11 Reasons Preserving Your Photos is One of the Most Important Things You Can Do

I recently came across some meaningful words about memory-keeping that I think could be summarized as "11 Reasons Preserving Your Photos is One of the Most Important Things You Can Do."  This statement was shared by Rhonda Anderson, the retired co-founder of Creative Memories, and now the founder of Heritage Makers' sister company, Our Memories For Life.  This is the very real experience of Tiffany A. Parker.

Before I share her words of wisdom, I have to say that the question Tiffany answers, "Why do you scrapbook?  Don't you know eventually it will be thrown away?" is something I've never heard before.  I was actually quite stunned (maybe even horrified) to think that anyone would ever consider throwing a scrapbook away.  I'm a really quiet, non-confrontational person, but I'd fist-fight somebody over this!  ;)  Scrapbooks are some of the most precious things you will ever own--for all the reasons Tiffany mentions.

And please be sure when you read her words of wisdom that your definition of "scrapbooking" is broad enough to include all memory-keeping, whether digital, paper/traditional, or simply putting photos and their stories in store-bought albums.  In fact, {here are four excellent options}, each one different from the other, all with the same meaningful end result.

Here are 11 reasons preserving your photos is one of the most important things you can do.

"I've been asked a million times:  'Why do you scrapbook? 

Don't you know eventually it will be thrown away?'

Well, I finally have an answer:

I scrapbook because people break into houses and steal flash drives with your whole 10 year relationship on them.

I scrapbook because computers crash.

I scrapbook because technology fails.

I scrapbook because flash drives can get lost.

I scrapbook because life is precious.

I scrapbook because sometimes you lose an important person and a picture is all you have left to hold.

I scrapbook to remember.

I scrapbook to preserve stories that my brain doesn't think are important, when my heart knows they are.

I scrapbook so I can introduce my future children to someone they may never have gotten to meet, or can't remember, that loved them so deeply.

I scrapbook to help focus on the positive when the depression and PTSD start their lies again.

I scrapbook so that during the worst parts of my life I can look back on the best.

So the next time someone belittles, degrades, or find fault in your "waste-of-money," "silly," or "pointless" hobby, tell them why you scrapbook.

Because these albums are the only pictures that remain of my entire marriage, the only pictures of grandma, the only graduation photo that I have, and the only thing so "worthless" the robbers didn't steal-- that meant everything to me."

-Tiffany A. Parker

#dontletyourbabiesgrowuptobejpegs

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Three Ideas for Connecting with Family Members

You can never have too many ways to connect with family members!  Given the likelihood of physical distance between family members these days and the tendency to feel like “connecting” means texting, it’s important to find more meaningful ways to connect.  

As the last Giving from the Heart post in this #familyhistoryfriday series, today we’ll look at three creative, meaningful ways to connect with family members.  These are sweet things you could give from the heart for a birthday, holiday, or just because.

Family Tree Canvas

Knowing family stories is the {biggest predictor of a child’s well-being}!  It has been shown to increase self-esteem, make kids more resilient, and even lower depression and anxiety.  Family stories, then, are an ideal way to create connections.  (You can find tips on creating family stories {here}.)  Seeing a family tree each day is a great reminder of those family stories.  It’s a reminder to every family member that they all belong –to the family and to each other.

I particularly love this idea for a family tree canvas because I think it makes a huge difference to see faces on a family tree and not just names.  It’s obviously perfect for a child, but if you leave out the main branch (the baby face there at the bottom), this could be made as a general family tree for all the siblings.  In the same way, it could be an extended family tree starting with grandparents, a lovely gift from the heart for cousins.  (You can personalize your own gallery-wrapped canvases here.  Or you can see the one I have hanging on my wall without pictures here.)

