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27 October 2026 · 7 min read

How to make your first scrapbook page, step by step

One photo, a sheet of card and a quiet evening. This is how you make your very first scrapbook page, from the first choice to the last little sticker.

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Getting started

Gold scissors on sheets of cream, green and blue paper, next to three paper rosettes shaped like a little bunny

27 October 20266 min read What you really need to start scrapbooking An album, paper, glue, scissors and a pen. That's all you need for your first pages. Here's what belongs on your list, and what can easily wait. Read more

Materials

Two hands holding a glue stick above a piece of paper on a white table, with green cards and an eraser

27 October 20268 min read Which glue to use for photos, paper and embellishments Tape runner, glue dots or liquid glue after all? What's safe for your photos, what's best left alone and what to reach for with ribbon, vellum and heavy embellishments. Read more

Explainers

Pile of old, yellowed letters and envelopes, with a handwritten sheet in the foreground against a green background

27 October 20267 min read Acid-free and lignin-free: what it means and when it matters Almost every sheet of scrapbook paper promises to be acid-free. What acid and lignin do to your photos, what the labels really say, and what you do and don't need to worry about. Read more

Materials

Hands leafing through a photo album with plastic slip-in sleeves on a dark table, next to two white mugs

27 October 20267 min read Which album size to choose for your first scrapbook Large and square, A4 or a small book: here's how to choose an album size that suits your photos, your paper and your printer. Read more

Materials

Light blue square paper set on its point, surrounded by small purple dried flowers on a white background

27 October 20268 min read Choosing paper: cardstock, patterned paper and paper weight Cardstock or patterned paper, 160 or 250 gsm, a pad or loose sheets: here's how to know which paper you need and what to look for when you buy it. Read more

Tips

A hand writing with a black pen in an open notebook resting on someone's lap

27 October 20268 min read What to write next to your photos: journaling in your scrapbook A name, a date, one sentence or a whole story. Here's how to decide what to write next to your photos, and how to make room for it on the page. Read more

Tips

Hands moving printed photos around on a table to make a choice

27 October 20267 min read Choosing photos and how many fit on a scrapbook page Eighty photos from one day and just one page. Here's how to choose the photos that tell the story, and how to work out how many fit on 30.5 x 30.5 cm or A4. Read more

Explainers

Open spiral-bound album with small photos on cream pages, on a wooden table next to sunglasses and a glass

27 October 20267 min read What is scrapbooking, and which style suits you? From a 12 x 12 album to a junk journal full of old envelopes: what scrapbooking is, where the word comes from and which style suits you. Read more

Getting started

Craft table with colourful notebooks, a glue stick, gel pens, washi tape and scissors next to nail polish

27 October 20266 min read You don't have to be creative to scrapbook Can't draw, don't like your handwriting? With scrapbooking, it matters less than you think. Here's how to do it anyway. Read more

Keeping

A small wooden box above a green shrub, full of old black-and-white photos and colour prints

27 October 20268 min read How to store printed photos for decades to come The right box, safe plastic and a quiet spot at home: this is how to keep prints, old photos and negatives looking good for years. Read more

Techniques

Open journal with four photos stuck in and a torn newspaper edge, with a cup on a saucer to the left

27 October 20267 min read How to build a scrapbook layout step by step Choose first, then arrange, and only then stick. With a fixed order, you won't find later that there's no room left for your title or text. Read more

Getting started

Hand drawing a lemon on a tablet with a stylus

27 October 20268 min read How to get started with digital scrapbooking Layering paper, photos and embellishments, but on a screen. Here's what you need and how to make your first digital page. Read more

Keeping

Scattered old photo albums with black-and-white portraits, with an open album with blue pages in the middle

27 October 20267 min read How to rescue old magnetic and black-page photo albums safely Yellow glue strips, crackling film or black pages that crumble. Here's how to tell if your photos are at risk, and how to decide what to do. Read more

Explainers

A hand lifts a printed sheet of photos above other sheets with photo layouts on a wooden floor

27 October 20267 min read What is a scrapbook sketch and how do you make a page with it? A sketch is a floor plan for your page. Here's how to use one, adapt it to your own photos and draw one yourself. Read more

Materials

Six rolls of glittery and patterned washi tape in blue, gold and purple on a light background

