So much can be done to display your family heritage story, and it is a story. You are part of a family that started further back than anyone can remember; so tell everyone about it in your own unique way. This article will give you a few "starter" ideas for creating a heritage scrapbook album.

Long time readers of our newsletter will know that we "preach" the importance of archival safety in your heritage scrapbooking activities, so we won't belabor the point again. Just remember to use acid-free, archival materials for everything - paper, scrapbook albums, adhesives, storage units, etc.  Also, inks used in your printer are acid free so you're OK there.

Since you are telling a story, be sure to include the happy and not-so-happy events in your heritage scrapbook. When someone died is as important as their wedding day; it completes the person. So think about including obituaries and death certificates in addition to the wedding announcements and "baby's footprints".

Since it will most likely take you more then one heritage scrapbook, put a title page in the front of each album with a "whose inside" overview - perhaps in a family tree structure along with your name and the date you made the heritage scrapbook. You can print out something nice on your computer and glue it on the album page.

Be sure to include pictures with a brief biography about the person(s). Putting a matte behind the picture, in a contrasting color to your album page, will make it stand out and catch the viewers attention. You could use a picture caption of who they are and relation to you (i.e., "John and Mary Smith, My maternal great grandparents"). Or, you might want to put a small descendant tree on the page showing the person and their family. Also include documents that relate to different aspects of their life. We mentioned obits and certificates already, but think about military papers, work related items, newspaper articles, tickets from a show, or quotes from an interview you did. Don't put too many items on a page though or it will look crowded. Spread it out.

We recommend that you do not put one-of-a-kind photo originals in your heritage scrapbooks. Get copies made and store the originals in a safe place. By the way, you can make nice copies of black & white pictures by using a color copier.

Include three dimensional items, if you have them, such as medals, tassels, a lock of hair, grandma's hair pin. You get the idea. Memorabilia pockets are the best way to display them in an album.

Consider adding your own words through journaling on the album page. Tell your thoughts about the person or a discovery you made while researching them. Perhaps you have a theory about why great-grandpa ran away from home at an early age. Adding your own words will be special to people who look at your album generations from now.

Add "spice" to your heritage scrapbook album by choosing pleasing colors for pages and mattes, adding borders and scrapbook stickers, using rubber stamps. Even lace and dried flowers can be used on a page. Try textured paper for a different look.

Have fun with it. The only limit is your imagination!

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