How to Design the Front of a Scrapbook

Use paper and paint to decorate your own scrapbook cover.

While they say, "You can't judge a book by its cover," the sad truth is that people often do just that. And "book," in this case, includes scrapbooks. Now that you have created a beautiful scrapbook for that special occasion, you will want to make sure that the cover of the album represents the inside you have worked so hard to create. While some scrapbook albums come with their own designed cover, other albums allow you the creativity to design your own cover.

Things You'll Need

• Chipboard album
• Scrapbook paper
• Acrylic paint
• Embellishments as desired, such as brads, eyelets, buttons, stickers, ribbon and stamps
• Foam paintbrush
• Decoupage medium
• Craft scissors
• Sandpaper, if desired
• Ink, if desired

Instructions

1. Cut the paper for the album cover. It works best to cut it about 1/8 inch larger on three sides, excluding the binding, than your album.

2. Paint the entire cover instead if you wish. Mix paint colors or use one solid color. To ensure the best coverage, apply two coats of paint, allowing time for drying in between applications.

3. Add any embellishments, especially three-dimensional items such as brads, paper flowers or ribbons, before you actually adhere the paper on the cover. You can also layer any additional paper on the cover for added depth at this time.

4. Apply a thin coat of decoupage medium all over the front of the scrapbook.

5. Working quickly, adhere the cover to the scrapbook. Work from the middle to smooth any bubbles out.

6. Allow the cover to dry thoroughly.

7. Trim the paper from the edges carefully off the scrapbook. Don't worry if it isn't exactly even.

8. Sand, ink or paint the edges of the cover all the way around. This helps "hide" the imperfections from trimming the paper and adds further depth to the cover. Dust off paper specks or allow them to dry thoroughly.

9. Paint a thin coat of decoupage medium over the entire cover with a foam brush. Paint around, not over, any bulky embellishments. Air-dry this for about 20 minutes. Reapply decoupage.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep it really simple if you like. Add just an album title and a photo for a superquick, yet classic, look, especially on fabric covers.

• Decoupage comes in glossy or matte finishes. Experiment to see which you prefer.

• Select an album carefully for this project. If the album already has a finished cover, it might be difficult to add designs to it. Chipboard albums work best for this project, although fabric can be decorated as well.