27 October 20267 min read How to use washi tape: ten ideas for your scrapbook and journal You can tear washi tape with your fingers and move it around. What it actually is, what it sticks to, and ten ways to use it on your pages. Read more

Techniques

Hand holding a wooden stamp beside a black ink pad, kraft paper and a tag with a stamped sentiment

27 October 20268 min read Stamping for beginners: how to get a crisp impression Too faint, patchy or slightly crooked: first impressions are often disappointing. With the right stamp, an acrylic block and a few good habits, every impression comes out crisp. Read more

Getting started

Open junk journal with a collage of dried leaves, a fern motif, old cards and a moon, on pink faux fur

27 October 20267 min read How to make your first junk journal, step by step An exercise book or old cover, a box of paper and an afternoon. This is how you make your first junk journal, without it having to be expensive or perfect. Read more

Ideas

Hands holding a sheet of clear stickers with coloured gems above a desk covered in notebooks and washi tape

27 October 20267 min read How to decorate your planner with stickers and washi tape, calmly A handful of supplies, a few set places for your stickers and one colour rule. That way your journal or planner looks lovely and stays calm and clear. Read more

Keeping

Pile of old sepia photos and letters, with a little boy in a sailor suit holding a hat in the foreground

27 October 20267 min read Why photos turn yellow and how to prevent it Light, acid, heat and damp slowly turn photos yellow and make them fade. Here's how that works, how to slow it down and how to save what has already discoloured. Read more

Techniques

Three white Easter cards with a bunny, a basket and eggs, with brown kraft envelopes

27 October 20267 min read How to make your own cards with your scrapbooking supplies With your leftover patterned paper, a card is quick to make. These are the basics: the right card stock, a size that fits the envelope, a crisp fold and a calm layout. Read more

Materials

Row of colourful ink pads on a table with a hand, in front of a drawn tree with coloured fingerprints

27 October 20267 min read Which stamping ink to choose? Dye, pigment and distress explained Does your stamped image vanish on black card or bleed when you add watercolour? It's usually the ink. Here's how to pick the right type for your technique and your paper. Read more

Materials

Woman editing photos on a laptop with a drawing tablet, next to prints, an external drive and a camera

27 October 20269 min read Which software to choose for digital scrapbooking Photoshop Elements, Affinity, GIMP, PaintShop Pro or Canva: what they can do, what to look for in the licence and what happens to your kits when you switch. Read more

Tips

Fan of blue colour swatch cards in different shades, from dark to very light, on a white background

27 October 20267 min read How to choose colours that suit your photos Start with your photos, pick two or three colours and give them a neutral base. That way your pages look calm, even with busy or black-and-white photos. Read more

Techniques

Brightly coloured paper hearts cut out on a dark background

27 October 20267 min read Using a die-cutting machine: dies and embossing folders A die-cutting machine cuts out shapes and presses texture into paper. Here's how to build the sandwich, get clean cuts from your dies and make your cutting plates last longer. Read more

Materials

White table with pastel cut-out paper shapes, a pair of scissors and small pegs by a window

27 October 20267 min read Choosing a cutting machine: Cricut, Silhouette or Brother A cutting machine cuts anything you design on a screen. What can it do that a die-cutting machine can't, how do the three best-known brands differ, and what does it really cost? Read more

Techniques

Black envelope with an embossed pattern and a gold-coloured seal

27 October 20268 min read Heat and dry embossing: how to add raised texture to your pages With powder and heat, or with a folder and pressure: two ways to give paper raised texture. Here's how to do both, without stray specks or warped cards. Read more

Ideas

Small model of a Polaroid camera on a grey notebook with a black pen, on a wooden railing in the sun

27 October 20267 min read How to keep a travel journal on the road, even when you're tired A small notebook, a few pens and a glue stick. That's how you keep a travel journal on the road that actually gets finished, even on days when you don't much feel like it. Read more

Techniques

Handmade album in light blue fabric with white polka dots, rings and a bouquet of paper flowers and butterflies on the cover

27 October 20267 min read How to make a mini album: base, pages and binding A small album about one trip, one day or one person. Here's how to choose a base, work out how much paper you need and fit everything in with flaps and tags. Read more

Explainers

Two hands leafing through a small stack of papers and prints, against a dark jumper

