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How to Scrapbook
Five Parts:Plan Your LayoutGather Your MaterialsPlace
PicturesJournalAdd Embellishments
Scrapbooking is an easy and fun craft, but it can seem a little overwhelming if you've
never done it before. Keep things organized, but at the same time, let your creativity run
loose. If you aren't sure where to start, here are a few pieces of advice to give you some
direction.

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Part 1 of 5: Plan Your Layout

1.

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1
Choose your theme. Speaking simply, a theme is
the underlying purpose or idea holding your
scrapbook together. If you've decided to make a
scrapbook, you may already have a theme in mind. If
you do not have a theme, though, you should start
by picking one.
A theme will determine the photographs you

choose, as well as the album and embellishments.

o

Possible themes include:

Family vacations

High school or college accomplishments

Family reunions

Family holidays

Times spent with friends

Military career
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2
Sort through your photographs. With your theme
in mind, sort through any photo collections that may
contain photos fitting with that theme. Begin with
your most recent photos and work your way
backward through time.

Look for photographs that are clear and

avoid any that seem blurry.

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Note that you do not need to use an

entire photograph. In all likelihood, a portion of your
photos will be cropped. As a result, if you find a
photo with a background element you do not want,
you can still use it for your scrapbook if that element
can be cleanly cut off.

Choose as many photos as you like

during this stage. If you have too many, you can
narrow your selection down later.

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3
Organize your photographs. Sort through the
photos you pulled and arrange them into categories.
Each category should then be broken down into
pages, and each page should have roughly four to
six photographs assigned to it.[1]

Note that if you plan on making a

smaller scrapbook, you may only need two or three
photos per page.

You can create multiple pages for each

category, if desired. For example, if you are making
a scrapbook of a specific family vacation, your
categories may include something along the lines of:
trip there, beach, hotel, museums, return trip. If you
have a lot of beach pictures, you can have multiple
pages for those pictures. The idea is merely to group
similar photos together within the scrapbook overall.

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4
Get a general idea of the layout you want. You do
not need to plan out each page ahead of time, but at
minimum, you need to determine how many pages
you want, how many photos you want to have per
page, what colors and embellishments you might
want to consider using, and how many journal
entries you plan to include.

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Keep a notebook filled with possible

layout ideas. Write possibility down as you

brainstorm, then choose your favorite after sorting
through the notebook.
This is also a good time to determine if

you want to make separate title pages to separate

your categories or if you want to place titles directly
on photo pages.
If you want to be even more thorough,

you can also tentatively arrange photos on your

working surface to get a general idea of how each
page may look.
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Part 2 of 5: Gather Your Materials

1.

1
Find an album. Scrapbook albums can usually be
found at craft stores and most stores that sell
stationery. Standard albums are square with 12-inch
by 12-inch (30.5-cm by 30.5-cm) pages.
o

You can also find pocket albums with 6-inch

by 8-inch (15.25-cm by 20.3-cm) pages.

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In a pinch, you could also use a standard 3-

ring binder for your scrapbook, but an actual album

is preferable since the binding and pages are better
suited for scrapbooking.
Consider your theme when choosing your

scrapbook. For example, if your scrapbook will

contain photos from a beach vacation, a light blue or
sand-colored album might be a good idea. On the
other hand, for a scrapbook featuring photos of your
friends, you might want to consider a more playful
color.
o

Also note that you may be able to find

albums with titled covers for some major events, like
weddings and military enlistments.

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2
Choose paper that works well with your
pictures. When you look for paper to include in your
scrapbook, take along a few of your photos and
compare them to your options. Plain colored paper
should coordinate with the colors in your photos, and
patterned paper should coordinate with both the
colors and theme of your scrapbook.

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You will usually need two sheets of

background paper and one to two types of matting

and deco paper per page.

3
Select embellishments. Your embellishments
should coordinate with the theme of your scrapbook.
o

Standard embellishments include 3D

embellishment stickers, rubber stamps, and charms,
but you can get as creative as you want. Choose

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embellishments that add visual interest but are

relatively flat. Otherwise, your scrapbook may not
close well.
o

Stickers and stamps are among the easiest

embellishments to match to your theme since there
are so many varieties available.

Consider the color of your paper and

pictures when choosing embellishments. Try to
choose items that work with your current color
scheme.

