12 Scrapbooking Tips to Scrapbook like a Pro

Are your scrapbook pages feeling a bit lackluster? When you have what you need for scrapbooking but your pages still feel amateur, then it’s time to take some scrapbooking tips from pros.  If you've found your way to this page, then you're likely on a mission to turn your memories into visually stunning scrapbooks.

In this post, we're dishing out some tried-and-true scrapbooking tips that'll turn your layouts into eye-catching pieces. From budget hacks to font finesse, we've got the 12 best tips on how to take your scrapbooking skills from zero to hero.
 

• 1. Decide On A Theme
• 2. Create A Focal Point
• 3. Use Your Own Artwork
• 4. Use A Color Palette
• 5. Think Outside The Box When It Comes To Decorative Materials
• 6. Embrace White Space
• 7. Create Your Own Decorative Elements
• 8. Recycle Things at Home
• 9. Set A Budget When Buying Supplies
• 10. Choose An Interesting Book
• 11. Use a Mix of Fonts
• 12. Don’t Focus Only On Photos

Decide On A Theme

Before you dive into the tapes, doodles, and stickers, take a moment to envision the story you want to tell. What is your scrapbook for? Will it tell the story of your journey through the year or your most recent vacation? Having a theme or concept in mind will guide your choices and make your scrapbook harmonious.

Create A Focal Point

Every page needs a star that will tell the story at one glance. Choose a central photo, craft, or embellishment to serve as your focal point to guide the viewer's eye and add a sense of balance to the page. The easy way out is to choose a pot as the focal point, but like the picture above, it can be a card cutout explaining the theme of the page. The photos used were landscape sceneries that did not overpower the road trail cut out, making the page balanced. 

Use Your Own Artwork 

Forget fancy stickers and try drawing your own stuff in your scrapbook—it's like adding your special touch. Not everyone is good at drawing, but you can try doodling your memories with your own sketches to make the book super personal. It's not about being an artist; it's about making your scrapbook truly yours. 

Use A Color Palette

Many people don’t bother having a color palette for their scrapbooks because the clothes they wear in the photos may not match the colors, but that is not the case at all. When you choose a color palette of around 4 matching colors, it will create harmony in your scrapbook.  Your photos don’t have to match the color palette. In fact, it will stand out if it does not match the color palette. 

Choose colors that match your theme. For example, for a Christmas-themed scrapbook, choose Christmas colors. When you have picked your colors, find matching stickers, embellishments, and cardstock paper to help you stick to your theme. Consistency in color adds a professional look to your layouts

Think Outside The Box When It Comes To Decorative Materials

There are so many other types of textures and materials to explore while scrapbooking. Don’t settle for two-dimensional elements only because you don't want your pages to be too bulky; think outside the box and use any material that you think can improve your scrapbook. For instance, use old metal pieces, fabrics, and even polymer clay to create cute shapes and patterns for your scrapbook. If you don't want your pages to look “stuffed” when using a spiral-bound notebook, tear out a few pages so that the sheets will hang loosely on the rings, leaving more space for three-dimensional embellishments. 

Embrace White Space

People tend to assume that the best scrapbooks are those packed with several photos and embellishments, but sometimes, less is more. Yes, the packed layout can look beautiful, but don't be afraid to leave a lot of white space on your pages. It allows the eye to rest, and that way, you can emphasize key elements like a photo you really want to stand out. 

Create Your Own Decorative Elements

When you’re making a scrapbook, you shouldn’t always aim for perfection because it’s not about making the best-looking pages; it’s about preserving your memories. Try to make some fun memories while crafting by creating your own decorative elements. For instance, instead of buying note cards/stickers, you can turn regular sheets of paper into interesting note cards by slightly burning the edges. Just run a lighter flame around the edges slightly; don’t let the fire get too big before blowing it out, and you’ll get a cool note card. 

Recycle Things at Home

The great news is that you don’t always have to buy brand-new scrapbook supplies; you can recycle everyday household objects. One example of this is using an old CD as the background of a photo, a standout embellishment piece. CDs are relatively flat, so they will not add too much weight or bulk to your pages. Wrap some CDs in colored/patterned craft paper and glue the embellishment or photo on top of it to give it a framed look. You can cut your photo in a circular shape for a more rounded finish. For a more layered look, use a square frame within the frame for extra visual interest.

Set A Budget When Buying Supplies

Crafting often tempts us to go on an endless shopping spree, buying every enticing paper, tape, and embellishment in sight. However, a wise scrapbooker knows the importance of setting a budget. Avoid overspending by using a budget to guide you when you go shopping. Focus on your choices and only buy items that align with your theme and color scheme.

Choose An Interesting Book

Your scrapbook notebook is the first thing you see when you want to begin crafting. Choosing an interesting book will help your creative juices flow, fill you with so many ideas, and just give you an overall different look. Instead of the usual refillable notebook with white pages, buy one with an interesting solid color like black, tan, or grey. This will set the tone for the sort of embellishments you will buy to make your scrapbook. If you’re not sure what type of notebooks to buy, you can get the best Japanese notebooks for good value. Most brands will have spiral bound, ruled, blank, grid, or colored versions of their products, so you have various choices. 

Use a Mix of Fonts

Get creative with your titles by experimenting with different fonts, sizes, and styles to add personality to your pages. Don’t stick to just one type of font, and consider using alphabet stamps, stickers, or even your own handwriting to get various types of notes.

Don’t Focus Only On Photos

Do you know that you can create a scrapbook page without using a single photo? It seems impossible, but the aim of a scrapbook is to preserve the memory of a special event. When you go on a trip or a vacation, your flight tickets, money, movie tickets, and receipts are collectibles that you can use to tell stories in your scrapbook. When you focus too much on photos, you will forget to collect these things and miss out on a great scrapbook page.

Another great way to create a page without a photo is to use a world map for your travel scrapbook. Cover the entire page with the map of the country and circle the places you visited. You can also add receipts, tickets, or other objects you got at those places to make your scrapbook look better. 

Have you been looking to buy some high-quality Japanese scrapbooking supplies? Check out our ZenPop stationery store for the best deals. 

This article was originally written by our freelance writer Umm-Kulthum Abdulkareem and edited by us.