Affordable Scrapbooking Ideas: Make the Most of Double-Sided Patterned Paper

If you buy double-sided patterned paper, you might find yourself agonizing over which side of the paper to use for your scrapbook layout. Instead, use both sides. Here are some ideas for maximizing both sides of your double-sided patterned papers.

Make One Scrapbook Layout on Each Side of the Patterned Paper

It might not have occurred to you, but you can make one scrapbook layout on one side of the paper, and then you can flip it over and make another layout on the other side. I do this often. It requires a bit more care and planning, but it works well overall.

When I do this, I try to plan carefully so that I use photos from the same day on both layouts. If I don't have enough photos from the same day, I at least make an effort to use photos from the same general time frame. When displaying the layouts in albums, this helps to keep them in chronological order.

Another thing to be careful of is using too much stuff on the pages. Two-sided layouts can get heavy if you layer on lots of weighty embellishments.

Before you get started making double-sided scrapbook layouts, you'll want to make sure you can display them. The key: You'll need to choose an album that can accommodate the double-sided layouts. Nothing fancy is required. Most of my scrapbook albums work fine for this. For example, I have most of my two-sided layouts displayed in el-cheapo discount post bound albums with plastic sleeves. Each plastic sleeve comes stock with a divider inside; you're supposed to put one layout on one side of the divider, and another layout on the other side. Remove the divider (in all my albums, they slide out easily) and you're left with an empty clear plastic sleeve. This is perfect for displaying a double-sided scrapbook layout.

Use a Clear Acrylic Scrapbook Album

My other scrapbook albums are made of clear acrylic. These are also ideal for making the most of double-sided patterned papers, although it works a bit differently than it does with the post bound albums. With a clear album, you'll want to attach one side of your patterned paper to one side of the album using small dots of a solvent-based adhesive such as Zip Dry paper glue. The reverse side of the patterned paper will be visible through the clear acrylic, and you'll be able to enjoy using both sides.