A well-loved pastime is making a comeback in 2021 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Scrapbooking has been cherished by many types of people, and one of the beauties of the craft is that it’s open for anyone to enjoy. It can be used to remember the passing years and fun times and can be incorporated into cards, letters, journals and photo albums alike. The art form has been used for centuries to capture important moments and faces filled with smiles. In past times, some people would compile scrapbooks throughout the years for their children ⏤ occasionally gifting them on their wedding day or important birthdays. It can also be used as a thoughtful way to commemorate a loved one who has passed away. 

Although not as many people are utilizing scrapbooking nowadays, the craft can be explored individually but can be enjoyed with company such as groups, retreats or classes. The world of scrapbooking can be intimidating; there is no one “right” way to scrapbook, and the most important part is to have fun with it and to see where it goes. That being said, there are a few tips and tricks that can make the activity easier to explore:

1. If a traditional scrapbook isn’t available, any drawing booklet, old journal or photo album will work just fine. 
2. Reduce, reuse and recycle. Most materials used can be found around the house or bought at thrift stores and yard sales.
3. Pick a color scheme and a theme. If using photos, the rest of the page layout can be inspired by colors or details in the pictures. 
4. If using older photos with limited or no copies, it can be best to leave them as is or to cut them in traditional shapes like squares or ovals. If they are more recent photos, consider developing extra pictures.
5. Thicker cardstock paper works best for backgrounds since it withstands materials like thick markers, lots of tape and paint. Pictures from magazines, newspaper clippings and drawings all work too. Put unused scraps in a resealable plastic bag to avoid a mess.
6. Journaling highlights and details from the event, memory or photo can be a good jumping-off point for a page, which could include the location, date, weather, favorite parts and the people involved. 
7. If the page layout doesn’t include journaling and isn’t quite centered around one theme, quotes from books, movies, tv shows or lyrics can be used to balance the design. 
8. For an added design element, include dried or pressed flowers or leaves, or embellish with bits of fabric, ribbon, stickers, paint and different writing techniques.
9. Using textured paper adds a little pop to the page, and envelopes can double as pockets for photos or journaling snippets. Two-page layouts add extra space.
10. Don’t glue or tape things right away; lay it all out and experiment with the design. Double-sided tape works best when layering, and glue sticks work better with paper.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu