Preserving Pictures Using Paper Scrapbooking

Most people think that to preserve pictures, you have to “scrapbook.”  {That’s not true}, of course, as we’ve seen in previous #familyhistoryfriday posts in our Preserving Pictures series this month.  We’ve seen {digitalscrap pages} and {digital storybooking}.  There are so many options that you’ll definitely be able to find something that works for YOU at this month’s series.  So what about traditional paper scrapbooking?

Did you know the first “scrapbook” was the family Bible?  Bibles quickly became family heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation.  People would record births and deaths in the front cover of their Bibles as early as the mid-1400s.  According to {The History of Scrapbooking}, by the mid-1800s, publishers started including extra pages in the fronts of Bibles for people to record family births, deaths, and marriages.  It became common around this time to also add newspaper clippings and other “scraps” (like crocheted bookmarks or even locks of hair) within the pages of the family Bible.  My father-in-law found a {tintype} photo in the family Bible he inherited!

During the 1800s, photographs came into being, and printed memorabilia increased in popularity.  People would save mementos and photos in “scrap books,” a word coined in the 1800s.  Family scrapbooks grew in popularity between about 1920-1970.  At that time, scrapbooks were books of blank pages, usually black or cream-colored, ready for photos, journaling, stories, and mementos to be kept.  ScrapbookING, though, is another story.

Today’s Paper Scrapbooking

According to {The History of Scrapbooking}, Marielen Christensen first introduced today’s paper scrapbooking method of colorful, decorated pages in 1980.  She showed her collections of 3-ring binders containing her photos, memories, and mementos to The World Conference on Records, a genealogy conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Attendees loved her books!  Christensen opened the first scrapbooking store just one year later.

Rhonda Anderson, co-founder of Creative Memories and now Our Memories for Life, said her mother made decorated scrapbooks for her well before the 1980s.  Those books and the {profound influence memory-keeping has on the heart and soul} are what inspired her to share the scrapbooking message with the world.

By the 1990s, “scrapbooking” meant more than just simple mementos and photos pasted on blank pages.  It was an art form, a dedicated hobby, with monthly magazines published about it and more and more stores carrying scrapbooking supplies.  Scrapbooking also became a social phenomenon at this time, with scrapbook hobbyists meeting together for “crops” where they would work on their scrapbook pages.

You Might Love Paper Scrapbooking if…

Many people enjoy paper scrapbooking because it is creative and hands-on, and many people enjoy the social element of it, too.  Do you think it might be the right option for you to preserve your photos and memories?

I’ve found that people who prefer paper scrapbooking generally:

• like the tactile method of putting photos and memories together
• enjoy scrapbooking groups or “crops” for the social benefits they provide
• like creativity and creative expression
• have printed photos to preserve, such as inherited family photos

What I Love About Paper Scrapbooking

Full disclosure:  I haven’t really used paper scrapbooking as my main memory-keeping method for about 10 years.  (I’m a full-fledged {digital scrapbooking} addict now.  It’s how I stay caught up!)  

However, when I used paper scrapbooking, I loved it because of the social benefit–I scrapbooked with a friend while our kids played together.  Putting it on your calendar to do with someone else is not only fun but also helps your good intentions become reality!

I also love that I can use all the paper scrapbooking tools, stickers, leftover paper, etc., for greeting cards, too.  (It didn’t take me long to discover that making my own cards often took less time than standing in front of rows of greeting cards at a local store!)  I love how endless the creativity is!

And {I honestly also love the process}.  Taking the time, relaxing, organizing my life (in a way) by sitting down with photos and then displaying them in a beautiful, creative way is always so rewarding.  I realize that’s not unique to paper scrapbooking, but it’s true nonetheless.

What Are Other Options?

If paper scrapbooking doesn’t sound like your way to preserve photos and memories, don’t worry.  There are links to all the #familyhistoryfriday posts from this month where you can find digital scrap pages, easy paper scrapbooking kits, and digital storybooks {right here}.  Yearbooks are also a great use of digital storybooks, and {the yearbook method} can help you stop being overwhelmed with your photos, too!  That link even has a video to walk you right through.

You’re sure to find something that fits your needs, personality, and style at this month's #familyhistoryfriday series, Preserving Pictures.  Whatever you choose, #dontletyourbabiesgrowuptobejpegs

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This post was originally published at www.livegrowgive.org on March 23, 2018, by Jennifer Wise.  Read more #familyhistoryfriday posts by clicking the hashtag link below, next to Labels.