How to Create a Layout:
How to scrapbook? There's no right way
to start making a scrapbook page. Everyone has their own technique.
But if you really are stumped on how to begin, maybe you'll
find some help in reading how I make a page.
I begin by gathering all my photos related to an
event and cropping them. The term cropping simply means to cut your
photo to only include the subject and/or what is important in the
photo. However, not all photos should be cropped. Some photos are so
beautiful nothing should be cut out. Use your judgment.
Cropping does two things. It
allows the
photo to be made smaller so that more photos can fit on a page.
See how many photos fit on the 8.5"x11" page shown below?
Cropping also makes the photos stand out by showing the
subject clearly and eliminating anything distracting in the background.
Many photos
can fit on one page when they are cropped
I often use my plastic template stencil to cut my
photo into an oval, smaller rectangle, etc. After I have all
my photos cropped, I choose a background paper. The patterned
pages are nice, but more often than not I choose a solid color of
cardstock as my background. To choose the color to use, I
look at all the photos I want on the page and see if there are colors
that stand out. If the person is the photo is wearing a blue
shirt then a blue background would look nice with them.
Next, I pick another complementary color of
cardstock that goes well with the background paper. It may be
another color that appears in the photos. This cardstock will
be used to mat the photos. I place all the cropped photos on
the piece of cardstock, in whatever way they fit best, and
glue them down with the glue stick. Then, I cut around the
photos leaving a thin border of the cardstock to act as the mat.

When all the photos are matted, then I arrange
them on the background paper in a way that they all fit well and is
pleasing to the eye. Make sure you leave room for a title and
some journaling too. Once you have it layed out right, glue
the photos down.
Next it is time to add a title and journaling to
the page. It is important to add the date and to identify who
is in the photos. Family members generations from now may
look at your scrapbooks and want to know who the people in the
photographs are. You can use the fonts on your computer and
print right on your cardstock to add titles and journaling, or
write it out by hand with a marker. There are also some great
websites with wonderful ideas. Click here for
free scrapbooking printables.
This site has some excellent scrapbook graphics to download
for free.

Examples of matting photos and
adding titles to pages
Scrapbooking takes some time and patience but it can be a
very relaxing and enjoyable hobby. You will feel so proud
that you are preserving your memories for generations to come!
Other Scrapbooking
Resources:
Scrapbooking Ideas You'll Love To Use - Our free scrapbooking ideas
will inspire your creativity to a new level plus save you time and
money. Free scrapbooking ideas, step by step techniques, organizational
tips, how to prepare for a crop, layout ideas and title/theme ideas.
Download printable
digital scrapbooking papers and
learn how to use digital products and techniques on a traditional
scrapbook page at Scrapbook Papers and More!
http://www.scrapbooking-plus-stories.com/genealogy.html
Creating
your heritage scrapbook could be one of the most important things you
do for your family. It is also important to preserve your
family
memories while there are family still here to help identify photos and
tell the stories behind them.