In this chapter you will read about a few layouts for your scrapbook. Adding your own touch and flair to each idea will provide you with a wonderful masterpiece.

First of all, Thanksgiving is the most difficult page to create in your scrapbook. Here are a few ideas for you.

• Cut up strips of small acid-free paper and place them in a basket or container. Use colors that reflect the Thanksgiving holiday. Oranges, browns, tans, yellows, and reds, are good colors to use. Place the container close to your entryway so your guests can take one as they pass by. As everyone is seated for dinner explain to them the rules of the paper. Have each of them write down at least one thing they are grateful for. Have them sign their names to them also. Take plenty of pictures at the dinner table and of the guests. Take a picture of the person carving the turkey. Save the pieces of paper in a clear bag until you are ready to create your scrapbook page. Select coordinating colors of cardstock for the photos. Purchase come Thanksgiving embellishments such as, stickers, stamps, or fall images. Arrange the pieces of paper throughout the scrapbook page. Add any journaling you have about the holiday.
  
  
• Create a scrapbook album for your children’s graduation present. Purchase a smaller album that is convenient to take to college with them. Write journaling on pieces of cardstock. Add details to each of their high school years. Make a copy of their diploma for a great background. Display any photos that contain special memories such as, their first day of high school, their first report card, best friends, high school dances, or their first boyfriend. Next, display any embellishments you might have of their achievements. Driving permit, first pay check stub, school play or program, or any awards they may have earned. Leave a blank page for their friends to sign and write special messages.
  
  
• Help your children create their own scrapbook. Many children have begun taking this hobby very seriously. They enjoy seeing the outcome of their hard work and imagination. Give your child a disposable camera. Don’t allow them to use your expensive camera, in case they drop it or lose it. The quality of pictures in disposable cameras has come a long way. Use a Fuji film camera to ensure good quality pictures and longevity. Let them take their own pictures and photograph whatever they want. If they decide to take pictures of all of their toys or stuffed animals that’s fine. Whatever interests them will keep them focused and want to create a scrapbook for their favorite possessions. After the photos are developed you can help your child pick out the pictures they will use. Take your child to the craft store to decide on an album to best suit them. Smaller albums work best due to the fact the pages are smaller and there is not as many pages to fill. Assist them in finding the colors of cardstock and background paper. Look for easy embellishments or have them create their own. They may want to add some personal items to the pages. Their first page can be of who created the scrapbook. Take a picture of them holding the scrapbook album. Once they have this picture let them glue the cardstock to the photo. They can choose where to place the photos and how many will go on a page. Let your child be the creator of his or her design. You are only there to help them when they ask for it. Another cute idea for a page is to have one dedicated for their toys. Photograph them playing with the toys and let them write any journaling to the page. Have them put their thoughts and feelings on pieces of cardstock.
  
  
• Many layout ideas come from image transfers. There are a couple different ways to achieve this design. Some of these methods would require you to purchase supplies at a store. You may need to purchase Inkjet Transfer Paper. You can find these in most stores and can purchase them separately or in a pack. You must have a computer with a printer to capture your image. You may also use transfer solvent or liquid.
  
  
• There are techniques that are easy and don’t require you to purchase extra items from the store. Most of the items can be found in your home. All you need is some cardstock, clear cellophane tape, and your photocopied image. First, photocopy your image you are transferring and trim the image out of the paper. Place it face up. Then, cut a piece of cellophane tape about the same size of your image. Cover the image with the tape and use your finger to run it over the tape. Soak the tape in water for a few minutes, and then remove the paper from the tape by rubbing on it. The paper should come off easily leaving an image on the tape. Now, dry the tape and glue it to your cardstock. Add any extra touches you desire.
  
  
• Don’t forget to create a page for the special pet in your life. You can purchase templates or die cut designs in bones, dog houses, paw prints, and fire hydrants. If you have a cat as a pet, they also many designs for them as well. Use background paper of grass or a doghouse to compliment your theme. Purchase embellishments of paw prints and place them throughout the page. Use tweezers to grasp the small accessories and place them on the page. Display photos of your dog with its favorite toy or cuddling with its favorite person. Capture any moments your pet has gotten into mischief. Write information about your animal on cardstock.  You may wan to cut the cardstock into bone shapes before you do any journaling. Include special moments you have had together and special tricks or tricks your dog likes.    
• Many times husbands may feel left out of the scrapbook. Dedicate a page or two for your special someone. Craft stores carry several embellishments to compliment any mans hobby. You can purchase pre-made embellishments for fishing, golfing, or sports. Feel free to make your own and save money. Use photos of him enjoying his hobbies and activities. Include golf score cards, car race tickets, or a fishing lure without a hook. Use a small piece of fishing line and make a small pole. You can attach a fish embellishment to the end of the line. Add your own ideas for his hobbies. He will appreciate the time and effort you took to incorporate him into the scrapbook.
  
  
• Have your child create a small scrapbook for their teacher. Ask their classmates to help design the album. Use a black piece of background paper and write math problems on the page with a Clorox bleach pen. This will give the illusion of a chalk effect on a black board. Use embellishments of school buses, lunch boxes, or school houses. Use an apple designed template or cookie cutter to crop the pictures of the students. Leave a page blank in the beginning of the scrapbook for your child’s classmates to autograph it. Think about using an alphabet border throughout the album. You can create this easily with a stencil of the alphabet and acid-free paint. Use primary colors to make them stand out from the page.
• Using the four seasons for scrapbook pages can be very interesting. To make them stand out you can enhance them with glitter. Listed below are some ideas for creating your seasons.
  
  
• For a glistening winter theme adding iridescent glitter to white snowflakes will really make them pop out. Using a light blue background with a shade darker for the cardstock will blend very well. Paper punch some holiday designs and place them around the page. Use a round cookie cutter or template for cropping your pictures. Add some gold acid-free paint to the top of the photos to make them resemble ornaments. Add embellishments of the winter season and create scenes around them. Perhaps a party hat and champagne glasses for New Year’s Eve. Add touches of blue chalk to your border or around the edges of your photos. You may also want to include an ice skating pond on your page. You can make this out of vellum. Incorporate your own ideas into this theme.
  
  
• For a bright and bold spring layout use pastel colored background paper. Use several small squares of pastels in purples, pinks, yellows, and greens to design a spring quilt. Use an oval template to crop pictures and design a basket to set them in. You can also place your pictures in the center of flowers. Add some glitter to the flowers around the petals. Create a border with stamps on white paper. Decorative shears will add a subtle touch to the border.
  
  
• Summertime is always associated with the Fourth of July. Decorate your page in red, white, and blue. Use an added touch with the same colored glitter. Create a flag for your background. Display pictures of your family members enjoying their favorite summertime activities. Swimming, picnics, camping, fishing, and vacations are just some ideas to display. Use embellishments like stars, apples for apple pie, and create your own fireworks on the page. Cookie cutters shaped as stars to crop your photos would accent the page. Make a red and white checkered blanket for your background. Craft stores carry the cutest little embellishments for picnic items. Hot dogs, picnic baskets, fruits, and beverages are some examples. Create trees out of green and brown paper. Place your pictures in the trees.
  
  
• A fall theme can bring several ideas together. Design a background with brown paper. Add small leaf cut outs in brown, orange and red, for falling leaves. Combine some Halloween cutouts in the page. Cut out a ghost costume out of white fabric or felt. Draw some black shoes for the feet and emboss a pumpkin for a trick or treat bag. Design yellow cornstalks and tie them with small pieces of raffia.

In the end the ideas for layout designs are endless. Take your time and really give it your all. You would be surprised at how crafty you can get.

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