85 Scrapbook ideas to help you document your life.
Whether you’re looking to exercise your creativity or simply find a sweet way to document your life, scrapbooking is a fun activity. What’s more, it’s a thoughtful way to preserve and showcase some of your favorite photos and mementos. Celebrate and make a record of your life with the help of these scrapbook ideas.

Scrapbook ideas to safeguard precious memories.
Scrapbooking—one of the best, most tangible ways to preserve your memories. It’s an activity that goes beyond gluing on photos or writing journal entries or captions. It entails gathering mementos and lets you relive your favorite moments. Plus, you get to hone or learn new creative skills. Lastly, because it’s a record of your life, you can leave your scrapbook to future generations and give them the opportunity to get to know you better. Ready to start scrapbooking? Browse these scrapbook ideas for inspiration.
Table of Contents:
Scrapbook page ideas.
Browse these scrapbook page ideas for layouts and designs that will make your scrapbook extra special and more meaningful.
Take inspiration from your own journal.
If you have a journal, apply the same techniques you used to make it come alive to your scrapbook. Take a loose approach and just enjoy the process, whether it entails doodling, sticking on mementos, or writing notes.
Make a mixed media page.
This is a great way to add interesting textures, create a focal point, and make pages from your scrapbook stand out. For instance, you can draw shapes using oil pastels or paint markers and then add embellishments with the help of watercolors, googly eyes, and fabric scraps.
Use colorful scrap paper.
These can serve as makeshift frames for photos or page borders. They can also double as decorative accents to liven up each page.
Add interactive elements.
Why not turn your scrapbook into a children’s book of sorts? Think pop-ups, flaps, and pull-down tabs. These will make any scrapbook more magical, fun, and engaging.
Dedicate a page solely for photos.
Remember to add helpful captions, such as those indicating the time, date, or venue where the photo was taken. You can also segment photos by event and create themed photo pages for each category.
Scrapbook cover ideas.
Set the tone and theme for your scrapbook with these scrapbook cover ideas. These will help you make personalized covers that will make your project more meaningful and memorable.
Paint your own cover.
This is a fun way to personalize your scrapbook, especially if you’re already an art enthusiast.
Make it look like a book.
Make your scrapbook look like a sleek paperback or an ancient tome.
Feature something you’re passionate about.
For example, if you like fashion, consider including cut-outs from magazines, much like 90s journals.
Look to your scrapbook contents for inspiration.
If your scrapbook is focused on your family, make your cover reflect that by adding photos or illustrations of your family members, for example.
Base your cover on your scrapbook’s theme.
This will help make your scrapbook look more cohesive.
Scrapbook ideas for boyfriend.
Capture memories shared with your significant other with the help of these scrapbook ideas for your boyfriend.
A portable scrapbook.
It’s something that he can take along with him wherever he goes, and it’s perfect for a quick pick-me-up.
A catalog of your journey together.
Tell your love story through your scrapbook. Arrange elements in chronological order and include meaningful mementos like items from your first date, first anniversary, etc.
Celebrate milestones.
Dedicate a page for each milestone. Write down your thoughts or feelings during those moments.
Make it together.
Don’t go it alone. Ask your boyfriend to make the scrapbook with you. The activity strengthens your bond, and you get to relive some of your best moments together.
A pleasant surprise.
Make mini pockets to display your favorite photos or mementos. Add a personal touch to each pocket by adding a sweet message or a cute doodle.
Scrapbook ideas for girlfriend.
Give your partner a sweet and thoughtful gift that she’ll surely love with the help of these scrapbook ideas for your girlfriend.
Pressed flowers.
They’re dainty, and they’re a great way to preserve flowers from the bouquets you’ve given to your girlfriend. Silk or paper flowers also make for great alternatives.
Put the spotlight on your love notes.
If you like writing notes or letters to your partner, why not use some of them in a scrapbook for your girlfriend? These will make your scrapbook extra special and more memorable for her.
Date night display.
Add mementos or ephemera from your date nights.
A meaningful poem.
Have a favorite poem? Print it out or write it down to add to a scrapbook.
Document your travels as a couple.
If you would like to travel as a couple, this scrapbook idea would be a great way to preserve your memories. Consider making a page or two for each destination and include flight tickets, stamps, or stickers from places you’ve visited.
