Description: How to create a family album to preserve family memories.

A Family Album is a great keepsake for future generations of your family to learn about their ancestors. It is also a great item to create and give as a gift to another family member. Family Albums should include photos and facts on each family member featured in the book. You also may want to include a page about what life was like in the year the family album was created, sort of a 'Time Capsule' page.

A Family Album could be used as an anniversary gift for your parents, grandparents or any other family member. After you decide for whom you are making the album, decide what the focus of your album will be. If you are making an album for your grandparents, you may want to dedicate a page to each of their children and grandchildren. Or, you may choose to create an album focusing on your grandparent's siblings and parents.

Purchase a small album, either a 5x7 or an 8x10 will do, depending on the number of photos you plan to use. Keep in mind that the larger the album is, the more photos and accessories you will need to fill it. Gather photos, mementos and items of interest to be placed in the book. Try interviewing a few family members to get some added info for the album.

Use the first page as an introduction to the family. Write a poem, a bit of history about the family or create a family tree. On the inside pages, dedicate a two page spread to each family member.

Remember that one of the most important aspects of scrapbooking is journaling. On one of the pages, include photos of the family member. On the adjoining page, list some information about the person. If you aren't a great writer or don't know many personal facts about that person, you could include their name and birthday, where they were born, the names of their children, etc. To make the album more personal, include some interesting facts about the person.

Some ideas are:

- Hobbies and Interests
- Favorite songs/movies/actors
- Nicknames
- College or High School attended
- Profession
- Clubs, Charities and Organizations
- Places they have lived or traveled

Follow this outline in creating your Family Album, or create your own:

Front Page: Introduction or Family Tree

Inside: Use two-page spreads for each family member, one to include photos, the other to include journaling

Last Page: Write a summary about what life was like in your family during the time the album was created, or if you didn't create a family tree on the front page ...create one on the last page.

A Family Album will be a treasured gift for many years to come. There are numerous ideas to add personality to your Family Album, this article has only mentioned a few. One thing is certain, by utilizing the safety of scrapbooking, you will ensure that your Family Album will be around for many generations

Copyright 2001, Victoria Walker.

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