The Homeschool Mom of 2

This can be done in several ways. For the purposes of this entry, we will do a simple project.

Purchase/Reuse:

an 8x10 or larger frame - antique look or distressed look. You can get this look on your own if you are crafty.

a 4x6 photograph/other type of picture.

a photo mat slightly bigger than the picture, made from scrapbook paper.

a momento of the person/family if you have one.

a sheet of 8x10 scrapbook paper.

embellishments that go with your theme, stickers, ribbon, gems, etc.

2 - 3x5 journaling blocks

photosafe marking pen

scissors

adhesive

NOTE: If you do not have these available, visit A Scrapper's Journey for what you need. Remember that it is important to use photosafe scrapbooking products.

 

1. The first thing that you have to do is find the picture,and a momento (if possible). The picture can be a photocopy on acid free paper. It can be in color, sepia, or black and white. Be creative, and base your theme around the photograph. You could also base your theme around the time period in which the photograph was taken.

You may want to use a picture/drawing of an ancestor, or his or her family, that you have never met. Perhaps as part of a history project.

2. Attach the 8x10 piece of scrapbook paper to the cardboard/other photo insert with the adhesive.

3. Attach the photopraph/drawing to the photo mat, and this to the frame where ever you want it.

4. Write a little about the person (or a story about that time period) on the journaling blocks, and attach these wherever you like.

5. Now you can attach the embellishments and the momento, if you have one, to decorate your work of art.

6. When you are done, display the picture in a prominent place.

 

I love to scrapbook, and have many ideas floating around in my head most of the time for things to create. To learn about archival safe products and get some tips and other information about scrapbooking, feel free to visit my site, A Scrapper's Journey. You will also find supplies there in case you need them.

On the inside front cover, you can do the family tree for Mom's. (You will do a second book for Dad's side of the family.) The first page will be the Table of Contents, and each 2-page spread will be for a different family.

You will start with your family: Mom, dad and children. You will have to decide on a theme that everyone likes. Maybe you enjoy camping, picnics or fishing. Maybe you like going to the beach or the playground. Whatever it is that you like to do as a family, use it as a theme. Purchase the materials that you will need: Papers, stickers and/or other embellishments, photo safe pens, etc. Then discuss the things that you enjoy doing as a family as you decorate the 2 pages and add the photographs. Add one or two momentos if you have them. You may need to put these into small photo safe envelopes and attach them to your page. Journal about your family and all of the things that you like to do together. Journal about funny says, favorite things, whatever you like.

The last page can be for a story about a special time that your extended family spent together: Chrsitmas, family reunion, etc.

I like to have one family photo, and maybe a photo of each person on one side with the journailing, then I like the idea of having a family story on the second page. Either about something that you did as a family, or a story that you all helped to create. Do not forget names of pets, dates, and other memory joggers.

When you have created this page, take a break for a while. While you are on a break, start to gather pictures, supplies and information that you would like from the next family. Take breaks in between. Most of all, just have some fun together.

Your family - each siblings family - grandparents and their children, etc.

(You could also add information about what life was like during each generation.

Here is a project that your family can do together:

Materials needed:

roll of butcher paper.

tape

scissors

pencil and pen/marker

index cards or post-its

pictures of family members

a wall with plenty of space

This will look much the same as in a baby book, on a much larger scale. You draw a huge tree using sections of butcher paper. Each family member will need his/her own branch, branching off from that families main branch. Tape the tree/branches to the wall. above or to the side of one side of the tree, tape an index card or post-it with Dad's family name. Do the same for Mom's family name on the other side.

Put pictures of the children in your home going up the trunk.

The first branches on either side are for Mom and Dad, then of each of their parents, and so on.

If you want to put more into this project, you can do all of the siblings of each parent and so on.

Tape pictures to the wall at the appropriate spot, and under the pictures you will put the persons name (use index cards or post-it.

* Note that post-its will not stay put long without tape.

** Before you hang each picture, you should learn new things about the person in it, or about the time in which they lived. You can add these facts to the index cards.