27 October 20267 min read Pocket scrapbooking and Project Life: how it works Slipping photos and cards into pockets instead of cutting and gluing. What pocket scrapbooking is, how the sizes work and whether it suits you. Read more

Ideas

Hands arranging polaroid photos among green leaves on a table

27 October 20266 min read How to decorate polaroids and photocards with stickers A small photo, a few stickers and a sleeve: that's how you start decorating polaroids, without it turning into an expensive hobby. Read more

Ideas

Hands holding old black-and-white and colour photos of babies and toddlers above an open vintage photo album

27 October 20267 min read Making a baby album: what to include and how to build it From the first scan to the first steps: what to put in a baby album, how to keep scan photos and hospital bands safe, and how to keep going with a baby in the house. Read more

Ideas

Hand pointing a pen at Europe on a world map, surrounded by a passport, camera, train tickets, a leaflet and a straw hat

27 October 20269 min read How to make a holiday scrapbook from your travel photos Eight hundred photos on your phone and a bag full of tickets. Here's how to turn them into an album that stays clear and that you'll actually open again. Read more

Tips

Paper roses on a pink label with ribbon, next to lace, washi tape and a small box of sparkly gems and buttons

27 October 20267 min read How to choose and place embellishments without the clutter Stickers, buttons, little flowers and labels: how many do you use, and where? Here's how to decorate your page so your photos stay the star. Read more

Explainers

Wooden table with a Polaroid of a flowering shrub, a seashell, a pressed flower and vintage paper with dragonflies

27 October 20268 min read Design principles for a scrapbook page that works Why does one page feel calm and another cluttered, even when you used the same paper? Six design principles that explain the difference, and how to use them. Read more

Techniques

Black-and-white photo of the alphabet in black letters on clear strips on a wooden surface, with a little heart

27 October 20268 min read How to make scrapbook titles without letter stickers No e's left on your sheet, or just the wrong colour? With your own hand, a stamp, the printer or an old magazine, you can make a title that fits just right. Read more

Techniques

Six dropper bottles of ink in blue, red, green and black next to marbled papers with pink and blue gradients

27 October 20267 min read Distress ink and ink blending without blotches Soft edges, a sheet that looks old, or a sky that fades from pink to purple: with ink, a sponge and a little patience, you can make it yourself. Read more

Getting started

Open sketchbook with bold abstract painted pages in pink, green, orange and black with white swirls and dots

27 October 20267 min read Art journaling: how to get started A book where you can make a mess, stick things in and write, without it having to look good. Here's what you need and how to make your first page. Read more

Explainers

Open bullet journal with a May monthly log on squared paper, decorated with drawn sprigs, in black and white

27 October 20268 min read Bullet journal: how it works and how to set one up A bullet journal is a diary, to-do list and journal in one notebook. Here's how the index, the logs, the symbols and migration work. Read more

Explainers

Hands leafing through an old black-and-white photo album with pasted-in photos and a handwritten note

27 October 20267 min read The history of the scrapbook, from Victorian scraps to journals From Victorian scrapbooks full of glossy scraps, via Mark Twain's self-pasting album, to the hobby we know today: this is how the scrapbook came to be. Read more

Materials

A hand drawing a pufferfish with a black pigment ink fineliner on paper with a blue watercolour wash

27 October 20267 min read Which pen to use in your scrapbook and journal A pen that won't fade, won't smudge and is safe next to your photos: what to look for, which types there are, and how to write on photos, tape and dark paper. Read more

Materials

Black-and-white photo of a spiral notebook with handwriting in fountain pen ink, with a fountain pen and a bottle of ink

27 October 20266 min read How to choose a notebook that ink won't bleed through Fountain pen, markers or a little watercolour: how to choose paper that holds up, test it before you start and rescue a page that bleeds through anyway. Read more

Tips

Close-up of scraps of brown and yellow paper with Spanish till receipts and numbers on them

27 October 20267 min read Scrapbooking on a small budget Scrapbooking doesn't have to be expensive. Where to save, where not to, and how to stretch one stack of paper across many more pages. Read more

Explainers

Hand decorating a journal page with photos and stickers on a brown tabletop

27 October 20266 min read Scraplifts and CASE: is it OK to copy someone's page? You see a page and think: I want mine like that. What scraplifts and CASE mean, where the line is, and how to still make it your own. Read more

