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The Enrichment Project
Scrapbook Basics
Steps
1. Denitions.
www.scrapbooking101.net/articles/scrapbook-denitions.html
Start here and learn some denitions before we start.
2. Tools.
As with any craft, you need tools. Make sure you have only the basics when you start.
There are an incredible number of tools you can use, but keep it limited until you decide
whether you will continue scrapbooking after completing this badge. Basic tools include:
Scissors detailed cutting
Paper trimmer cutting straight lines
Ruler metal
Cutting mat and craft knife can use this with the metal ruler in place of the
paper trimmer
Before you go out to buy supplies, check your home for these items. If there are others
you feel you must have, give yourself a budget so you dont overspend.
3. Supplies.
The result of scrapbooking is creating archival items. So, make sure you read the package
of everything you buy that you intend to put into your scrapbook. Acid-free and lignin-
free are preferred. Scrapbook supplies can be found at general craft, discount and paper
specialty stores.
Adhesives double-sided tape, glue sticks, glue pens, photo corners
and dimensional squares
Paper these come in all shapes, sizes, colors and prints
Journaling pen black
Of course, this is only the beginning. As you explore scrapbooking, youll nd additional
techniques that require more varied supplies.
4. Non-archival items.
Sooner or later, youll want to include items in your scrapbook that are not archival. It
might be a newspaper clipping, a concert ticket or even a street sign. The easiest thing
to do is to take pictures or make copies on archival paper. You can also add some non-
archival elements by isolating them with an archival container or using an archival spray.
Explore ways to include non-archival items into your scrapbook.
5. Albums.
When most people think of scrapbooking, they think of heavy albums lled with photos
and stories. Albums come in a large variety of sizes. When you rst start out, try a smaller
album so the task of nishing it isnt so daunting. Sizes include:
12" x 12" (traditional)
8.5" x 11" (US letter)
9" x 9"
8" x 8"
6" x 6" (works well with standard 12" x 12" paper)
Scrapbook
Basics
Even if you arent
crafty, youve
heard of scrapbook-
ing. Scrapbooking
includes photog-
raphy, journaling,
lettering, design
and more to
create unique pages
documenting lives
of you and your
family. The scrap-
book you create is
something that can
be passed down to
future generations.
NOTE: We will not
cover digital scrap-
booking in this
badge program.

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Youll nd a variety of binding as well. Some are xed pages with spiral wire binding.
Some have posts that you can disassemble to add more pages.
Additionally, page protectors are available for many of these sizes. They will keep sticky
ngers from damaging your pages. If you plan on handling your album a lot or allowing
children to view it, the investment is worth it.
If you plan on creating an album, explore local stores with available albums or check
scrapbook stores online. You might even nd a class that will give you a supply list
and a start on your rst album.
6. Non-albums.
You dont have to scrapbook in an album. For Girl Scouts, Ive found that doing one page
and placing it into a frame is a great way to introduce the girls to scrapbooking. It gives
them a success quickly and they have something they can show with a reasonable amount
of efort. Other non-album scrapbooks may include:
Coasters
Tissue boxes
Clipboards
Self-made books
Paper mache shapes
Christmas ornaments
Jewelry
Try a non-album way of creating a scrapbook for yourself or as a gift to someone else.
7. Organization.
When you begin scrapbooking, keep organization at the top of your to do list.
Organization will help you:
Find the tools and supplies you need more quickly
Make sure you dont waste money purchasing duplicates
Keep your scrapbooking time for scrapbooking instead of cleaning
Alleviate any additional stress
Keep this in mind as you begin your scrapbooking journey.
8. Why scrapbook?
Each person has their own reasons for scrapbooking. You may want to give the bride a
scrapbook featuring the highlights of her wedding or your best friend those of her baby
shower. You may want to show all your babys rsts or that special trip to Disney. Youll
notice with each of these possibilities, a theme quickly develops. Determine the story you
want to tell. Look through your photos and see what comes to mind. Then, well continue
with your rst page.
Your first page
9. Telling your story.
The page you create, or even the entire album, will tell a story. It might be heritage-based,
telling the story of your grandparents who came to the United States or the military
service of a family member. It might be your daughters Girl Scout experience. As a troop,
my girls worked on learning photography and created their own personalized pages
featuring the photos they took at one meeting. The time your album covers may span
decades or only two hours.
Tell your story. Pull out a sheet of paper and write down an outline, sayings or even a full
story you might want to include. Add the photos you want to nd, people you might need
to talk to for more information, colors that t your story, basically anything that you could
put into your pages that will support your story.

