(ARA) - With the holidays just around the corner, now is the time to gather your favorite vacation photos and souvenirs to display throughout your home. Scrapbooking is one way to display your memories but why not take them out of the album and put them on your walls?

“People shouldn’t shove their memories into a box and put them away. By framing them and turning them into art, not only are they personalizing their home, but they are preserving memories,” says nationally recognized interior design consultant Barbara Schmidt, whose work has been featured on television and in countless publications including Architectural Digest, InStyle, Elle Décor and Metropolitan Home. “The key to showcasing memorabilia is keeping it sleek. People are focusing more on color and graphics when framing their precious memories to keep the presentation fresh and unique,” says Schmidt.

Here are a few great ideas to consider when framing precious memories:

1. Pick an event like a favorite vacation to frame.
2. Choose a unique variety of memorable items from each event. For instance, ticket stubs from your favorite attractions, unique postcards, souvenirs and pictures are a great place to start.
3. Pick between one to three mat board colors that complement the pieces when they are pulled together.
4. Visit a professional custom framer to determine the right layout and frame. “People remember things for different reasons,” Schmidt said. “By taking the time to save them instead of packing those items away, it will help the memories live on forever.”

Jay Goltz, owner of Artists’ Frame Service in Chicago -- the largest custom framing facility in the country -- recommends using preservation quality mat board for conserving memorabilia like the RagMat brand by Crescent. “I love RagMat because it’s pure,” says Goltz, referring to the fact that it’s made out of pure cotton and is naturally acid and lignin free. “RagMat mat board is the only mat board guaranteed safe next to any artwork and is preferred by museums and preservationists, which says a lot.”

For more information about RagMat and custom framing, visit www.crescentcardboard.com or contact a professional framer in your area.