"When our hearts are turned to our ancestors, something changes inside us.  We feel part of something greater than ourselves.  Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors.”  -Russell M. Nelson

Family Calendars

One way I love making family connections every single year is with a family calendar.  My sister-in-law’s family had always done a very simple one that used pictures of each family member during their birthday month.  I have taken that approach with our family’s calendar.  I love that method because in the past 8 years, our little family has lost our mom/grandma and two sons/cousins.  That means we, obviously, don’t have recent pictures of any of them.  Because we focus on each person instead of recent photos, we always have pictures of every single family member each year.  It’s been fun for me to go back and find pictures of my mom as a young mom or as a college student to use for the family calendar.  She’s always there with us. 

Update 2022:  This tutorial video shows you how to make a calendar in a snap using a (free) template and free software called Design & Print.  The print quality is amazing!

If you prefer more flexibility in design and like being creative, this video tutorial shows you how, using amazing digital scrapbooking software called Artisan.  Same gorgeous print quality, too.

Another idea for using a family calendar would be to have a perpetual calendar of birthdays and special days.  A perpetual calendar just lists days of the month (not days of the week, which vary by year) so it can be used over and over.  This would be a great way to remember birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days of family members.  Go back a couple of generations, too, beyond the birthdays you celebrate right now.  It’s really fun to celebrate more family members that way.  It helps emphasize connection.  One of my grandfathers was born on Leap Year day (February 29), so that’s a fun thing to always remember.  We had cake one year, too!

Family Faces Books for Kids

The closest my kids have ever lived to their grandparents was a 7-hour drive.  (The furthest was 8 time zones, but that’s another story.)  It has always been important for us to find ways to help our kids connect with their grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles.  Phone calls and letters have been great ways for our kids to get to know and connect with family members, but when they were small, they needed more.  Small kiddos have small memories.  If they went 6 months without seeing grandparents, my kids didn’t remember them very well.  I adore this idea for keeping family faces fresh to little ones.

{A little book like this} is an ideal way to help young kids recognize and remember family faces.  (At that link you can also read about the special experience I had making one for my niece about my mom who had recently passed away.  It was tremendously meaningful to her!)

Every Day

Which of these ideas would help the members of YOUR family?  You can find even more family-strengthening ideas at {Gift Ideas for the Whole Family} and {Four Creative Ideas for SharingFamily Stories}.

Having something to see or hold every day really helps people make connections.  My niece {reads her book every night}!  A calendar and a family tree canvas can be seen every day.  

Remembering that we belong is {good for the heart and soul}.  Pictures do that for us.  Family stories do that for us.  So let’s share them more and do that for each other.

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This post was originally published at www.livegrowgive.org on September 28, 2018, by Jennifer Wise.  Find more #familyhistoryfriday posts about connection, stories, photos, memories, and family by clicking the hashtag below next to Labels.

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Hooray!  This blog post was a featured favorite here:

Think Outside the Scrapbooking Box

Pictures and memories are some of the most precious things we have.  Unfortunately, many people think that preserving them requires "scrapbooking."  Our modern-day definition of scrapbooking entails a lot of supplies, a lot of space, and a lot of time.

But think about it--it doesn't make a lot of sense that something EVERYONE needs is something doable (or enjoyable) by a very few.  

There are actually a lot of reasons that we need our pictures and memories.  They include:

• lower stress
• lower depression and anxiety (especially among teenagers)
• healing benefits (as from grief)
• coping benefits 
• increased happiness
• increased self-esteem (especially among kids)
• increased sense of belonging
• increased perspective
• increased sense of gratitude
• increased connections among family members

So let's think outside the scrapbooking box!!

There are lots of other ways to preserve photos and memories!!  Nobody should ever feel like they can't do anything with their photos and memories because they aren't a "scrapbooker."

Today I bring you FOUR articles I've written showing four different approaches and styles to preserving photos and memories and telling your own story.  Each of these articles includes a list called "you might like this option if..."  So explore each one at the links below until you find a solution that works for you.  There are easy, simple, creative, digital, and paper options.  There's really something for everyone.  Which one will be YOUR solution for your memory-keeping?

