Need a new hobby? Now’s the perfect time to start scrapbooking. Not only will it give you a reason to sort through that old box of photos but you will end up with something truly special and one-of-a-kind. Paper creative Kashia Kennedy is a fan. “I love creating scrapbooks as gifts – it’s a great present for grandparents,” she says. “And I have been planning to create some ‘Year in Review’ albums with my kids. I think it’s time I start that tradition.” Here, she shares her top tips on how to make a scrapbook that’s a true masterpiece.

Set Up Your Space

Before you set out to make a scrapbook, set up a dedicated space.

Before you begin, organise your workspace and gather all the tools and supplies you’ll potentially need. Working at a table is recommended, as a flat surface is essential for all the cutting and sticking you’re about to do. You’ll also need serious storage options for keeping your scrapbooking bits and pieces neat – try a cupboard or a bookcase with space for stackable tubs and boxes. So what equipment do you need to get started? “A scalpel, metal ruler, cutting board, and various sizes of double sided tape, including thicker mounting tape to create depth,” says Kashia. “And of course, a scrapbook.”

Hot Tip: Glue can be messy and cause photos and paper to warp as it dries. Instead, try double-sided tape or alternative adhesives, such as sticky dots or photo corners.

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Select the Right Photos

Choosing images is one of the trickiest and most time-consuming aspects of the scrapbooking process. We all take countless snaps each day on our smartphones, so there’s a tough job ahead: sitting down and sifting through pics to pull together a thoughtful edit of the ones worth immortalising forever in print. As a first step, consider the basics – things like photo quality, size and orientation. Ask yourself questions about the presentation of your photos: How many do you want to fit on a page? Will you choose a consistent format, such as square pics à la Instagram, or the more traditional 4 x 6 inch frame? At the end of the day, go for the photos that make you feel something and take you back to cherished memories. “I always opt for the funnest or funniest,” says Kashia. “If you immediately think of a good caption, then it’s a keeper!” 

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Ready, Set, Print

You’ve got plenty of options for creating physical copies of photos. Officeworks Print Copy & Create allows you to upload and edit your pics online. You can also print professional-looking photos at home with a quality printer, such as the Fujifilm Instax Wide Link Smartphone Printer and the Epson Expression Photo Printer. Instant photos are really fun – and a great way to kids involved in the project – and cameras like the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera are perfect for capturing special moments on the fly. The Polaroid Lab Instant Printer can transform any smartphone pic into a scrapbook-worthy work of art.

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Plan Your Layouts 

How to make a scrapbook: always plan your layouts before you stick anything on the pages.

“I always start with a rough sketch,” Kashia says. “It all begins with a drawing and working out what will go where, sizing, the logistics of all the components coming together. I allocate pages to certain themes or time periods. You don’t want to get halfway through your scrapbook and realise you spent too many pages on January.” The beauty of planning your scrapbook pages is you won’t waste precious materials because a rough draft allows you to play around with things. 

Start with the elements you want to ‘hero’ – anything from a favourite photo to special stickers or a piece of patterned paper – and build a design from there. If you’re struggling to find inspiration, a quick internet search for ‘Scrapbook Ideas’ might help, or take a page from Kashia’s book. “I get inspired by old magazines or vintage accounts on Instagram,” she says. “And I can’t tell you the number of screenshots I have on my phone from coming across great colour combos or font styles or illustrative scenes in the oddest of places, like an eBay listing.”

Hot Tip: Unify your designs by sticking to a colour palette of three to four shades. “I’m a creature of habit and always choose my favourite combinations – red/pink/peach, brown/orange/mustard, cobalt/green/aqua,” Kashia says.

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Add Finishing Touches

Scrapbooking is so much more than just gathering your favourite photos together, it’s an artform that allows you to express yourself while you capture special moments. Discover your own style through experimentation – don’t be afraid to play around with tools and materials, like stamps, stickers, craft punches and patterned tape. 

For headings and captions, try a combination of hand lettering, alphabet stickers and stamps. Patterned tape can serve a dual purpose – use it to stick down pictures or make beautiful borders and frames. Kashia suggests using coloured or patterned paper to make backgrounds and create dimension. “I have a stack of old magazines and picture books I regularly comb through for sections of colour or texture, or even images to cut around. That’s where the trusty scalpel comes in handy. If my daughters are involved, it’s a free-for-all of stickers and diamantés and glittery washi tape. Puffy paint and googly eyes have been popular additions too,” she says.

Hot Tip: Add a personal touch with hand-written notes, quotes and captions. Ticket stubs, postcards and letters can also capture special times and places. 

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This article was originally published in 2021 and has been updated.