Scrapbooking Plain and Simple

The thought of starting a scrapbook can quite possibly be very overwhelming. What to do first and where to start are questions many people often ask. The fact is that if we approach the task in an organized manner from the beginning, scrapbooking is much more of an enjoyable hobby rather than a dreaded duty. The focus of this article is to point out the basic steps to completing a scrapbook album and break them down into simple organized tasks.

First things first!
The very reason for scrapbooks is most often to store and document our precious photos. Most of us know that acid free scrapbooks and supplies are the correct way to store and preserve pictures. There are a variety of methods for organizing these priceless treasures. We must organize our photos based on what our individual goals are. Is the album going to be a chronological account of a person from birth on? Is it going to hold all of the family’s Christmas or holiday photos? Organize pictures based on these questions. Options for organization may be one of the following:

1) Organize ALL photos in CHRONOLOGICAL order. This would be a good idea if you plan on making a family album or maybe a child’s album.

2) Organize photos by EVENTS (also in chronological order). Try this if you are planning on making a themed album. Categorize events such as birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. These would all make nice themed albums that could be added to over the years.

3) Sort photos by the INDIVIDUAL in the photo. Again, keep these in chronological order also. This is another alternative if an album is going to be focused on an individual.

After starting this process, you will find the system that works for your individual needs. Sorting newly developed rolls of film in the new “system” will help get things off to a good start. Photo storage boxes are a good choice if you’re dealing with a large amount of pictures. These usually include tabs that can be labeled and dated. There are also accordion type files made especially for the purpose of storing photos. Check out the storage solutions at your local scrapbook store to find a storage system to meet your needs.

The next question is which pictures to start with? Many folks suggest starting with the most recent photos and working backwards. This way, the more recent events and memories are fresh on your mind, which makes journaling much easier.

Deciding on an album
There is more to this question than you might think. First and foremost any album will need to be acid free, lignin free, and plastic page protectors should be free of PVC. Besides picking the color, fabric or covering that suits a your tastes, there are also questions of size and durability. First, decide on the size of album that will be needed for the project. There are sizes ranging from 4 X 5 to 12 X 12. The smallest albums (4 X 5, 6 X 8 and 5 X 7) are most usually themed albums. Themed albums can include ABC albums, portraits or brag books, baby, hobbies and more. The possibilities are endless. If you do not have a lot of photos of each event to be scrapped, an 8 X 10 would be a good choice. Two to four photos will usually fit on a page depending on how much cropping is necessary. 12 X 12 albums are by far the most popular size for most scrapbookers. This size allows for several photos on each page while still leaving room for embellishments and journaling.

In choosing an album style, you will find three main types: postbound, strap-hinge and three ring binder styles.

Postbound refers to having posts which the pages are bound together by. These books usually accommodate top Loading plastic refills and the posts are extended with extension screws. Top loading refills make it easy to rearrange pages without having to take apart the album. These are sturdy and simple to refill.

Strap-hinge style albums are a little bit tricky to take apart and refill. The pages have two staples in the edge of the page that thread onto straps which bind the albums together. Top loading pages are available for these albums as well as several different colors of cardstock pages.

Lastly, there is the three-ring style album. These are a snap to add refills to but do allow some shifting of the pages.

Whatever size you prefer, the album should always be stored in an upright position in a comfortable, non-humid temperature.

Tools of the Trade
Scrapbooking can be simple or not so simple. It is what we make it. A very classy scrapbook album can be created with the barest of essentials. The following tools could be considered MUST HAVES:

• Paper Trimmer (i.e. Fiskars 12” trimmer)


• Small pair of scissors (i.e. Fiskars Microtip) for cutting out small items


• Adhesives (photo tabs, glue pen, and glue dots would all be handy for different needs)


• Acid free/archival pen in black (acquire other colors as needed)


• Idea Book or latest magazine issue (this provides a lot of inspiration and ideas to get your creative juices flowing)


• A cutting system for cutting circles/ovals may also be advantageous (ex. Coluzzle).

It is a good idea to purchase one tool at a time and master it before moving on to the next. Some of these things do take a little practice…so don’t get discouraged. There are a multitude of tools and helpful products on the market now. If you are interested in trying out some specific tools, visit your local scrapbook store or attend a crop with friends to see what’s new.

Gather your supplies
In this case “supplies” refers to the items it takes to create a scrapbook page. These include but are certainly not limited to papers, stickers, die cuts, and other embellishments. Of course supplies should always be acid/lignin free and buffered if possible. So many of us scrapbookers are guilty of binge buying supplies that we may or may not ever use. Refer back to your labeled and organized photos before going shopping. Decide which photos you will be working with first and either take these with you to the store or make a list of things needed to create the pages. This will help you avoid buying unnecessary supplies. It is a good idea to stock up on some items, especially if there is word of a sale! Think about the colors that dominate your photos and buy papers accordingly. Tastes in clothing overlap into scrapbooks very much. (For example-I tend to dress my daughters in reds and purples. Can you guess what many of my scrapbook pages are laden with? You guessed it…red and purple!)

It is hard enough to find the time to sit down and make a scrapbook page, so why not make the most of every minute. One way to do this is to have everything ready and waiting for when you do find those few and far between spare moments. Once you have decided on the photos to be scrapped, drop them down into an empty page protector. Make a list of needed supplies and as the items needed are purchased or found, add them to the protector also. Adding sketches or magazine articles/ideas to the protector might also be beneficial in creating the page. And when that moment comes to sit down for a few short moments, everything will be there at your fingertips and you will create something fabulous!

START SCRAPPIN’
The pictures are organized, the tools are collected, and the supplies are ready. It’s time to take the plunge and start telling the stories behind the pictures. Refer to an idea book or magazine to get your creative juices flowing. Get together with friends for a crop (there’s always creative vibes bouncing around there). One very important thing to keep in mind: there is no wrong way to scrapbook. Everyone will develop their own unique style in time. It seems that all of the rules that have been made have already been broken, but here are some very general guidelines to help create your first scrapbook pages:

1) Pick the colors of your pages according to the colors in the photos that will be used. (I usually layout the photos that I will be using together and see which color or colors jump out at me.)

2) It is a good idea to mat photos with solid colors of cardstock before placing on busy patterned papers.

3) Think about the emotions in the photos, this could lead the page toward a particular theme.

4) Leave room for journaling. This is a vital part of your scrapbook page. It could be a name and date or a lengthy detailed account of an event. Answer the who, what, when, and where questions about the event.

5) Crop unnecessary elements out of photos.

6) Experiment with the placement of the photos and other elements on the page before adhering.

7) Don’t be afraid to overlap things on the pages.