Scrapbooking Tips

50 Not-To-Be-Missed Tips

Why do scrapbookers love scrapbooking tips? Because tips save you money, make you more efficient and even make you grasp, "Wow, I never thought of that!".

That's what scrapbook tips are wonderful for. And this list of fabulous tips is something beginner scrapbookers would love to get their hands on.

This series of tips and ideas will spotlight easy-to-apply scrapbooking techniques even beginners can apply. It also highlights must-try scrapbooking ideas you might have overlooked.

Run through this list of scrapbook tips. You'll find a few ideas or techniques you can use right away on your next scrapbook layout.

Also watch out for clickable product images on the right that feature some of the hottest and most raved about scrapbooking products out there!

Happy scrapping!

50 Scrapbooking Tips On the Go

Scrapbooking Tips #2:
You don't have to mat every single photo on your scrapbook layout, unless you want it to stand out from the background. Always mat your focal-point photo though.

Scrapbooking Tips #3:
Run out of adhesive dots to hold down your ribbon to the page? Fret not, tack down the ribbons using brads at each end.

Scrapbooking Tips #4:
How to spread liquid adhesive quickly over a large surface area? Instead of dumping those phony plastic credit cards you received in mail, save them. Save your used phone cards too. Then you can simply use these wasted plastic cards as glue-spreaders! Use the plastic card to swipe and spread the liquid glue into a thin, even layer of glue over a big surface area. What's more? You can just wipe the card clean and reuse them again and again.

Scrapbooking Tips #5:
Want an eye-catching background? Cut a piece of patterned paper into a large curved shape and attach it to your cardstock. It instantly creates visual interest to your background. You can use freehand, bowls, plates and anything round to help you draw the curved shape.

Scrapbooking Tips #6:
You can also add visual interest to your background by using punches. Punch out using cardstocks and add these page accents to help you create an interesting background design.

Scrapbooking Tips #7:
Wrap ribbons around your focal-point photo to add emphasis.

Scrapbooking Tips #8:
Lace a strip of ribbon through punched holes along one side of the border to create a pretty-looking page accent.

Scrapbooking Tips #9:
Do you love the stitched-look but can't sew or you want a simpler method? Use rub-on stitches or here's what I would normally do, use a fine-tip pen and draw the dashes to resemble the stitched-look without needle and thread! Not perfect, but it saves me plenty of time.

Scrapbooking Tips #10:
Add on a premade envelope to your layout to tuck in the extra journaling. Give your envelope a unique look by customizing it to your own preference. You can also use library pocket to tuck in your extra journaling too.

Scrapbook Tips #11:
For fast page accents, simply cut out designs from patterned papers. Adhere these cut accents to your page and you're done! Saves money too.

Scrapbook Tips #12:
To add more visual interest to your flower accents, add a brad to the flower center. And brads can help you fasten the flower to the page.

Scrapbook Tips #13:
Besides brads, you can you can add a button to the flower center. If you're using buttons, you can even tie a knot with embroidery floss. Then add an adhesive dot to the back of the button to adhere it to your layout.

Scrapbook Tips #14:
For a great page title, cut out letters from patterned paper.

Scrapbook Tips #15:
For a quick page accent, print or handwrite a favorite quote on a strip of cardstock and adhere it to your page.

Scrapbook Tips #16:
Customize your patterned paper by layering a piece of vellum or printed transparency over it.

Scrapbook Tips #17:
For another great background, cut out tall triangles from patterned paper. Ink the edges of the cut triangles to add emphasis. Then adhere these triangles to your cardstock and you got an edgy-looking background.

Scrapbook Tips #18:
Don't have inking stamp pad to add emphasis to your edges? Use a fine-tip black pen and draw lightly on the edges to create an inked look.

Scrapbook Tips #19:
Want to create a unique handwritten title? Handwrite with wide enough space between each letter. Cut out each handwritten letter and mat it on a cardstock. Be amazed by how your handwritten title will look like a unique font!

Scrapbook Tips #20:
Don't have any ribbons to add to your scrapbook layouts? Cut out strips from your lined patterned papers and adhere these faux ribbons to your pages.

Scrapbook Tips #21:
Handwrite your journaling on cardstock. Cut it into strips and adhere them to your layout with glue or staple them in order. Give your page a random, fun look.

Scrapbook Tips #22:
Scraplift (copy) a page to quickly achieve a fantastic-looking layout! I love looking at others' layouts and I love scraplifiting those designs that caught my fancy. Even with scraplifting, you can create very different looks. So you'll still retain your unique look. Look through others' scrapbook layouts. See any inspiring layouts that you really like? Scraplift that page.

Scrapbook Tips #23:
Enjoy tearing pages? Now you can give a more textured look to your scrapbook page by tearing off one side of your cardstock or patterned paper. Fast and easy way to add more visual interest to a layout.

