| If you've ever wondered how scrapbooks began | | | | that both Mark Twain, the writer, and Thomas |
| you're not alone. Most people are familiar with the | | | | Jefferson, the politician, were both avid |
| photo album and understand that once the | | | | scrapbookers. They kept close journals, records, |
| camera enabled people to have their own photos, | | | | and details of their lives by creating scrapbooks |
| these photos were stored and organized in a | | | | that displayed personal memorabilia. |
| sensible manner. However, scrapbooks are a bit | | | | Not only is scrapbooking a step above the |
| more detailed than photo albums. Scrapbooks also | | | | traditional family photo album, scrapbooks are also |
| contain other information, documents, text, and | | | | very popular for those who are involved in |
| images than mere photographs. In fact, the art of | | | | genealogy. In the past, these scrapbooks were |
| scrapbooking includes using other items that are | | | | referred to as memory books, and they were |
| appropriate for the subject and displaying them in | | | | used to document family journeys across |
| a creative and beautiful manner. Scrapbooks are | | | | generations. It was only logical that these books |
| much more than photo albums. They have the | | | | would contain personal information to help explain |
| ability to tell a story, and are comparable to | | | | the nature of each memorabilia that was included. |
| journals with photos. They are true memory | | | | Scrapbooks offer many more advantages than |
| books and are very sentimental. I'm sure you've | | | | traditional photo albums. The way scrapbooks are |
| heard the saying, "Every picture tells a story," | | | | displayed, the ability to create books with themes, |
| well, scrapbooks provide the room to "tell the | | | | and the ability to pour out your own creativity, |
| story" alongside the photo. | | | | heart, and soul into your scrapbook is a benefit |
| The inherent wonder and beauty of scrapbooks is | | | | not provided with photo albums. |
| found in the fact that generations may not only | | | | Another important aspect of scrapbooking is that |
| view the photos as they would in a family photo | | | | old photos that are in traditional photo albums are |
| album, but have a theme, style, and journalized | | | | often displayed in paper that contains acid. Over a |
| information to help explain the photos as well. | | | | period of years, this paper deteriorates and |
| Since scrapbooks are often customized and | | | | leaves the photos to become damaged. It is |
| designed according to a theme, it makes it much | | | | imperative that old photos are removed from |
| simpler and more organized for readers to | | | | these albums and displayed in safe, acid free |
| understand what was taking place in each photo. | | | | binders or papers. Many people are choosing to |
| However, what may be interesting to realize, is | | | | replace photo albums with scrapbooks to not only |
| that scrapbooking is in fact older than photo | | | | protect their sentimental photos, but to combine |
| albums. Before there were cameras and family | | | | them with journaling and other important |
| photos, there were news clippings, magazine | | | | memorabilia. The popularity of scrapbooking |
| stories, drawings, notes, and memorabilia. These | | | | continues to rise as more people discover the |
| items were often arranged and displayed in books | | | | benefits and advantages of using scrapbooks as |
| and the art of scrapbooking was formed. It is said | | | | compared to photo albums. |