia and souvenirs in your scrapbook, such as airfare tickets, admission tickets to special events, shows, and tourist sites. You can use bits and pieces of maps that you used on a trip. Incorporate name tags, parts or napkins, Granma’s recipes, and other tidbits from family reunions and picnics. Old newspaper articles, pages from old books, music sheets are excellent scrapbook fillers.

Another fun thing to do is, if you are making a generation type scrapbook, make some of the pictures look old by using the sepia feature in your photo editing program on your computer. You can also use torn photos for a unique look.

The list of ideas is virtually endless. Let your imagination soar as you create your scrapbook of memories.