Whatever the occasion, a scrapbook makes for a fun way to present and remember those special moments. Excellent as gifts and perfect for a well-thought out Christmas prezzie, get started with our handy tips!

Whether you’re giving yours as a gift, or keeping a scrapbook as a memento of a special event or holiday, nothing quite beats the feeling of holding memories in your hands.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a scrapbook, you’re not alone. Sure, they look simple, but if you’re not careful, making a DIY scrapbook can turn become a never ending project that never quite ends up how you envisioned. But don’t worry. We’re here to help!

Image credit: Pinterest

Choose your project

Don’t be too ambitious – you’ll be amazed at how much work it is to simply scrapbook one single holiday!

Start with your blank book

First of all, you’ll need a book. This can be any blank workbook, but a thick sturdy bound one with a nice cover is a good place to begin. If you’re looking for a really personal take, you could create a blank Hardback Book with your design on the cover, and then fill the inside pages with your photos and memories.

Print your photos

The key element of scrapbooking is in the photo printing. There are a number of ways to go about your photo printing. You could print a whole load of standard 6×4 prints, or you could go Polaroid Style with Instagram prints, or you could use a combination of the two.

Scrapbook inspiration – via Pinterest

Get your layouts nailed

Now, different people will have different ways of working with layouts. Some people like to plough on in and get sticking right away, but we suggest following this format:

• Group your photos into events or times (i.e. Trips on holiday, holiday food, holiday nights out, or for example; the hen do, getting ready for the wedding, the car journey to the wedding, the church photos, the reception, etc)
• Once they’re grouped, assign your pages – i.e. pages 1-4 might be ‘the hen do’ 5-6 ‘getting ready’ etc.
• Remove all your photos and separate them and number them accordingly using plastic wallets (this ensures you don’t lose any!)

Now, you can get started on the fun stuff. Once your photos are ready, you can start thinking about embellishments, stickers and mementos that are going to help you create a scrapbook, rather than a photo album.

Get some inspiration for layouts online

Head on over to Pinterest and search for ‘scrapbooks’ or ‘scrapbook pages’ to get an idea of the kinds of things that others create. Don’t be overwhelmed, yours can be as intricate or simple as you like! The key thing with a scrapbook is that it’s personal to you, so don’t try to be too like everyone else’s, the idea is to get some ideas and inspiration.

Scrapbook inspiration – via Pinterest

Gather your embellishments

You can choose whichever embellishments you like – if you’re stuck for inspiration head down to your local craft store to take a look at the kinds of things they have. Everything from stickers to offcuts of paper and materials are ideal here – and there are no limits! If you stick in 3D objects and it means your scrapbook won’t quite close properly – it’ll only add to the charm!

Plan your layouts per page – before you stick!

It can be tempted to get stuck in (literally) right away – but we can’t stress enough how important it is to get your layout nailed first.

• Begin by placing your photos
• Think about whether you need a title or an area to write a message or some text
• Then layer over your embellishments
• When you’re happy – start gluing!
• If you’ve used things like glitter or glitter glue, don’t forget to let these dry before turning over and starting a new spread!

Have you ever created a scrapbook? Let us know your top tips below, or share your scrapbooks with us by tagging us in your creations using #ProudlyPrinted.

If you’re looking for quality photo printing to create your first scrapbook, check out our Photo Prints!

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