Why
Scrapbook?
Scrapbooking preserves your photographs and memories for decades
to come.
by Brandie Valenzuela
March 22, 2004
More often than not, I meet people who love the look of a scrapbooked
memory album. There are other times though that I meet someone and
they say "Why bother with scrapbooking? I just put my photo in an
album I bought at the store." At one time, my response was in regards
to the archival safety of such products "bought at the store". Most
of the photos albums sold years ago contained extremely high levels
of acid, which end up destroying your precious memories.
However, today there are many photos albums sold that are acid-free.
But is that the only thing you should be concerned with? Definitely
not. Read on for my reasons why you should create a scrapbook with
your memories:
-
Memory albums, also known as scrapbooks, allow the story behind
your photos to be told. A photo of a startled child may be interesting
to look at, but isn't it more fun to know that the shocked look
is because her brother surprised her with his new toy snake that
Grandpa bought him?
-
Memory albums are beautiful. Just like the furnishings in your
home, your albums will reflect your special style. You will be
proud to have your albums on display in your home and your guests
will be in awe of what has been created with your photos.
-
Memories should be enjoyed and shared. They can't be if they
are shoved in drawers and shoeboxes. Just don't have the time?
There are professional scrapbook artists that you can hire to
complete your albums.
-
Memory albums last forever. Whether you use your own time to
complete your album, or hire a professional scrapbook artist,
there is a cost involved. Unlike the housecleaner that cleans
your home each week or the mechanic that gives your car a tune-up
(although both are important), a completed scrapbook is a treasure
that won't need to be redone or maintained. Once your album is
created, it is done and ready to be enjoyed for generations to
come.
-
You've invested a lot of money and time in your memories. Because
we want to remember every moment in our lives and the lives of
our loved ones, we spend hundreds of dollars on cameras, film,
developing, and portrait studios. Why would you give the final
prints shabby treatment? Don't take the display of your photos
lightly. By creating scrapbook pages you are giving your memories
the treatment they deserve.
-
Acid-free isn't everything. Acid-free is a hot new term, and
while it is important, it isn't the only thing to worry about.
An album you find at your local discount store is likely to be
labeled "acid-free", but scrappers knows that the products she
uses must also be free of lignin (its presence in paper aids chemical
degradation) and that they must be archival quality.
-
Future generations won't be clueless. Unlike photo albums, scrapbooks
allow every memorable detail to be included. Years from now, when
your children's children are viewing the albums that you had created,
they will know exactly how life was for you and your family. You
won't always be there...but with your albums, you really are.
© 2003 Brandie Valenzuela
Brandie is a wife and homeschooling mom to three children, who
also works fulltime from her home designing products and writing
articles for the scrapbook industry. She is a proud design team
member of Pages of the Heart at http://www.pagesoftheheart.net
-- a free resource site for scrappers. She also maintains her own
website at: http://scrapbookingwithbrandie.4t.com