• {Digital Scrap Pages} (my personal favorite--it's what I use, so this post actually includes a video tutorial so you'll see how fast digital scrap pages can be)
• {Easy Pocket Pages and Kits} (this is totally what I would do if I didn't love digital so much and I already had pictures printed)
• {Digital Storybooking} (Combine this post with my Family Yearbook video tutorial and plan, and you've got a really simple way to easily preserve your pictures.)
• {Traditional Paper Scrapbooking}  (Even if you're not a paper scrapbooker, this fun post gives some very interesting information about the history of scrapbooking!  It's a lot older than you probably think.  If you ARE a paper scrapbooker, or want to be, you'll enjoy seeing some fun new tools!)

2022 UPDATE:  You can see my favorite memory-keeping options at this video.  It's so important to find something you will love doing (and, therefore, DO)!  And it's vital to find high-quality ways to do it!  I love that these are high-quality print products with options so that there's something for everyone.  Whether you want simple, push-of-a-button books or fully creative and flexible digital scrapbooking (or somewhere in between), you're sure to find something that you love that fits your style and available time.

As a bonus, I'll share one more article (and ebook) with you:  {What Your Pictures Have to do with Self-Care}.  It can help motivate you to turn your good intentions into something you can hold!  There's no time like right now.

Get started here.

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Fun New Ways to Share Recipes

Every family has a great recipe.  I’m a recipe collector myself, and my recipe mantra is that the best recipes are shared.  I wouldn’t have any –ANY– great recipes if I didn’t taste something, love it, and ask for the recipe.  

As we continue our #familyhistoryfriday Giving From the Heart series, we’re going to look at some fun ways to share recipes.  Whether you have family recipes you’d like to share or recipes from friends, sharing well-loved recipes is a great way to remember times together or even just come together.

Recipes Help You Make Someone Happy

A few years ago, I made a family recipe cookbook and gave it to everyone for Christmas.  I had collected three favorite recipes from each person, added a few pictures, and published it.  Everyone loved such a fun and useful gift.  

The next summer, we all traveled to my sister’s house for a family get-together.  She used the cookbook to plan meals for the whole week!  She knew she was making one of somebody’s favorite meals every time she made something.  The kids loved that, of course, and it was fun to find out what everybody likes, too.

My husband often tells me that one of the best things I do for teenage boys is give them good food!  I’m pretty sure this applies to everyone, though.  Fast food drive throughs do the trick in a pinch– they keep you from starving –but I would be so bold as to say that “comfort food” never comes in a wrapper.

Recipes help make someone happy.  They acknowledge taste and preference, and they can even make someone feel at home.  I have a friend whose son has lots of specific food preferences.  They’re not allergies, but they might as well be.  He doesn’t eat some things based solely on texture, and he doesn’t eat meat because it grosses him out.  A recipe that’s preference-friendly for him means the world.  It means someone cares enough to notice and want him to be happy.

Would you enjoy collecting family recipes or friends’ recipes like the cookbooks above?  Would your cookbook be a way of bringing people together or capturing memories of a special event?  Whatever your goal, there are some really fun ways to share family or friend recipes.  All these styles I’ll show you can be created online and professionally published by {following the steps here}.

Thanks for stopping by.  We have a 2023 UPDATE before you read on:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

___________________________________________________

Personalized Cookbooks

It’s really fun to have a collection of family favorites.  Plus, you can stop calling your mom every time you need that one recipe *again*!

Find this Forever template (free) to create your cookbook here.

These make great family gifts for everyone at Christmastime, or when a kiddo leaves for college.  Birthdays, too!  

I’ve also seen this size used for Girlfriend Recipe Collections, which would be fun!

Unique Recipe Cards

As much as I like cookbooks, I really like recipes written on individual cards.  Being the recipe collector I am, I often find favorite recipes one at a time.  If you’d like to do a recipe exchange, sharing one recipe with many recipients, do I ever have something amazing to show you!  Both of these ways are the clever use of a product meant for something else!

While handwriting recipes on recipe cards or printing them out with your computer does the job, I think one of the worst things about recipe cards is their susceptibility to drips and splashes and greasy fingers.  Both of the recipe cards I’m about to show you are wipe-able!  The paper is thick and has a slick surface.  I love both of these ways to share recipes with cards.