Explainers

Overhead view of an old book with a rose postcard, handwritten notes, string, a candle and a teacup

27 October 20267 min read Why scrapbooking can bring calm and satisfaction Cutting, sticking and writing a few lines: what does that do to your mind? On calm, memories, and what scrapbooking can and can't do. Read more

Tips

Someone taking printed sheets from a printer on a small wooden desk

27 October 20268 min read How to print digital pages and make a photo book Your digital pages are finished and you want to hold them in your hands. Here's how to choose your size and resolution, and how to avoid blurry photos, dull colours and a seam across your spread. Read more

Tips

A small stack of white-bordered prints on a notebook with a cork cover, on a white desk

27 October 20267 min read Printing photos for your scrapbook: at home or with a photo lab Printing at home, a small photo printer or ordering prints: what suits your album? On sizes, matte or gloss, how long prints last and editing. Read more

Tips

Close-up of stacks of coloured paper in red, purple, turquoise and blue on metal racks

27 October 20267 min read How to store scrapbook supplies: paper, stickers and washi tape Paper that curls, stickers you forget about and tape at the bottom of a drawer. Here's how to store your supplies so you see them, reach for them and actually use them. Read more

Tips

White worktable full of scrapbooking supplies: turquoise notebook with scissors and pen, stickers, washi tape, glue stick, pink phone

27 October 20267 min read Setting up a scrapbooking space, even without a craft room A corner, a fold-down table or the kitchen table: with good light, a chair that fits and your tools within reach, you can scrap comfortably and safely anywhere. Read more

Tips

Wooden letter stamps in a box next to a sheet of paper with the word ACHIEVEMENT stamped on it using those stamps

27 October 20267 min read How to clean and store stamps so they last for years Soap and water, baby wipes or your own spray bottle: here's how to clean clear stamps and rubber stamps, store them well and keep your ink pads in good condition. Read more

Techniques

Two palette knives on a surface with thick paint in orange and pink tones, a painted canvas on the left

27 October 20267 min read Mixed media and gesso: getting started with paint, paste and layers Gesso, acrylic paint, sprays and texture paste: what they do, the order to use them in and which paper can handle wet media. Read more

Techniques

Journal page in a ring binder with a collage of sheet music, flowers, a small figure, a butterfly and word strips

27 October 20267 min read How to make a calm, natural-looking collage in your journal Scraps of paper, pictures, stickers and tape: how to build a collage that hangs together instead of looking messy, and how to stick it down without wrinkles. Read more

Techniques

Brush and roller applying a white layer of glue to purple paper

27 October 20266 min read Napkin decoupage: how to stick it down without wrinkles A pretty napkin on a card, a journal cover or a glass jar: here's how to separate the layers, stick it down without creases and choose the right glue and varnish. Read more

Techniques

The word HAPPY in black paint on white paper, with a brush, pots of paint and a black lettering stencil beside it

27 October 20268 min read Using stencils: ink, paint and paste without bleeding A stencil puts a pattern on your background in just a few minutes. Here's how to keep the edges crisp, with ink, paint or texture paste. Read more

Materials

Dual-tip Promarker pens in pastel and dark shades mixed with pencils on a wooden table, next to a ruler

27 October 20268 min read Alcohol markers: how they work and which paper you need Alcohol markers give soft, smooth colour blends, but only on the right paper and with the right stamping ink. Here's how to get the most out of them. Read more

Tips

Two hands painting a green flower stem on a sheet of paper with a brush, next to a watercolour set and pots of brushes

27 October 20268 min read Paper that doesn't buckle with glue, paint and water Wrinkles after gluing, a bulging page after watercolour or a curl after embossing: here's how to stop paper buckling, and how to get it flat again. Read more

Techniques

Sheets of pastel-coloured paper layered on top of each other

27 October 20268 min read Layers and depth on your scrapbook page A page you want to touch has layers. Here's how to build depth with paper, foam tape and texture, without clutter and without your album bursting at the seams. Read more

Techniques

Four sheets of kraft paper next to a paper trimmer with a ruler on a white table

27 October 20267 min read How to mat and crop photos without regrets A narrow border of paper behind your photo and a few centimetres less sky above it. Here's how to crop and mat a photo so it really stands out, and what you're better off leaving whole. Read more

