Scrapbook Planning Worksheet Printable With Free Page Templates
A scrapbook planning worksheet can help you prioritize and plan your scrapbooking stories.
I created my own scrapbook planning worksheet to provide clarity and help prioritize my stories. After months of feeling burnt out with lots unfinished projects, I came up with an effective ranking system to get back on track with my project goals.
In short, this method of ranking will help you to know which stories you should be focusing on. If you are new to scrapbooking, or have been doing it for years, this will help you to know exactly where to start. This workbook will also help if you’ve been feeling burnt out or uninspired to preserve your memories. After all, scrapbooking should be fun!
How To Use A Scrapbooking Planning Worksheet
My Scrapbook planner and storytelling workbook uses a 3-step process that includes prioritizing, setting goals, and getting into action.
By following this process, you will have direct guidance on how to plan out your layouts. Once you have a plan set in place, it is important that you have goals to stay on track. Goals such as “I will complete 2 layouts a week” will ensure that you get all your stories documented successfully.
Here are some additional tips while using the scrapbook worksheet.
1. Do Not Scrapbook Chronologically
Constricting yourself to only scrapbook chronological events can be tricky.
From personal experience, I found that when I wasn’t given the choice of what to create it led to a bunch of burnout. There may be times that you want to create one thing, but have to do something else instead. Sticking to a chronological schedule does not allow you the freedom to follow your inspirations.
Also, if you are new to scrapbooking you may never get caught up to present time. It at least would take you quite some time. Which means you would always be a couple years behind the current trends and events.
This also means that you miss documenting important details at the same time they happen in real life. It would be easy to miss important details and forget small memories if you don’t document them right after they occur.
While it’s a good idea to scrapbook older photos and mementos, you don’t have to do them all at once.
2. Stick To A Plan With A Scrapbooking Planning Worksheet
Create a process for choosing which stories to scrapbook, and how to scrapbook them.
The process I share in my Scrapbooking planner and storytelling workbook makes it easy to prioritize your stories. I have a unique ranking system which categorizes stories based on their significance. The stories that have the highest ranking should be your top focus.
I also provide you with free scrapbooking templates for endless layout ideas. Templates give you exact steps, with measurements, on how to design a page.
Once you have a plan laid out it is important to stick to it. It can be tempting to start new projects whenever we get new ideas, but it’s crucial to complete current projects before moving on to a different one. Otherwise, you are left with incomplete projects.
From my personal experience, anytime I move to a new project while in the middle of something I tend to forget about my first project altogether. It is incredibly difficult to shift my focus back to what I was initially working on.
When you get new ideas simply write them down and revisit them later. Completely finish all projects before adding something new.
You will be thankful that you gave your undivided attention to each of your layouts.
3. Have A Designated Time To Scrapbook
With our everyday responsibilities it’s easy for our craft time to get pushed down to the bottom of our to-do lists. If we don’t make time for scrapbooking it will never happen.
Try to set aside a few hours each week, where you can be creative and have some time to yourself. Even with just one hour each week you would be surprised at how much you can get done.
Also, have a designated craft space that can be your fun, relaxing getaway. A cozy craft room is the ultimate escape from your everyday worries and responsibilities. Even if it is just a small closet with all your supplies, you can make it a tranquil haven.
I think that the benefits of scrapbooking go far beyond just documenting our lives. It is wonderful for mental health, being creative, and allows us to use our hands.
4. Remember Your Why
We all began a scrapbook for one reason or another. Some of us wanted to preserve family history, document our daily lives, or just wanted something creative to do with our hands.
Maybe for you it’s a multitude of these reasons. But, remembering why you started and your purpose for doing so will help you stay motivated to complete your projects.
As for me, I always think about getting to pass down special photos and memories to my future family. I can only imagine how special that will be for them to look back at these moments. And I’ll think about myself when I’m older and getting to relive some of my favorite memories through these scrapbooks that I create.
Know your purpose for making a scrapbook to remember your why!
5. Track Progress In A Scrapbook Planning Worksheet
Tracking your progress can be extremely motivating to see how many layouts you’ve made.
When you see firsthand how much you’ve accomplished it can encourage you to continue. I love at the end of each year to look back at all the scrapbook pages I made.
The progress section in this workbook is great for keeping track of everything you have made. You can also keep track of things you still need to complete. For example, if I still need to add journaling on a page I will write it down so I won’t forget.
This is good for staying organized and helps to remember what all needs done still.
6. Embrace Imperfection
The reality of handmade scrapbooks is that there will always be minor imperfections.
Embracing imperfection may be difficult if you are a perfectionist. However, getting your story onto paper and having all the details documented accurately is way more important than your page being perfect. Not every layout has to be a masterpiece.
In fact, it’s totally okay for some pages to be more minimalist with less design embellishments if it saves you time and energy. All that matters is your story is effectively depicted on the layout.
Also, little mistakes can sometimes make a layout more authentic and bring personalization to a page. That’s what is so special about handmade work. Therefore, don’t stress the small stuff.
Things like messy handwriting and mismatched paper add an element of excitement to a scrapbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you plan a scrapbook?
Before even starting on a layout, you’ll first want to have your stories organized. Make a gameplan on which stories you’ll be scrapbooking first. If you’re not sure where to start, this scrapbook planning worksheet can help.
Next, map out your page design. This involves determining how you’ll want to decorate the page layout, choosing a theme, and gathering supplies. Check out scrapbooking ideas and different page templates on how to design a layout.
Once you have your story ready and a general idea of how to design the layout, you are ready to scrapbook! Get started and have fun. Keep going even if you make a little mistake. The more you scrapbook the better you will get.
2. How To Scrapbook Step By Step?
This how to scrapbook guide will give you the exact steps to get started.
Once you’ve chosen a story to document and a theme, the first step in actually creating the scrapbook is to print the photos. Photos are arguably the most important piece to a scrapbook layout.
Next you’ll need to gather all necessary supplies. Each page will be different, so reference your plan and determine what all you need. The next step is to be creative! Put your story onto paper and decorate how you want. Use the tips from above to scrapbook your stories effectively. And most importantly, have fun!
3. What should the first page of a scrapbook be?
As a general rule, the first page in a scrapbook should be an overview of what you’ll find throughout the album.
For example, if you made a high school scrapbook you could have all school pictures from freshman to senior year. Think of the first page as like a highlights page.
Another option is to make a title page as the first page. Add a title that reflects the scrapbooks theme such as “family recipes” or “our wedding”. This could be a good place to add the date that the photos take place.
This post is all about how to use a scrapbook planning worksheet
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