Recipe Cards from 4×6 Invitations

To make clever, wipe-able recipe cards to share is using 4×6 Invitations.  

2022 UPDATE:  I made these cards below using Artisan, the digital scrapbooking software from Forever.  They're so much fun to give away (I cut them in half) with a ceramic Recipe Mug!

Connecting with Recipes

The ideas I’ve shown you for sharing recipes using high-quality products are really just simple ways to connect with someone.  Whether a unique gift or a way to commemorate an event, sharing recipes creates connection and memories.  I have recipes in my box that I’ve called by name– “Angie’s Italian Dip,” “Diana’s Fruit Dip,” “Kathy’s Frozen Banana Splits.”  When I pull out those recipes, I think of old friends I haven’t seen in a long time.  That comfortable {nostalgia} is a sweet feeling.  

Recipes are essentially keepsakes.

So what will you do?  How will you share a well-loved recipe with someone who will be delighted to have it?  What has fostered a great idea for you here?  Comment below and let me know–I’d love to find out.

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.” -Voltaire

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This post was originally published at www.livegrowgive.org on September 14, 2018, by Jennifer Wise.  Find more #familyhistoryfriday posts about connections, family, stories, memories, and photos by clicking the hashtag below next to Labels.

Follow Photo & Story Treasures on social media here:

  

Hooray!  This post was a featured favorite here:

Three Easy Halloween and Fall Decor Ideas

Sometimes it's fun to take on a creative DIY project to create fun home decor, but sometimes it's just as fun not to.  Today I'll show you three easy Halloween (and fall) home decor ideas that take little to no effort to create.

1:  HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN (MAGNETIC)
The first is a cute little magnetic countdown to Halloween.  I made this from a Heritage Makers scrap page, then cut it in pieces, attached magnets on the back, and mounted the main scrap page on a cookie sheet.  It's got a ribbon attached for hanging on a wall, pantry door, etc.

I've made these as fun group Make & Takes before (before Pinterest Nights were cool!), so although I could give you directions and a tutorial on making this, we're talking about EASY today!  


2:  FALL CANVAS EXCHANGE BLOCKS PERSONALIZED METAL PRINT
Update 2021:  The blocks originally shown here were from the Anthology line, which is no longer in existence.  Something like this metal print would be a fun option (get it here) because you can add your own photos to it!  

12x12 metal print from Forever; other options available

3:  HALLOWEEN HANGING PRINT
Halloween isn't a gory, scary thing at our house.  It's all about the candy.  So I made this cute hanging print for our Halloween decor.  It's obviously a tame, kid-friendly Halloween decoration!  :)

Like the magnetic Halloween countdown, I've made these in Make & Take groups and sold them over at my {Crafts with Heritage Makers} Facebook page.  They're so fun and easy.

2023 UPDATE:  Heritage Makers became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there. Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever.  

Using Forever's Artisan program for digital scrapbooking, you can make items similar to those shown here.  This video tutorial shows you how to craft with high-quality scrapbook pages, and this one shows you how to use Artisan to create something unique and then print at home (for instances in which you need thinner paper, sticker paper, etc.)  You can see just a few examples of crafting I've done using Artisan here. 

All three of these options are simple and fun ways to dress up your house for Halloween and fall!  Be sure to share those adorable Canvas Exchange Blocks with a friend!

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#friyay -- What Heritage Makers Can Do For Your Family

Does it feel like fall where you are?  The first Friday of the month at LifeTalesBooks is #friyay where hear from Heritage Makers users.  So welcome to our first fall #friyay!

First, we hear from my dear friend Cary, who has been using Heritage Makers as long as I have!  Cary truly embraces the idea of telling your story because she knows how powerful it is.  From items to encourage her children and their talents to storybooks with photos and much more, Cary knows what a Heritage MAKER is!

Get started filling your own home with family photos and memories right here.

