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How to Make a Headstone or Gravestone Rubbing for Your Scrapbook

A simple headstone rubbing can be done with a piece of paper and a marker, but not all headstones can handle this action. Some older headstones are deteriorating and may not stand up to the rubbing process. For this reason, some cemeteries will not allow rubbings. Always get permission from the cemetery before attempting the rubbing.

Things You'll Need

  • Crayons or artists charcoal
  • Light colored paper
  • Painters tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Gently tape the paper over the head stone using your painters tape.

    • 2

      If you are using a crayon, remove the outside wrapper and lay the crayon on its side. If you are using charcoal, just lay it on its side. Start at the top of the paper. Gently rub the crayon over the headstone all the way to the edges of the paper. Work your way down to the bottom of the piece of paper.

    • 3

      Use even pressure as you rub to avoid uneven breaks in the rub.

    • 4

      Make a note of where the rubbing took place and the date. Include that information in the scrapbook with the rubbing or a digital picture of the rubbing.

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