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Sharing The Past

Remembering Your Personal History

Aug 9, 2009 Mary Welling-Bonney

It is so important that we share our histories with each new generation. This project gives you just one way to keep the past alive.

Do you have a grandfather that you were really close to? Is there a great aunt that meant a great deal to you and inspired you in your life? Many children are named after a long lost relative.

They share the name but know little to nothing of the individual and the life they lived. It is important to keep the stories that got us to where we are today.

In this project we are going to create a childrens book that can be made as a one-time project or the beginning of a series.

Materials Needed:

Computer with printer and internet access
Clear contact paper
A stuffed animal
Digital camera
Three ring clasps
Pencil and paper
Hole punch

Decide on the Star

For your book you will need a star. Being a children's book the star should be some kind of stuffed animal.
Name your star according the the history you are remembering. An example would be "Papa Rudy".

Set the Stage

Next you will need to decide on the story you wish to tell.
Keep it simple. Don't try to share an entire life in one simple book. Pick a moment or period of time.
You are going to want to keep the story short. Use your pencil and paper to map out your story. At most you will want it to be about 6 pages front and back with only a sentence or two on each page.
If you find it is too hard to keep it that short, break the period down into several different stories.

Preparing the Star

Using your mapped out book, decide on a pose for your star for each different page.
Digitally photograph your star posing and download the photos into your computer.

Preparing the Scenery

Based on the story you want to tell, go on line and find pictures based on each page of your story.
Download or save the pictures to your computer.

Putting it all Together

Using your computer program, digitally cut out the star from each of his photos. *If your computer doesn't have this capability see note below.
Digitally paste the onto each background for each page.
Add the words to each page.
Print.

Finishing Up

Cover each page with clear contact leaving an extra one inch border on one side.
Punch a hole on the one inch border about an inch from the top, in the center, and about an inch from the bottom.
Thread the three binder rings through the holes.

*If you don't have a program on your computer that allow you to cut out the character, print off your backgrounds then pose your character in front of each background. Photograph the star with the background. Then add your lettering to the photo and print again.

The copyright of the article Sharing The Past in Crafts is owned by Mary Welling-Bonney. Permission to republish Sharing The Past in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

papa rudy