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Back the Moment
Compiling Your Memories
Once you've collected stories, memories and photos,
you're all ready to begin scrapping. But before you get out your
scissors and stickers, you've got a few things to consider.
1. The first step is to decide on an album
size. Because your wedding is such a special event, you may
want to consider utilizing a more formal album or even a different
size than what you're used to. Choose an album that will complement
your style and personality -- this is probably one of the albums
that will be looked at most by your family and friends.
2. Decide on the order of your album. Pull
out your trusty file system and begin organizing your photos and
memorabilia. I chose to put my photos in chronological order.
I was lucky enough to find photos in several categories: courtship
and engagement, wedding, our reception and finally our honeymoon.
Undoubtedly, you'll also come across those beautiful professional
photographs. I saved the middle section of my album for these
treasures.
During the organizational process, you've probably
collected numerous invitations, newspaper clippings and even love
notes. Remember, it's always important to make sure all of your
memorabilia items are acid free. If they aren't, consider spraying
them with deacidification spray or making color copies of them.
For displaying hard-to-mount items, consider utilizing 3L's Memorabilia
Pockets (847/808-1140), What's New's Treasure Windows (800/272-3874),
or Plaid Enterprises' Keepsake Keeper (800/343-3778).
3. Choose the style of your pages. I wanted
to create a classic and timeless look, so I choose to use two
colors of cardstock throughout my album. I shied away from using
white cardstock because I felt it looked too stark against my
photos. But remember, this is your album -- make it fit your style.
For mounting my professional photos, I found that
in every case my photos looked best on dark gray cardstock. Professionals
have used this as a standard for the last 100 years -- it shows
the photos at their best.
4. Let the fun begin! Now that you've made
some decisions, you're ready to start scrappin'. When it comes
to mounting your professional photos, the most important advice
I can share with you is to never crop or use adhesives
on your professional photos. These are truly once-in-a-lifetime
photos, and you may not have access to the negatives. One wrong
cut could be a costly mistake. I've found that the Classic Corner
stencil from Pebbles in my Pocket (800/438-8153) is a great tool
four mounting photos without adhesive. Simply place the stencil
on your cardstock, then using a utility knife, cut along the marks,
creating slits that your photo corners can slip right into. These
stencils are available in 8 1/2" x 11" and 12"
x 12" formats, and will accommodate photos ranging from 3
1/2" x 5" to 8" x 10".
Looking for another option to avoid adhering your
professional photos? Photo corners are great and provide a classic
uniform look. And you're not stuck with just clear or black. Many
companies such as 3L (847/808-1140) and Canson (413/538-9250)
have begun manufacturing corners in a variety of colors.
Adding embellishments is a great way to give your
wedding pages an elegant look. As with any scrapbook page, your
embellishments should enhance the photos rather than compete with
them. In general, when it comes to embellishments, think "less
is more." For example, I simply stamped a border to add a
little variety while still keeping the emphasis on the photos.
When selecting your embellishments, select styles that will support
the entire theme of the page. Just remember to keep your focus
on the photographs -- after all, you are the star of the wedding.
One of the most important aspects of an album
is journaling. Be sure to include both sides of the story. It's
easy to focus only on the bride's story. Remember that the groom
also has a story -- don't forget to tell his. Also, try as we
might, very few weddings come off without a hitch. By recording
those funny or embarrassing moments, along with the special ones,
you'll truly create a keepsake to be treasured by feature generations.
These feelings and emotions are vital to any scrapbook, but remember
to include names, dates, the location, and even the story of how
you and your husband met, too.
I chose to journal with my computer because it
allowed me to include more information than I could in my own
handwriting. Once again, I chose a style and stuck with it by
utilizing only one or two computer fonts.
If you do use a computer, I've found that some
printers don't print well on cardstock -- the printing can sometimes
scratch off easily. To get around this problem, I printed the
journaling on regular white paper and then had it copied onto
my cardstock with state-of-the-art machines at a copy center.
One final note: If you're making the album for
a family member or friend, consider making a duplicate album for
yourself at the same time. It really isn't that much additional
work, and it'll be a great keepsake.
Reprinted with permission from Creating
Keepsakes. This article originally ran in a special wedding
issue of Creating Keepsakes Magazine.
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