Baby scrapbook ideas.
These baby scrapbook ideas will help you document your little one’s milestones and unique experiences.
Baby’s firsts.
Keep a record of your child’s milestones for the first 12 months by adding journal entries alongside photos.
Precious prints.
Include your child’s hand and footprints in your scrapbook.
A mini sonogram gallery.
Add sonograms taken from various weeks and include journal entries for each one to express your feelings during these periods.
Document your parenthood journey.
Arrange your mementos in chronological order to properly document your journey to becoming parents.
Custom artwork of your baby.
Make your own artwork or commission an artist to create an adorable custom artwork of your child that you can add to your scrapbook.
Wedding scrapbook ideas.
Capture moments from your big day, including photos, vows, and décor, and celebrate your union with these wedding scrapbook ideas.
Showcase meaningful elements from your wedding.
Focus on your theme. Include meaningful items like your seating cards, wedding schedule or program, and flowers from your bouquet.
Pick your favorite wedding cards.
And add them to your scrapbook.
Print out your wedding vows or speeches.
Jazz them up by adding embellishments, or make them more meaningful by adding a short journal entry for each one.
Include mementos from your honeymoon.
Document your honeymoon by including things like your flight tickets, photos, and other ephemera.
Dedicate a page (or two) to candid photos.
This is a fun and thoughtful way to preserve your memories of your loved ones on your big day.
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Cute scrapbook ideas.
Whether it’s incorporating bright colors or cute illustrations, these cute scrapbook ideas will help you make an adorable and whimsical scrapbook.
Experiment with colors and shapes.
Jazz up your scrapbook by trying out a new color palette. Aside from the usual squares and rectangles, incorporate unique shapes like lemniscates, nonagons, and squircles (yes, they’re a thing).
Custom printed envelopes.
Use a variety of patterned paper to make envelopes that serve as nifty pockets for your scrapbook. These can hold trinkets or mementos like tickets, candy wrappers, or receipts.
Make a collage.
Cut out pages from old magazines or make a custom photo collage for your scrapbook. With the help of Adobe Express, it’s now easier than ever to turn your favorite photos into heartwarming photo collages.
Incorporate your other hobbies.
Like watercolor painting? What about embroidery or calligraphy? Personalize your scrapbook further by incorporating elements from your other passions or interests.
Make your pages pop.
Aside from using different art mediums like watercolors, gouache, or pastels, try incorporating different textures using materials like fabrics or twine. Unconventional materials like cling film, eggshells, and bubble wrap can add interesting effects to painted surfaces.
Travel scrapbook ideas.
From travel tickets to destination photos, these travel scrapbook ideas give you a fun and thoughtful way to document your trips and vacations.
Use old maps.
Have old guidebooks or maps that you don’t really use anymore? Tear out a page or two and cut it to size for your scrapbook.
Postcards galore.
If you like collecting postcards, why not feature them in your scrapbook? You can leave them as is or add a cute frame made of washi tape to accentuate each postcard.
Stamp after stamp after stamp.
Stamps are great travel souvenirs. They also serve as beautiful décor or subjects for your scrapbook. Japan, for example, has plenty of eki stamps found at train stations. The best part is these eki stamps are free.
Have fun with patterns and layouts.
The great thing about scrapbooking is that there’s no one “right” layout to display your travel photos and mementos. The key here is to pick a layout that tells a story and to use patterns that are inspired by your trip to make your scrapbook extra special.
Follow a theme.
This helps create a cohesive look for your scrapbook. For example, there’s a section dedicated to showcasing interesting details or photos from your trip, while another section is dedicated to all things food. You can also use colors as a theme of sorts.
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Easy scrapbook ideas.
If you’re just starting out with scrapbooking, then these simple and beginner-friendly scrapbook ideas are definitely worth trying out.
Stickers to the rescue.
Stickers are a fun and easy way to decorate and personalize your scrapbook. Purchase stickers from your favorite artist or create your own set to make unique embellishments that stand out.
Find a layout that works for you.
While a mosaic photo tile layout is great if you’re working with a theme, you may want to explore other options or make a custom layout to better tell your story. You may also consider following the “Rule of Three” and modifying it to fit your scrapbooking needs. For example, you can use the rule of thirds to arrange your photos in a way that makes them more visually interesting.
