How to Create a Scrapbook

You may have known for awhile that you wanted to create a scrapbook. Or, perhaps friends and business associates have inspired you to try out this new and growing hobby.Scrap-booking is saving a part of your history and putting it in an enjoyable format for all to see. There is no right or wrong way to do it. Many of the supplies you will need you can borrow from other scrap-booking friends, neighbors and even make decorations yourself. You can get some supplies at hardware and hobby stores. With a little guidance, you can create your first scrapbook and show all of your family and friends.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Photos
• Memorabilia
• Acid Free Paper
• Fountain Pens
• Markers
• Adhesive
• Ideas
• Stickers
• Scrapbook Album
• Decorations
• Adhesive remover

Buy an Album

1. Purchase your first album and know its size. You will need to know this in order to purchase the right sized paper and other supplies.
2. Purchase paper in the size that will fit your album. You'll also want to make sure to have the correct type of album. If you have slide-in pages, then make sure your "background" paper fits them.
3. Obtain stickers, journal cards or other items that will complement your paper, color theme and background.
4. Pick a subject for your album. A little planning goes a long way. It can be a year-long segment of your life, graduation, baby book, wedding album, military memories, parades, performances, school, music, art, parties or celebrations. Whatever the subject for your scrapbook, just make sure you have enough to fill it up. And if you do fill it up, make sure you can add pages if needed.
5. Organize your pictures and gather memorabilia. Choose stickers, backgrounds and journal cards that will fit the color theme and title well. You can use plain or colored note cards for your "journal" section. You will want to use ticket stubs, postcards, fliers, programs and anything else made of paper that can be glued down.
6. Lay out your photos on the page along with the other items that you intend to use on that page. Experiment with different layouts to see which looks best. If you are at a class or group gathering, ask others their opinion on your scrapbook creation.
7. Apply adhesive to your photos and background or memorabilia. Have some adhesive remover handy since you will make mistakes.
8. Leave a few pages at the beginning and at the end in case you decide to add pictures later. You will not be able to scrapbook every photo, so keep others in a box or photo album by event or year. You can also store photos on a flash drive or CD-rom for a back-up and safe keeping for the future.

Tips & Warnings

• It is not necessary to buy a lot of papers or supplies at first. Start with the basics.
• Create scrapbook pages in a group setting at first so you can share tools and gain guidance.
• Look for scrapbook classes at local recreation departments, health clubs, churches or scrapbook & stamping stores.
• You do not have to make elaborate page layouts. The whole object is to get the pictures in an album and write (journal) a little bit about what is happening in the photo.
• Check out books from the library to get you started and for ideas and inspiration.