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10. Photos.
Photos are the items that most people think of when scrapbooking. With digital cameras,
we seem to have way more photos than we could ever use. So, youll need to look at your
photos critically and think about your story. Will they t? Can you tell the story in three
photos or less? Which one tells the story better? Will one large photo work?
To start with, dont cut your photos into shapes. Crop out undesirable items like the hand
which comes out of nowhere with your paper trimmer. One benet of critically looking at
your photos is that your photography skills will improve.
One last note, heritage photos are irreplaceable should a mistake be made. Before you
decide to cut into the only copy of your mothers baby picture, make copies. It might be a
little costly to get a color copy or to scan and print, but your original photo will be intact.
Take the photo(s) you want to include on your page and start a collection for your page
items. You may want to invest in an archival folder to collect them so they dont get dirty,
damaged or lost while youre collecting items.
11. Colors.
Why put colors after photos? A great way to tie the page with your photos is to match a
color in your photo with your papers and embellishments. Matching a color in your photos
helps pull that element to the front of the photo. If you need to use copies of your
photos, make sure you take the copies with you to the store when you purchase paper
in case there is a slight diference in color between the copies and originals.
When you choose your paper, be aware that youll be looking for a background paper that
everything will sit on as well as coordinating papers for photo matting (our next step) and
other elements.
12. Photo matting.
You can create the illusion of layers by matting your photos. You cut pieces of paper
slightly larger than your photo and then attach your photo to the paper. You can do one
layer or multiple layers. You can also use photo corners to add to the three-dimensional
efect. Look at examples of scrapbook pages on the Web and see how matting afects
photos.
13. No photos.
Perhaps you dont have photos or the photo you want is of poor quality like a faded
newspaper clipping. What can you do?
Create a sketch from the image you have
Do a caricature or cartoon if the image conveys humor or playfulness
Find a stock photo or clip art that will do the same job as the photo you want
to use
Use stickers or other embellishments (see below)
If you would like to include one of these on your page, make yourself a note so you dont
forget when you layout your page.
14. Non-photo memorabilia.
You probably have a drawer of movie and concert tickets, sports ribbons, recital programs,
coins and more. These items can be incorporated into your scrapbook. Often, youll copy
or print them onto archival paper. You can also purchase archival holders that you can put
these items into so they dont damage the other page elements. If you have any of these
for your page, look at ways you can incorporate them into your layout and put these into
your page collection.

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15. Embellishments.
Embellishments can quickly make you go broke. Not only can you purchase brads, eyelets,
ribbons, stickers and more to attach to your pages, you can incorporate other items that
you make yourself. Here are a few crafts you can add to your scrapbooking page.
Rubber stamping
Punching / die cutting
Quilling
Pergamano
Paper folding
Polymer clay
Dry embossing
What else can you do that could be incorporated? Put the embellishments that t your
color and theme with the items for your page.
16. Titles.
Every page you create may not have a title. You might feel the desire to put the persons
name and year in its place. Make sure your title works with the page, not overpowering
it. Create a title for your page and see if it ts with the design. If not, create another that
works.
17. Journaling.
This is your story. Youll be telling it with a black pen and your words. You can put lined
paper under your paper to help keep your lines straight or use a pencil and ruler to make
very light lines to erase after youve written your information. You can even write the story
in pencil before doing it in ink.
Cant get started? Answer the simple questions Who, What, When, Where, Why and
maybe even How. You can write about why you chose these photos. What feelings did
the photos invoke? What was happening? Is there a story behind the photo you want to
remember? You can write about how the campre smelled, how the sunset looked, how
the baby ducklings feathers felt.
Lastly, dont worry about your handwriting. That is part of the story and makes your
scrapbook page uniquely yours.
18. Layouts.
You can nd layout ideas online, in magazines and in books. Look at other scrapbook
pages to get an idea of how items ow. You can have one large focal image and two
smaller ones. You can do an elaborate photo mat with only one photo. This is your page
and your story.
Take the items youve collected for your page. Put your background paper down and lay
your photos, embellishments and other items out. Move them around until youre happy
with how it looks. If you like overlapping photos, do it! Want to journal after you get your
photos on the page, not a problem.
Dont be afraid to pull items out and put diferent ones in. You may even nd that you
dont care for the main photo you started with. This is your page do what feels right!
When youre happy with the look and the story, get out your adhesive and attach
everything. If you want to show others your work, make sure its protected with a page
protector, frame, etc.

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19. No intimidation zone.
You are not allowed to compare your nal page with the magazines, books and Web sites
you nd. Many of these people have been doing scrapbooking for years. The page you
create is the story you tell. It is the story of you. As you continue your scrapbooking
journey, your tastes will change. Your style will change. There is no right or wrong. The
only thing you need to worry about is your story.
Sites to Explore
www.scrapbooking101.net
funscrapbooking.net
www.basicscrapbooking101.com
scrapbooking.about.com/od/gettingstarted/How_To_Get_Started_Scrapbooking.htm
www.everything-about-scrapbooking.com/scrapbooking-for-beginners.html
www.creatingkeepsakes.com
www.scrapbook.com/articles.php
www.paperwishes.com/scrapbooking101/articles/building-a-page.html
www.ehow.com/how_2043686_create-scrapbook-children.html
www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Scrapbook
Check out larajlas Enrichment Project
to start your own adventure.