by Paula S. Thompson

Created on: June 17, 2009

Simply put, a "simple scrapbook" is a back-to-basics album, usually smaller than a traditional scrapbook in size, which may focus on everyday life or an event you want to separate from your traditional albums. Everything about the simple scrapbook is toned-down from traditional scrapbooking: scale, design, even products used.

There is often more structure to a simple scrapbook - look at it as a book that tells a story. You will want to include a title page - this will contain a title for your book, a date (be it an event date or just a month or year), and possibly a dedication if the book is a gift; this is also where you set the theme for the book - style and color scheme.

Two pages you may want to include are an introduction page and a table of contents. These pages are at your own discretion - you may not need a table of contents if you're focusing on a single event, just as you may not need an introduction if your title page wraps up what your scrapbook is about (for example: "Tony and Andrea's Wedding"). If you choose to include these pages, they should follow the theme set forth on the title page.

Section pages introduce the different sections of your book (if you're dividing it up); the pages should also follow your theme. Filler pages fill the sections, or (if you're not dividing) make up the bulk of your scrapbook, telling your story. You may also want a clever closing page: a photo or statement that sums up your scrapbook.

If you decide to try making a simple scrapbook, you will need to create a design for your album. You should know what you are creating the album: are you celebrating an event? Will it be a gift? You will have to decide on a size and style of album, and how you will organize it: chronologically, as a list, question and answer, or theme, among other ideas. You will need to decide which of the aforementioned pages you will use, and design a color scheme for use throughout the album. Based on the color scheme, you can decide what kinds of accents you will use on the pages.

When you're comfortable with the design of your album, you can start arranging your photos for display on the pages and determining how to display your journaling. At this point, you are ready to start working on your scrapbook.

The beauty of a simple scrapbook is that you can actually finish it. Where traditional scrapbooks are often on-going projects, a simple scrapbook is often a set event or theme with a finite end point. Simple scrapbooks are also quick to create - you often spend more time developing the theme than putting together the actual book.

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