Scrapbook Tips #24:
For an interesting way to adhere word definition sticker or word accent to your page, use a paper clip. Your office stationery does come in handy.

Scrapbook Tips #25:
To make your photos pop, just add a white mat. To save time, ask your photo lab to print your photos with a white border.

Scrapbook Tips #26:
For interesting contrasts to your page, pair colored photos with black & white photos.

Scrapbook Tips #27:
Use ribbons or buttons as page accents. Buttons create a fun, cute look while ribbons can lend a sweet and pretty look to your layouts.

Scrapbook Tips #28:
Use chipboard letters for an outstanding page title. Do mix both letters and matrix-portions for an enhanced look.

Scrapbook Tips #29:
No place to write out your journaling? Journal on a tag or a piece of cardstock and tuck it neatly behind a photo. Here's where you can write more heartfelt words without others looking at it too.

Scrapbook Tips #30:
Want to draw the eyes to the focal-point photo? Use colored photo corners to spotlight your focal-point photo instead of matting it.

Scrapbook Tips #31:
For a cutting-edge look, print your page title on a piece of vellum and place the printed vellum over a piece of photo. Cool.

Scrapbook Tips #32:
For a soft and classy look, write your journaling on a piece of cardstock then place a piece of vellum over the journaling block.

Scrapbook Tips #33:
Be bold with your fonts. Mix fonts in your page title to create a dynamic, fun and random look to your layout!

Scrapbook Tips #34:
Want to position your text perfectly on your layout? Print your text on transparency and you can easily position it wherever you want it to go.

Scrapbook Tips #35:
Don't throw away your soda tabs! Save them and use them as "buckle" on your ribbons. If you want, you can sand the rough edge down a bit and even paint on them to match the color of your ribbon. I've used this tip several times and I really like the look. It works with paper strips too.

Scrapbook Tips #36:
Give your layout a edgy or casual look by using staples to fasten journaling blocks, page titles or page accents.

Scrapbook Tips #37:
Use fabric as your background design or cut it up in strips and use them as ribbons for your layouts.

Scrapbook Tips #38:
Using journaling strips on your page? Ink around the edges of the journaling strips for emphasis.

Scrapbook Tips #39:
Want to add decorative elements to your photo mat? Then keep the mat quite thick, at least 1/2" so that the mat won't look cluttered up.

Scrapbook Tips #40:
Love the look of matted letters and yet don't have the time to do so much cutting? Trace around each letter with a fine-tipped pen. Leave some space along the edges for you to color in the edges.

Scrapbook Tips #41:
Tips on choosing pens: Pick a fine-tipped pen for a simple look. Pick a bolder pen for a more casual look. Have a few sizes on hand and experiment with different ones.

Scrapbook Tips #42:
Find it a challenge to coordinate papers? Keep a lookout for companies that offer lines of coordinating papers. These coordinating papers can easily match one another on a layout. Reduce your coordinating time and spend more time scrapbooking.

Scrapbook Tips #43:
Is your background competing with your photos? Lay a piece of vellum over the background to mute the strong background colors.

Scrapbook Tips #44:
Add more texture to your cardstock by crumbling it. Cardstock can be quite stiff, so runs it under a drizzle of water to soften it. Then start crumpling the cardstock. To dry it, flatten it out and use a towel to absorb the moisture. Let it dry completely before using it.

Scrapbook Tips #45:
Want a more energetic look to your page? Tilt your photos slightly to create "movement" on your page.

Scrapbook Tips #46:
Personalize your layout with your handwritten journaling. Lightly draw some straight lines with a pencil, sketch in your words, then go over them with a pigment-ink pen. Erase off the pencil marks, and you'll have almost perfect handwriting.

Scrapbook Tips #47:
Save time by matting a few photos on the same piece of cardstock to create a "filmstrip" effect. Just place and space the photos evenly and cut. A time-saving technique I enjoy using.

Scrapbook Tips #48:
You don't always need a page title. Sometimes your journaling is sufficient for the page. Simply writing one or two words in your journaling in capitals might be enough to convey the main story of the page. So save your title.

Scrapbook Tips #49:
Create your very own hand-made accents by using ordinary cut-out shapes like flowers, hearts, stars, suns, trees to decorate your layout.

Scrapbook Tips #50:
To add a fun twist to your hand-made accent, glue a piece of string or ribbon to frame around your page accent.

I hope this series of 50 scrapbooking tips will let you think out of the box and come up with creative uses for your existing scrapbooking supplies!

2nd Series of Scrapbooking Tips

3rd Series of Scrapbook Tips

4th Series of Scrapbook Tips

Every scrapbooker has some scrapbook tips up her sleeve. ;-) Share them here and let others benefit from your knowledge!

Just fill in the form below and reveal your best tips to the world...

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

The Way I Create My Pages - Visitor's Scrapbook Tip 
I know that everybody has their own methodology when it comes to creating pages, but here's mine.

First, I gather the pictures I'd like to use on a ...

