How to Create a Scrapbook Page Layout

Scrapbooking is an enjoyable way to organize photos and safely store captured memories. It is simple enough for children, yet it can satisfy creative individuals looking to challenge their crafting skills. If you are scrapping for the first time, follow these simple steps to get started:

Things You'll Need

• Scrapbook Items to Scrap (for example, photos) Colored \card stock Thin patterned paper Scrapbook adhesive Paper cutter or scissors Embellishments (for example, stickers, ribbon)

Instructions

1. Determine what you will put in your page layout. Most people use photos, but you can use anything from fliers and ticket stubs to your baby's footprints and birth announcement. Or, use a combination of several.

2. Choose a piece of paper for the background that matches the size of your scrapbook. Use colored card stock or thin, patterned paper. Be sure to choose a color or pattern that goes along with your theme, and look for colors in the photos that stand out. For example, if you are using some pictures of your daughter's dance recital, and her costume was purple, you may want to use purple card stock for the background.

3. Once you have chosen your background, lay the photos and other items on the page and decide how you want to place them. If you have too many items to fit on one page, consider creating a two-page spread or split the items up onto several pages. Arrange the items any way you'd like, trying to keep the open background space balanced.

4. Next, mount your photos onto a piece of colored card stock that is cut slightly larger than the size of the photo. This creates a nice mat and splash of color. Use a good adhesive that is made for scrapbooking. Choose a color that complements the background and your theme. You can even mat your photos on two or three pieces of different-colored paper to really make them pop. You may decide to mat all, half, or none of your photos. If you are adding items other than photos, decide whether or not they will look better with mats simply placed directly onto the background.

5. Adhere the photos and other items onto the background in the arrangement you determined in Step 3. Another idea is to punch a small hole in the corners of the photo (and background paper) and use brads to attach instead of glue.

6. Add embellishments such as stickers, tags, glitter and ribbon.

7. When complete, slide the page layout(s) into your scrapbook's plastic page protectors.