Scrapbooking with a Christmas Theme

With a little planning, materials for a Christmas scrapbook can be collected through the course of the holiday season and then compiled into a treasured memory.

Divide the Scrapbook into Events

There are many facets to Christmas and each can be turned into a page. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Christmas shopping
• Christmas gifts
• Christmas decorations
• Christmas carolling
• Christmas events
• Christmas with children
• Christmas with family
• Christmas cooking

Choosing a Christmas Theme

Choose an overall theme for the scrapbook. Is the focus going to be on celebrating with family and friends or special memories of baby's first Christmas? Other possibilities include enjoying local entertainment or decorating the family home.

Choosing a Christmas Color Scheme

Christmas is traditionally associated with green, red, white and gold but there are other combinations that work well for a scrapbook. Consider blue, white and silver or purple, gold and white. The colors can be introduced as cardstock, borders, trims and embellishments. Christmas is a season of extravagance and this can be reflected through rich jewel colours and glitter and shine.

Collect Christmas Items as Mementos

Simple items such as a picture off a cracker, a square of wrapping paper, or a program from a Christmas carol event can add appeal to a page. Try and include a photo showing the item in its original context.

Christmas Scrapbooking Supplies

Scrapbooking stores normally hold supplies of paper, card and other items that are designed especially for Christmas. Look for cardstock with Christmas themes as well as stickers. Metallic finishes work well with Christmas and simple things such as a crumpled piece of foil can add great effect. Look also for gold and silver ribbons and glitter. White glitter can be sprinkled over a snowy photo to bring it to life.

Create a Christmas Collage

Try creating a Christmas collage across a double scrapbook page. For example, use an assortment of photos taken on Christmas day: opening presents, celebrating at church, family members arriving, eating Christmas dinner, carol singing and a child tucked into bed with his new toys. Don't be afraid to cut the photos to outline a figure or display a feature and then arrange them into a pleasing formation in logical order.

Create a 3D Page

This is remarkably simple to do. It just requires two or three copies of a photo or sticker and thick two-sided tape. To get the best effect, look for the parts of a picture that would normally extend forward. For example, if working on a picture of Santa, cut out a second beard and pair of boots and tape these on top of the original picture. Depending on the thickness of the tape, one or two layers can be added.

Include Captions and Titles

Christmas memories are special so insert dates and comments as reminders. The front page of the scrapbook can be used as a general title page. Think of wording such as "The Christmas of 09" or "Celebrating Hannah's First Christmas". Then print comments on metallic paper or card and glue them to the relevant pages. Try trimming the edges with pinking shears or use a shaped punch to add interest to the cards.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year and a scrapbook is a great way to remember the highlights. Even if December is too busy to work on it, make an effort to buy in supplies, take loads of photos and collect Christmas mementos. The result will be a valued album that can be enjoyed for years to come.