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10 Tips to Begin Scrapbooking

10 Tips to Begin Scrapbooking

Here are 10 Tips to Begin Scrapbooking! Scrapbooking has long been a popular way to document and preserve memories. (Learn more here)

Although digital scrapbooking allows you to create beautiful, personalized pages with just a few clicks and offers an array of creative tools and options it really misses that personal touch.

If you’re new to scrapbooking, here are 10 tips to help you get started:

  1. The #1 trick is to get those photos printed! It’s so easy to forget about them or put them off if they aren’t printed. Plus, what happens if you lose your phone and that’s the only place the photos are? Those beautiful photos are lost forever and so is the story behind them.

Steam Threshers Reunion, Rollag, Minnesota
My little guy, Ryan, at Steamthreshers Reunion in MN

Step 2 - Pick Your Pics

Skyler at the aquarium. Such a fun day!

Look through the photos you have for the event you want to scrapbook.

Select the papers and other materials before you begin. The paper colors/patterns should compliment your photos.

Grab your journal, diary, calendar or wherever you have your notes for the event.

Need Help Finding Page Titles?

3. Plan Your Pages

Before you start creating your pages, plan out your layouts and decide on the overall theme or look you want to achieve. 

This will help you stay focused and avoid getting overwhelmed. A good way to do that is to follow a sketch or map.

Header image for Baseball layout blog post

4. Inspiration

Feeling stuck or not sure where to start?  Start Simple! Learn how best to place your photos and the story that goes with them. Once you master that you can experiment.

Vision board Pinterest board
Pinterest
Scrapbook.com
Image for pagemaps
PageMaps.com

5. Sketches or Templates

Halloween Scrapbooking Sketch - Free How To Printable
This is a sketch (map, template)

Experiment with different designs and elements. Every layout sketch (or map, template) has multiple options.

If you find a layout you love, try turning it. Using the title page shown here, you could turn the page so now the title goes across the top .

There are so many great places to find inspiration! 

6. Adding Embellishments

Adding elements, or decorations, adds color and dimension to your pages. 

There are so many to choose from that can really add to your pages. 

 

Use caution when using them. Think about what they might do to the page in front of and behind the one they are one.

 

Paper flowers, diecuts, stickers (in moderation) and layers of paper are great ways to add to your layout.

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Scrapbooking sketch and instructions for crossword layout
This is a simple, easy and beautiful layout with a large flower and thin ribbon
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7. Journaling (The Story)

Simple layout with flower embellishment , border and inking

Journaling is the MAGIC behind the layout and is simply the story behind the photos and is the second most important part of the layout. The first is the photos. Be sure to include the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of the pictures. 

When struggling with what to write about the photos, pretend you are writing to a great, great-grandchild. What would they want to know? It is highly unlikely they will be able to recognize anyone or any place in the photo on their own. You need to tell them.

Journaling (The Story Behind the Photos)

Simple layout with flower embellishment , border and inking

Journaling is the MAGIC behind the layout and is simply the story behind the photos and is the second most important part of the layout. The first is the photos. Be sure to include the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of the pictures. 

When struggling with what to write about the photos, pretend you are writing to a great, great-grandchild. What would they want to know? It is highly unlikely they will be able to recognize anyone or any place in the photo on their own. You need to tell them.