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| There is a growing interest in memory books. You have probably
seen that arts and craft stores have added memory book (also known as scrapbook) products
to their inventory. However, there is not a lot of easy-to-understand information on which
products to use, why, and how. To help you understand the products and techniques involved
in creating a memory book I have started this column. |
| Some of the topics I will discuss over the next few issues
include: why and how to properly store your photographs; what is needed to fill in your
photographic history; and, how to creatively share your photographs. |
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| What’s a Memory Book? |
| A memory book is a creative way for you to share and preserve your
family history using your personal photographs. Memory books are more than just photo
albums. Memory books are part album, part journal, and part scrapbook. You use your choice
photos, memorabilia, and personal stories to tell how your family lived and enjoyed life. |
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| Why Should You Be Concerned? |
| If you are like me, you take pictures at every major family
event--birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas--and also "just because". You want to
be able to re-live that moment later on. However, if pictures are not properly handled and
stored, they may not last long enough for years of enjoyment. |
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| See A Return on Investments |
| You spend a lot of time and money taking pictures and developing
the film. Thus, you would like to see a return on your investment. Do you look at your
pictures once or twice before placing them in a drawer or box? After a while you may
forget what pictures you have and where you put them. |
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| Current Ways Destroy Photos |
| One day you get around to putting your photos into an album.
However, many of the photo albums for sale now are not made with long-term preservation in
mind. Most of the sticky-page, magnetic photo albums commonly used may destroy your
pictures by fading the color and making them brittle. Eventually the photos fall apart. |
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| Keep Memories Alive |
| Memory books have become popular because they encourage sharing
photos with others. And, by using proper materials and techniques, your pictures will last
a long time. |
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| Build Relationships |
| Family members, especially children, love to see their
photos creatively displayed in memory books. Creating a memory book shows them how much
they mean to you. This strengthens your family ties. |
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| Create an Heirloom |
| A properly created memory book can last through
generations. Thus, this book can become an heirloom for future family members. |
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| Find Fulfillment |
| Finally, you will gain confidence, can express and increase your
creativity, and may find creating a memory book fulfilling. I know I have, ever since I
started one for my family. |
| In the next issue I will talk about two approaches to storing your
photos and how to handle, store, and organize photos. |