Thanks for stopping by.  We have a 2023 UPDATE before you read on:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

___________________________________________________

Next, we hear from another TRUE Heritage MAKER, Sandy.  I met Sandy about six or seven years ago, and I am always amazed with the next brilliant idea she has for publishing with Heritage Makers.  Everything she does is from the heart, and she uses her personal publishing to really make a difference.  Sandy first made cookbooks for her family, passing down time-honored, cherished family recipes and has gone on to make countless, PRICELESS gifts using Heritage Makers.

What a Digi-Crop Can Do for Your Pictures

Do you have lots of pictures you've been meaning to do something with?  A digi-crop can help you turn your good intentions into something real!  If you're struggling to find time to do something with your pictures, try a digi-crop!

So what IS a digi-crop and how exactly does it help?

I've been holding online digi-crops for several years now, and I love how it allows me to help people no matter where they live.  The only catch is this:  you have to know what on earth a digi-crop is and how to participate.  

The most important thing to know is:  Digi-Crops are my way of gifting you TIME!

2022 UPDATE:  Digi-Crops are now Photo Rodeos!  A "Photo Rodeo: Rein in Your Photos" event is still free, and you can find information at the "our community" tab at the top of this blog, along with other events.  If you're new to memory-keeping, open a free Forever account using the link at this "how to get started" tab.  Find all the details about Photo Rodeos, including tutorial videos if you're new, here.

"I don't have time" is such a common reason for putting off doing something with our pictures.  The truth is that we don't often "find" time to do anything.  We make it!  (Find a lot of great resources for making more time for yourself here.)  Digi-Crops--or Photo Rodeos--are one way of making time for our photos and memories.

Photo Rodeo: Rein in Your Photos is a time once a quarter to spend with your photos and memories and whatever they need.  At these free online events, people have:

• organized photos
• uploaded photos from phones/cameras to their computers and/or permanent cloud Forever Storage
• worked on digital scrapbooks and photo-memory books
• created photo gifts, calendars, canvases, etc.
• collected old memories on VHS tapes, audio tapes, slides, negatives, movie film, etc., to get digitized in their Forever Box

There are no rules at Photo Rodeo, just time to do what you need and connect with other memory-keepers from around the country.  Plus, I'm there if you have any questions about any of the above.  :)

Speaking of connecting, here are the logistics of Photo Rodeo.  To join (from the comfort of your own pajamas, or otherwise), you just click the Zoom link here and enter the current passcode shown there at the date and time of our next Photo Rodeo.  Remember, times listed are in Mountain Time, so adjust accordingly.

Next, you'll say hello to everyone there and then get to work.  We have a little chatting time and also a little quiet time while we work, but you're always welcome to mute the conversation if you need to.  We do celebrate together also.  I often say something like, "I just finished a digital scrapbook page!" and get some congratulations, and I often like to screen-share so you can see what I've done.  It's optional, but a fun way to celebrate our accomplishments together.

New to memory-keeping?  Forever is the best option I've seen in almost 2 decades as a memory-keeping consultant.  Learn more about Forever here.

I hold a spring, summer, fall, and winter Photo Rodeo, so there's always one coming up!  Check this link for the next one.

Take advantage of this opportunity to put "work on my pictures and albums" on your calendar and then follow through to make something meaningful!  Memory-keeping can honestly change your life.

Reunion Keepsakes

Summertime is often reunion time.  From family reunions to school class reunions, lots of traveling to see old familiar faces happens during the summer.  These events are always special, and it’s nice to both make a record of the reunion to look back on and to keep in touch with those you saw there.  But how exactly do you do that?  As part of #familyhistoryfriday Giving from the Heart series, we’ll look today at some fun and special ideas for reunion keepsakes.

Thanks for stopping by.  We have a 2023 UPDATE before you read on:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

___________________________________________________

A Reunion Magazine

This is such a fun and creative idea!  I love that this Magazine is both impressive and meaningful while still staying affordable.

Isn't this amazing?!

This 8.5×11 magazine is only about $10 ({here} at Heritage Makers) and has thicker pages than the average magazine you see at the dentist’s office.  The premium 100-lb. paper gives it a heftier feel and better quality than regular magazines.  It comes with 16 fully-editable pages.  The magazine is expandable to 32 pages, too, as long as 4 pages are added at a time (due to the way it is printed and cut).  It has a simple staple binding, just like regular magazines do.  I think this price tag makes it an affordable option for everyone who attended the reunion.

