Scrapbook Page Ideas: 12 Starting Points for a Blank Page

The hardest part of a layout is the first decision. These scrapbook page ideas give you twelve of them: twelve simple structures you can drop onto blank cardstock so the photos, title and journaling have somewhere to go. None depends on a particular theme, so each works for any set of prints.

Every idea is described for a 12 x 12 in (30.5 x 30.5 cm) page, but the proportions carry over to 8.5 x 11 in and 8 x 8 in pages. Pick one, arrange the pieces dry, and glue only once the gaps look even.

Start from a strip of paper

1. A vertical strip down one side

Glue a strip of patterned paper about 3 in (7.5 cm) wide from top to bottom, a little in from the left edge. Stack two or three photos so they overlap the strip by about half their width. The strip ties the photos into one column and leaves the right side free for journaling.

2. A wide horizontal band

Run a band of patterned paper across the middle of the page, tall enough for your prints to sit on with a narrow margin above and below. Line up three photos along it with equal gaps. Place a title strip above the band and journaling below. Because the band does the organizing, this is one of the most dependable layouts for three photos of the same size.

Start from one photo

3. One large photo, off-center

Mat a single focal photo and place it left or right of center, slightly above the middle. Put the title on the wider side and a small journaling block under the photo. The open cardstock is part of the design, so resist filling it. This suits a strong portrait or a scenic shot.

4. A big shape behind the photo

Cut a large circle of patterned paper, roughly two thirds of the page width, and glue it near the center. Set one matted photo so it overlaps the circle’s edge instead of sitting neatly inside it. Add a cluster of paper flowers or other small pieces where the circle meets the photo. The curve softens the straight edges and gives the eye a clear place to start. A large hexagon, heart or star does the same job; handmade paper embellishments are an easy way to build the cluster from leftovers.

Start from a grid

5. A grid of four

Trim four photos to the same size and arrange them two by two with even gaps. Center the block or push it toward one corner and use the remaining L-shaped space for title and journaling. Grids go wrong when the gaps differ, so cut a paper spacer and use it between every pair.

6. A grid with squares swapped out

Plan a grid of six or nine squares, then replace some of them with squares of patterned paper, a journaling square or a small embellishment. This is the answer when you have fewer good photos than the grid needs, and it adds color without extra layers. More arrangements by photo count are in the guide to photo layouts for one to six photos.

Start from an angle or a stack

7. A diagonal pair

Place one photo toward the upper left and a second toward the lower right so their corners nearly touch or slightly overlap in the middle. Put the title in the empty upper right and journaling in the lower left. The diagonal creates movement while both photos stay level.

8. A layered stack in the middle

Build a pile of three or four paper rectangles, each a little smaller than the one beneath and shifted slightly, then top it with the photo. Keep everything else on the page minimal. The technique for layering paper without adding bulk explains how to offset the layers so each color shows.

Start from the words

9. An oversized title

Let the title take up a third of the page: large hand-cut or hand-lettered words across the top or down one side. Fit one or two small photos into the space that remains. This works when the photos are ordinary but the occasion has a strong name.

10. A journaling column

Divide the page into two unequal columns. Fill the narrow one with lined journaling strips from top to bottom and the wide one with photos. Choose this when the story matters more than the pictures, and write on the strips before gluing them.

Start from what is on the desk

11. A row of scrap strips

Cut leftover papers into strips of different widths and glue them side by side to form a block across the lower third of the page. Sit the photos on top of the block like objects on a shelf. Keeping the strips within one color family prevents a patchwork from overwhelming the prints.

12. A pocket or tag as the centerpiece

Glue a flat paper pocket across the bottom half and slip in tags, a journaling card or flat memorabilia, with one photo above. The pocket gives the page a job beyond display and holds items that would otherwise be glued flat.

Which idea suits your photos

You have	Try	Why it works
One strong photo	Ideas 3, 4 or 8	Space and layers direct attention to a single print
Two photos	Ideas 7 or 9	A diagonal or a large title balances a pair
Three photos	Ideas 1 or 2	A strip or band lines them up as one unit
Four or more	Ideas 5 or 6	A grid keeps many small photos orderly
A long story	Idea 10	A full column gives the words real room
Scraps or memorabilia	Ideas 11 or 12	Leftovers and keepsakes become the structure

Whichever you choose, check the result against the basics of page composition: one clear focal photo, balanced weight and some open space.