Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a craft that preserves personal and family history by assembling photographs, documents, memorabilia, and text into albums or scrapbooks. Pages are typically designed with decorative papers, captions, and careful journaling, and may include embellishments such as stickers, ribbons, and die cuts. The practice exists in both traditional, physical form and digital form.

While people have long kept clippings and mementos, modern scrapbooking as a hobby emerged in the United States during the late 20th century. The availability of acid-free papers, photos, and standardized page protectors in the 1990s helped to standardize layouts. The hobby grew alongside specialty stores, magazines, and conventions, fostering a community of enthusiasts who exchange ideas and supplies.

Typical techniques include photo matting, layering of papers, journaling blocks, and the use of decorative elements to create a cohesive narrative on each page. Common materials include acid-free cardstock and papers, adhesive systems, page protectors, corner punches, scissors or trimmers, and embellishments such as stickers and ribbons. Many scrapbookers plan pages around a theme, event, or memory.

Digital scrapbooking uses software and digital kits to design pages that can be printed or shared electronically. Hybrid scrapbooking combines digital layouts with the tangible album by printing pages or creating photo books.

Scrapbooking emphasizes long-term preservation by using archival-safe materials and careful storage. It remains a popular hobby worldwide, with a strong online and in-person community that shares ideas, layouts, and tutorials.