Old Pictures, Scrapbooking, and Memories

Like many people, as I glanced through my photograph albums, I realized that not many pictures have dates on the back. Sometimes, I cannot remember the person in the picture. I have even brought a picture or two to a relative hoping to find out the name, alas, sometimes with no luck. What a mess! Some people have presence of mind to label as they go when new photographs are added to their collection, but, sadly that is not the case for most of us, especially me. In my mind, I thought that I would always remember the name of the person in the picture. Sadly, the mind files those names with other unnecessary things that are not needed so often. 

So, it is my goal to begin scrap booking all of my family pictures.  I started last year and have done a couple of books so far.  But the process has been slow due to working overtime and odd hours that even prevented me from cooking a decent meal. In the end, I think that it will be worth all of the effort. 

I am not just labelling the pictures, but putting stories or small blurbs with them as well. It is more interesting with a history behind the picture.  Some people say that scrap booking is expensive.  It can be if you let it.  When I started I had just gotten a bonus of $150.00.  But you can start with $10 or $20 and build from there. I saw a scrap book that all the pages were white with lots of pictures and detail about the people in the pictures. The book was very lovely.  Cost should never be a deterrent for writing your history.  You're family is worth writing about.

Preserving the past for those who cannot say: I, too, was here

My aunt Linda and my cousin Bill sent me a bunch of old family pictures.  Since I have been working on my genealogy for nearly all of my life, I was thrilled. But what does one do with all of the old pictures besides put them in an album and hope that you can remember who they are even if you labeled it?  Over the Winter and Spring, I discovered scrap booking.  I didn't want to do just any kind of scrap booking but I wanted to beautifully tell my family's story.  My friend Tammy, who works with me, helped me to create my very first page.
 

I had an idea of how I wanted it to look and then we put it together.  The night before we were to get together, I bought a book of old fashioned paper and a few other supplies. I was thrilled with the final product, which is the picture above.

I look at the pictures that I have put together and try to get a feel for the person in the picture.  Then I start creating. I make my own labels and use inexpensive decorative items. A $2.00 pair of paper edger scissors and doilies do the trick.

Scrap booking can be expensive if you let or not.  I used my bonus money from work to get me started.  Now I only buy things that are on sale or I use a coupon.  Try to use non-conventional items in your book. Be creative.

The ribbon on this page came from my neighbor.  I made the tags and the butterflies were about $2.00 on sale.  The memories are ...priceless.