by The term scrapbooking has been around since the 1820s and was used to describe using a blank book to paste different items onto in order to tell a story. Scrapbooking as a hobby really took off with the invention of photography as it quickly became a way for these stories to be centered around people’s memories with friends and family. In fact, this became one of our first methods of recording familial history.
Today, scrapbooking has remained a popular hobby that allows you to be creative, reflective, and enjoy the moment as you revisit old photos that represent cherished memories. Although it may seem a bit overwhelming to begin scrapbooking, it is a hobby that can be broken down into very manageable steps.
Whether you want to start scrapbooking for the creative outlet, to decompress, or to keep a log of memories, this is a rewarding hobby that you can easily integrate into your everyday life.
Below are the necessary items that will help you begin scrapbooking:
An Album or Book
This is the basis of all your scrapbooking. Your album or book is your blank canvas where you will add all other elements of your crafting journey. Typically, scrapbook albums are 12 inches x 12 inches to give you enough room to include multiple photos and designs on the page. When the canvas itself is too small, your creativity (and photo selection) can be limited which is not what you want when you are engaging with a relaxing hobby such as scrapbooking. With that being said, choose the dimensions that you know will work for you, if you want even more room to work, go bigger!
Personal Photos
Your photos are arguably the most important part of scrapbooking. This is what makes your scrapbook unique and helps curate the story you are telling. In order to not limit yourself when you’re crafting, it is best to gather a large selection of photos before you begin. However, in order to preserve paper and avoid using the only copies of some family photos, it’s best to keep your photos digitally. As you craft, you can scroll through photos on your computer and print them using as you go. Many printers today also include a copying feature, so you can make photocopies of the pictures that you only have in physical form. Additionally, you can also try the HP sprocket printer to get some variety in your photos and include some of the old-time charm that comes with polaroids. It can easily print photos straight from your phone.
Cardstock
Now we have arrived at the design elements of scrapbooking. Cardstock is the type of paper that is slightly thicker than printer paper and is commonly used in the scrapbooking community because of its weight, it can hold whatever is pasted onto it. Cardstock comes in a variety of colors and patterns and it typically comes in booklets that allow you to choose to form a wide range of styles. You can even find cardstock around specific themes such as sports, holidays, food, and more. Flipping through a cardstock booklet can really help spark your creativity and help you start to see the design you want to create.
Scissors & Glue
When you are working with cardstock, cutting tools are essential. You can just use your standard household scissors or grab some specialized scissors that can enhance the borders of your cardstock and even photos. Specialized scissors can create fun and unique edges that add another dimension to the page.
Another essential for scrapbooking is some form of adhesive to stick your photos, designs, and cardstock onto the page. Everyone has their preferred type of glue for the specific type of photos and paper they deal with but it is often helpful to have a variety pack of glue that includes glue sticks, liquid craft glue, and glue dots. Additionally, there are also adhesive removers to correct any mistakes made.
Writing Utensils
Adding handwritten touches to your scrapbook really gives it a personal feel and adds another dimension to the craft. There are plenty of writing utensils that can add a fun touch to the page such as metallic pens as well as any color pencils, markers, and Sharpies you have around the house.
Scrapbooking is a fun and rewarding activity that has captured the hearts of many. It offers a way to get creative, reflect, and create stories with your memories. Once you get started, you won’t want to stop.
