Scrapbooking. Old fashioned and nerdy?
Scrapbooking. Costs too much?
It doesn’t have to. A scrapbook can be a prettier version of a photo album and it can be a creative project. Let’s have a look at the reasons why you should start a scrapbook.
1.Storing your photos in “The Cloud” doesn’t quite hack it
You probably have loads of photos in the Cloud and quite a few on various devices which haven’t been backed up.
The photos you have had time to save are in such a random order that it would take hours (if not days) to go through them to find the one you want.
The best photos deserve an album; one that your family and friends can flip through in the future and remember the good times.
2. It will make you a better photographer
It is so easy these days, with mobile phones and iPad’s and stuff, to take random photos and then forget them.
Although (I think) a scrapbook is better when you compile it with spontaneous photographs, if you are on holiday and you’ve got scrapbooking in mind, you tend to take more photos – in order to have a larger selection to pick from.
What if you learnt about lighting and distance and staging instead? Then the pictures you take will not only look more professional, but you won’t have to take so many.
3. Bring out your creative side
Take a trip to the store and you will find paints and tissue paper and glue and amazing stickers to complement your pics.
The range of scrapbooks available is astonishing.
You can make it what you want. Put a bit of you into the process.
Why not have a box with all your scrapbooking goodies next to your chair in the living room? Then, you can be creative while watching your favourite show.
4. Pick out the memories that are special to you.
Everyone has that favourite photo – they get the most likes on Facebook.
It’s nice to include those photos that everyone likes but why not put some in that are sentimental for you.
You can’t cater for everyone, so make it special for you – and for the theme of the book. Decide whether the scrapbook is one for public viewing or just for specific friends – just like Facebook would advise.
5. Take more photos of the important stuff like your family and pets and events in your life.
You will be more motivated to take photos of the more important stuff. Make sure you get snap-happy when it comes to weddings, birthdays, Christmas, and other special events. But also make sure you record the everyday stuff, too. You never know what will become a significant event.
Five, ten or even twenty years from now, when you pull out that scrapbook, you will look back fondly – and it will jar those little braincells as you relive those times.
6. Give one as a gift
What a special gift a scrapbook can be! It shows the time and thought taken to compile – and it can be specially tailored for that person.
A personalised scrapbook can be given on a special anniversary or birthday or even a special event – and is better than an electronic card that has no sentimental value at all!
7. Relaxation
Put on your favourite music and relax. It’s time to stop thinking about work.
Let your mind free and do something creative. For those of us who need something to occupy our hands, scrapbooking is so liberating. And the end-result is incredible.
8. It’s doesn’t have to be all about the photographs
It’s all about memories. Why not add notes to your scrapbook? It can become like a journal, where you capture your thoughts of an occasion or even a random day.
Write a funny anecdote about your dog or your kids or your neighbour.
Paste a drawing that your child did or a lovely letter you received from your partner. Or a Valentine’s card you got from an anonymous sender.
9. Find out more about your ancestors
Doing some Genealogy research about your Fifth Great Grandfather can be interesting or even inspiring.
Try tracing your family back as far as you can. Record the results in your scrapbook, along with any anecdotes, copies of marriage certificates, or photos you find online.
You never know … you might find that you are related to your spouse, and not just in marriage.
10. Make some new friends
You thought scrapbooking was just for recluses and nutcases! You’ll find many of those online, but you’ll mostly find that they are the nicest people.
Go down to your local arts and crafts shop or market, and you’ll meet some of those lovely guys and girls.
I hope you have a wonderful scrapbooking journey!
David Owen Nunes
David is many faceted, fascinating, fastidious, fair, fabulous and the other F word. He works in the Pensions Industry, plays occasional golf, and dreams of being able to write full time.
