Memory Book ~ Scrapbooking

Memory books are a great way to keep special keepsakes in one place. Memory books make great scrapbooking gifts for your scrapbooking friends and family members. Nothing makes a child feel special like a whole book about them. We try to make one about ever year for each child. As they get older, it seems more like about every other year.

Things You’ll Need:
A photo album (Large enough that an 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of paper can go in.
Photos, drawings, certificates, ribbons, cards, notes, etc.
Clear page protector sleeves
1 Yard of Material
Poster Board
Alene’s Tacky Glue
Quilt batting

* With everyone scrapbooking, these make great gifts. So let’s get started.

Step 1
These memory books are fun and easy for everyone in the family. Buy some clear page protector sleeves. Collect your photos (I like Kodak), awards, certificates, ribbons, artwork, written work, etc.

Step 2
Get a 3 ring photo album large enough to put 8 1/2 x 11 inch pages in it.

Step 3
Lay out the batting and place the photo album on top of the batting. Using a sharp pair of scissors (I like Fiskars), cut the batting to fit the photo album. Lay out the material with the back side up and lay the batting and album (album on top) on the material. Make sure you have about an inch all the way the album before cutting.

Step 4
Cut your poster board panels to fit the front inside cover and the back inside cover. Lay poster board out on the material. Leave about 1/2 inch all the way around each poster board panel. Starting at the corners, glue the the material to the poster board (I use Alene’s Tacky Glue).

Step 5
Once your poster board is covered, lay it aside. Take a piece of material and cut to fit the inside spine of the album. Glue the material to the inside spine (tuck it under the metal piece holding the three rings).

Step 6
With material, batting and album layered as in step #3, start with the corners and glue the material to the album. Once the material is glued around the album, put a layer of glue around the inside of the album

Step 7
Lay the poster board onto the glued inside panels with material side up. Press firmly into place.

Step 8
Let album dry lying flat open (inside up) for about 8 hours (may need to dry longer – make sure it is dry completely before closing album). Album may feel stiff when you try to shut it, that is normal. Put something heavy (like a phone book or large Webster’s dictionary) on the closed memory book for a few hours. Then open and shut it a few times to get the stiffness out. Now put your inside pages back on the rings. You’re done!

Step 9

As you fill the pages with photos, add some souvenirs (movie stubs, Amusement Park tickets, etc.). If you went to a Six Flags Park, put the ticket in with the pictures. Use the clear page protector sleeves to add certificates, awards, artwork, birthday cards, notes, etc. If your child graduated elementary school, put their certificate among the photos.

Step 10
To personalize the Memory Book even more, find special things that remind you of that person (If it’s for your spouse, if you have a song, put the lyrics or at least the chorus in a clear sleeve) If your son loves a certain sport and you find a picture of their favorite team, put it in there. If your daughter collects fairy figurines and you find a beautiful picture of a fairy, put it in the memory book.

Step 11
Write a note, poem etc. telling the person why they are special to you or how they enrich your life. Put it in the Memory Book. If you or a friend are creative, you can do a page with their name and their qualities on it for (example: TODD = Talented, Outgoing, Daring, Dependable).

Tips & Warnings
1. Use stickers, rubber stamps, clip art etc. to make the Memory Book even more special.
2. Anything you can think of to make it more special, add.
3. This makes a great Birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or Anniversary present. Grandparents love to receive Memory Books.
4. If you give one as a surprise gift, bring tissues for the tears of joy you may cause.
5. Be prepared to make these for many people. Everyone will want one! I make about 10 every year for Christmas presents.