Scrapbooking vintage Polaroids
Today I have been mostly doing two things:
…hopping about in excitement over the arrival of my brand new nephew (little brother to the nephew on yesterday’s layout – born early this morning!)
…scrapbooking a vintage Polaroid picture. From my first birthday.
Which means I am declaring myself vintage. Let’s move right along and forget about that right now. Thanks.
Oh, old Polaroids. I love them so, and and as a result don’t want to scrap them all at once. I have two more from my toddler years, and this is the most specific. The others are more general moments in life. Obviously I don’t actually remember my first birthday, but I love that this picture has captured some some amazing little things, like the first of many creative birthday cakes and the seventies evidence provided by the orange and green florals in both the wallpaper and the high chair. The world needs more large-daisy-and-mushroom patterns, I do believe.
I’ve seen a few online discussions lately about scrapbookers wondering if they should crop old (vintage?) Polaroids and my one request is please don’t. There are lots of people who will tell you that Polaroids don’t last over time but clearly this photo isn’t brand new by any means and the colour is still fine. But I do remember cutting up some Polaroids in high school and not only do the prints separate into layers and create a mess of developing chemicals that are sealed into the picture, the colour on those definitely faded. Personally I love the way Polaroids look and just treat the white border like a frame for the photo. But if they are not to your liking, you could always pop a paper frame over the photo rather than cropping it.
And a little tip for baker’s twine: spray adhesive. I mean, I love baker’s twine in straight lines with staples. I do that a lot. I did that twice on just this page, even. But sometimes you need ringlets and swirls and some sort of motion. Spray adhesive. With the twine all sticky, you can swirl and ringlet as much as you like then stick it to the page. (It’s also my favourite thing for transparencies and sheer ribbon and fragile papers, and one can from the office supply store will last you absolutely eons.)
And think! One year from today? It will be my nephew’s first birthday. And I think somebody better find a way to shoot a Polaroid.
xlovesx
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19 May 2011, 13:40
TFS your tip for the twine Shimelle..and love the LO
Alison xx
19 May 2011, 13:42
Please, you are Retro. I keep seeing things that are from the 1950s described as Vintage. NOT! I was a child in the 50s, so Vintage is 1920s.
19 May 2011, 14:12
This is super, Shimelle, just lovely! :) I adore how you made the polaroid look so classic. As a gal born in 1975, I think the world needs more mushroom and daisy patterns, as well…they are a comforting thing for me. <3
19 May 2011, 15:06
i agree that polaroids need specific care and attention. i used to take alot as a special care baby nurse and back over 20 years ago we’d send parents to Boots to ge them re-photographed and have negatives made as they can fade if not stored carefully and no you shouldnt chop them up. in this day and age we can so easily safeguard our photos by scanning them onto discs/internet storage and so they are relatively well-protected but back then they were so precious and we also took special pictures of babies who had died using the polaroid so you can imagine how precious tehy were. i have a couple i was given by parents which i treasure, one of the babies is now 23 years old and a lawyer, cool huh?
Jo xxx
19 May 2011, 15:12
Shimelle, this layout is fabulous. I am just working up the nerve to start scrapbooking photos from my wedding, and this page is so inspiring.
I know it wasn’t the main point of this post, but that tip about the spray adhesive is awesome! thanks!!
19 May 2011, 15:27
Love this layout. I have just been given a load of scanned polaroids to put into an album for my bother in-laws 50th Birthday and they are brillant. Now that I have seen your layout I can’t wait to get started. Thks Shimelle
19 May 2011, 16:38
I love the layout Shimelle, but I was wondering, I know people usually say not to scrapbook the originals of film photos, should we scrapbook the original polaroids or scan them first?
19 May 2011, 17:10
Not vintage at all Shimelle – you my dear are a spring chicken compared to many of us lol. Love your layout and your very cute one year old self!
19 May 2011, 17:55
I’m delighted to see you use the original on your photo. I scan my old Polaroids but scrapbook the original because it is so much more, well, original!
19 May 2011, 23:30
Love your clusters and that you used the orginal~so adorable!
20 May 2011, 09:06
Gorgeous! Makes me wish I had some vintage polaroids myself – I guess I’ll have to fake some ;)
PS Just wanted to let you know that I’ve highlighted you as my Blog of the Week today xx
20 May 2011, 10:08
Such a lovely layout! Perfect. I’m expecting a niece or nephew any day now too. Can’t wait to be an aunty – all very exciting x
20 May 2011, 10:44
I just wanted to ask about your “scanning process”. Do you scan your older prints? My grandma always took Poloriods and I’m really considering how to scrap with them or with the scans. {She passed away two weeks ago and I have some pics that I want to do something special with … I’m thinking of scaning them and using the originals, but then I think I should use a scan and save the originals more “safely”.} Anywho, i would love to know what you think about this.
21 May 2011, 00:31
Awesome layout and awesome tip for the bakers twine! Also I’ve awarded you the Kreativ Blogger Award – thanks for having such an inspiring blog! http://mummy-adventures.blogspot.com/2011/05/kreative-blogger-award.html
28 May 2011, 10:37
Testing comments
22 October 2011, 07:34
This site is like no reason, very rich in contents, selection of material is very pretty, too fond of, and collection of
13 November 2019, 08:29
I am buying a vintage polaroid camera for my 12-year-old cousin who really needs one.
However, there are so many characters, what would be the most suitable model for a kid her age
21 January 2021, 10:29
Gosh this is BRILLIANT! I made a couple of these and being new to creating I didn’t think to design and decorate them. I just plonked them in a collection I made.
21 January 2021, 10:31
Gosh this is BRILLIANT! I made a couple of these and being new to creating I didn’t think to design and decorate them. I just plonked them in a collection I made.