by Lisa Stephens

Created on: June 20, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

What is a simple scrapbook? Is it a scrapbook designed only for beginners or for those lacking in artistic talent? Not at all! What about the more experienced scrapbooker? Will they still be able to demonstrate their unique creative style? Absolutely!

In essence, a simple scrapbook is a streamlined album that usually focuses on the moments in one's life that tend to not be mentioned as much as in the more traditional albums. These albums may focus on topics including your hopes and dreams, key relationships in your life, family traditions that you may have, or the day-to-day tasks you undertake. Unlike other traditional and/or chronological albums that seem to never end, thereby leaving one frustrated for always needing to "catch up," a simple scrapbook is designed to follow a specific format, which allows it to be completed faster. Simple scrapbooks are typically smaller in size compared to the more traditional albums. In many ways, they are a story book capturing one specific event or idea. The following format is provided as a guide. Don't feel like you have to follow it to the letter in order to create your album. Imagine all the possibilities and be as creative as you'd like.

Before you begin gluing photos to a page, you will want to decide why you are making your album. Are you celebrating an event such as a vacation or a religious event, or will your album revolve around your favorite hobby, or a special relationship? Is there a special feeling that you want to embrace in your album such as gratitude, remembrance for a loved one or the celebration of a romance? Ask yourself what the album will be used for. Will it be a gift, an album that you will update from time to time, or will it be an album displayed for show? Taking the time to plan ahead will aid you in the next stage of the design process.

Now that you have decided on the theme of your book, it's important to understand that all simple albums follow a basic format of design that includes not only the size, shape and color of your album, but how the contents are organized within. One of the essential elements of your format will include your design theme that will be carried throughout the entire album. You will want your colors and the products you use to match, as well as the arrangement of your chosen design elements. By having a specific theme, all of the pages of your album will be tied together in unified form. When planning your format, consider the following: What size and style of

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