9 Simple Steps to
Beginner Scrapbooking

This is the minimal barebones of it all. Absorb it all in if you're into beginner scrapbooking.

1) Select a set of photos to work on. For a start, select your photos based on a theme or occasion.

It's much easier to digest rather than a family heritage project based on chronological order.

2) Decide on a central photo. Make this the main focus of your set of photos.

3) Have an overall layout image in your mind. Where to place your photos? Where to write? Where to add little extras? Your layout is not a fixture. Feel free to change it as you deem fit. Whatever that pleases you works, even for beginner scrapbooking.

4) Choose 2 or 3 colors of acid-free papers. Choose papers that complement your photos. Too many colors will drain attention away from your "star" photo. Colors are to enhance, not distract.

5) Crop your photo if needed. Though not always necessary. It's a good idea to leave in as many details as you can. But crop away those distracting background.

6) Mat your photos. A photo mat makes a picture stands out. Best of all, it's so easy to mat a photo. Some advised that neutral colors like black, white, beige are great to mat your photos with, as it won't clash with your patterned paper or colors of your photos.

But it's really up to your own preference. Occasionally, I do mat my photos with bright, bold colors. And that worked out well too.

7) Write something. Journaling brings meaning to your pages. Your written words would bring out the emotions of the photos and let a story unfold. Words will add a strong personal touch to your scrapbook.

8) Add a few little extras. Like rubber stamping, paper punches, stickers or embellishments can add on to the charm of your beginning scrapbooking efforts. But nothing too much. Simplicity has its beauty.

9) Then start laying everything down on your pages. Does it appeal to you visually? Shift them here and there. Cut, then adhere. And you're done with your beginner scrapbooking page!

That doesn't sound too tough, does it?

How about taking a look at a step-by-step picture guide to constructing a scrapbook page? Click here.

If you just dive in, and not be "paralyzed by analysis", your beginner scrapbooking pages can be completed quickly. They may not be perfect pages. But hey, it's your beginner's efforts.

Read Reviews of "A Scrapbooker's Guide: Scrapbooking Fundamentals (E-Book)"

This is a great resource e-Book for novice scrapbookers. You'll get more complete beginner scrapbooking information in this 50-page scrapbook guide from Jill Davis, the founder of Scrapbook.com. You'll learn the best equipment to start your scrapbooking journey, ways to protect your memorabilia, how to discover your own scrapbooking style, how to connect with other scrapbookers and the essential scrapbooking terms. Since it's an e-Book, you can download and read it immediately.

Sort Those Photos Chronologically

For chronological sorting, you can sort by decade first, follows by year.

Unless you've carefully dated all the photos faithfully throughout the years, you're likely to have a headache trying to remember the dates, names of persons, locations, etc.

And you are likely to find yourself calling one relative to another for the missing details.

To wither down the high mountain pile of photos, you might like to consider setting aside certain time slots. These are times dedicated solely to just sorting through the photos.

Be prepared to set aside two whole days or more if you have more boxes of photos to work with for your beginner scrapbooking.

On the other hand, at such times, you may find yourself transported back to another time passage. Reliving those long-forgotten memories... or getting acquainted with your ascendants in ways you never thought possible.

Gentle warning: For those ancient photos, besides dates and names (if you're lucky), more questions will baffle you as you wonder what's the story behind those precious photos.

Why did your great-grandfather take the career path he took? Did your great-grandparents enjoy a great, romantic love story? What's their lives like in those olden days?

Ah, those so long ago days...

Frankly, unless you've decided to take upon the burden of becoming the family historian and family heritage albums are your cup of tea. Or you're so taken with the idea of sorting your photos on a chronological order before things make sense to you... If not, there's other sorting methods.

Scrapbooking for beginners needs not be that tedious, really.

Starting With the Most Current

Beginner scrapbooking is supposed to be a piece of cake so that it can get you hooked on for more. So how about getting started with other easier ways?

One way is really to start with your latest batch of photos. Sorting them backwards.

Here's where your memory of details serves you the best. You can safely recall so much more without a hiccup. Moreover, it's much easier to jot others' memories too should you need verifications from them.

And it's not as frightening as starting from the very beginning and digging out from that towering pile of photos. It's a breeze starting with 2005 rather than 1958.

No countless frustrating hours in playing detective in tracing the history of photos for your beginner scrapbooking... yet.

Actually you might never have to go searching for any clues if you have no intention of doing family heritage scrapbooking in the first place.

Or perhaps you're a more of those living in the present type who prefer scrapbooking about your current generation?

You can always choose to start everything afresh from your own generation onwards. Or maybe even your parents’ generation so that your children will get to know their grandparents more intimately.

Now, let's jump ahead to other ways that you can sort your photos for beginner scrapbooking, other than sorting based on long timelines.

Other Sorting Methods

Let's take it the easy way with your first scrapbooking project. Shall we?

