DIY Scrapbooking for Beginners

Scrapbooking has changed dramatically since its early beginnings. The earliest reference to a scrapbook of sorts is from 1598. Back then, there were no photographs, and scrapbooks were not as personal. They tended to be collections of poems people liked, along with copies of prints and drawings.

Today, scrapbooking has become a craft – a way to create something unique. Using personal memorabilia and photos, a scrapbooker today crafts a bit of history into a book that will be passed down to future generations.

Some, uncertain of their personal creative abilities, use purchased kits, while others rely on Do-it-yourself, DIY scrapbooking.

Getting into DIY Scrapbooking

As you begin DIY scrapbooking, pass up the kits and latest themed packages. Your scrapbook is a history of your family, and should reflect your unique perspective on that history. You don’t need someone else’s kits and themes. The best DIY scrapbooking comes from memories tucked away in your heart and mind. That is the beauty of DIY scrapbooking. It is all you.

If certain pages of your DIY scrapbooking project focus on a specific person, take time to think about that person. If it was your grandmother, think about how to make the pages “look like” her. Use her favorite colors. Work in her favorite patterns. DIY scrapbooking gives you that freedom.

Think of all the things you can do with DIY scrapbooking pages.

1. Beside a photo of Grandmother’s kitchen, mount a pocket of her recipes.
2. Frame a photo of mother crocheting with a length of crocheted lace.
3. On a page showing a photo of you coloring, include your early artwork.

DIY Scrapbooking Pockets

Page pockets can be a DIY scrapbooking delight. Create a pocket by folding back 1/2″ on each of 3 sides of a piece of cardstock. Glue the tabs you created to the scrapbook page. For added interest, cut an appropriate shape to glue on top of the pocket. Grandmother’s recipes would fit well in an “apron” pocket. In DIY scrapbooking, the apron pocket can be reminiscent of one Grandmother actually wore.

DIY Scrapbooking Paper

Another interesting aspect of DIY scrapbooking is the freedom to craft your own scrapbooking papers. Pages that feature a road trip might be mounted on old maps. Baby layouts could be mounted on wrapping paper from a baby shower, or on a piece of sheet from baby’s crib. Use your imagination.

DIY scrapbooking Safety Tip

Remember that anything you use in your DIY scrapbooking must be acid-free to protect photos and memorabilia. Mounting paper is a big factor, but not the only one. If you are including theatre tickets or a ribbon from a corsage, they will not be acid-free. Any items that are not safe for your photos should be covered in plastic before adding them to your DIY scrapbooking project.