My regular blog followers will know that I’ve resolved to get going on some memory keeping. So far I’ve created a few pocket photo albums and even the odd 12″ x 12″ scrapbook page. Meanwhile I’m organising some photos and getting them printed off where needed. Something I’ve discovered is that going through old photographs can be very time consuming. Not just because of the quantity, and the fact that the digital ones are in lots of different places, but because of the lack of information. You see when I packed them away I didn’t think I needed to include any details such as names, dates, place or story.

While looking at the photos some of the details do come back to me but that’s not good enough. I have lots of photos of ancestors with no name, or date, place or story attached, and I can’t help but wonder about them. The reason for memory keeping is just that, memory keeping. The idea is that there’s something tangible when the memories fade, or when I’m not there to add the commentary. So today my memory keeping project is a notebook so I can start writing down the story as I go through each batch of photos.

THE TIES THAT BIND

I’m sure I’m going to need a lot more than one notebook, but I decided to start with this one. It started out as an uninspiring 5″ x 7″ ruled notebook with a stapled spine I purchased recently at Dollarama.

I began by cutting the rope design paper from the Come Sail Away 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack to wrap around the notebook in one continuous piece. Then I set it aside for a minute.

Next I cut a 1″ strip of the same paper and wrapped it around a mechanical pencil. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow), I fixed the cut ends of the strip together to form a loop. With that done, I attached the loop to the back of the notebook so the pencil sat snugly against the edge of the book. Finally I covered the book and the ends of the pen loop with the larger piece of DSP.

DATE PLACE STORY

The “Date Place Story” panel was found in the Come Sail Away Memories & More Card Pack. All I needed to do was use liquid glue to attach it to a layer of Night of Navy Card. Then I added that directly onto the new notebook cover.

That just left the lighthouse and ship’s wheel accents.

The lighthouse image comes from the Sailing Home Stamp Set and I stamped it onto Whisper White Card using Night of Navy ink. Then I cut out the lighthouse using the coordinating die from the Smooth Sailing Dies.

The ship’s wheel is another die in the same set and I simply cut it out from some Gold Foil Sheet. Not only does the die cut out the shape but it adds a nice embossed detail too.

So with my pieces cut I used liquid glue to attach them to the notebook and my project was complete.

TELLING MY FAMILY’S STORY

Now to put the notebook to use as I continue to wade through a stack of photographs and other memorabilia. So what will I write?

I like to imagine I’m sitting with someone who knows nothing at all about the picture. Then I write down what I’d be telling them as they look at the photo. If it’s important enough to say out loud, it’s important enough to write down. It may be who the people are, where they are, or why they were there. It might be something I remember happening just before or just after the photo was taken. I might even make a note of what I remember being said at the time. If I wasn’t actually there it might be something I was told about the photo.

Once I’ve written everything down I’ll number the page in my book, and number the envelope containing the photo or group of photos to match. If I think of something else later I can even add it to that page of the book. Or I can ask other family members to add their memories. Then when I’m finally ready to scrapbook those photos, adding the background story will be so much quicker.

Of course all this is much easier to do at the time the photo is being taken, or shortly afterwards while the memories are still fresh. So from now on that’s what I plan to do. Looks like I’ll be needing another notebook sooner than I thought!

MEMORIES & MORE CARD PACKS

Stampin’ Up! Memories & More Card Packs contain 4″ x 6″ and 3″ x 4″ double-sided cards. There’s also some sheets of heavy stickers and special sheets e.g. printed acetate or laser-cut panels. You can use these pieces for memory keeping, card making, tags or to decorate just about anything you can think of. The video below shows the contents of the Come Sail Away Memories & More Card Pack and includes a few project ideas too. There are two each of the 25 double sided cards shown, two each of the 4″ x 6″ sticker sheets and one each of the 6 laser-cut cards.

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Sailing Home Stamp Set and coordinating Smooth Sailing Dies using the single ‘bundle’ item number. This meant that I saved 10% off the cost of buying the same two items separately. I’ve included links to both options in the product list below so you can explore this in more detail if you wish.

BONUS DAYS LAST CHANCE TO EARN – Until the end of July you can earn a $6 e-coupon for every $60 of product ordered (before shipping and taxes). The coupon can be spent on any products purchased in August. If you buy $120 of products you will earn two coupons, and so on.