Before you start your scrapbook album
Learn how to simplify your scrapbooking method so your pages get done faster—and easier.
With a little planning, you really can complete a scrapbook album in just one weekend. Creative Team member Shannon Tidwell suggests this checklist to help you choose the right project, get organized, and plan your tasks so you can accomplish your goal.
Theme & Content
Whether it’s a scrapbook of the family’s recent trip to Disneyland or a memory book for Grandma of time spent with the grandchildren, decide and focus on one subject for this album.
Once you know what your album is all about, collect all pictures, journaling notes, and memorabilia in one place so you have everything to work with. Another time-saving tip is to select papers from one manufacturer’s collection so you don’t have to spend time looking for the right color match or coordinated style.
Choose an Album & Create an Outline
To help complete your project in a weekend, consider selecting an album with a background (such as kraft paper) you can incorporate into your pages. You also might consider 6x6" albums to maximize the use of 12x12" papers.
Next, plan what you want to include in your album and in what order. The more detailed your outline, the more quickly your book will come together. Add sticky notes on album pages or page protectors to spell out the book’s pacing right in front of you.
Pre-Assembly & Page Sketches
Assembling your album will go quickly if all your pictures are cropped first. Use large punches for consistent sizes and shapes. Consider trimming papers, too. Cut them to fit your book; then if you want to use parts or strips, they will be partially cut to size.
Now you’re ready to design a page. Jot notes, clip a favorite page layout example, or even scribble a sketch of how you would like to design your main content pages. With a rough format in mind, you’ll find making multiple pages, even with slight variations, will go quickly.
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