For many people, photos are at the heart of their scrapbooks -- and for a very good reason. We all treasure photgraphs of friends and loved ones, and many of us carry some with us wherever we go in a wallet or locket or keep photos on our desk at work. And if disaster were to strike and you had to evacuate your house, many people say they would save their photo albums before any other possessions!
So most scrapbooks will contain photographs. Even the most disinterested reader of
your scrapbook will look at them. A picture really is worth a thousand words.
Therefore, it is important to choose photographs that are of good quality and clearly
illustrate your scrapbook theme.
Any photograph can be used in a scrapbook. Even instant photographs can be used
in scrapbooking. Just be careful that the chemicals within the photograph do not
spill out on the rest of your scrapbook. Digital pictures can easily be printed right
onto lignin-free and acid -free paper.
Always bear in mind that scrapbooking is permanent. For this reason, it is probably
better to use copies of your only picture of Great Aunt Betsy rather than risk ruining
the original photograph forever. So just scan the picture on your computer scanner
and print the image on lignin free and acid free paper.
Everybody loves looking at photos of family, friends and special places. That's why
they have such a special place in any scrapbook. It can be a lot of fun to use photos
in imaginative layouts and for abstract effects -- don't feel confined just to
mounting your photos as you would in a traditional photo album.
You can find inspiration for new scrapbooking ideas from magazines and visits to
art museums. Just keep your eyes open and let your imagination run free!
Nigel Patterson is a writer on arts and crafts and the publisher of Create Your Own Scrapbooks.
Visit his website for new and imaginative scrapbooking tips and ideas -- so you can
maintain your most treasured mementos and present them artistically for you, your
family and your friends to enjoy.