You can sort by special occasions like New Year 2005. Robbie's high school graduation ceremony, Grand mama’s 76th birthday or Janice’s bridal shower.

Sorting by Occasions - This method is a great way to organize your photos for beginner scrapbooking. It also spurs you on to your next scrapbooking idea.

Personally, I find sorting by occasions get me started swiftly. It's smaller-scale, easier and tends to inspire me to create something better, though not necessarily bigger, the next time. And there's always enough occasions to go around throughout the year. Scrapbooking for beginners should be fun, shouldn't it?

Sorting by Themes - Here's another easy way to getting started in scrapbooking. Themes need not only evolved around important stuff. Themes can as simple as highlighting the daily occurrences, or everyday lives of an individual. People tend to forget to scrapbook about their daily lives which make up majority of their time.

An all-time favorite is scrapbooking baby's "firsts". It could also be around events that stretch a timeline like Marcus's 1st to 21st birthdays, Lily's and Susie's changing fashion sense and hairstyles, Genie's favorite toys, etc.

The possibilities can be endless as anyone or any event can be a potential theme, if you just let your imagination run loose!

Of course, themes don't have to take up a big chunk of your time as you can decide on a timeline. But themes spreading across different timelines also offer interesting ideas for beginner scrapbooking.

For my very first scrapbook before the birth of my baby niece, I created a Favorite Photos scrapbook for my best friend’s birthday. To set the theme, I asked her for ten pieces of her favorite photos. Without breaking into anxiety, I churned out my very first scrapbook within two days.

Sorting by Individuals - This can be a little more challenging as it's likely to involve a longer timeline, especially if the person is in his advanced years. Or to make things a lot easier, you can choose to cover a more crucial period of that person's life instead. It's actually a scale-down version as compared to chronological sorting for the whole family.

So, how about starting small with an occasion or a theme?

Later on when you are all pro and more experienced, you can always advance to the next level and kick start the more challenging scrapbooking project of family heritage or a tribute to an individual.

Starting Small

Perhaps by now you're getting the impression that I am an advocate for instant scrapbooking gratification. Well, I am.

In whatever way you choose to sort your photos, the key is to follow your heart's desires. Whatever that catches your fancy is more likely to set your creativity on fire. And keep the fire burning during your beginner scrapbooking days and the rest of the days!

Cropping of Photos

1) Do keep details that identify historical references, people, dates, locations, occasions, etc. These little details could mean a lot in years to come.

2) Please leave your Polaroid alone. Cutting them will release chemicals, possibly ruining the photos and damaging your pages! If you really can't stand certain portions, create a frame around the Polaroid to conceal those annoying bits.

3) For each layout, limit the number of photo shapes. You don't have to apply square, oval, round, rectangular shapes all on one page. Try using square-shaped photos to a square-shaped album, it adds elegance and simplicity.

Supplies to Get You Started

So exactly what basic supplies will get you started on beginner scrapbooking?

You may want to have these items ready on hand before you start.

The essentials are:

Acid-free album - What size do you want to work with? What colored-album will go with your theme?

Album refills - If you are getting some non-standard sizes, maybe consider getting a few packs of refills at the same time. Just in case the manufacturer stops producing that size. As a precaution.

Acid-free printed papers or cardstock - What colors will complement your photo colors? Feel the texture, look at the prints, and see in your mind eye if the paper will blend well with your photo.

Archival-safe adhesive/glue - That can be used for both papers and photos.

Straight-cut scissors - Check that it trims neatly and save this pair for your scrapbooking needs only. Those that's designed for detailed cutting is recommended.

Black pens - For journaling purposes. Preferably pigment-based, permanent ink.

Extras - Embellishments like paper punches, rubber stamping, flowers, stickers, eyelets, brads, etc.

As you get more involved with scrapbooking, you'll find that you'll naturally expand your collection of supplies.

Meanwhile, you might want actual product recommendations so you know what are some of the best buys out there. Here's a wonderful list of essential scrapbook supplies complied by the famed Scrapbook.com especially for beginner scrapbookers. Click here to fall in love with these recommendations!

And also, you might like these articles::

History of Scrapbooking
Why Scrapbook? Why Love Scrapbooking?
10 Scrapbooking Facts All Scrapbookers Must Know
10 Scrapbooking Lesson I've Learned
Effective Ways to Learn Scrapbooking
How to Make Scrapbook
How To Scrapbook
Scrapbooking Sketches are a Great Planning Tool for Beginners
Scrapbooking Sketches with Celebrity Scrapbooker Becky Higgins
Scrapbooking Magazines
Scrapbooking Books
Scraplifting
Save Money and Time with Scrapbooking Kits
How to Squash Your Scrapbooking Perfection Tendency?
Attention Scrapbookers: Save Your Digital Photos Before It's Too Late



Now that you have the guide to beginner scrapbooking, what's next?

Take action!

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