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4
Choose the type of adhesive you would like to
work with. There are a variety of adhesives suitable
for scrapbooking, but each has its pros and cons.[2]
Spray adhesives are good for covering large

areas without making the surface seem "wet." It is

also good for use with sheer material. Let the
adhesive dry after application until it feels tacky
before sticking two items together.
Foam tape and dots are sticky on both sides

an can be trimmed to size. These adhesives also

add dimension to the objects they adhere to, making
scrapbook pages more visually varied.
Pressure-sensitive dots are ideal for heavy

embellishments because they have tremendous

bond strength.
Glue sticks are, perhaps, the most

convenient to use. Make sure that you use a minimal

amount and choose a glue stick labeled "acid free"
or "safe for photos."
Liquid glues work well for embellishments

and are easy to apply, but they can make pictures

and other paper embellishments wrinkle if too much
is used.

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Double-stick tape has minimal bond strength

but are suitable for pictures, paper embellishments,

and small, light items.

5
Arrange your workspace in a sensible
fashion. Once you have your supplies in hand, you
need to arrange them in a way that makes it easy for
you to access each item when you need it.

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Keep all your photos in one spot and

organized in the order you will use them in.

Set aside embellishments in the furthest

corner of your work area until you are ready to use

them.

How to Create a
Themed Scrapbook
Two Parts:Creating Your ScrapbookChoosing a Theme

Themed albums make special occasions more

memorable. They can be as large as 12 x 12 or as
small as 4 x 6.
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Part 1 of 2: Creating Your Scrapbook

1.

1
Come up with a theme. It can be as simple as a
special fishing trip, you and your best friend during
summer vacation, or as elaborate as a wedding or a
favorite city compilation.
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2.

2
Have all photos gathered together before
beginning.

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3.

3
Have all supplies on hand before beginning.

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4.

4
Include memorabilia such as brochures, ticket
stubs, a list of gifts received, invitations, etc.

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5.

5
Journal each page. Include at least who, when, and
where.

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6.

6
Ask a friend or family member to join you ~ 2
heads are better than 1 when it comes to
remembering details.

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7.

7
Visit Internet scrapbooking sites for layout ideas.

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8.

8
Keep your finished album where you can share
with visitors.
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Part 2 of 2: Choosing a Theme

1. 1

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Make a scrapbook for life experiences. Here are a

few ideas:
o

Traveling the world

A Special Vacation

House Remodel

Housewarming

Time Capsule

Our Cruise

Our First Home

Traveling the United States

Spring Break

Then and Now

Make a scrapbook for friends and family. Here

are a few ideas:
o

Mom and Dad

Grandparents

Grandmother

Grandfather

Heritage

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Family Reunion

Family Recipes

Our Family Pets

Friendship Album

Best Friends

Make a scrapbook for special occasions. Here

are a few ideas:
o

Birthday

Anniversary

Holiday Traditions

Wedding Day

Engagement

Graduation

Prom and Homecoming

Christmases Past

Thanksgivings Past

Block Party

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Make a scrapbook for hobbies and

interests. Here are a few ideas:
o

Disney

Sports

Scouting

Mom's Garden

Dad's Garden

Harley-Davidson

My Favorite Things

Church Events

Vacation Bible School

Make a scrapbook for children. Here are a few

ideas:
o

Pregnancy

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Birth of a Child

Baptism or Christening

School Years

Baby's First Year

ABC's and 123's

Milestones

"A Year in the Life of...."

Foster Child

Adoption

How to Choose the

Right Adhesive to Use
in Your Scrapbook
The many adhesive options available on the
scrapbooking supply market may leave you mystified
as to which ones you need for your project. Not only
are countless types of adhesives available, but you
often are given choices between a number of brands
as well. This can leave beginners frustrated and
ready to go home and use a hot glue gun for the

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whole project. A word of caution, however-learning to

use the different types of adhesives will help protect
your photographs and keep your work in tact for
many years.
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Steps
1.

1
Understand that there are three basic types of
adhesives: glues, tapes, and corner mounts. Be

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sure to know how to use them and what they are

used for.
Glue. Hot glue and tacky glue, both common

items around the house, are not good for your

scrapbooking project. Although these adhesives are
strong and permanent, the heat and acidity that
comes with using them will ruin your photographs
over time. Make sure that any products say that they
are safe for photos.
Glue sticks are inexpensive, but

remember that you get what you pay for glue sticks
lose their stickiness over time, and your pages will
come undone.
Glue pens are popular, but one of the

most innovative products in recent years has been

glue dots. This product is pressure-sensitive and
works very well for adhering embellishments to the
page.

