When scrappers think of Christmas scrapbooking, many images come to mind that are rather conventional. For example, images of a family around the Christmas tree, photos around the Yule tide fire, and other pictures, usually included in Christmas cards.
While most scrappers search for Christmas scrapbooking ideas that “leap off the page”, perhaps it is better for scrappers to abandon the idea of the page altogether. In other words, even though scrappers do their best to make pages fit well in an album, there are other ways of expressing Christmas scrapbooking ideas than just in the album.
One of the best ways to do a Christmas scrapbook is to start a mini-album. A mini-album is exactly what it sounds like, a scrapbooking album designed only to celebrate one memory or a few memories. They are meant to be small, like the size of a half or quarter page, and not hold many pages. A mini-album is a perfect way to use your Christmas scrapbooking skills, and when complete, they could be used as either gift cards or gifts in and of themselves!
After all, many people send a letter explaining what their family did during the year, but statistics have shown very few ever read these letters. Imagine how much your family’s mini-album will stand out from the usual run-of-the-mill family letters which are nothing but words few want to take the time to read. A mini-album uses pictures to say a thousand words, along with a little text and decoration, a Christmas scrapbooking page can really showcases what you value.
In addition to all the things your family has accomplished in the year, you can really put anything into this mini-book (or page). Generally, it is good to see Christmas images associated with it. This means taking a picture of yourself with your family in the conventional surrounding, mentioned earlier, such as around a Christmas tree or fireplace. Keep in mind, one might have to take such photos months in advance.
You may also want to avoid the cliché, so to speak, of Christmas scrapbooking and go with something altogether different. There are no rules of what you can and cannot do with this, but you should embrace ideas celebrating the season and the artist’s family.
The Christmas scrapbooking mini-book should use Christmas colours, including red and green patterns. Decorations should also be holiday-themed, including ribbons, bows, or even wrapping paper. Once again, it is not wise to limit oneself with traditional Christmas scrapbooking patterns, as the mini-album is one Christmas scrapbooking idea where the scrapper can really use his or her imagination.
Even though the mini-album takes a lot of creativity, it is practically made for mass production. With a little prepared pattern and some paper, along with some lettering, a mini-book is a snap to assemble. All one needs to do is fold some paper in two, then bind them together using staples or even thread.
Once the frame is assembled, it is easy to let Christmas scrapbooking creativity flow as photos, stamping, embossing, and every skill the scrapper knows can be put proudly on display.
Blubird - 16 years ago
Great idea. Cant wait to get started making them as gifts.