How to Make a Scrapbook -
Easy Step by Step Instructions

I am so happy you've decided to learn how to make a scrapbook! I know you must be thinking, "Where do I start?" Trust me, most of us have been there at one point or another.

However, you're not in this alone - I am here to help you every step of the way! Once you get started, I am sure you will also meet other scrapbookers, who will be more than willing to share their tips and ideas. There is so much to learn! Don't let that discourage you though, because learning how to make a scrapbook is fun, so enjoy the process!

By following these easy and simple how to make a scrapbook instructions, you will have a treasured book in no time...

Step One: Organize Your Photos

The best place to start is by organizing your photos.

The easiest way I have found to do this is to separate all of my photos into different themes or events. Need a few examples? You could place your husband's 40th birthday bash photos together, your spring vacation pics together, and your child's t-ball snapshots together...

You can place the photos in a photo organizer or even into separate envelopes. After you are all organized, pick a set you would like to begin with - it's now time to get into the nitty gritty of how to make a scrapbook layout.

Step Two: Pick a Theme

After I choose my photos, I lay them out and decide what kind of theme I want to create. Most of the time, ideas for themes will come to me automatically based on the photos themselves - there might be a color in the photos that stands out, or I'll see an item in my group of pics that will inspire the theme of the layout.

Other times I will get "scrapbooker's block". I will stare at the photos and come up blank. When this happens, I usually put the group of pictures back in their envelope, and start on another stack. With all the pictures I have, I have this luxury (if you can call it that). However, if you are stuck, there are a few things you can do:

* You can browse a few scrapbooking blogs and message boards looking for ideas.

* You can get another set of eyes to look at the pictures and suggest possible themes for the layout.

* You can take your photos to a local scrapbooking store, and get ideas from the staff (and even other customers).

Step Three: Gather Your Scrapbooking Supplies

The next step in our how to make a scrapbook tutorial is to gather your supplies. Although there are people who admittedly spend a small fortune on their scrapbooking supplies, it's not necessary. You can create beautiful layouts with just a few basic supplies, including the following:

Paper Trimmer

Can you cut a straight line? With a good paper trimmer, you can effortlessly cut cardstock and paper, as well as crop photos. You can also do these things with a pair of scissors, but the results will be quicker and better with a paper trimmer.

Adhesives

Have you walked down the adhesive aisle at the scrapbooking store lately? Yes, there are a lot of options! Although it can be overwhelming, just get the basics to start with. Acid-free, photo-safe permanent double-sided tape and tape runners are good for beginner scrapbooking projects.

Archival Quality Pens

Do you plan to add journaling to your pages? Most scrapbookers like to add written details about the photos on their layouts. Avoid the temptation to use a regular ink pen for your journaling. Instead, invest in an archival quality pen or two, so that you can safely add journaling to your layouts, without worry that it may damage your pictures at some point in the future.

Card Stock, Paper, and Embellishments

Again, make sure all of these are archival quality and safe to use with your photos. You can purchase these items together in a kit based on the theme of your album or layout, or you can buy them piecemeal - either way works!

Step Four: Putting Together Your Layout

Now, we are to the fun part of how to make a scrapbook - putting it all together!

When I put together a layout, I almost always use a scrapbook sketch to determine how my page will go together. To me, it's like learning how to cook. When you first learn to cook, it's usually a good idea to use a recipe. When you gain some experience, you become comfortable substituting ingredients, and when you get really good at cooking, you come up with your own recipes. Sketches are the recipes in scrapbooking.

If you prefer not to use a sketch, that's okay too. You may want to start by creating a focal point on your page, and then placing other photos, journaling, and embellishments around your focal point.

I'm probably going to wear out the recipe analogy, but continuing on, following are the ingredients to a good layout...

"Ingredients" for a Great Scrapbooking Layout

Most scrapbooking pages consist of a few essential ingredients. When learning how to make a scrapbook, you may decide to use these ingredients, or you may decide to make substitutions or leave them out.

When I put a layout together, in addition to my photographs, these are the elements that I almost always include:

Journaling

A journaling block tells "the story" behind the pictures. To me, this is one of the most important parts of my pages. You can use your computer and printer to print journaling, or you can do it in your own handwriting. Many scrapbookers prefer to use their own writing, based on that it adds a personal touch to their layouts.

Page Title

I can't imagine putting together a layout without a title. It tells the person looking at the scrapbook page what the pictures are about with just a glance. Stickers or die cut letters are good to use for creating the title.

Scrapbooking Embellishments

Keep embellishments simple or go crazy - it's your choice! If you like to keep it simple, you could use patterned paper to add a border at the top or bottom of your page, coordinating cardstock as mats or photo corners for your pictures, and stickers or simple shapes made by a paper punch to add visual interest to your page.

For more complex layouts, you can embellish in a countless number of ways. After you learn how to make a scrapbook, you will continue to learn many other techniques that can be used to embellish your pages - custom die cuts, stamping and embossing, stitching, painting, inking, distressing, and so on. Don't worry about these advanced techniques just yet though - there's plenty of time to learn!

Finally, if you still have a question regarding how to make a scrapbook layout, pop over to our Scrap Chat Q&A. I will do my best to answer any questions you have, and other visitors to this site also have the opportunity to comment. Starting a scrapbook (and finishing my first album) was one of the best things I ever did - I hope you will feel the same way too!

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