A birthday memory book is the ultimate milestone birthday gift. To take photos and memories and put them in a "this is your life" birthday scrapbook is a thoughtful act of love that will be immensely appreciated. But what if you're creatively challenged? Does that mean you can't give this one of a kind, personalized birthday gift to that special person?

No, in fact, you don't have to have special talent to create a milestone birthday memory album. Here are some simple tips to help you make a birthday scrapbook, even if you don't know what you're doing.

First of all, plan early. If you can do this a little bit at a time, without having to rush, it will be less intimidating.

When Collecting Photos & Memories, Don't Hesitate to Ask for Help.

After you've collected your own photos for the birthday memory book and jotted down notes for the journaling, there's a good chance you won't have enough material. Friends and relatives of the birthday boy or girl will have photos, memories and information that you don't have. The trick is how to get it out of them. Since most people are busy, this may suspiciously sound like a homework assignment to them.

• Ask people to email you photos. Many people find it easier to email a photo than to make a copy and mail one. Make sure you let them know you plan to print it, so they will email a high resolution photo or photos (scanned at full size at 300 dpi or as a digital photo at least 1200 x 1800 pixels).
  
  
• If you ask people to mail or email you their favorite memories of the birthday boy or girl, it might sound like you want them to write an essay . Instead, make it fun. Try asking for a top 10 list (or top 5) of things they like most about him or her, (or interesting things, or little know facts, etc.).
  
  
• Ask them to fill in the blanks. For example,
  
  I can always count on John (or Mary, etc.) to ________.
  When I first met John I thought he was ____________.
  The funniest thing John ever did was ____________.
  The nicest thing John ever did for me was_________.
  
  
• Go right to the source and interview the birthday boy or girl. When we were working on a scrapbook for my dad, we got him to talk all about old times, without him ever suspecting we were using that information to put together this project.
  
  

Once you've gathered together your photos and all the information you need to make a milestone birthday scrapbook, how do you put it all together? Here are some easy ideas.

• Buy a scrapbook program for your computer, which is a simple way to turn out a professional looking page. If friends and relatives are emailing you photos, the pictures will already be in your computer and all you have to do is "paste" them into one of the software's ready-made templates. Then add your own words and print.
  
  
• If you don't feel comfortable doing this on the computer, get a birthday scrapbook kit from a local craft store. This will contain all the coordinating papers and embellishments. You just have to add the photos and journaling. Make sure you get glue and pens that are acid-free, so they won't damage the photos over time.
  
  
• Or start from scratch with a color scheme that includes 2 or 3 different complimentary colored papers that you alternate on your pages. Add some stickers to dress up your layout.
  
  
• Think small. Scrapbook albums that are 6x6 or 8x8 inches are easier and faster to finish than larger books. You'll need less photos. And at those sizes your pages can be printed from any printer and trimmed down to size. Most family printers won't print the larger 12x12 inch size.
  
  
• Use cookie cutters, jar lids, etc. to trace around and cut out photos in interesting shapes. On some photos, cut away the entire background, so that the only thing left is the birthday person.
  
  
• One unique idea is to do a theme, such as "40 Great Things About John (or Mary)" if he or she is turning 40, (or 50 great things, if he or she is turning 50, etc.) Use the fill in the blank answers that you asked friends and relatives to email you, as well as your own thoughts. Give each person credit in smaller letters after their contribution. The best part of this idea is that it doesn't have to be in chronological order.
  
  
• Add a "Then and Now" page, with his or her favorites when he was younger and what he likes now. List things like favorite TV shows, movies, friends, foods, pets, musical groups, songs, hobbies and interests.
  
  
• Include a page with the title "The Year You Were Born". There are many great websites that have information of everything that happened on the year of his or her birth. Some have detailed listings that range from news items, popular songs, price of milk. Search on the internet for the year you were born (that's how they're usually listed) and make a list of those things.
  
  
• Keep it simple. It doesn't have to look professional. Remember when you were a kid and made cards for Mom and Dad. Those cards couldn't compete with Hallmark on the open market, but to your parents, they were priceless. Even if this scrapbook looks less than perfect, this is the kind of birthday gift that is guaranteed to touch the recipient's heart. Give a handmade birthday memory book and it will be treasured forever.