How to Make a Scrapbook With A4 Paper

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 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.

What To Try

• Studymate A3 110gsm PP Cover Sketch Book 40 Page Clear
• Keji Stainless Steel Ruler 30cm
• J.Burrows Comfort Grip Scissors 9"/228mm
• Scotch 665 Double-sided Tape 12.7mm x 22.8m
• J.Burrows Double-sided Tape with Dispenser 12mm x 25m
• DIYi Craft Knife with 5 Replacement Blades
• X-Press It A5 Blending Journal 20 Sheet
• Quill A4 210gsm Board Bright Assorted 25 Pack
• A3 Cutting Mat
• Copic Original Dual Nib Marker Basic Colours 12 Pack
• J.Burrows Permanent Foam Mounting Tape 25mm x 1.3m

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!"

SEE ALSO: Essential Art Supplies for Students to Add to Their Kit

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 Canon Compact Selphy 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 Fuji Instax mini 11 are perfect for capturing special moments on the fly. The Fujifilm Instax Share Mini Link Smartphone Printer can transform any smartphone pic into a scrapbook-worthy work of art, with customisable borders, frames and filters.

What To Try

• Fujifilm Instax Mini Film 60 Pack
• Fujifilm Instax Share Mini Link Smartphone Printer Ash White
• Fuji Instax mini 11 Instant Film Camera Sky Blue
• 6 X 4" Digital Photo Print
• 5 X 5" Square Digital Photo Print
• 5 X 7" Digital Photo Print
• Canon Compact Selphy Printer Black CP1300BK
• Epson Expression Photo Printer Black XP-970(not pictured)
• Canon Mini Photo Printer with 50 Pack Photo Paper(not pictured)
• Polaroid Black and White Film for i-Type Camera 8 Pack(not pictured)

Plan Your Layouts

"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.

What To Try

• Scotch 665 Double-sided Tape 12.7mm x 22.8m
• Fiskars Border Punch Daisy Dew
• Otto Japandi Scrapbook 120 Pages
• 6 X 4" Digital Photo Print
• 5 X 5" Square Digital Photo Print
• 5 X 7" Digital Photo Print
• Sellotape Sticky Dots Removable 1600 Pack
• Fiskars Paper Edger Pinking Scissors
• Fiskars Paper Edger Scissors Victorian Edge
• Cristina Re A4 Luxury Paper Botanic Floral 5 Pack
• Glue Dots Permanent Dots 200 Pack
• Fiskars Portable Paper Trimmer 30cm
• Columbia Copperplate Hexagonal Graphite Pencil HB 2 Pack(not pictured)
• Otto Pastel Sticker Book Pink and Teal(not pictured)
• Otto Sticker Book Girl Power (not pictured)
• Lifestyle Brands Photo Corners Clear 250 Pack (not pictured)

SEE ALSO: The Best Creative Pages on Instagram to Follow in Australia

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.

What To Try

• Papercraft Clear Cling Stamps Alphabet Modern
• Papercraft Clear Cling Stamps Love
• Fiskars Lever Hole Punch Star Design
• Fiskars Lever Hole Punch Heart Design
• Otto Washi Tape Metallics 3 Pack
• DIYi Wooden Stamps Party Icons 3 Pack
• DIYi Mini Craft Punches Heart/Butterfly 4 Pack
• DIYi Wooden Stamps Uppercase Alphabet 30 Pack
• Kadink Holographic Hearts Stickers 58 Pack
• Kadink Holographic Stickers 1 Sheet Alphabet
• DIYi Foil Stickers Alphabet Gold 2 Sheets
• DIYi Mini Kraft Bunting 2m
• DIYi Mini Bunting 2m
• Otto Japandi Scrapbook 120 Pages
• DIYi Mini Craft Punches Cupcake/Balloon 4 Pack (not pictured)

How to Make a Scrapbook With A4 Paper

Source: https://www.officeworks.com.au/noteworthy/post/create-how-to-make-a-scrapbook-diy-guide-steps

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