Replicating the vintage old-style when creating a scrapbook or memory book for memorabilia is a great way to bring new life to the creative book arts process.
When it comes to preserving memories using old photographs and collected items, giving the memory book or scrapbook a vintage feel is a very simple process. Even though the finished look appears complicated, it is not impossible for novices to replicate these books.
Materials:
- Reproductions of vintage photography
- Walnut ink
- Pre-made scrapbook with a beige cover
- Brown tissue paper or tea-stained mulberry paper
- Decoupage or gel medium
- Sponge brush
- Small containers of water
- Pre-strung tags (similar to what is used for a tag sale)
- Heavy-duty glue stick
- Bone folder
- Vintage clip art
- Eyelets
- Wire or string
- Charms
- Roll of pre-strung pearls in coordinating color
- Vintage themed rubber stamps
- Vintage themed ephemera
Instructions:
- Cover over the outside of the pre-made scrapbook using the brown tissue paper or tea-stained mulberry paper. Tear a section, add some adhesive, and then attach it to the book. Smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles using the bone folder. Tearing the sections allows for a textured look and it is easier to apply than in full sheets. Allow the cover to dry completely before working on the interior pages.
- Rub walnut ink over the interior pages of the book. Add extra to the edges to give them dimension. Don’t worry about allowing each page spread to dry completely before moving on to the next. This will add some extra texture and movement to the pages.
- Add the photographs to each page until they are all used up. Attach them to the pages using either the glue stick or medium. Press the pictures down firmly using a bone folder to ensure proper adhesion.
- Embellish each page using the tags, ephemera, pearls, and rubber stamps. Distress the tags using the walnut ink before adding them to the pages. Add eyelets to the holes in the tags to give them some extra sparkle and dimension.
- Add a straight line of charms down the edge of the front of the book cover using the gel or decoupage medium. Allow the medium to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
- String wire or string through the charm or the loops in the charms, one from the next to create a pattern. Apply a thin layer of decoupage or gel medium over the wire or string to provide extra hold.
Variations:
- Create niches in the scrapbook or memory book in order to add 3D elements.
- Add distressed envelopes and pockets to hide memorabilia.
- Fold paper that is twice the size of the pages, distress them, and then add them to the page of the book to create fold-out sections.
There are a lot of ways to personalize these vintage themed scrapbooks and memory books. The idea is to try new techniques, experiment with the ideas presented here, and make this project truly your own. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, and use materials that would not typically be used in book arts.
The copyright of the article How to Replicate a Vintage Scrapbook in Altered Books is owned by Jenn Greenleaf. Permission to republish How to Replicate a Vintage Scrapbook in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