Another helpful scrapbooking glue

product comes in an aerosol can. When sprayed to
an item such as vellum or tissue, you can adhere the
light paper to the page without leaving marks
showing through. Glue dots and aerosol sprays can
be pricey, but are effective when used correctly.

Tape products. Again, be sure that the

product label ensures that it is safe to use with

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photographs, since not all tapes are made the same.

Traditional tape options, such as foam mounting tape
or double sided tape are good to use in your album,
but also check out the products made exclusively for
scrapbooking. Mounting squares are a popular item,
as are roll-on tape dispensers. Some temporary
products are also available in case you don't want to
permanently attach your photographs to the page.
Corner mounts. Related to the tape

family, these little triangles allow you to stick

photographs to the page without commitment.
Corner mounts work especially well with valuable
photographs, but can only be used when you have
cropped your pictures in a square or rectangular
shape.
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2
Whatever adhesive choices you make, remember
that it is important to use the products
correctly. Not all glues and tapes are made for the
same purposes, so learning to use these products is
vital. By experimenting with technique and following
the usage guidelines you can create a beautiful and
long-lasting album.

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How to Select the

Proper Scrapbook
Paper
The most overwhelming and beautiful aisle in your
scrapbooking supply store is probably the paper
aisle. Scrapbooking paper comes in all colors of the
rainbow and in too many designs to count. If there is
an occasion to scrapbook, there is most certainly a
paper to match your theme, but with all the choices,
it is easy to leave the store with papers you will
never use and without the kind you really need the
most.
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Steps

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1.

1
Decide what size album you will be
making. Papers come in two standard sizes-8 1/2 x
11 and 12 x 12. You can also make albums in
smaller sizes as well. Larger paper can be cut to
size and smaller papers can be used for
embellishments and matting, but you will need the
most paper in the size of your album.
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2.

2
Check out the different types of paper
available. Scrapbooking safe paper comes in
everything from thick cardstock to light velum and
each type of paper has a specific use. You will
probably use most of the medium-thickness paper.

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3.

3
Take stock of the solid colors you own. On most
pages, you will use at least one solid color for the
background, for mats, for journaling, or for
embellishments, so you will probably run out of plain
colors first. As a rule, you will need more black and
white than other colors, but you can find rainbow
packs at an inexpensive price and then buy single
sheets of black and white, as you need them.

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4.

4
Consider buying packs of designer
papers. These packs are a good investment,
because they are usually color coordinated. This
gives you a good starting point if you are a beginning
layout designer. Another good place to start if you
don't have a lot of experience with layout design is
with papers that suggest a layout already. For
example, some papers come pre-printed with frames
or other layout elements, so all you have to do is

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crop your photographs and add embellishments. You

can also buy books of papers. These books are
usually set around a theme, such as "vacation" or
"Christmas." At the end of the book, there are
guidelines and ideas for creating layouts with these
papers.

5.

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5
Wait for the sales. You can often get 50% or more
off. Another good way to make the most of your
money is to trade papers with other scrapbookers.
When you buy a kit or a book, there will always be a
few papers you don't like or can't use. One of your
fellow scrapbookers might have a perfect use for this
paper, and will trade you for a paper that they don't
want but that you could use. By taking advantage of
these resources and buying only the paper that you
need, you won't end up with too much unwanted
paper. When in doubt, leave it at the store-you can
always go back for it if you create the perfect layout
for that paper.

How to Make a
Romantic Scrapbook
Two Parts:Prepping the MaterialsCreating the Scrapbook

Making a romantic scrapbook is a great way to

document your relationship and preserve all of your

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favorite memories together. It can make a wonderful,

personalized gift for your significant other on a wide
variety of occasions, such as birthdays,
anniversaries, and Valentine's Day. Here are some
steps to make a scrapbook to document your special
and unique relationship.
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Part 1 of 2: Prepping the Materials

1.

