Building Memories

Making a Memory Album

If you don't have time to put together an entire photo album, choose one photograph and embellish it with stickers, clip art, etc., then put a cute frame around it. You could even add your own decorative touches to the frame (figure G)!

Whether it's for a gift or for yourself, take it page by page. Choose colored acid-free paper that matches the colors that the person in the photograph is wearing or that goes with the activity he or she is doing (figure H). For details, see the instructions below.

Materials:

acid-free paper in blue and yellow
red adhesive-backed acid-free paper
miniature paper cutter
glue stick
variety of decorative-edged scissors
photo-safe pens
decorative cutouts
stickers
clip art

Steps:

1. Use acid-free paper with a map pattern printed on it. Glue a piece of blue paper onto the right edge of the map paper. Use decorative-edged scissors to cut out a smaller piece of yellow paper to resemble a stamp.

2. Glue that onto the blue piece of paper. Glue the photograph onto that piece of paper.

3. Cut out two wave-shaped red pieces of adhesive-backed paper and place to the left of the photograph to resemble postmarks.

4. Add any decorative cutouts, stickers, clip art or any labels with a description of what's going on in the photograph.

Shop Tips

• Make a handmade T-square by simply screwing a piece of wood onto another in the shape of a "T." Use it as a sawing aid.

• The higher the angle of a saw, the rougher the cut. The higher angle makes for faster sawing, but if the angle is lowered, it allows for a smoother cut.

• Bending a pipe can sometimes result in a kink. To avoid this, cover one end of the pipe with tape, put a funnel on the open end, then place sand inside. When the pipe is bent, the sand eliminates the chances of kinks. Pour the sand out afterward.

• When spray-painting things such as a hinge, pull apart a coat hanger and string the hinge on it. If a rubber glove is not handy, put a plastic bag over your hands to avoid getting paint on them.

• To protect a workshop lamp or flood lamp from getting damaged, place a piece of window screen on the lamp and attach it with clamps.