Memory books are sometimes placed in the same category as scrapbooks, but the two are actually different crafts. A scrapbook is essentially a photo album with a few words or captions to identify the photos. Scrapbooks are often decorated with stickers and drawn pictures. A memory book, on the other hand, is a collection of photos, personal poems, verses and other writings, as well as many other items that recall the fabric of a person’s life. Use these easy-to-follow instructions and learn how to create a homemade Memory Book:
Step 1. Decide on Your Theme
Is there a special wedding anniversary in your family coming up? How about a landmark birthday like a 50th, 70th, 80th or even 100th? A job promotion, a special vacation trip, a graduation from high school or college- whatever occasion there is, you can make a handmade memory book to pay a tribute to it.
Step 2. Figure Out a Basic Layout
Now you’ll need to decide what to put in your memory book and how you’re going to lay it out. For example, let’s say your theme is an anniversary. Besides photos, think about all the different items you can put in your memory book that hold a special meaning to the happy couple. It can be handwritten poems about love and marriage, notes of congratulations from family members and friends, an invitation from their wedding, a flower or two from the bridal bouquet that’s been dried and pressed, magazine pictures- you get the idea.
Then, decide how you’re going to put your homemade memory book together. That is, how are you going to decorate the front cover? You’ll want to title the album something like, “Happy 50th Anniversary, Mom and Dad” or “Fifty Years Together- John and Mary Smith- May 10, 1957.
Think about what the first page will look like, as well as the rest of the book. To make it easier to remember your plans, jot down notes on small pieces of paper. Slip the notes in between the pages to hold your places. If you want to put a poem you wrote on page 6, for example, write the title of the poem on a piece of paper and put it in between pages 6 and 7.
Don’t worry about making concrete decisions at this stage. You can always rearrange pages and change the layout later.
Once you’ve decided what your memory book is going to look like, what its contents will be, and how they’ll be arranged, you’re ready to move onto the next step.
Step 3. Gather Your Materials
Visit your local stationery or craft store and choose a large, many-paged photo album or a scrapbook. The best type will allow you to add or remove pages. That way, you can add more pages if need be, or take out blank pages you don’t need.
You’ll also need to buy decorative paper, paper glue, ribbon, stickers, permanent markers and other items you want to decorate your memory book with.
A ruler, pair of sharp scissors and a pencil will also be useful. And of course, you’ll need any personal items you’re going to put in your memory book.
Step 4. Start to Create Your Homemade Memory Book
Lay out all of your materials and supplies on a large table. Start with the first page of your album and work your way through the book. Decorate the front cover of the book last. Why? Because you’ll need to have your book open to work on the pages. You don’t want the cover to get messed up while you’re working on the inside.
Some Tips to Create the Best Homemade Memory Book:
a) Allow any glued pieces to dry thoroughly before you place them on a page in the album.
b) Don’t worry about sloppy hand writing. As long as the personal messages are legible, they’ll be fine.
c) Take photos you want to include in the album to a local drugstore and have copies made. That way, you can still retain the originals. Even old pictures can be copied without harming them.
