Family History Book Designs

Momento's free layout software makes it easy and enjoyable to design a stylish family history book and in this post we'll offer up our biggest design tips and show how the software's hundreds of readymade graphics will help you create a professional looking publication when used in moderation.

Keep it simple

Our number one rule is to 'keep it simple' and remember that 'less is more.' This means using only one or two different fonts, frames and backgrounds throughout the book, and no more than four photos per page - unless it's a symmetrical grid of related images. And don't be afraid to print just one image on a page - especially if it's an important one. Likewise you don't have to use any page decorations if they don't enhance your story.

Accessing more embellishments

Download more Embellishment Packs via the Updater Panel on the right side of the software.

Embellishments for family history books

Here's our favourite selection of Embellishments Packs for family histories, reunion books, memoirs and This Is Your Life style publications, with examples of how they can be used in page layouts below.

Anniversary
Elegance
Family
Old Times

Old school graphics

To complement this old family holiday photo I used an old parchment style background from the Family pack and a postage stamp frame from StandardFrames2. For visual interest I also added an label from the Travel embellishment pack.

Meaningful design

To introduce the chapter about my grandma, I created a Title page with a background from the Wild Wallpaper pack because it reminded me of her school uniform. I then added the writing paper graphic from Old Times, as it was similar to the writing paper she used to correspond with her parents. For nostalgia I used the Fade to Edges frame from the Transitions pack.

Now and then

A great way to show the connection between past and present is to present photos of similar subjects from different eras on the same page, like my mum's camping snaps from childhood and teenage years. In keeping I've used the sticky tape frame (StandardFrames2) and Polaroid frame (StandardFrames1) to reflect the different decades. The art paper background is from StandardBackgrounds1, the tag from Travel, and the ribbon from Autumn.

Get creative

To frame this photo of mum and her sisters growing up on the farm together, I've used a gingham background from In The Kitchen then used the 'Hue' slider in the Tools Panel to change it from red to blue. To reflect the 'childhood' theme I've added cupcake embellishments and a sweet pink frame from the Sugar and Spice pack.

Grandad graphics

The diamond pattern background from Old Times is almost an exact replica of a cardigan my Grandpa used to wear and it blends nicely with the Paper Edge frame from Old Times and the Plaque embellishment from the Father embellishment pack. Applying the Fade to Edges frame (Transitions) to the background also gives it a sense of a 'past memory'.

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