If you’re looking for a hobby to occupy you and relieve stress and frustration during this difficult period in the world’s history, then scrapbooking could be the answer. It’s not just a chance to look back on pleasant memories from years gone by (though it is definitely that!). Displaying pictures and keepsakes in an artistic scrapbook is creative and intricate work – work that you can lose yourself in for hours, and feel proud of afterwards!
Today we’re looking at keeping a scrapbook – what you need, and how to get started.
Materials
Scrapbooking is a form of craft that could potentially use a lot of different materials – all you really need is a sturdy book with blank pages, some scissors and glue, but if you get more ambitious, you could build a huge library of tools and materials, from different kinds of glue, to sharp papercraft knives, to different kinds of paper for different decorative crafts.
As you master other skills that come under the papercraft banner you can use them to add more decorative flourish to your scrapbooking: origami and quilling use new skills and slightly different materials, but they let you create more ways to frame and decorate keepsakes and memories from your past.
Don’t try to do too much too soon. Starting with the sort of monthly paper craft subscription box UK companies are beginning to offer for people starting out in crafts gives you all the materials you need to test the waters for a given craft and see if it appeals to you!
What Can You Scrapbook?
The starting point for most people when they’re making a scrapbook is photos! Going through old photo albums, or printing out pictures from social media galleries and framing them creates a timeline, and a focus for your reminiscences. That doesn’t mean photos have to be the end of the items you include in your scrapbook.
You can use tickets and programmes to add more context and focus to pages with pictures dedicated to a specific event. Don’t forget this isn’t a photo album – you’re not just displaying pictures, you’re showcasing memories, so the more detail the better.
Writing and Annotating
You can create annotations by writing directly onto the pages of the book around the pictures, by writing onto separate pieces of paper and cutting and sticking them in (perhaps wise, to avoid the risk of errors written directly into your scrapbook!) or by cutting out large letters from plain paper or using magazine print!
You don’t have to write long paragraphs! Just add a little context to your pictures to show how you felt at the time – this isn’t about conveying lots of detail, scrapbooking is about recreating and showcasing how a particular experience felt.