Materials

Green cutting mat with a metal ruler, craft knife, red snips and a rotary cutter on a work table

27 October 20268 min read Choosing cutting tools: paper trimmer, scissors and cutting mat Straight edges are the difference between a page that looks messy and one that feels calm. Which cutting tools do you really need, and why do your cuts sometimes still go crooked? Read more

Keeping

Old Zeiss Ikon folding camera on an open photo album with sepia portraits on card, against a wooden box

27 October 20267 min read How to digitise old photo albums without damaging them Thick albums, fragile pages and photos that are stuck down: how to scan or photograph them, with the right settings and file names you can find again later. Read more

Keeping

Old photo album lying open: on the left a yellowed, almost faded portrait, on the right a sepia photo of a family

27 October 20266 min read How to safely remove stuck photos from an old album Photos stuck to glue, card or plastic will often come free, as long as you work slowly and know when to stop. Read more

Keeping

Table and wall full of old family portraits in ornate frames, with black-and-white photos of men and women above lace

27 October 20267 min read Who is in that old photo, and when was it taken? A box of photos with no names or dates: with questions, small clues and a few archives, you can often get further than you think. Read more

Keeping

Stacked storage boxes with a label, next to colourful boxes

27 October 20267 min read Storing scrapbooks: where, what temperature and how much humidity Your album is finished. So where do you put it so that it still looks just as lovely in thirty years? About the right spot, damp, boxes, pests and what to do if things go wrong. Read more

Keeping

Three narrow album spines printed with Photo Album, a red one between two wood-coloured ones, against a dark background

27 October 20266 min read Page protectors: which plastic is safe for your photos Polypropylene, polyester or PVC? Not every clear sleeve is good for your photos. Here's how to spot a safe page protector, and when it's time to replace old ones. Read more

Keeping

A tattooed hand holding two strips of numbered tickets above confetti on the ground

27 October 20266 min read How to keep tickets, receipts and newspaper clippings in your album A train ticket, the receipt from that one ice cream, a snippet from the paper. Here's how to stick them in your album without them fading, yellowing or damaging your photos. Read more

Keeping

Brushed metal external hard drive next to a laptop and a notepad, connected with a USB cable

27 October 20268 min read How to organise and back up your digital kits, pages and photos A folder structure you'll stick with, a backup that runs by itself and a plan for later: that way you'll never lose a kit, photo or page again. Read more

Tips

An open white photo box full of old colour prints on a wooden table, with loose photos beside it

27 October 20267 min read How to organise your photos before you start scrapbooking A phone full of photos or a box full of prints doesn't have to hold you back. Here's how to make a selection and a system that lets you simply get started. Read more

Tips

Hands turning a white page in a large photo book bound in red, lying on a wooden table

27 October 20267 min read Behind on your album: do you have to scrap in order? Being months or years behind feels heavy. Here's how to catch up without doing everything in order, and keep up with the present in the meantime. Read more

Explainers

A hand holding a pen takes a print with four photos as it comes out of a white printer

27 October 20268 min read Hybrid scrapbooking: print digitally, finish on paper Your printer as an extra stack of paper: this is how you combine digital papers, labels and letters with glue, scissors and real embellishments. Read more

Explainers

Blue leather cover holding two notebooks, one with a spiral spine, in sharp focus against a blurred background

27 October 20267 min read How to use and set up a traveler's notebook A leather cover, an elastic band and loose notebooks you choose yourself. This is how a traveler's notebook works, and how to make it yours. Read more

Ideas

Grey linen album cover with a strip of white lace and a sprig of dried flowers on brown kraft paper

27 October 20267 min read Making a wedding album: choosing, arranging and decorating photos Hundreds of wedding photos and a box full of cards. Here's how to choose what goes in, divide up the day and make an album you'll keep coming back to. Read more

Ideas

Five cut-out white paper Christmas trees with silver glitter stars and green sprigs on a bright yellow background

27 October 20267 min read December Daily: an album for the whole of December A page for every day of December: how to prepare a December Daily in November and keep it going, even when the month gets busy. Read more

Ideas

Old black-and-white photos of children, a family and a bride and groom, laid out in a jumble

27 October 20267 min read How to make a family album with old photos and documents A shoebox full of old photos, letters and a marriage booklet: here's how to turn it into a family album that tells the story and spares the originals. Read more

