extended family scrapbook

i grew up in a large family. 10 people, to be exact. 8 kids + 2 parents. and i absolutely loved it! there was always someone to play with, talk to, etc. but over the years, we’ve all moved away from home and have settled ourselves all over the united states and canada. so needless to say, we don’t get to see each other very often. it’s really sad for me, because the people in my family were my best friends growing up. i love getting pictures in the mail and on facebook of my neices and nephews baptisms, school pictures, family vacations, and other special occasions. i also LOVE the christmas newsletters and family pictures that come every year. so in lieu of putting all those precious memories in a box, i made an extended family “scrapbook.”

i use the work “scrapbook” loosely – while i am a paper addict, i never got into the whole scrapbooking craze. maybe it was because of the time commitment, or maybe because of the expense of all the tools and materials needed, but for whatever reason, i never did get into it. so my version of a “scrapbook” consists of a paper background with pictures or a title on top. and very few, if any, embellishments.

so if you’re like me, then this just might be a great thing for you to make to keep all those family newsletters and pictures you get every year out of storage and on the bookshelf.

all i did was use a binder, page protectors, and paper/cardstock. every year when the family newsletters start rolling in, i put them each in their own page protector under the appropriate year’s divider.

on the outside of my scrapbook, i cut patterned paper to size, and layered carstock and a title, on which i used blending chalks (since i don’t have any of that scrapbookers’ distressing ink). and then i used some fun mini metal brads and double-sided tape to put it all together. high-tech here, i tell ya 😉

in each divider, i printed out a family-related quote, trimmed the edges, and mounted it onto heavy cardstock. and since the dividers are in page protectors, i use the back of them to store cards, announcements, family pictures, etc – anything that is not in letter/paper form.

i’ve been doing this for a few years, and it is so fun too see how everyone is changing and growing up,even if i can’t be there in person to see it. what are some ways you keep in touch with your family & loved ones who live far away?

*if you would like, you can download a black and white version of the quote dividers, and/or the “pictures & cards” label.*