Scrapbooking: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started

Scrapbooking is a fun and creative crafting activity to document precious memories, keep souvenirs and mementos, and channel your inner artist. But if you’ve never tried making one, don’t worry. Just read on to learn more about how to make a scrapbook of your very own. 

What are the most popular scrapbooking tools and materials? How do you even start making your first album? And what are some scrapbooking ideas and techniques that you can try as a beginner? This page has everything you need to know to start your own project, so read on!

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Key Takeaways (Quick Answers for Beginners)

• Scrapbooking is a creative way to preserve memories using photos, journaling, and embellishments.
• You only need basic supplies to start: paper, adhesive, scissors, pens, and photos.
• There are multiple scrapbook types, including traditional, digital, and mini albums.
• Scrapbooking offers mental wellness benefits, boosts creativity, and helps you document life stories.
• Beginners should start simple and explore techniques like layering, journaling, and DIY embellishments.

What is Scrapbooking?

Scrapbooking is a fun and creative crafting activity used to document precious memories, keep souvenirs, and express your artistic side. Even in today’s fast-paced digital world, creating a personalized scrapbook album remains a meaningful way to preserve life’s special moments.

A scrapbook typically includes:

• Photos
• Journaling or written memories
• Keepsakes (tickets, letters, notes)
• Decorative elements like stickers, washi tape, and die-cuts

In short: It’s storytelling through paper crafting.

With the advent of modern photography, simple memory scrapbooks have turned into photo scrapbooks. What used to be a more involved and functional way of keeping one’s experiences and memories had turned into something more visual and aesthetically pleasing. 

The Origin of Modern Scrapbooking

In 1980, a woman from Elk Ridge, Utah, United States, decided to preserve her family’s memories by designing pages with their photographs. She then placed the pages into sheet protectors compiled in 3-ring binders. Marielen Wadley Christensen assembled more than 50 volumes of what would turn out to be the origin of modern scrapbooking.

After gaining attention at the World Conference on Records in 1981, she and her husband decided to publish a how-to booklet called “Keeping Memories Alive.” They later opened the first-ever scrapbook store in the world, aptly named after their successful booklet. Keeping Memories Alive store is located in Elk Ridge, Utah, and is still open today.

Christensen’s efforts in preserving her family’s memories jumpstarted the manufacturing and selling of scrapbooking supplies, turning what used to be an old hobby of preserving memories into a huge industry today.

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Fun Facts from The National Survey of Scrapbooking in America:

According to Anthony Thomas, in the United States alone, “there were roughly 25 million active scrapbookers, supported by over 3,000 scrapbooking stores.” Even in creative industry events and conventions, such as AFCI’s Creativation Show, scrapbooking has established its strong presence.

Fun facts from The National Survey of Scrapbooking in America:

• The majority of enthusiasts were females with ages between 30 to 50.
• Nearly 50% of scrapbookers worked full time.
• 82% of scrapbookers were college-educated.
• The value of tools and supplies owned by the average hobbyist was $1,853.
• 76% had a separate space for making projects in their homes.
• 51% of scrapbookers reported spending at least 10 hours per month scrapbooking.

Is Scrapbooking Still a Thing?

The scrapbooking craze has definitely slowed down since its heyday in the mid 2000s. Back then, there were hundreds of brick-and-mortar hobby shops dedicated completely to scrapbook tools and materials. Nowadays, these specialty stores and extravagant events aren’t as common anymore, but the hobby itself still remains popular. 

Benefits of Scrapbooking

Making a personalized album has a lot of advantages. Here are only a few common ones that most scrappers can attest to:

1. Preserves Memories
   Turn photos into meaningful stories with personal touches.
2. Boosts Creativity
   Improve your design, layout, and color skills over time.
3. Therapeutic & Relaxing
   Crafting helps reduce stress and promotes mindfulness.
4. Encourages Social Connection
   Join crafting communities, workshops, or scrapbook with loved ones.
   

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Scrapbooking Supplies and Tools

When it comes to scrapbooking for beginners, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the amount of materials available in local stores and online. It is important to remember that you only need a handful of supplies at first, especially if you’re simply trying out this hobby.