Ideas

Three children cutting and sticking at a table with coloured paper, scissors and a glue stick

27 October 20266 min read How to make a scrapbook for school in six steps Need to make a scrapbook for school and not sure where to start? Here's how to choose a topic, gather material and hand in something neat, even when time is tight. Read more

Ideas

Cream bound book tied with a twisted gold-and-cream cord bow on a grey wooden surface

27 October 20267 min read How to make a scrapbook as a gift A book full of shared memories is a gift no one else can give. Here's how to choose the format, gather photos in secret and keep your planning realistic. Read more

Ideas

A dried autumn leaf and a pen on an open spiral notebook, among dry fallen leaves

27 October 20267 min read Holidays and seasons in your scrapbook From Easter to Sinterklaas and from the first crocuses to the last autumn leaves: this is how you capture the year without every celebration starting to look like the last one. Read more

Ideas

Children's hands cutting and drawing at a table among coloured paper, a world map and a cutting mat

27 October 20266 min read Scrapbooking with children Cutting, sticking and telling what happened: children are natural scrappers. Here's how to start together, with materials that are safe and a book that's truly theirs. Read more

Ideas

Scattered vintage cards, postcards and prints with butterflies, flowers and a black-and-white photo of a statue

27 October 20268 min read Scrapbooking without photos: how to tell your story anyway Only a few photos, no picture of that one moment, or children who won't pose any more? A scrapbook page works perfectly well without one. Read more

Ideas

Two brown paper envelopes and two rolls of washi tape on a black background

27 October 20267 min read How to make a journal from recycled materials Tea bags, envelopes, a cereal box: the things you'd normally throw away make a journal full of character. Here's how to choose, clean and bind them. Read more

Techniques

Pink card with glitter stickers shaped like hearts, flowers, snowflakes and circles, next to a fan of coloured markers

27 October 20267 min read How to make your own stickers, with or without a printer Stickers in exactly your colours and with your own drawings: here's how to make them with sticker paper, washi tape, baking paper or sticky tape, and how to work out what they cost. Read more

Techniques

Brown coffee rings and splashes of different sizes on kraft paper, with a heart-shaped stain in the top left

27 October 20267 min read How to make paper look old with tea, coffee and ink With a cup of strong coffee, some ink and a piece of sandpaper, you can give new paper the warm, worn colour of an old book in a single afternoon. Read more

Explainers

Four handmade cards with vintage images of a cake, flowers and hands on book pages and watercolour paper

27 October 20266 min read How to make and swap artist trading cards A tiny piece of art the size of a playing card, made to give away and get one back. Here's how to make your first artist trading cards and find someone to swap with. Read more

Explainers

Open photo book with two landscape photos, seen from above

27 October 20266 min read Scrapbook, photo book or photo album: which suits you A scrapbook tells, a photo book shows and a photo album keeps. Here's how to choose what suits your photos, your time and your shelf, or how to combine them. Read more

Explainers

Scrapbooking supplies on a grey surface: lace, washi tape, rhinestones in a little box and a pink card with roses

27 October 20268 min read Scrapbooking terms explained, from brads to vellum LO, chipboard, fussy cutting, quick page: anyone who starts scrapping soon trips over the jargon. Here are the most important terms, in plain English. Read more

Explainers

Open stamp album with old postage stamps in sunlight, next to a small bunch of wheat ears

27 October 20267 min read Scrapbooking styles: how to spot them and find your own Clean and simple, vintage, shabby chic, mixed media: how to recognise the well-known scrapbooking styles and slowly find your own way of working. Read more

Materials

Three photo albums standing upright side by side, spines facing forward, against a dark grey background

27 October 20267 min read Post bound, ring binder or self-adhesive: which album to choose Screw posts, D-rings, spiral or a fixed spine: the binding decides whether your album can grow, whether it lies flat and how easily you can swap pages. Read more

Explainers

Open lined notebook with a blue pen, with a blurred glass of tea and a smartphone on a wooden table

27 October 20267 min read Keeping a five-year diary: a few lines a day A few lines each day, and on the same page you read what you wrote on that date last year. This is how a three-, five- or ten-year diary works. Read more

Tips

Two hands above an empty open notebook, with a pen and a cup of coffee on a black table