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Pick the right scrapbook. There are a plethora of

scrapbooks for you to choose from. Think about
what kinds of elements you want to include in your
scrapbook and then pick the right one for your
needs. You may need to shop around a little bit
before you officially choose a book. There are so
many different kinds, which means you have many
options to choose from.
If you plan on writing a lot of stories or letters

to your significant other, you might think about one

with lined paper. If you want to add a lot of pictures
and decorative elements, you might want one with
made in frames and blank paper.[1]
Go to a specialty store, craft store, or hobby

store for the best selection of scrapbooks. You may

be able to find one at an office supply store, but a
store devoted to hobbies and crafts will have a wider
array of books for you to choose from.
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2
Decide on a theme. Think about what best
represents your relationship. If you have any
interests that you bond over or a particular color
scheme that truly represents your relationship, make
that what your scrapbook centers around.
o

This can be as simple as making the entire

scrapbook blue because it's his favorite color. You
can also have a nautical theme because you both
love boats or a baseball theme because you bond

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over your love of a hometown team. Just make sure

that it represents something special about your
relationship. You want the scrapbook to feel as
personal as possible.[2]

3
Remember your best memories. Think about all
the best times in your relationship. It can be anything
from your wonderful first date, your first kiss, the first
time he made you dinner, or that time he surprised
you with concert tickets for your favorite band. As

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long as it was significant to you, it should be

represented in the scrapbook.
Write down a list of the memories that you

want to include. This will ensure that you won't forget

anything and it will help you organize your thoughts
later on.[3]

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Compile relationship memorabilia. Go through all

of the things you've kept over the course of your
relationship. This can be a note he sent you, a candy
wrapper from your first Valentine's day together, or a
movie ticket from your first date. Also make sure you
gather or print out the pictures you want to include
on your pages as well. This memorabilia will be the
main source of materials for your scrapbook.[4]

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Buy inserts or decorative pieces. Now that you

know your theme and know what you are going to
include in your book, you need to find some
decorative elements and inserts that you want to add
to your pages. Buy elements such as cut outs,
paper, stickers, markers, or other additional
materials that might represent the theme you decide
on. These will add extra flare to your pages and
make it aesthetically pleasing.
You can buy cut outs of shapes, hearts, flowers, or letters. You can buy adhesive

frames and 3-dimensional objects such as flowers, buttons, or jewels. Try to make them all
match so your scrapbook feels cohesive. You also want to make sure all of these elements
match your theme.[5]
If you want to make it a little more personal, make some of these elements

yourself. You can also re-purpose some of the memorabilia that you compiled in innovative ways
as decorative elements.
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Part 2 of 2: Creating the Scrapbook

1.

1
Decorate the cover. The cover of your scrapbook will be the first part that your significant other
sees, so you want it to be special and look great. Add your names and the date that you met or
your favorite picture of the two of you together. You can also have decorative elements that
relate to the theme of your book. This will add flare and give him a hint right from the start what
kind of scrapbook it is.[6]

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2.

2
Have a great opening page. Whether you decide to go simple or elaborate, you want this page
to have impact. Write a dedication with the date you are giving him the book. You can also make
a collage of words that remind you of your relationship or have a simple picture with some words
or phrases underneath.[7]

Don't make this page too busy. You don't want to overwhelm him at the very
beginning of the scrapbook. Keep it streamlined and elegant. As long as it personal and
heartfelt, he'll understand how much you love him.

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3
Include a few special memories. On the next page of your scrapbook, it's time to add content.
Write a description of your favorite date, the best day you spent together, or the most romantic
thing he ever did for you on a piece of decorative or colored paper. You can mount it with a
frame or use some of the decorative elements that you bought.

Pick a color of paper that you think will match your scrapbook and will reflect your

theme.
o

Add small elements around your pages. This helps fill in the blank areas and
makes it look more elegant and decorative.

You can add more than one memory on each sheet of paper. You can also have
more than one page dedicated to your favorite memories from your relationship. If you have ten
things you want to let him know meant a lot to you, then have ten pages made like this one. It's
your scrapbook and you can make it as long as you want.[8]

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4
Add date pages. Dedicate a few pages to all the great dates you've gone on together. Put
pictures, movie tickets, menus from frequented restaurants, playbills, concert tickets, and small
things that you've acquired over all the dates and outings you've gone on together.[9]

Find inventive ways to use some of the memorabilia as decorative elements here.
Cut a portion out of a menu to provide backing for a picture or use a playbill as a large frame for
a picture of you at that event.

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5
Journal to your love. Your scrapbook is a great place for you to tell him how you feel about
him. Write him a letter explaining how much you love him, why you wanted to make him a
scrapbook, what he means to you, and all the things you hope for your future. This gives him
something more personal that is all about how you feel in addition to all of the memories of your
relationship in the scrapbook.[10]

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