We’ve gathered a list of the seven most important and basic supplies you need in your crafting stash.

Cardstock

Cardstock is a solid heavyweight paper that is a staple in any kind of paper crafting activity. Scrapbook cardstock paper usually comes in solid colors such as white, black, and cream. But there are brighter colors available. Cardstock is often used as the background of your pages, to matte photographs, or highlight specific designs and elements of your page. 

Altenew offers various 8.5” x 11” cardstock sets, which are ready to use and come in a wide variety of colors and styles. Check out these trendy gradient cardstock sets or this stylish gold foil cardstock set.

Paper

Just like cardstock, it’s essential to use high-quality paper for your pages. Patterned paper is a popular choice since it has various designs, usually in shapes and patterns. Unlike regular printer paper, patterned paper is thicker and sturdier but not as thick as cardstock paper. They come in different sizes, colors, weight, and designs.

Adhesives

The most important thing to remember when purchasing adhesives is - the stickier, the better. It’s essential to know which adhesives can last long since scrapbook albums are supposed to withstand time. Scrapbookers commonly use double-sided adhesives and repositionable adhesives as they are high-quality, easy to use, and not messy. 

Embellishments

Without embellishments, you might as well just create a photo album. Scrapbook embellishments are needed to add creativity and personality to your pages. There are many types of scrapbook accessories to choose from - from stickers and washi tapes to chipboard frames and die-cuts. 

Soft Peonies Wax Seal Stamp

Check out these commonly used scrapbook embellishments:

• Chipboard stickers
• Alphabet stickers
• Word stickers
• Themed or decorative stickers
• Journaling cards
• Enamel dots
• Embossed foil frames
• Tags
• Die-cuts
• Ephemera
• Creative cut-outs
• Washi tape
• Acetate die-cuts
• Ribbon
• Metallic thread
• Lace
• Wood veneers
• Beads
• Epoxy Buttons
• Sequins

Scissors or Trimmers

This is pretty self-explanatory. If there’s paper, you definitely need a pair of scissors, trimmers, or any kind of cutter. Paper trimmers are quite popular among scrappers because they are instrumental in scrapbooking.

Binding or Album

Unless you’ve already bought a ready-to-use album beforehand, you have to figure out a way to bind your pages. The most popular way to compile your pages is with a D-ring or three-ring binder album. This has top-loading page protectors, making it easier for you to insert, remove, or move around pages. While some post-bound books include page protectors, others do not. You would have to buy the page protectors separately.

According to Crafts For All Seasons, the three-ring binder type is the most economical album type. With this album, regular acid-free photo-safe sheet protectors can be used as the pages. 

Scrapbook Pens

Having a few decent journaling pens is vital in your scrapbooking journey. If your only purpose is to jot down important dates, names, or short journaling entries, a black or blue fine point pen will do.

Gel pens are quite handy when you want to add some sparkle or cute and colorful doodles to your pages. Fine-tipped alcohol marker pens are also ideal if you want to add some calligraphy-like style to your journaling.

If you want to take your scrapbooking skill to the next level, here are some optional scrapbook materials that you can also add to your to-buy list.

1. Page protectors
2. Stamp and die sets
3. Dye inks
4. Watercolor paint set
5. Brushes (for painting and other mixed media techniques)
6. Scrapbook paper storage

Types of Scrapbook

As scrapbooking art evolved from simply collecting “scrap worthy” scraps to remembering special occasions and people through photo scrapbooks, different types of scrapbooks were created. Here are the eight most common types of scrapbook.

Traditional Scrapbooking

This type is usually a collection of pages inserted into page protectors and compiled into a post-bound scrapbook album. A traditional scrapbook’s size could be 12” x 12” or 8.5” x 11” and includes the usual - photos, ephemera, and journaling.

Project Life

This is a recent type which was started by Becky Higgins. In this simplified version, all you need to do is insert photos and journaling cards into pocketed pages of your scrapbook album. 

Planner Scrapbooking

 Planner scrapbooking is basically turning your plain and simple planner into something more creative and personalized. You can add stickers, stamps, and other keepsakes onto your planner to make it more exciting.

