How to Put Together a Themed Scrapbook Album in 10 Hours

A theme scrapbook is a lovely gift or keepsake.

If you think that scrapbooking is too time-consuming, think again. It may be tedious if you work on one page at a time, planning and executing each individual layout; however, there is a way to streamline your efforts so that you can make the most of your scrapbooking time. Put together a theme book in just a few short sessions that amount to about 10 hours by focusing your design plan and working on the whole book at once.

Things You'll Need

• 20 to 40 photo prints, 4-by-6 inches
• Felt-tipped acid-free pen
• Scrapbook with top-loading 10 to 20 sheet protectors
• Scrapbook paper set with coordinating colors and patterns
• Paper cutter or scissors
• Ruler
• Double-sided tape in gliding dispenser
• Embellishments (page borders, banners, die cuts, journaling tags, etc)
• Adhesive

Instructions

Photo Preparation: 2-hour Session

1. Choose a theme to help focus on the story, such as a year in the life of your family, a recent vacation or a life book for someone you love. Sort through your photos and choose excellent specimens that fit your theme.

2. Put your photos in the approximate order you wish to display them. This may be chronological, for example, if it is your baby's first year. On the other hand, they may be grouped by a specific topic; for example, if you visited Disney World, you might group them by park.

3. Number photos on the back with a scrapbooking pen in a light color.

Sorting and Organizing: 2-hour Session

1. Choose a background paper for each page, using a set that has coordinating solids and patterns that you can mix and match. Slide it in the sheet protector. The first page stands alone, acting as an introduction to the rest of the book.

2. Select a coordinating page for matting the photos on the first page. For example, if the background paper is red, you might choose a sheet of black with white polka dots for matting. Write a small "m" on the back of the matting paper and slide it into the sheet protector.

3. Choose two pieces of paper that are the same for the second and third pages. The same design will give them a more harmonious look because they are viewed together as a layout. These should be different from the first page, but coordinate with the design. For example, use white background paper with red polka dots and a solid black mat. Slide it all into its respective page protector for sorting purposes. Continue doing this through the rest of the book.

4. Divide your photos among the pages. Some pages should feature one single photograph of interest, others will have two or three. Slide them into the page protectors of their respective pages for sorting purposes.

Cutting and Matting: 3-hour Session

1. Remove the sheet chosen for matting out of the first page of your book. Count how many images you planned to put on the page.

2. Cut one mat per photo, about 1/2 to 1 inch wider and longer than the photos. Mount each photo on its mat with tape and slide it back into its page protector.

3. Repeat the process with all the remaining pages.

Assembling the Book: 3-hour Session

1. Remove the matted photos and background paper from the first page. Lay the background page on your workspace and arrange the photos on top of it.

2. Select embellishments that coordinate with your theme, such as die cuts or page banners, and arrange them on the page. Write dates or information on journaling tags and labels.

3. Affix them when you are pleased with the arrangement and slide the completed page into the page protector. Continue the process until the book is complete.

References

• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Scrapbooking"; Wendy Smedley; 2000