Remember to add text.
Add helpful captions. These will help you better remember where a memento or ephemera was from, who you were with when a particular photo was taken, etc.
Reserve a space for your bucket list.
Making a bucket list is an activity that fills you with hope and inspiration. Plus, it’s fun. List down as many items as you want. Customize each item by adding embellishments like stickers or drawings next to each one, or personalize the entire page.
Embrace chaos.
Organized chaos, that is. When cleaning out your closet or turning out your pockets, you might find random objects like wrappers, receipts, or stubs that you can include in your scrapbook to make a smash book.
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Anniversary scrapbook ideas.
If you’re just starting out with scrapbooking, then these simple and beginner-friendly scrapbook ideas are definitely worth trying out.
Look forward to the future.
Write down your plans for the future as a couple. This is a sweet way to strengthen your bond and reflect on your journey together.
Print out screenshots of your favorite messages.
And add them to your scrapbook to preserve them for longer.
Tell your story.
Arrange your photos and other mementos in chronological order to tell your love story.
A mini time capsule.
Add items that you want to open in the future. For example, you can each write a letter or include a card that’ll be opened during your fifth anniversary.
Remember your firsts.
Include mementos from your first date, first anniversary, first movie together, first concert together, etc.
Halloween scrapbook ideas.
Capture the spirit of Halloween with these Halloween scrapbook ideas. They’re a fun way to remember your Halloween memories, and they’re an activity that you can do with your loved ones.
Monster mash.
Draw or cut out photos of your favorite ghouls to add to your scrapbook.
Take a cue from your favorite horror movies.
Use that as your theme or inspiration on how you’d like your scrapbook to look. For example, if you’re a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, use its font to label your photos or scrapbook sections.
Photos of Halloween activities.
From costume parties to scavenger hunts, this is a sweet way to preserve your memories of Halloween with your loved ones.
Add puns.
There are plenty of Halloween puns that you can add to showcase your sense of humor and make your scrapbook more fun.
Make a two-page spread.
A spread lets you incorporate more photos and Halloween-related ephemera. It also gives you more space to write down captions, tell the story of this year’s Halloween, and so on.
Birthday scrapbook ideas.
Document milestones, unique experiences, and everything in between with the help of these birthday scrapbook ideas.
Make custom pockets to hold your favorite birthday photos.
You can use small envelopes for this. A good alternative would be clear plastic pockets.
Use elements from your birthday theme.
From colors to the décor, applying your birthday theme to your scrapbook makes for an interesting and cohesive look.
Things you did this year.
Document your year by adding photos, mementos, or journal entries focusing on the unique experiences or activities you did this year.
Take inspiration from your birth year.
Bask in nostalgia and look up iconic moments, signature design elements, and trends during your birth year. Then, incorporate these elements into your scrapbook design to create something unique.
Birthday cards.
Pick your favorite birthday cards and add them to your scrapbook.
Graduation scrapbook ideas.
These graduation scrapbook ideas will help you mark this important milestone and make a thoughtful gift to commemorate the graduate’s success.
Graduation photos.
Make a collage of your graduation photos. Include a caption for each one.
Allocate space for meaningful messages.
If you’ve received graduation cards or letters, make sure to leave some space for them in your scrapbook.
Add layers.
Instead of laying your pictures flat on the page, make them pop by stacking up paper frames.
Employ a chronological approach.
This lets you tell your story more effectively. Remember to include journal entries to describe each photo or memento.
Include themed pages.
Dedicate a page to school activities or a favorite subject, for example. Make custom pockets to hold things like awards, photos, and other ephemera.
Christmas scrapbook ideas.
Document your holiday memories and celebrate the holidays in a more festive and meaningful way with the help of these Christmas scrapbook ideas.
Photo baubles.
Turn some of your favorite photos into Christmas ornaments. To make this easier, use patterned paper with printed ornaments. Alternatively, you can reuse old Christmas wrappers and cut them into the shape of round ornaments.
Reuse old Christmas wrappers.
They’re a cost-effective way to add some color to your scrapbook. Use them as frames, borders, or as decorative accents.
Focus on family traditions.
