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 While photo albums allow individuals to flip between middle
school graduation flicks to wedding memories, more and more people are
exploring the increasingly popular activity of scrapbooking. Combining the
beauty of the written word with the visual pleasure of photographs,
scrapbookers also use printed media and other memorabilia to create
decorative albums to share with family and friends. Many equate the art of
the activity with storytelling, yet visual elements replace oral means of
communication.
Brief History
When scrapbooking first began to take shape, the practice utilized personal
collections and journaling. For example, a playbill would have found its way into
a scrapbook. Some of the earliest known individuals throughout history to engage
in the activity included the likes of former president, Thomas Jefferson and
author, Mark Twain. Ever since the invention of the photo, people created
scrapbooks. They would include letters from family and friends, newspaper
clippings, and add notations of who was in a photo and where the photo was
taken.
Today, creative displays, borders, text, stickers, stamps, and other items are
included, often displayed in 3-ring binders with protective sheet inserts.
Scrapbooking has truly become an art form, a hobby, and a passion that has
captured the attention of all ages.
Common Materials To enter the world of scrapbooking, you will
need to get a hold of a few basic materials. For starters, one of the most
important things to have by your side is the album; without one, there is no
book. Some people can choose a permanently bound selection or opt for one that
allows the insertion of pages. Other options may include mini-albums or
selections that fold out to reveal pages. The most commonly sized scrapbook
offers pages that measure 12 "×12" or 8½×11". Over the years, smaller
selections have become quite popular.
As for scrapbooking materials, you may select from an infinite amount of choices.
Background papers spice up the color behind pasted photos, while additional
decorations includes the use of stamps, rub-ons, alphabet letters, ribbon, and
heat embossing. Photo corner mounts will hold pictures in place, but sticky dots
and glue sticks are also frequent choices. Additional materials and tools include
ink pens, stencils, and markers.
When putting together a scrapbook, you should know that materials containing acid
will cause damage to your photos and other memories. As you seek out products for
your scrapbooking adventures, make sure they are "acid-free."
Why So Popular? Scrapbooking has become a popular activity
that even sparks the development of groups and clubs centered on the act that
gather to enjoy a nice afternoon sharing photos and their latest projects. The
hobby is creative enough to keep the attention of the younger generation,
while older individuals find it a very relaxing activity, especially during
retirement.
The process gives people the chance to relive their happy, family moments as they
create a book of memories that could very well turn out to be the next family
heirloom. Through scrapbooking, a visual family history comes to life with the
colorful photos, witty notations, and glimpses of the past, that have the power
to educate and enlighten many generations to come.
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