How To Do Mini Scrapbooks

The challenges of a large scrapbook can be daunting if you are new to the craft. There sits that large album, filled with blank pages. You will need a theme for the album and a theme for each page. You will need to add background paper, photos, frames, journaling, and embellishments. You don't know where to begin!

Even if you aren't new to scrapbooking, there are times when a mini scrapbook is just more appropriate than a large one.

Start Small and KISS

A mini scrapbook allows you to start small and "keep-it-simple-sweetie" (KISS). You needn't spend as much time on a mini scrapbook, since a small page will hold much less. The KISS point is that, being small, a mini scrapbook will look cluttered if you get too many items on a page.

An album as small as 6" x 6" can be used for a mini scrapbook. The pages are large enough to hold a photo up to the standard 4" x 6". The extra 2" can be used for a note or caption.

DIY Cardstock Album

You need not use a purchased album for your mini scrapbook. Simply cut regular letter-size cardstock sheets in half, creating pages that measure five and a half inches by eight and a half inches. Or purchase blank cards in that size at an office supply store. When you are ready to bind your mini scrapbook, purchase cover stock in colors, and have it spiral bound.

Another good way to make a cardstock mini scrapbook follows.

1. First, create your mini scrapbook pages, allowing a one half inch border at one end of each page. This is where your scrapbook will be bound, so the border should alternate from page to page.

2. Create a cover for your mini scrapbook, leaving the same border for binding.

3. At an office supply store, printer, or copy service store, have each page copied in color - double-sided - on your chosen size of cardstock. Have the cover copied on cover stock.

4. Ask to have your mini scrapbook spiral bound after it is copied. You will have a choice of spiral binding or comb binding. They come in colors, so you can coordinate the cover stock and plastic binding.

Long-lived Mini Scrapbooks

Keep your mini scrapbooks clean and strong, especially those that will be handled by young children. Instead of having your pages copied double-sided, choose single-sided copies. Then laminate pages together in pairs, back to back. Laminate your cover, and bind the mini scrapbook.

What Else?

Keeping it simple, here are a few themes you may want to consider for your mini scrapbook.

1. YOUNG CHILD: If it's for a young child, your mini scrapbook theme will be that child's life. Page themes might include: birth, first step, first tooth, and other firsts. Include pages showing the child with his or her family. Show "my house", "my room", "my favorite toys", "the books I love", etc. You might include the child's favorite foods, favorite games, and favorite places to visit, like the park. Remember the family pet, too.

2. WEDDING: A mini scrapbook of your wedding would make a lovely thank you gift for family members and the wedding party. You would want to plan it out before the wedding, so it was ready for adding photos soon after your honeymoon. Elegance and simplicity make the job easier and more beautiful. You could make one scrapbook, and then have pages color copied on cardstock. These could readily be cut, collated, and spiral-bound at an office supply store.

3. VACATION: Adult and children alike can make their own mini scrapbooks of a vacation trip. Our two children did this at age 5 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Again, the small size of the pages allows them to maintain interest, and complete a book without becoming discouraged. Our children's books included such things as: tickets to amusement parks; photos clipped from the hotel's free brochures; photos of our son riding a mini car; of our daughter riding a 2-humped camel; and little comments (journaling) in the children's own writing.

Digital Mini Scrapbook Pages

Yes, you can produce your mini scrapbook on a computer. Design each page, leaving a one half each border at the top. Print to cardstock, punch holes in the top border, and insert rings for a cute flipbook. Or size your mini scrapbook pages to fit a flip desk frame.

Great Uses for Mini Scrapbooks

1. A small child will enjoy a mini scrapbook more than a large one, since each page will be simple and easy to enjoy. A small child can handle mini scrapbooks better, too. Laminated pages will remain clean, and the book can be enjoyed everyday - even carried in the car.

2. Mini scrapbooks make great "yearbooks" for parting high school or college friends. Work together on the original, and then have copies made and bound for each member of the group.

3. Grandma's "Brag Book" goes to the office as a mini scrapbook mounted on a desk frame. Flip a page each day to have a gallery of photos, each on a cleverly themed page.

4. Mini scrapbooks are a great alternative to an annual letter sharing the past year with family and friends. Pages would include high points of your year: a birth, graduation, new job, new home, etc.

A few minutes alone with your imagination, and you will think of many more uses, many more ideas. Mini scrapbooking is an economical, quick way to gather a few memories for posterity.

?2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about scrapbooking at http://www.scrapbooking-for-fun.com Anna is posting new articles every week on that site, each one dealing with a scrapbooking topic. If you decide to do a digital mini scrapbook, you won?t want to miss her recent article on the subject.

Scrapbooks: How To Preserve and Protect Treasured Memories

Scrapbooks have been a common way of preserving not only

photographs, but also newspaper clippings, pamphlets, documents,

and other assorted items. Unfortunately, the impulse to save is

frequently carried out with techniques and materials that are

both detrimental and contrary to the collector's initial

intention of long-term preservation.

