When we were kids, we would often paste pictures on coloured paper, add glitter, scribble some words, and create our own little mementos. Modern-day scrapbooking is a lot like this. Using various craft supplies, people are creating beautiful scrapbook albums filled with pictures, journals, and decorations, and you can do it too with the help of a few tips. These albums let you and your loved ones look back on important memories with enjoyment.
A lot of people are picking up scrapbooking as a new hobby that allows them to preserve their memories and express their creative side. Today it’s easier than ever to create a scrapbook album with all the supplies available on the market. Follow these next steps and learn how to make one yourself!
Contents
What Do I Need to Make a Scrapbook Album?
If you want to start scrapbooking, first you’ll need to get a few essential materials. Today’s online scrapbook supply offers everything you need to create your album, from scissors, tapes, and adhesives to glitters, gold leaves, and other decorations. Here’s a list of the basic items you’ll need to start creating:
- Scrapbook album: Check if your album has page protector sheets. These are often offered separately for the well-known D-ring/three-ring albums. So, make sure to find out whether you need to purchase the page protectors separately;
- Cardstocks: Use these as backdrop materials;
- Scissors: Crop your images and trim your materials to the right sizes;
- Adhesives: These craft supplies come in different forms, such as sprays, liquid glues, glue guns, etc.;
- Journaling pen;
- Decorations: These items help you express your creativity and upgrade the look of your album.
Steps for Creating a Scrapbook
1. Come Up with a Theme
Consider the theme of your scrapbook album. You’ll have a better idea of the style you’d like your album to follow if you have a clear theme in mind. Additionally, this makes shopping for scrapbook supplies easier, since you can search for products that fit your theme. Some theme suggestions are a vacation trip with your close friends, your wedding, your baby’s first year, etc.
Start with a general album and put everything you’ve assembled in it if you don’t have a specific theme in mind. Once you’ve been scrapbooking for a while and have a collection of pages, you can organize them into various albums.
2. Tell Stories with Your Pictures
When looking at online scrapbook supply list the stories you want to share or the memories you want to save for a certain topic. Write a list of the subjects you wish to scrapbook about and then save it. For example, if you’re creating a scrapbook album about your baby’s first year, you can divide it into 12 monthly sections, with each section detailing your child’s growth milestones or your favourite moments from the month. Whether you dedicate one or several pages for each month is up to you.
Next, choose the pictures you want to include in your album. You can pick a few pictures to scrapbook about from each of the 12 months in the baby’s first year. Use supplies to decorate your pictures and bring them to life. If you don’t have a theme in mind, select pictures that will help you convey the story that you’re trying to tell.
3. Arrange the elements properly
Set a uniform layout design for your pages to make your album look better. Planning the layout of your theme pages will help you make better use of your craft supplies, create your pages faster, and make your album look clean and uncluttered. Create every page when you get inspiration, play around with the elements’ positioning, and try to achieve an aesthetically pleasing arrangement.
Planning ahead will save you from making mistakes like cropping the photographs to the wrong size, running out of room for your journaling, or getting an unappealing layout style. Before you begin clipping and pasting, have a clear concept of how your photographs, title, journaling, and decoration should look.
Should I Mat Photos for My Scrapbook Album?
If cropping is necessary, mark the back of the images with a faded pencil, and then use a pair of scissors or a paper trimmer to cut the photos to your preferred sizes. Next, decide if you want to mat the pictures for your album. Matting will give your images more contrast, focus on the main image, and a lovely border. For your photo mats, use scrapbooking supplies like cardstock, patterned paper, fabric, and others.
How Do I Decorate My Scrapbook Album?
To improve the look of your album pages, consider adding some decorations. Certain items give your pages some glam, texture, and depth. It’s up to you how you want to attach your decorations to your page – you can glue, stitch, or tie them with ribbons. Be careful not to exaggerate with decorations, as they will overshadow the main theme.
Focus on the story you’re trying to tell and add decorations only when you deem fit. When you finish a page, insert it into one of the page protector sheets within the scrapbook album of your choice. This will protect it from tearing, dust, or other damage. Scrapbooking is a wonderful hobby for people of all ages. It helps you express your creativity and preserve memories. So, check out the variety of supplies for scrapbooking and start crafting!
