Weddings. Vacations. Pets. Family get-togethers. What do all these things have in common?

Why, pictures, of course!

After a wedding, a vacation, or a fun night out with friends, the first thing people ask is, "Where are the pictures?!"

Of course, you can always upload your pictures to Facebook so people can look at them and comment on them there, but there's just something about printing your photos somewhere and holding them in your hands to look at them that makes your experiences more real. The clean, crisp look and the hues of all the colors seem richer when printed. And what better way to protect those photos than in an album?

Or how about immortalizing your photos in a personalized scrapbook?

Scrapbooking is one of the most widely practiced pastimes here in America. For years and years, people all over have taken the time to commemorate their memories in their own special way, and they will continue scrapbooking for years to come.

But how much is known about the HISTORY of the pastime? Where did it come from? Why do we spend so much time placing stickers and labels by a photo, writing captions, or drawing photos within the pages?

Believe it or not, scrapbooking originated from the beginning of the 15th century in England, though its beginnings were a bit different from the hobby we all know and love. Scrapbooks began as what was called a "commonplace book" in England, which was a way to gather and store information. They could include letters, poems, quotations, recipes, and more. These commonplace books were unique to the creator's own tastes and interests.

Later in the 16th century, friendship albums became really popular. These albums were actually more on par with today's yearbooks. Friends could write their names, titles, and a short message or drawings if the owner of the album asked for it - just like signing each other's yearbooks at the beginning of the school year! In addition, the albums were usually made as souvenirs of European tours and would usually include coats of arms or works of art commissioned by local artists.

In the late 16th century, people would incorporate colored plates in their friendship books or commonplace books, depicting popular scenes such as Venetian costumes or carnival scenes. The colored plates were more affordable than having an original work of art made, and the plates were specifically used for embellishments for the albums.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, modern photography took wing, and people were able to incorporate photographs into their scrapbooks instead of solely relying on written word or illustrations. The actual industry of scrapbooking exploded around 1980's and 1990's, and the industry doubled in size between 2001 and 2004.

Here at BoardBook Albums, we continue the longtime hobby of scrapbooking with our Take Your Pix Photo Album. You can decorate and personalize your photo album any way you like, showcasing up to 20 4x6" photos. You can easily scrapbook your wedding, a fun time with your friends, college memories, vacations, and so much more!

Check out our selection and get started with your scrapbook today! Call us here at 1-800-506-9683 or check out our website at www.boardbookalbums.com to see what we have to offer you!