These are my favorite tips to make scrapbooking easier, faster and fun! I have been using these tips in my own scrapbooking for many years, and I would love for them to help you become a better scrapbooker!

Tip #1

Your photos need to be the ☆ star ☆ of your pages.

If you have been around the Craft Some Joy community, you have heard this one before — but I stand by it time and again. Your photos evoke memories, connect you with an event or time in your life and begin to tell your story! They are so important and should be the highlight of your scrapbook pages. Fill your pages with pictures so they can take you back to that special moment in time. Have fun using different sizes in your layouts - go big, go small but always, ALWAYS make them the star so they shine brightly on your pages!

Tip #2

Tell your story

Photos are just photos without telling the story behind the memory. So I encourage you, get your story down on paper and into your scrapbooks. That is what will give the meaning behind your photos and won’t leave people guessing. There are so many ways and techniques to add words to your pages. You can write them, type them and use journal boxes and dot grid paper, and I encourage you to find what feels comfortable to you!

I do love seeing the hand written word on a page and I also encourage you to get perspectives from other family members, get them to do some journalling about their experience and what they remember from an event or a trip. You can also have your kids tell their story, and get samples of their handwriting over the years and save those as part of your story.

Your photos and your story will be what gives meaning to your albums!

Tip #3

Find your style

We each approach life a little differently, and scrapbooking should be the same. As you discover different styles remember that simple can be beautiful and done is better than perfect. I encourage a streamlined approach to completing your pages here at Craft Some Joy, focusing on a classic and simple snap to grid layout that is easy on the eyes, and I have wonderful tips & resources on how you can add this style to your scrapbooks by checking out this video:

Tip #4

find the right resources & techniques

Create go-to resources and techniques that keep you organized, inspired and moving forward on your projects. Remember I have the POP system and the POP planner and my photo folders to keep you organized and these resources you can find right here on my website! If you would like to join my amazing “Progress on Projects” community, you can request to join my POP Facebook group here.

Tip #5

Go for the color!

I love color, and I love palettes and adding paper to your photos and your story make your pages come alive. The simple technique I like to teach is color blocking with patterned paper or colored cardstock. Using blocks of colors and patterns can add style to your pages quickly and easily and works beautifully with the snap to grid technique

Tip #6

Texture it up!

You might have guessed how much I love my tools. And all those great elements that we can make with the border maker system and border punches along with laser borders, stickers and layers of paper give that extra spark of creativity to your pages. Have fun with this! Layer and style by mixing patterns, shapes, and colors to great a great effect on your page.

Tip #7

Title it up!

Titles are so much fun and there are so many choices on how to create titles to your your pages. They are a key design element and can give a layout that finishing touch and draw you in to what is happening on the page. You can try sticker titles, laser titles, machine cut titles, quotes, vellum titles, even hand written titles work beautifully on your pages. Create impact and interest and have fun!

Tip #8

Embellish with purpose

Now you’ve heard me say it before, but I’m going to say it again. Embellish with purpose. Long gone is the day of sneezing stickers all over your pages. Instead, use a few well placed clusters that can add flair and can tie your whole page together and create visual interest. Remember the odds have it and learning how to make embellishment clusters will be a game changer! If you would like to learn more about embellishment clustering, you can check out this video.

Tip #9

Use your memorabilia to add pizzaz to your pages

Most importantly in order to use your memorabilia, you need to be able to find your memorabilia, or have it in a format that you can add to your albums. It’s so much fun to see those ticket stubs, birthday cards, and artwork shining on your pages and crates a fun interactive element. So make sure you check into my tips for organizing your memorabilia, and take pictures or scan all those oversized pieces that you want to include in your albums. Add that special touch with your memorabilia.

Tip #10

Enjoy the process

Remember your why. Why did you start making albums, or why do you think you may want to start a scrapbook? Make it fun and enjoy the journey. Remember the #1 rule is there are NO RULES -when it comes to scrapbooking! So whatever style you love for creating your pages, from simple to fancy, find your joy in the process.

I also want to encourage you to keep learning and connecting with others that enjoy scrapbooking. You are always welcome as part of the Craft Some Joy community, and I have wonderful virtual resources including Facebook and YouTube lives as well as virtual crops that can keep you connected, informed and excited about creating your next page.

So there you have it, my 10 favorite tips for better scrapbooking. Stay tuned for my 10 favorite tips for better pictures for your scrapbook, coming soon!

If you would like to watch these tips in action, you can check out the video here: