My daughter still has dreams of becoming a dog, which is precisely why I try to keep her out of our local scrapbook store during National Pet Month. Each May the shop’s owner devotes an entire display table to showcasing memory albums dedicated to the Fidos and Fifis of the world. One look in the books and my daughter would be howling about how she is the only child in the world who doesn’t own a dog.
Fortunately, for those of you who do have a dog, cat or gerbil to care for, designing a family pet memory album is an exercise in love. While the goal of the book is to retell the story of how Fluffy or Frosty became a member of the family, there are endless other themes you can include inside, including:
Name: Create a layout which explains how you came up with your pet’s name. Did your child select it or is it a moniker that reflects your pet’s personality or appearance, such as “Brownie,” “Floppy” or “Blue”? Use photos of your pet and tie the page together with a couple of well placed journaling blocks. Use these areas to share the source of the name and why you think it is a perfect fit for your pet.
Share the love: One of the page designs featured in the scrapbook store’s display book put a twist on the bond between pet and pet owner. The page design consisted of a Top 10 list of why the owner loved his pet so much. The layout included darling photos of family members snuggling or hugging their beloved pooch. Each of the pictures was placed adjacent to the list which was typed up on puppy paw print scrapbook paper and adhered to the center of the page.
Pet peeves: One of the cleverest layouts was entitled: “Pet Peeves.” The two-page spread featured some of the things the pet did that drove the owner bonkers. Pets are not perfect and it’s okay to highlight some of their quirks, such as your puppy’s panache for stealing socks or tearing up the newspaper. Take photos of your kitten clawing the couch and add a journaling block about why his bad habits push your buttons.
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