Alternatives to Scrapbooking: Other Ways to Capture Your Memories

Scrap booking-everyone is doing it. Clipping, punching, pasting, cutting this picture, that picture, these letters, that phrase..UGH!! Isn't there another way?

YES! There are many ways to capture the memories of your little ones at all of those special times, without taking all the time that scrap booking demands. Not that I am anti-scrap booking, I'm NOT. I love the finished product. What I hate is the time and money it takes, and the few memories it captures.

One way is to keep a journal. Basically all that is needed is a three ring binder, paper, and a whole punch (if needed). I personally use my computer. I type out what I need or want to say, print, punch, and place it in the binder. Sometimes I put a picture on the page for emphasis. Done! Not much time or expense involved. Also, with doing journals, you capture a lot more memories. You have your view on that particular memory. Beside, who doesn't like to read about the silly and amazing things they did as a child that they may have totally forgotten that can't be captured in a picture?

Another way is to write a series of letters, one at a time. Unlike a journal that is about the little one, the letters are about life as it is now. This letter should be like any other letter you may write to anyone else. Let your little one know what's going on in your life at that time, what's going in the world, what they mean to you, etc. Just write a normal letter, date it, put it in an envelope, and place it in a shoebox with all the other future letters. This form of memory keeping lets that other person know what life was like for you and the world when they were growing up. It's like a little piece of personal history, wrote just for them.

Another way is in the form of a large time capsule. The only thing that is basically needed would be a large tote that can be purchased at any department store. This tote would be used to keep special mementos collected through out your little one's life. The can be in the form of school papers, class pictures, a favorite blankey or toy, a special outfit, etc. This way whenever they get older they have items that was personal and special to them when they were younger. And maybe some of these special items would be passed down to their little ones.

Home videos is another option. Do short snippets on the same videocassette or disk on each birthday. Interview the little one each year as they get older. This would be interesting because when it's viewed it's in a quick time line and you can see all of the changes your little one has made over the years. Make a list of questions and ask the same ones every year. Then, watch how the answers will change from silly childish answers to more mature responses. You could also add your own remarks to each video and let siblings do the same.

Whatever method you use to capture and keep those special memories, keep them in a fireproof lock box or make back ups to store at another location. Tragedies can happen: fire, flood, tornado, etc. It is a painful experience to loose precious memories that you have taken the time to save. Take the precautions now, and your memories will last many lifetimes.