Scrapbook

Scrapbooks are "memorabilia" books which comprise photographs, drawings, sketches, glitters, stickers, ribbons or other such decorative items, which are made largely for the purpose of "preserving a legacy and memories" related to a particular time and/or place. In essence one can consider scrapbooks as a kind of diary/storybook with a visual focus. The idea of scrapbooking is very old and has been prevalent since the time when printing media and materials became widely accessible to the general public.

Today, making and keeping scrapbook, is still a very popular hobby and is also a very successful business. One can buy readymade scrapbooks or choose to make one of their own. Decorative items and stickers "meant’ for scrapbooks are also widely available and come in a wide variety of types. The commercial scrapbook industry can be said to have started off in 1981 in the United States with the founding of the "Keeping Memories Alive" perhaps the world’s first commercial scrapbook store.

Paper sizes used in scrapbooks are 12" x 12", 8 1/2" x 11", 8" ◊ 8", 7" x 7" and 6" ◊ 6". Recent scrapbook supplies are made using acid-free inks and materials so that they last long.