Scrapbooking Basics

If you are new to this craft some scrapbooking basics may come in handy. So let us look at the different elements that go together to create traditional scrapbook layouts.

Photographs

Of course the whole idea of scrapbooking is to preserve memories of people and events to look back on, therefore your photographs will be the stars and should be given centre stage. Any additional elements should compliment the photos and help tell the story.

If your photos contain distracting background details you may be able to cut, or crop, off the edges to help the eye focus on the main subject matter. Be brave, don't always crop your photos into squares or rectangles. Dare to be different and have fun with all sorts of shapes.

Each page will be different, and may not need all of the elements listed below.

Scrapbooking basics - Background papers

There is a wide variety of beautiful scrapbooking papers on offer nowadays. From bright cheerful primary colours to soft muted shades, plain or printed, mat or pearlescent, that will set off your photos wonderfully. Most of these will be available in the traditional 12 x 12 inch squares to fit modern day scrapbook albums.

Papers are also used to matt, or frame, photos before adding them to your page. This can help to pull the viewer's attention towards the photograph when they first look at the page. Keep in mind that you don't always have to place the photo dead centre of the matt. Angling it can create a more dynamic mat. Or you may like to leave a larger border at the bottom in which to write a caption.

Don't throw away scraps of paper, you can always use a fancy paper punch to create small shapes or letters which you can use to decorate your page. Thin strips can be used for borders or you could even try your hand at paper quilling to make decorative elements such as flowers.

Scrapbooking basics - Titles

The title conveys the concept behind the layout. This can be a short saying or quote, the name of the person featured on the page, or a simple phrase that compliments the other elements. Titles can be handwritten but are often created by rubber stamping, using stickers or stencilling. You can also use tags, with a single letter on each, to spell out the title.

Scrapbooking basics - Journaling

Although it is said that a picture is worth 1000 words, you may still like to add some journaling or text to your page, to help give information that is not contained within the photographs. For example the birth weight and date of a new baby, could be given in the journaling area. Again this can be handwritten or typed up on your computer and added to the layout.

Stuck as to what to write? How about documenting how you felt about the event portrayed in the photos? Perhaps write a poem or include song lyrics that remind you of the time the photographs were taken. You might find that my storytelling ideas page will help you get started.

By the way the journaling does not always need to be visible when you first set eyes on a page. It is possible to hide it in various ways, such as tucking it in a pocket or envelope, or behind a hinged matted photograph. Ideal if you want to include your personal thoughts but still be able to show the page to people that do not need to read that info. Just don't tell them about your secret message hidden within.

Scrapbooking basics - Embellishments

Any embellishments you choose should enhance the page, not distract from the main photographs. As you progress beyond scrapbooking basics you will start to collect a large variety of embellishments, including brads, eyelets, stickers, ribbons, feathers, flowers, tags, sequins, buttons, bows, and fibres. You can also use other crafting techniques such as tatting, crochet, mosaics or paper folding to decorate your pages.

Scrapbooking basics - Borders

Borders can be created on one or more sides of your page. They can be drawn if you are artistic or you can use purchased borders. They can be straight, zigzag or meander in a naturalistic way along the edges.

You could thread ribbon through punched holes (as in my daughter's wedding layout), finished with eyelets to create a pretty border for baby scrapbook pages. Ric Rac, which can be narrow and delicate or the jumbo variety, is another possibility. Peel-offs or rub-ons could also be utilised. Don"t forget rubber stamping or even just using the ink pad itself to colour the edges of the paper can be effective. Scrapbooking chalks can be used in a similar manner.

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