27 October 20266 min read How to keep up your journal beyond the first few weeks You started full of good intentions, and three weeks later your journal is in a drawer. Here's how to make it a habit that lasts, with small steps and no guilt. Read more

Tips

Antique scissors with ornate handles and two rolls of washi tape on a brown notebook with an ornate print

27 October 20266 min read How to make a scrapbook page when you're short on time No free afternoon, but photos you want to keep? With a set formula, a sketch and a little preparation, you can make a page in an hour or less. Read more

Techniques

Stack of bound books with fabric covers in grey, blue, black and cream, seen from above

27 October 20268 min read How to bind your own scrapbook or journal Rings, a stitch through the fold or a Japanese binding: this is how you bind your own album or journal, with room in the spine for thick pages. Read more

Techniques

Envelopes, kraft paper tags and cream-coloured cards side by side on a black background

27 October 20267 min read Envelopes, flaps and hidden journaling Too many photos, a story that isn't for everyone, or a ticket you don't want to glue down: pockets, flaps and tags give you extra room on your page. Read more

Tips

Open notebook with handwritten text and a card showing a painting used as a bookmark, next to an orange ribbon

27 October 20267 min read How to fix a mistake on your scrapbook page A glue mark, a wonky sticker, a smudged stamp or a tear: almost every mistake on your page can be fixed or cleverly hidden. Read more

Tips

Open notebook with blank lined pages and a blue pen on a rough wooden table

27 October 20267 min read Stuck or scared of the blank page? How to get going again Every scrapper gets stuck sometimes. Here are the causes, and small, doable ways to start again, even after a long break. Read more

Explainers

Pile of old postcards and airmail envelopes with string and a red dip pen, among handwritten cards

27 October 20268 min read Can you use this? Copyright for scrapbookers A photo from the internet, a poem, a digital kit or an AI image: when can you put it on your page, and when can you show that page to others? Read more

Tips

Toddler in an orange jumpsuit, seen from behind, walking across a calm, glistening beach

27 October 20267 min read Sharing your pages without harming your children's privacy You want to show your pages, but your children and family are on them. What to leave out, when a sticker is enough and how to keep private what is private. Read more

Techniques

Pressed violets, buttercups and daisies on pink paper, next to a green typewriter

27 October 20268 min read Dried flowers and leaves in your journal or album A violet from the garden or a leaf from a walk: how to press nature, fix it in place without it breaking, and keep your photos safe. Read more

Explainers

Old handwritten diary with a pocket watch and a fountain pen

27 October 20267 min read From commonplace books to autograph albums: the roots of scrapbooks Long before scrapbook paper existed, people collected quotes, signatures and pictures in blank books. A tour of the books the scrapbook grew out of. Read more

Explainers

Newspaper cuttings with text hanging from ropes against a ceiling of rope and steel beams

27 October 20268 min read How collage began: from Picasso and Braque to Hannah Höch A scrap of wallpaper, a newspaper headline, a tram ticket. Where collage comes from, and what you can take from the artists behind it into your own journal. Read more

Ideas

Small bundle of old letters tied with string next to a black-and-white photo of figures in a wintry landscape

27 October 20267 min read Scrapbooking through grief and loss Making a memory album for someone you miss, at your own pace. On gathering photos, keeping sympathy cards and writing when the words won't come. Read more

Tips

Several hands arranging paper cut-outs on a shared craft table

27 October 20267 min read Scrapbooking together: crops and crafty afternoons What a crop is, what to bring and how to host your own scrapbooking afternoon with friends. Plus: working together on one album and scrapbooking together online. Read more

About Scrappd

Dried flowers and leaves stuck onto an open page

26 October 20262 min read Why we're making Scrappd Scrapbooks are made by hand and kept with love. Yet they usually sit in a cupboard, where nobody sees them. It doesn't have to be that way. Read more

Tips

Notebook with a floral cover among seashells and a pen on a pink background

26 October 20261 min read How to photograph a scrapbook page without glare Glossy photos, plastic sleeves and the light above the table: five things that make the difference between a blotchy photo and a sharp scan. Read more

Explainers

Pressed fern leaves and flowers between the pages of an old book

26 October 20261 min read What is a junk journal, really? Tickets, little envelopes, tea bags and old book pages: you make a junk journal from what other people throw away. Here's how to start. Read more