CREATING A SCRAPBOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE

Making a scrapbook for someone else is more challenging than compiling your own. If possible, you’ll need some help from the person you are honoring.
First, ask the person to write everything they can remember on the back of each image you plan to include. To fill in the gaps, you’ll need to think like a detective. Start with these questions:

1. Do the photos contain recognizable buildings or famous landscapes, such as a well-known mountain or hill?

2. What does the weather look like in the picture? Was it stormy, sunny, and overcast?

3. What is the subject wearing in the photos? If the same outfits appear in several photos, look at other people in the photos. What are they wearing?

4. Do you have a summary of your friend’s travels and adventures? Did he or she visit multiple destinations, or stay in one city? Guided tours usually have pamphlets with plenty of clues. If you know which cities your friend visited, you can more easily determine famous architecture or landscapes.

5. Did the person keep a journal of the trip? Can you find information on the Web about each destination— perhaps even notes from another traveler from the same trip?

6. Finally, how do you want to organize the scrapbook?

Do you want to set it up by days, starting with Day 1 and continuing through the final day? Or would you prefer a less-traditional grouping, such as by subject matter? Perhaps you could bunch all of the landscape and architecture photos together. Unless this is a gift, you can also ask for input from the person who will receive the scrapbook. Your generous offer to make a scrapbook may seem like a lot more work than you first anticipated, but your friend will appreciate every ounce of your efforts. You’ll be rewarded, too: As you sift through your friend’s cherished memories, you will feel closer. Just remember to have fun and take it one day at a time.