I used to be a “Scrapper”. My old scrapbooks are hideous to see. We had no money, so I scrapped with leftover card tops, markers, dumb stickers, etc. When I look at what some people do with their scrapbooks (like my talented sister, for example), I have to cringe with shame. BUT…they hold the pictures and memories of our early family life, and so they are treasures.
As the years rolled onward, we had a little more money, and I was able to make the scrapbooks look slightly better. But the more children we had, the more overwhelmed I became at trying to “keep up” with the whole thing. Now I had baby books, the family books, AND special “trip” or “event” books…and I eventually gave up in utter frustration. Yet I really wanted to be faithful with being a “memory keeper” for our family.
Enter Shutterfly.
There are actually a lot of different, pretty amazing photo solution websites out there now…but since I have an account with Shutterfly and am familiar with their process…I just stick with them to make it easy on myself.
Here’s my method:
Every month, at the end of the month, I download the pictures I’ve taken that month onto my computer and put them in a file: “January, 2011″ for example. Then, one of the “end of year projects” that I FORCE myself to do (I set aside two days to focus on this project) is put together a family photo album using Shutterfly’s system. I pick a photo album theme…and pop in the pictures month by month.
Not all the pictures, mind you…but the ones I want the kids to be able to look at and remember the year by. I write little things on each page…and Shutterfly does the rest. They make it into a nifty little book that is compact, holds a ton of memories, and can be put on the shelf and quickly accessed by year.
This past year we took a two week trip out West to visit relatives…camping all the way. Since it was such a huge adventure, I did an album JUST for that trip.
This is just ONE of many ways to keep memories. If scrapping…or putting photos together in albums isn’t up your cup of tea…you can always just keep each year’s pictures on a CD…or print them up and put them in a box. No matter what you choose to do, your posterity will treasure those pictures for years to come. I’d love to hear what you enjoy doing to preserve family memories!
(Can you guess what I’m going to be working on this week?)
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About Wemmick Girl Saved by Grace
Thank you! I use to scrapbook, but it just isn’t a reality in my life anymore…right now. I have been thinking about what to do, how to organize the many photos etc. You have encouraged me to do just this!
Tina, your oldest daughter could take this on as a project too…she’d do a great job, have fun…and save you the headache! : ) Last night I spent over an hour selecting photos for this year’s book…and then my Adobe Flash driver failed on me. (I had not updated it recently, so says my son, who then proceeded to update it) All my work was lost and time wasted. I went to bed feeling somewhat defeated. OK. I was royally annoyed and frustrated. Back at it again today…in between diapers, meal making, and digging out after Christmas.
That is a wonderful idea! I don’t have time for scrapping with little ones, homeschooling, day to day demands of the home. But I do often take pictures and down load them to my computer on a regular bases. Plus, we use Shutterfly for photo cards for special occasions so I will have to try the book thing- Thanks for the wonderful idea!
I feel exactly the same way about my old scrapbooks. I even feel bad because I made one for my mother with her Granny’s handwritten recipes and looking at it now makes me sad.
(I should try to re-do that for her!) For Christmas my mother gave me a photobook from Shutterfly…or somewhere… and I love it. Now that we are debt free I plan to ask the hubby to start me a fund for this!
Annie and The Momma: If you wait for just the right deal, Shutterfly often has specials where the albums are up to 50% off. In addition, sometimes they will sell you a second or third “copy” of the same book (if you purchase it as an “add on”) for 50% off. I like to get one for my in-laws…and my grandparents. I can give it as a birthday gift…or a late Christmas gift. Just another way to kill a few birds with one stone to save time and money.