Your First Scrapbook Layout!

Sign Up Now and Receive the Full Length Version of this Scrapbooking Video - Completely Free! A full 33 Minute 55 second video teaching you all about the best parts of Scrapbooking!

All you have to do is sign up below and you'll be sent directly to the Free Video! Go ahead and input your name and email address below:

Your First Name:

E-Mail:

(We hate SPAM just as much as you! You won't receive any from us and you can unsubscribe at any time.)

Click here for our step by step Fast Start Video Scrapbooking guide!

First of all, select your photos. By the time you finish reading this book you will probably be sick of the word photo. Don’t’ be.

Get used to it. J

Photos are an integral part of each and every scrapbook’s layout and design.

Select the photos that you are going to use in this particular layout patiently and diligently, basing your decision on factors such as theme and spacing of the page in question.

The next step is to take your photos and choose a layout that accommodates those pictures and the embellishments you intend to use with them.

For large themes, go with a double page spread to create more room for adequate spacing of the photos and other items.

For smaller based themes, go with a single page spread. Sometimes it may even be appropriate to use a tall and wide layout (turning the book 90 degrees to offer a ‘portrait’ perspective layout.

I do not suggest that you choose to use this layout type too frequently because it will require that your viewers move the book back and forth as they turn the pages.

Finally, when selecting pictures for a relative theme in your book, either choose one large picture to center the theme around or an assortment of smaller ones.

After the theme has been selected, decide which pictures fit together the best to accommodate the layout that has been chosen.

Once everything is decided upon, remember, it’s not in stone until you have actually begun pasting so never be afraid to make edits at this point.

Once you have taken care of the selection and planning concerning your photos, then it is time to choose what type of paper to use for your background.

I generally stick with patternized paper for background because I feel like it livens up my layout and gives your eyes something to draw them into focus on the photos.

There are many types of patternized papers available so you should be able to select one that is complementary to your theme and composition.

Let your paper choice help you to define the theme of your page.

If you do so, this will enhance your theme and will in turn make each individual layout move along a little quicker and easier to pull together, thus making your scrapbook move along faster as a whole.

Choose a coordinating paper that is solid in color to match your design to use for picture matting.

By matting in a solid color on a textured or busy background, your photos will really stand out.

If you are designing your page in a double spread layout form, then try to use the same colors and backgrounds in both pages in order to keep continuity in the design.

At this point, I also create and arrange my journaling paper and other larger objects just to be sure that they will fit in nicely in conjunction with my photos and other objects on the page.

Never throw away scraps when you are scrapbooking.

You should deduct this much info from the title. There is always a hidden use for any clipping or snippet of paper or fabric.

Keep these in a box and dig through them for inspiration.

Alternate sides of once cut out shapes offer very cool design ideas that you might not come up with on your own.

Next, begin to apply your mats to your photos. Again, when matting on top of textured or patterned surfaces, always use a solid colored mat.

This solid color will point your eye directly in the direction of the photo, setting it off from the rest of the page.

A mat gives you some definition of space between your photos and the busy background.

When you are making your mats, always trace your crop marks onto the mat board and cut inside the markings by approximately one quarter of an inch in order to properly secure your photo within the mat without taking any picture out of the picture.

If your background is not patternized and you would still like to mat your photos, go for it!

Choosing a color to use is pretty simple.

Choose a color in the photograph that coordinates with the color scheme of the background, and use that color.

I hardly ever recommend using a patternized mat because it distracts the eye away from the picture.

If you are using an especially bright colored background, sometimes a wider mat will give the layout that last touch to set it off well.

Smaller mats can be used on lighter, milder backgrounds.

Now, finally you can begin to layout your page!! There are hundreds of great ideas available online to get your creative juices flowing that you can either modify to suit your needs or even copy directly.

Take advantage of these ideas even if you intend to create your own, just to add to your idea base.

You might see something that sparks the old light bulb in a totally different application then it is actually being used in.

The center of your page is where all of the visual attention is normally focused.

If you are using larger groups of photos and balancing them around the sides of the page, it is wise to find some sort of really eye-catching embellishment to place in the center of the page to justify their placement.

Borders are another great way to keep the eyes focused in the right direction.

In most applications, the borders should either be equal on all sides or heavier on the bottom.

This adds weight and anchors your page. You should use this technique if you have a really large photo or object placed at the top of your layout.

Journaling adds so much character and insight to a page.

Whether you journal directly onto the page (which I do not suggest unless you are extremely confident in your writing abilities), or if you choose rather to print off your notes on a printer in a nice, appealing font, anyone can add journaling to their layout without too much trouble.

Even if you would like to write your journaling out by hand but are not comfortable with applying it directly onto the page itself, you can always find a paper insert and write your journal entry on that and paste it into place.

Whatever makes you the most comfortable.

When you have completed all necessary items for your book, it is time to paste them into place.

Before reaching this step, you should always take the time to do trial run-through in order to ensure that you do not run out of space or have any other unforeseen mishaps.

I love three ring binders, especially for use if you are a beginner or new to scrapbooking because they allow you to mix and match and move pages around to suit you in such an easy manner.

You can even go back and add in pages with extra photos after your scrapbook is complete.

When you have completed your first page, sit down and take a deep breath. That is all there is to it. Wasn’t it fun?

Be sure to place your page in an area where it can dry appropriately before you attempt to place it back into your binder.

Different adhesives have different drying times. Some will require two or three hours and others might require twenty-four.

You should have read the drying instructions carefully before you even begin pasting in order to ensure that these times are consistent with your ideal drying time and also that the materials are compatible.

Click here to get started with our Video Scrapbooking tutorials!