Organizing by Subjects - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip 
Scrapbooking Tip: Finding what you need while setting up a page or looking for an idea is important. I used to hate it when I know I had somewhere in ...

Scrapbook Title Bible - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
When struggling to find a title or quote to go with a layout, I will consult a book called "The Ultimate Guide to The Perfect Word" by Linda LaTourelle....

Adding Fabric to the Outside Cover - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
If you want to add fabric to your scrapbook cover, first use sandpaper to rough the smoothness away (that's so the fabric will stick better). Then apply ...

Avoid Gummies - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Are you inundated with catalogs? Use the catalogs for messy activities such as gluing, glitter or painting. I like to use glue right up to the edges. After ...

Tape Transfer Look - Visitor's Scrapbook Tip  Not rated yet
To create a cool edgy look take a small picture you like (works best with one from magazine) and cover with scotch tape (placing tape going in same direction ...

Budget Scrapping Tips - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tips  Not rated yet
There is a print store in town that will give away assorted pieces of cardstock and paper because they just trash it otherwise, perhaps a local one in ...

Card Fun - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Have cards left over from Christmas, birthdays, etc? Use them in your scrapbook designs! Just stick down the back of the card so that you can still open ...

Personalizing Your Background Paper - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: You know those really cheap foam shapes, like stars and hearts you can get at Dollar Tree? You can use those as stamps, just apply ...

Photo Developing Center - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
A great scrapbooking tip that many people completely forget is to go to your local photo developing center. Most of the photo departments can take your ...

Organizing Photos - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: The biggest hurdle I found was organizing my photos. A great option is to have a shoebox type photo storage with dividers. You might ...

Be Green! Reuse Your Holiday/Birthday Cards! - Visitor's Scrapbook Tip  Not rated yet
I love to scrapbook with my partner. One of the best ideas we ever came up with was to save all of our holiday and birthday cards each year. They have ...

Stickers - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking tip: Call me childish, but I love stickers. Stickers make everything prettier. If you want to give your scrap book project some childish ...

Scrapbooking Steps -
Visitor's Scrapbook Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking steps are very important to any scrapbooker whether beginner or expert. When you first decide to do a page in a scrapbook, decide on the theme....

Be Creative with Placement - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: Never put pictures on a page at random. It is important to be conscious of page space, picture size, and whether you'd feel comfortable ...

Sewing Machines Are A Scrapper's Best Friend - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: My best scrap booking tip is that a sewing machine can be a scrapper's best friend. You can use it to sew buttons on paper, embellish ...

Don't Stress It - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: Your scrapbook will be pretty and awesome no matter what, simply because you're filling it with hopefully happy memories and photos....

Use Larger Photos as Backgrounds - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: Use larger photos as backgrounds for smaller photos. It attracts attention and looks great. The smaller the photos you have on the ...

Matting - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: I have found that for a more eye-catching look, all of your pictures need to be matted. I sometimes do 3 or 4 mats each one at least ...

Add Stitching to Your Pages - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: You want your page to look color coordinated? Choose a selection of 2 or 3 colored borders for your pictures. Take embroidery thread ...

Making New Photos Seem Old - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: To give a scrapbook an "old time" feel, mix 1 part brown paint with 4 parts water and lightly brush the paint over the picture. It ...

Get Others To Write Your Journaling - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: If you are creating a page full of memories, have people from the photos or who experienced that moment help you! Have them write a ...

Save Time and Stay Organized - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: I love to scrapbook, but often I end up spending more time sorting through pictures than creating pages. Don't print all of your pictures ...

Using Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: One neat way to accent a good photo, especially if it's a landscape or property photo, is to use jigsaw puzzle pieces as templates....

Old Wrapping Paper - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Hold on to old wrapping paper! Don't just throw it away! It makes for a great background behind photos or embellishments. Use wrapping paper from a special ...

Do Not Overspend - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
The best scrapbooking tip I have learned since beginning to scrapbook over 3 years ago is to not overspend! Scrapbook embellishments, paper, and accessories ...

Use Office Supplies to Save Money - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: To save money on a scrapbooking project make sure to visit your local office supply store for needed paper, backgrounds, and other ...

Index by Color - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Scrapbooking Tip: We have created a scrapbook album for each of our grandchildren. To help them easily identify "their" scrapbook album, we use a different ...

Magazine Letters - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
For a random look to a scrapbook title (or anywhere else you could think to use it), you can cut out the letters from magazines in order to form the words ...

Resource for Free Die-Cuts - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
I was checking out the "free" scrapbooking die-cuts, patterns, etc. on your site. Didn't know if you had seen the site, www.scrapbookscrapbook.com yet....

Save Your Greeting Cards - Visitor's Scrapbooking Tip  Not rated yet
Everyone gets greeting cards over the year. I save the best ones and have used them as a resource for my scrapbooks. The beautiful sayings can be used ...

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