Almost everyone has a stack of heritage photographs tucked away somewhere. It's time to get these precious photos into your albums. The longer you wait, the less information you may be able to collect or remember about the stories you want to tell in your scrapbook. Come with me on a journey into your past. It's not as daunting as it seems. We will take it step by step together. Each month I will bring you fresh ideas and techniques to keep you going. You will be pleased that you have started to record your heritage to pass on to future generations.
Preserve And Organize Your Photos
Now that you are ready to get scrapbooking your heritage photos, lets go over some basics. I could write pages and pages about archival precautions to take to preserve your one of kind photos. Instead, I am going to recommend something that is even better than acid free paper. Never use your original heritage photos in your scrapbook. Make copies either by scanning and printing them out on your home computer, or by taking them to a photo machine at your local lab. After you have the copies to work with, store your original photos in a dark, dry place in acid free holders. You may even want to invest in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box. Organize your copies in the way that you want to scrapbook them. For example, chronologically, by family member, or by events. Which ever way is right for you is going to work the best. I have my heritage photos sorted by family name, then chronologically.
Restoring PhotosSince many heritage photos have flaws such as tears, stains or creases, you may want to have them restored. You can do this several ways: digitally, airbrushed by a professional, or have negatives created and restored by your upscale photo lab. One of the best things about scrapbooking is that there are no rules. I prefer to use my heritage photos in the flawed condition I found them in. This lends to the distressed and antiquity of the heritage look.
Choosing Appropriate Supplies
We are such lucky scrapbookers these days! There is a never-ending surge of supplies entering the market. You can find many supplies and companies that specialize in heritage products. If you are looking for something specific, ask your favorite retailer! Your heritage photos will look best when you use supplies that don't compete with the delicate photos. Neutral colors and jewel tones tend to look good with heritage photos. Pick accents that emphasize the time of the photo. Think classy and sophisticated. Most old photographs are much more serious and posed than our modern day pictures.
Ideas To Get You Started
- It is fine to mix heritage photos with modern photos. Show similarities/contrasts, or time elapse pictures.
- One-photo layouts are perfectly acceptable. Especially with heritage photos. Photographs were not taken as often as they are now, and you may only have one photo to scrap. Don't let that stop you from getting the story on paper.
- Your own childhood is heritage too. Many people think of heritage being the 1800's or early 1900's. Anything from the past is heritage. This may include your childhood pictures, honeymoon pictures, or that 1980 Christmas where people were fighting over Cabbage Patch dolls at the toy store.
- Family Tree
- Time line of special events through out your family's life.
- Treasured family heirlooms
- Memories of a family member or place
- Family Traditions
- Old homestead pictures
- Family Recipes: create a special cookbook of recipes you love the most
- Lifetime accomplishments of an ancestor
- Layout depicting stories that are passed down from generation to generation.
- Special memorabilia you may be lucky to own. Use copies of newspaper articles, birth certificates, baptism records, school report cards, and military papers, anything you have.
- Trends from an era: fashions, cars, home decorating, or hairstyles.
- Don't have a photo? Scrap the story anyway. This works great, especially with special memories from your childhood.
Layout Examples
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Enjoy Your Journey
I hope that you are now well on your way to creating a wonderful and meaningful heritage album. Join me again next month for another heritage scrapbooking article.
Scrap On!
Leah Yourstone
About Leah
Leah Yourstone is married with two young girls and lives just outside of Seattle, Washington. Leah has been taking photos and scrapbooking since 1990, when she was in High School. Leah went to college for both Photography and Interior Design which greatly influences her scrapbooking. Leah's art has been published in Creating Keepsakes, Designing Scrapbooks by Simple Scrapbooks, Many Club Scrap Newsletters and various other projects.