Include mementos that highlight your unique family traditions. For example, if you have old recipe cards passed down from generation to generation, make a copy of that and add it to your scrapbook. Mention details like the year it’s from or whose recipe it is.
Holiday-themed illustrations.
These are a simple yet adorable way to personalize your scrapbook and make it more meaningful. While you’re at it, why not turn some of your original illustrations into cute holiday cards to share with your loved ones?
Incorporate gift tags for photo captions.
This is a quick and easy way to add a festive touch to your scrapbook.
DIY scrapbook ideas.
From making custom embellishments to adding interactive elements, these DIY scrapbook ideas will help you add a personal touch to each page.
Zhuzh up each page with cute illustrations.
This is a great way to personalize your scrapbook. Keep things simple with minimalist line drawings, or embrace color with the help of paints or markers.
Incorporate sliding overlays.
These add an interactive element to your scrapbook and are perfect for when you want to uncover text or messages alongside photos.
Add embellishments.
Go the minimalist route, or go all out with your embellishments. Use stickers, stamps, washi tape, or pre-cut shapes to personalize your DIY scrapbook.
Feel like a kid again.
Bust out your old arts and crafts supplies and have fun making decorations. Use tacky glue, hot glue, glitters, markers, Mod Podge, and decorative scissors.
Repurpose things you can find at home.
This is a cost-effective way to jazz up your scrapbook. Reuse flyers or cut out old posters or banners to add pops of color to your project.
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Photo scrapbook ideas.
From showcasing your favorite photos using new layouts to finding different ways to display your photos, these photo scrapbook ideas will help you create a compelling narrative.
Mini flipbooks.
They’re interactive and fun. Best of all, flipbooks let you add several photos, making them a great option if you have tons of pictures you want to fit into your scrapbook.
A simple photo mosaic.
If you have a large photo, cut it into little squares to make a mosaic. Make sure to print out a copy, though, so you get to keep the original.
Make an accordion album.
This is a wonderful option if you want to display several photos. An accordion album is compact and serves as a dedicated mini-display.
Pop-up cards.
Pop-ups are a fun and creative way to display your photos. Add several photos to each page or do one pop-up card per page—there’s no limit to what you can make.
A simple photo grid.
If you’re looking for an organized way to display photos in your scrapbook, this is it.
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Family scrapbook ideas.
Be inspired by these family scrapbook ideas and start capturing and preserving precious memories with your loved ones.
Include your pet.
Dedicate several pages to your pet or, better yet, make a scrapbook especially for them.
A mini album for each family member.
This is a sweet way to preserve more memories associated with each family member.
Look back on your fondest memories.
Include mementos and photos from family milestones like a child’s first birthday or your first-holiday vacation as a family.
Include your favorite family photos.
Just make sure to use copies so you get to keep the originals.
Embrace the unconventional.
Sometimes, a traditional scrapbook just won’t cut it, especially if you’re looking for something to house all precious memorabilia like old buttons, craft projects you made together, or your child’s artwork. Consider making a treasure chest that holds an accordion-fold album. You can make one for each family member or a big one for the whole family.
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Scrapbooking tips that’ll take your scrapbooking to the next level.
Follow these tips to create a scrapbook that serves as a unique and personal record of your life, including milestones, unique experiences, and everything in between.
Gather your supplies.
These include photos, decorations, and art supplies like cardstock, specialty paper, sharp scissors, and washi tape.
Lay out all your mementos first.
Before gluing them onto each page, lay out all your scrapbook elements first. That way, it’s easier to tweak the layout in case you want to add or remove embellishments, photos, etc.
Leave open spaces.
Embrace negative space and let each of your scrapbook elements, from photos to journal entries, breathe.
Use duplicate photos.
And make multiple copies in different sizes, if possible. This lets you preserve the originals and gives you plenty of extra photos in case things don’t go according to plan.
Use acid-free materials.
This keeps your scrapbook (and everything inside) from discoloring or deteriorating over time.
Preserving memories made even better with Adobe Express.
Whether you’re scrapbooking to keep track of milestones or you’re doing it to make meaningful family keepsakes, Adobe Express can help you make any creative project more memorable. From custom cards that you can add to your scrapbook to stunning event posters, there’s no limit to what you can make with Adobe Express. Make your next project stand out with the help of Adobe Express. Try it today.