Start by assessing the number of pictures and the story you want to tell. Envision the flow of information and let your creativity take over. Occasionally everyone comes up short on ideas but there’s plenty of inspiring imagery everywhere you look.

Books and periodicals on scrapbooking are a treasure trove of ideas. Loaded with themes like “summer time” or “baby’s first birthday”, they help set you on the path that leads to your own imagination.

The internet is a gold mine of inspiration. Nearly infinite resources for ideas and you can browse what others have created. Online research can be invaluable.

Make sure to look outside of the scrapbooking world. Inspiration can be found on web pages, magazines and even in nature and architecture. Always be looking for configurations that attract you.

Just getting started? Look for kits and software that provide pre-fabricated layouts. You get some instant gratification that will lead you to come up your own configurations and prompt you to pursue new avenues and resources. Your confidence will grow as you become more familiar with successful layouts.

It’s always wise to take a look at what you want to incorporate in your layout before getting started. Catalog how many pictures you have and ask yourself how much journaling needs to be done. Other things to be considered are children’s artwork and mementos or personal items from special events. Get a visual on all of these things to better piece together your layout.

Make sure to determine the purpose of your page. Are you focusing on one picture and building around a single moment or are you piecing together several pictures to memorialize an event? There is no wrong answer to that question but it must have an answer to effectively tell a story that makes sense. Some events need a collage of images while others are fully encapsulated in a single, iconic photo.

Keep it simple. It is easy to lose the memory you want preserved on a page that is too full of extra décor. You also need to keep consistency in mind. Have a cohesive theme or feel for an entire album. Always remember to allow room for words and descriptions.

When just a beginner with scrapbooking, kits with themes are an excellent tool. They also are a great help and fantastically efficient when you’re crafting a scrapbook for someone else. These are a much appreciated gift. Take your time to find a kit that has the stencils, card stock and embellishments you’re looking for. Some are more extensive than others but the variety of kits can range from birth to graduations to 50th wedding anniversaries. You should be able to find whatever you need.

Give yourself plenty of time to visualize your layout before you ever go near your glue stick. Being patient and planning out what you want to accomplish will give you the best and most attractive results. Move pieces around on your page and come up with a goal. A little planning leads to great success.