Pocket Scrapbooking

Pocket Scrapbooking is relatively more straightforward since you don’t need to design a full layout. You only need your photos and a few embellishments inserted into pocket pages in your album. 

Traveler’s Notebook

Simply put, a traveler’s notebook is a leather-bound notebook. The company called “Traveler’s Company” started creating these simple and durable leather notebooks, which was a hit among travelers and crafters alike. According to Bette Ha, a traveler’s notebook is “a piece of leather cut to size, with an elastic strung through the middle, allowing you to slip a notebook in between. 

Bible Journaling

Believe it or not, there is a community of creative and religious people who have combined their passion for journaling and faith and turned it into a fun hobby. 

Digital and Hybrid Scrapbooking

One of the most recent types of creative scrapbooking, it simply means creating a layout or page using a computer and printing it out. 

Mini Albums

Just as the name suggests, mini albums are pretty much like miniature photo albums but with additional decorative elements, making it a must-try for scrapbookers. 

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How to Make a Scrapbook

If you have put together a photo album before, then creating a customized scrapbook is a piece of cake. Aside from where to buy scrapbook supplies, one of the most common questions asked by beginners is how to get started. 

Best Scrapbook Ideas

Family Scrapbook

This is the perfect way to preserve your family’s precious memories and milestones. It’s easy to get creative with a family-themed album. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• You can dedicate each page to a family member.
• Make one about a special day like a birthday or an anniversary.
• Try creating a wedding scrapbook!
• Christmas scrapbooks, Halloween scrapbooks, or holiday-themed pages are great ideas too.
• Document an event like your little one’s first day of school or your first trip abroad. Baby scrapbook kits are quite popular these days.

Nature Scrapbook

 You can simply focus on anything in nature - flowers, trees, mountains, oceans, or even animals. This idea is also great for those who love to travel and take pictures of sceneries. 

Adventure Scrapbook

Document your most joyous moments during your local or international trips by creating an adventure scrapbook. It doesn’t need to be a trip too! You can document a fun or memorable day in school, work, or even a lazy weekend. 

Friendship Scrapbook

There are a few creative scrapbook ideas that you can easily try even if you’re a beginner. Friendship-themed scrapbook albums are quite popular and trending among the younger generation. As the name suggests, this is used to preserve memories with friends and acquaintances. 

Scrapbooking Techniques

Now that you’ve got some inspiration and essentials, it’s time to learn a few techniques. Although any paper crafting technique can be used on your page, it would do you well to master a few methods. Check out these three quick and easy must-try techniques!

1. Create your own embellishments

Most sets come with a complete scrapbook kit, including patterned paper, stickers, and other embellishments. If you do not have the budget to buy these kits or if you need a specific decoration, you can simply create your own embellishment! Die sets and washi tapes are great for making quick and easy embellishments, just like in this blog post. You may also use leftover scraps of paper or negative die-cuts.

2. Add a floral wreath or a floral frame

Flowers are always fantastic embellishments. Adding a floral wreath or a floral frame around your photos can quickly elevate your project. You can use floral stamps with dye inks and give them dimension by using their coordinating dies. Check out this simple but beautiful scrapbook layout with floral embellishments that you can try.

3. Customize your traveler’s notebook and scrapbook covers

The beauty of a handmade scrapbook is that you can customize it however you want! For instance, instead of buying a pre-made traveler’s notebook or cover, you can always create or decorate your own. You can add a beautiful watercolor wash to it, stamp some images, or glue die-cuts or stickers on it. Here’s a quick hack on how to decorate your scrapbook cover - use washi tapes! Nathalie, our design team member, shares three easy ways to create personalized scrapbook covers using washi tapes here.

Are you ready to embark on your scrapbooking journey?

Creating a DIY scrapbook to document life’s most precious moments is a beautiful way to have some “me time” and de-stress, explore and embark on a creative journey, or simply bond with family and friends.

The most important things to remember before you start creating your customized pages is to find the best supplies, invest in high-quality custom kits, search for inspiration, and of course, enjoy the journey! We hope this page helped you understand learn everything you need to know about scrapbooking.

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