Memory Melodies

We spent over 20 hours in the car on our recent trip home for Thanksgiving. During most of that time, we enjoyed the music from nearly every genre available. Rock, Rap, Blues, Country, Top 40, Bluegrass, and Alternative--all of these are in our music selection.

As we shuffled from song to song I noticed how many of them bring back significant memories. It was so easy to say "This song is so 'freshman year,'" or "This song reminds me of last winter." Whether it's the words to the music or the timeframe it reminds you of, songs play a significant part in our memories.

Using song lyrics in your layouts can be a great way to remind you of special times. Whether you use a whole song, a favorite line from the chorus, or the title, you can use songs to help portray an emotion and bring your memories to life.

Here are some ideas for using song lyrics in your albums:

• Use a song title as the title for your page.


• Print the lyrics to a favorite or significant song for an event album. For example, the lyrics to your "song" from your wedding.


• Create a mini album using the lyrics to a song, including photos with each page. This would work great for a friendship album.


• Rather than searching for a famous quote to use as an accent on your page, use a line from a song.


• Create a page listing your favorite songs and the artists. Tell why you like those songs and what you think they say about who you are.


• Create a book of songs spotlighting your children's favorite childhood songs. Include the music notes if you're a musician!


• Often people sing the wrong words to songs. Create a page showing the real lyrics to a song…as well as the words YOU sing.


• Use a Memory Button (which records sound) to include a few notes to a song on your page.


• In a baby album, include a page with the lyrics to the songs you sing to make your child happy, to help them fall asleep, and to teach them about the world.


• Sometimes a song can express your feelings better than you can put into words yourself. Use the lyrics to an appropriate special song on a page about your faith, your family, or a special person.