Although every scrapbook is a unique collection arranged by the

compiler, scrapbooks as a group exhibit some common

characteristics. Album and scrapbook pages are almost

universally made of poor-quality paper that deteriorates rapidly

and may become stained and embrittled with time.

The binding structure of albums is usually unable to adjust to

the bulge caused by the materials the albums contain. Plastics

used in modern photograph albums and scrapbooks are often

unstable and, therefore, damaging. Items are frequently attached

to the pages of scrapbooks and albums with harmful tapes or

adhesives.

Multi- paged letters or pamphlets may be fastened only by the

last sheet; documents may be folded; and written notations may

span the pages and the enclosed artifacts. Scrapbooks often

contain a diversity of materials such as locks of hair, ribbons,

badges, pressed flowers, and other three-dimensional objects.

All of these features make scrapbooks and albums vulnerable to

damage.

ENVIRONMENT

Although museums, archives, and libraries cannot alter the

inherent characteristics of scrapbooks without conservation

treatment, they can extend their useful lives by controlling the

environment in which they are kept and the manner in which they

are stored and handled.

Conservation scientists have estimated (based on accelerated

aging tests) that the useful life span of paper doubles for

every 10°F drop in temperature. A temperature range from 65° to

70°F and a relative humidity of 45% with a daily flucuation of

only ±3% are acceptable for a wide variety of materials.

These moderate conditions facilitate preservation and are are

reasonably economical. This range inhibits mold growth but does

not encourage desiccation from an overly dry environment. Air

circulation and filtration are also important elements in the

control of the physical environment.

Scrapbooks and other archival materials must be protected from

excessive exposure to both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light,

while being stored, used, and exhibited. The most significant

source of UV radiation is natural light. Fluorescent tubes also

emit UV rays. Curtains, shades, or filters will greatly reduce

light damage. Good housekeeping practices discourage pest

infestation and establish the proper impression for visitors.

Food and drink should never be permitted in storage, processing,

exhibition, or reading areas.

All environmental conditions must be monitored on a regular

schedule so adverse conditions can be discovered and corrected.

PHYSICAL STORAGE AND SHELVING

The physical storage requirements of scrapbooks and albums vary,

depending on their size and condition. Storing small and

medium-sized volumes upright on open shelves next to volumes of

similar size will discourage warping of covers and distortion of

pages. If necessary, scrapbooks may be integrated with archival

materials in document boxes or folders but they should be

separated from direct contact with otherwise unprotected

materials. Volumes in boxes should be stored spine down,

adjacent to materials of similar size.

Scrapbooks with weak covers or those with covers attached by

strings looped through the pages should be tied together with

unbleached linen or cotton tape. The bow knot should be

positioned at the foredge to prevent interference while shelving

or indentations on the cover caused by pressure.

Better protection for scrapbooks and albums is provided by

wrapping them with acid-free paper and storing them in a

protective box. Acid-free or archival-quality paper and boxes

can be purchased in standard sizes from archival supply houses

or can be custom made. Wrapping or boxing scrapbooks also

protects against deterioration caused by airborne pollutants,

which are especially harmful to paper and photographic prints.

Slipcases are not recommended for the storage of albums because

they cause abrasion every time the album is slipped in and out

of the case and because they expose spines to light and dust

damage.

Oversize scrapbooks should be stored flat and fully supported on

open shelves; if they are allowed to extend beyond the edge of

the shelf, the books will become distorted. Flat storage for

oversize volumes also provides better protection for artifacts

that might be loosely attached to the pages. Map cases also

provide acceptable storage for scrapbooks.

HANDLING, TREATMENT, AND REFORMATTING

The reason to collect and preserve scrapbooks is to provide

readers with access to their content. The best method for

preventing damage from use is to limit use as much as possible.

If the condition of the original volume permits reformatting,

handling can be reduced by providing readers with a photocopy or

microfilm. In choosing between these options several factors

must be considered. These include the intended use of the copy

and the size, format, and condition of the scrapbook and its

content.

When handling scrapbooks carefully support the binding and the

pages. Brittle pages can break, items can easily become detached

or torn, and bindings can also break. When photocopying, avoid

applying any force that could damage mounted items or the

binding structure. It is always best to wear white cotton gloves

while handling scrapbooks, especially if they contain

photographic materials.

Although some scrapbook pages can be interleaved with

archival-quality paper, most bindings will not accommodate the

bulk added by protective sheets. If interleaving is required to

protect the contents of a scrapbook, disbinding may be required.

Loose sheets can then be boxed.

CONCLUSION

Some scrapbooks are temporary curiosities and should be

considered expendable. Technical and financial concerns must be

balanced against the value of a scrapbook for research or

exhibition purposes or both. Proper storage and handling will

extend its existence.

Adam Daniels offers a Free Video on How To Scrapbook For Fun and Profit at [http://www.ScrapBookProfit.com].