This reunion magazine example was actually created before the reunion and included a schedule of events and map of the location where the reunion was being held.  I love it for that!  I also love it for a keepsake after the event with pictures and memories from the reunion.  There are other magazine styles, too!

Put a call out for favorite pictures from the reunion you attended this summer and create away!  Steps to get started can be found right here.  (Note that when you’re at the Heritage Makers website this product is actually called 8.5×11 Booklet.  But it is just like a magazine–just with thicker pages–so that’s what I call it.)

A Softbound Book for Reunion Memories with Photos

Another impressive and still affordable idea for reunion memories and photos is the 8×8 Softbound Book.  A little smaller than the Magazine, this Softbound Book has a {top-of-the-line PUR binding}.  Many DIY softbound books on the market have a glue binding which cracks easily over time, making the pages fall out.  PUR binding actually involves a chemical reaction to create the bind.  PUR binding is clear, unlike the yellowish glue used in many DIY online books today.  Create your 8×8 softbound reunion keepsake ({here}) and you’ll get that high quality PUR binding.

You can see that this example of an 8×8 softbound book was used for a business retreat reunion, but because the template is editable, you can make it yours.  This could be for a family reunion, high school reunion, army buddy reunion, or anything you can think of!  When I say “editable,” I mean editable!  With Heritage Makers, you can keep the basic layout and add your own pictures and text.  You can change the colors, remove the logos you see, change the font, put more or fewer pictures on a page, etc.  You can add flowers or stars or buttons or any of the thousands of digital art pieces (free) in the software, so you’ll get exactly the right look for your reunion.

I love these 8×8 softbound books.  They’re so perfect for capturing memories with photos and preserving a special event.  Although a hardbound book feels a little more sturdy, these softbound ones cost a little less, so it's easier to get a bunch and share.

Put a call out for favorite pictures from the reunion you attended this summer and create away!  Steps to {get started making reunion keepsakes can be found right here}. 

"We didn’t know we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.”  -anonymous

Keeping in Touch with a Directory

When you see cousins, classmates, or aunts and uncles whom you haven’t seen for years, you’ll probably think, “Why don’t we keep in touch more often?”  Stopping everybody at the reunion to get their contact information isn’t very feasible, but making a directory of reunion-goers is!

You could certainly use the Magazine I mentioned before (or the Softbound Book, for that matter) as a directory for the family or class, but I like the 6x9 Booklet from Heritage Makers.  It’s a lot like the Magazine– staple binding, 16 pages expandable in sets of 4, 100-lb. weight paper– but it’s just a little smaller.  That makes the price a little smaller, too, at $6.50.

These little Booklets as reunion directories are fantastic!  Collect photos, names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and social media handles.  I think these are especially useful for families whose youngest generations don’t know each other.  If you’re retired, for example, you probably know your cousins but not their children or grandchildren.  Putting names to faces this way is a great way to connect generations!

Ideally, start gathering information to create a directory before the reunion.  That way you can give these completed booklets out at the reunion!  

Specific steps to {get started here}.  As always, let me know if you need any help or pointers.

Giving from the Heart

The best gifts are from the heart, and reunions are special moments that attendees will want to remember.  Your priceless gift of the heart can come in two ways.  First, your gift to the group will be your work in creating these sweet keepsakes, making them available for purchase.  Second, you could actually gift everyone a copy.  Either way, everyone is sure to love and appreciate your gift from the heart.

Scroll back up to find the keepsake that will work best for your reunion, and start this work of heart today!

"It isn’t the size of the gift that matters, it’s the size of the heart that gives it.”  -Eileen Elias Freeman

Who do you know with a reunion coming up?  Share this post!

This post was originally published at www.livegrowgive.org on August 31, 2018, by Jennifer Wise.  Find more #familyhistoryfriday posts about memories, stories, photos, family, and connections by clicking the hashtag below next to Labels.