| Once you start researching your family tree, it won't | | | | You don't want your pages to be cluttered so make a |
| take long until you have amassed quite a collection of | | | | page for each person to be included in your |
| documents and old photographs. You will probably | | | | scrapbook and include all of their details such as when |
| have found birth certificates, death and marriage | | | | and where they were born, their parents and children, |
| certificates, birth notices, obituaries, military records, and | | | | where they lived, a little of their history, any |
| naturalization papers. Besides official documents, you | | | | photographs you have of them, and their vital records |
| may even acquire special mementos like a ticket stub | | | | such as birth and death certificates. Any time you add |
| from a movie where your father proposed to your | | | | photographs to your scrapbook try to identify |
| mother. | | | | everyone in the photo, not just the person you are |
| Rather than filing these treasured documents away in | | | | researching at the time. |
| a filing cabinet, why not take up family tree | | | | It will probably take several tries to get the layout you |
| scrapbooking and make a keepsake that your entire | | | | like best. You can tailor the layout to each individual or |
| family will enjoy browsing through every time they visit. | | | | use a template and keep them all the same. If you |
| Scrapbooking is a fun and unique way to honor your | | | | need ideas, you can find samples online. |
| ancestors. It provides a convenient and attractive way | | | | You can give your scrapbook a lot of personality by |
| to share the information you have gathered to others | | | | using regular scrapbooking supplies such as patterned |
| in your family. Your scrapbook can even become a | | | | paper, die cuts, stickers, clip art, rubber stamps, stencils, |
| family heirloom and be passed down from generation | | | | and paper punches. These supplies help you put your |
| to generation with each new owner adding to the | | | | unique touch on your scrapbook and make if feel |
| book as time passes. | | | | more personal to those who look at it in generations to |
| You should be careful in your choice of scrapbooking | | | | come. |
| materials when it comes to a family history book | | | | Just be sure to take extra precautions to keep your |
| because you will be placing many old and treasured | | | | scrapbook and its contents safe so it will last for many |
| documents inside of it. You need one that is acid free | | | | years. You need the right kind of scrapbook, paper, |
| and made specifically for archival use. This will help | | | | and adhesive. Don't overlook the importance of using |
| preserve the documents and keep them safe for | | | | the right kind of adhesive. Only buy products that are |
| many generations to come. It would be nice to have | | | | labeled for archival use and acid free. |
| the type of scrapbook that lets you expand by adding | | | | You can consider spraying your documents with |
| more pages. That way your scrapbook doesn't have | | | | deacidification spray. The documents themselves might |
| a bunch of empty pages, yet if someone in your family | | | | be acidic which can destroy other pages over time. |
| wants to add to it, they can just add another page and | | | | The spray helps to combat this. You may not want to |
| keep the book growing. | | | | spray delicate old documents however. For them you |
| You can order your scrapbook any way you want, | | | | can use acid free sleeves. This helps to shield the |
| but traditionally, the oldest photographs and documents | | | | documents from deterioration by light and also keeps |
| go in first and the more recent ones are in the back. | | | | your other documents from coming into contact with |
| You can do both sides of your family in chronological | | | | them. |
| order or do your maternal side first and then your | | | | You can use various colors when decorating our |
| paternal side. | | | | scrapbook, but when writing, it is best to use black. |
| Before putting anything inside your scrapbook, gather | | | | Research has determined that black ink stands up the |
| your items first and organize them in the way you | | | | best over long periods of time when compared to |
| want them to appear. Not all important memos will fit | | | | other colors of ink. |
| inside of your scrapbook. For example, your family | | | | Family tree scrapbooking is an activity the whole family |
| may have a wedding dress that has been passed | | | | can enjoy. Even young kids can help decorate a |
| around through the generations. The dress won't fit in | | | | scrapbook page. While they are having fun, they can |
| your scrapbook, but a picture of it will. You can also | | | | learn about their ancestors and family history. Who |
| ask all of your relatives to write down their memories | | | | knows, in years to come, they may even be the ones |
| of deceased relatives and add that to your scrapbook | | | | helping their own children decorate a page to add to |
| as well. | | | | the family scrapbook. |