Are you overwhelmed with Scrapbooking? Don’t know where to start? Or just looking for a basic beginner’s guide to Scrapbooking? Then you’re in the right place! Check out my simple system for scrapbooking in the video at the bottom of this post. You’ll learn simple tips for layouts, cropping, mounting, journaling and (optional) simple embellishments.

Materials Used in this Video:

  • Creative Memories Refill Pages
  • Personal Trimmer
  • Dual-tip Pen
  • Repositionable Tape Runner
  • Optional: Sticker Pack, Variety Mat Pack, Laser Cut Embellishments
    (Click SHOP CM tab above to order supplies)

Layout Your Photos

Think about the stories you want to remember. You don’t have to put your photos in exact chronological order. I typically put 4-6 photos on a page. As you place your photos on the pages you will see how they look together and group them accordingly.

Step 1: CROP

Using a Creative Memories Personal Trimmer you can easily trim your photos if desired. The things I crop out are excess sky or ground, my hips (occasionally), and that one relative you just don’t like (I’m joking)!

Step 2: MOUNT

Using Creative Memories Repositionable Tape Runner I put about 1/4-inch of adhesive on each corner. Repositionable Tape Runner allows you to move your photos around if you need to reposition them. Over time the tape becomes permanent.

Step 4: JOURNAL

Using Creative Memories Dual-tip Pen you can use the fine tip side to write directly on the scrapbook page. Use the bold tip side for titles. A tip for writing straight lines is to use a piece of cardstock as a guide.

DONE?

That’s it! Wasn’t that FAST? Now I know we are only on Step 3 but just think if we stopped here, this would be fine. A lot of my clients scrapbook this way. They have clean, classic, completed albums in just a dash of time. Now if this is too simple for you, stick around for Step 4 where I’ll show you how fast we can jazz up your pages.

Step 4: EMBELLISH

Creative Memories Sticker Packs come with 3 sheets of photo-safe stickers. One of these sheets is 12-inch borders. Just peel one off and add it to the edge of your page. You can add a cluster of smaller stickers in the corner for a fun embellishment. Sticker packs also come with words and titles. Add a word sticker over the cluster or across the border to add to your page design.

Tips:

That is the 4 steps to completing a simple scrapbook album. Once you are done with each page you can add a Page Protector to protect your pages from accidental spills or fingerprints. Page Protectors are included with every Refill Pack. Watch this video for tips on How to use Page Protectors.

Other tips you can find in the video below:

  • Watch as Donna Lyn completes Steps 1-4 on 3 different page spreads
  • Add Variety Mat Packs for journaling
  • Add Laser Cut Embellishments for titles
  • Beyond the Basics: what colored and patterned paper can do for your photos (both good and bad!)
  • A Fun Fold-Over Trick to get double use out of your 12×12 paper!
  • It’s ok to mix up the steps – you don’t have to go in order.

I would love to know if this video was helpful to you and if it inspires you to get your photos into albums and your stories written. Just think we did all of this with just a Personal Trimmer, Pen and Tape Runner. And a bonus Sticker Pack, Mat Pack and Laser Cut Titles Pack.

Be sure to check out my next video How to Add Refill Pages to your Album.

Happy Scrappin’,

DL

simple scrapbooking | cardmaking | journaling