How do you deal with memorabilia?

[RedheadRaye]

I'm brand new to digital scrapbooking, and really haven't done any pages yet. (I'm still exploring this site, as I finally feel like I can have the creative freedom here that I got with paper.)

Anyway, one of the things holding me back is that I keep a lot of memorabilia: postcards, concert tickets, brochures. I'd love to hear how you use these in your books. Do you scan them so you can use them as graphics and simply print out the page? Or do you print the page, and then paste them in your book?

[digigrandma]

First, welcome to DD! I think you'll love it here and soon love digital scrapping as much as we all do!

Lucky you, to have all the memorabilia! I have not done this very often, but, when I did, I scanned and then used as a graphic. For example, I scanned my WWII war rations cards to include on a heritage page. I keep the paper copies in archivally safe envelopes. BTW, I upload all my pages to Shutterfly for printing in their hard cover 8 x 8 albums.

[esther_a]

I scan them for my pages. But then, like Merr, I keep the originals in archival pockets. I don't paste them anywhere.

[Serenoa]

I scan for use on digital pages and to preserve as an extra copy. I am still working on a plan to store old items. One thing I don't do is paste anything into a book. Some of the very oldest photos and documents I have were pasted into scrapbooks many years ago and I wish they hadn't been. I find so many interesting details and handwritten notes on the back side of items, put there long ago by now deceased family members. I like being able to see their handwriting and comments. And many old photos have dates or places mentioned on the back which helps many years later.

[Denise Gormish]

I like to scan or take photographs of objects, then put them on the page. It just makes the design and look so much more cohesive - and keeps the bulk down on the album.

Here is my experience with adding to photobooks after printing them. I have added memorabilia on pages after they are printed. For example, a brochure or a ticket important to the story. I designed the page in PS and leave specific spaces for the objects. Then, I glued them in after the book arrives. I had to be very careful, though. There is no second chance as trying to move or reposition the object would have torn the page. Once I added a pocket in the middle of a Shutterfly book. Very tricky - and you can't put too much in the pocket. Any book with pages like this makes the pages stiffer and heavier. Then there's the archival questions. Will it last?

I have also done this occasionally with photos where I have no digital copy - like school photos and class pictures. I design the page, leave it blank where the picture will go then add the photo later. One photo on a page makes the page stiff but not really heavier.

[Carol Elliott]

I scan and then add to the digital page. I'll have to post one of the pages I did for my oldest from when he was in Cub Scouts & Webelos (1996 through 2000) ... I scanned and added ribbons from Pinewood Derby's, certificates, invites to Blue & Gold dinners (bonus as they are in his handwriting), rank emblems and the cards that go with them, membership card for the year and anything else I'd saved. I made the pages back in 2006, but I still like how they turned out (for the most part haha)! And then, of course, I scan the pictures from those times also as they were all film.

[ValerieP]

I have them stored from years of going places! Now, I scan as I do a page and then use them as an element. I don't know for sure, but I just might scan all of them in someday and journal-since I don't have pictures that go along with most of them