Scrapbook Themes 

Choosing a Scrapbooking Theme

Scrapbooking has evolved into an art form in itself, and it's wonderful for moms, in particular, in that it allows us to creatively express ourselves while telling our family's important story through words, photographs, texture, and design elements.

If you haven’t strolled the aisles of a scrapbook store or flipped through a scrapbook magazine lately, you’re in for a treat. The industry has taken papercrafting to an entirely new level, particularly in the last year or so, and it’s always fun to see what new tools and embellishments there are for our pages.

But all the choices that are now available to us can cause even the most creative scrapbook artists to feel a bit paralyzed.

It helps to narrow your options by first choosing a theme for an album or mini album and then working within that theme to chose coordinating supplies.
Here’s help in choosing a theme for your ongoing scrapbooking projects. Of course, you won't want to have all of these themes going at once. Choose one or two, and enjoy the process of preserving your family memories.

Scrapbooking Themes

Annual Scrapbooks.
Create one album each year, with one 2-page spread for each month. This is a great way to stay up-to-date and to avoid the pressure that comes with trying to scrapbook every photograph.
Significant Life Events.
Of course, you’ll want a wedding album... and other albums or mini albums to record those shining moments in your life.
Children.
Have one album going for each child and add to it when you feel particularly drawn to do so. Start with those first ultrasound photographs, and don’t forget to record all of the significant events, including a child’s first tooth, first haircut, first day of school, etc.

Sports.
If your child or spouse is particularly interested in sports, have a running sports album going. Include team photos, rosters and significant improvements and achievements. Record your children describing big games in their own words. 

The Hero Scrapbook.
This is the place for all of the certificates, awards, newspaper clippings, and publicity for members of your family. You could also do an album along the theme of “Good Deeds We’ve Done” and “Things We Are Grateful For," or "Things I Love About You."

About Me album.
Imagine the joy of future generations as they read about your favorite books, recipes, TV shows, hobbies, and – most importantly - your life philosophy. Record all the things that make you, you. 

School Years Album.
Create a new layout for each year of school. Ask your children to sign their name each year and include a photo taken on the first and last day of school. Also include a copy of the child’s school schedule, as well as a photo of their teachers and significant achievements throughout the school year. 

Holidays.
Have an ongoing scrapbook that spotlights each holiday season. Bring it out with your holiday decorations and enjoy adding to it during the festivities. For many families, scrapbooking is a fun family tradition in itself.

More help with themes
Many scrapbooking supplies are sold in pre-coordinated kits according to themes, including mini album kits. These have become immensely popular, and for good reason. They allow you to tell your story effectively while saving you time and money (because you are only buying the supplies that you'll use in the project.)

Scrapbooking club kits can also help you to work inside themes by sending pre-coordinated supplies according to themes each month, including pre-coordinated patterned papers, cardstock, ribbons, journaling prompts, stickers, and other fun embellishments, which provide inspiration for some great projects.

No matter what theme you are currently working on, the key to keeping it fun is to remember that not every photo needs to be scrapbooked. (After all, that’s what photo albums are for.) Choose the events, photographs and stories that are particularly significant and create a lasting memory for generations to come.