How to Choose Scrapbook Paper

Paper is at the heart of every scrapbook page. It forms the base, provides accents, mats photos, is cut into shapes and titles, and provides texture.

One of the first things you will do when creating a scrapbook layout is to choose scrapbook paper for your layout. This can be an intimidating process, because there are so many colors of cardstock and patterns of paper available from a wide variety of manufacturers. However, by following just a few steps and observing a few rules, you can choose papers for your scrapbook layout that will accentuate your photos and make your layout memorable.

Scrapbook paper is generally acid-free, meaning that the wood pulp used in the paper has been treated so that it will not degrade elements that it toucheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid-free_paper. This means that your scrapbook pages will last longer and maintain their original appearance.

Scrapbook paper can be purchased at many different retail outlets, including local scrapbooking stores, large craft stores such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby, or at some big box stores such as Target or Walmart.

Step 1: Choose Your Photos

Before starting your scrapbook layout, you should choose which photo or photos you are planning to use in your layout. Your photos can tell you a lot about what sorts of paper will contribute to a great layout. Photos can help you select color schemes, types of patterned paper, and other types of embellishments. If the photos revolve around a specific theme, such as Graduation or Thanksgiving, you can choose papers that involve those themes.

Most scrapbookers create pages that are 12" x 12" or 8.5" x 11". Large format photos, such as those 5" x 7" should be limited to one photo per layout page. Otherwise, the photos will take up too much of the page, and very little of the background papers will be seen. Standard 4" x 6" photos can be used singly, or in groups of two or three on a layout.

Once you've selected which photos you want to use on your layout, take those photos with you when you go shopping.

Step 2: Select Solid Paper

Generally, most layouts will include at least one solid paper, and at least one patterned paper. Take a look at your photos and decide what the primary color themes are. For holiday photos, there may be associated color schemes, such as browns and oranges for Thanksgiving, or green for St. Patrick's Day. If there is an overwhelming color theme in the photo, avoid using that color in your paper. For example, a posed portrait photo may have a blue background. If you use a solid blue background as a layout base, your layout will be too overwhelmed with blue. In this example, it would be better to choose colors based on what the subject is wearing, or props in the photo.

Solid papers, especially cardstock, can form a great base for the layout, giving you a clean canvas to build your layout on. Cardstock is thicker than regular papers, and can handle multiple layers of photos, patterned paper, and embellishments adhered to it without tearing or wrinkling. However, solid papers also make good photo mats to help photos stand out from the background.

Step 3: Select Patterned Paper

Selecting patterned paper can often be more tricky than selecting solid papers. You're already familiar with color matching, in terms of selecting complementary colorshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_theory. This technique can also be applied to choosing scrapbook paper. However, many people can be intimidating when selecting or matching patterns.

If a photo is simple, a busy pattern can be used, and vice versa. A busy photo will get lost when mounted on paper with a busy pattern.

Looking again at the colors in your photo, choose patterns that use the primary colors that appear in your photo, but reverse the prevalence. For example, if you have a picture of a white snowscape with green trees, select a primarily green pattern with white accents. This will help your photo stand out from the patterned paper.

Don't be afraid to choose more than one patterned paper to be included in the layout, but be sure that the patterns do not clash. Many scrapbook paper manufacturers create paper lines that use coordinating color schemes and patterns, so you can select two patterns that will work well together. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001C2FROO?ie=UTF8&tag=icrthiam-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001C2FROO">Basic Grey 12 Inch by 12 Inch Sultry Collection Pack