How To...Produce Digital Scrapbooks

A combination of paper scrapbooking and digital scrapbooking can be used effectively to provide the best of both worlds.

Scrapbooking has become an all-time favorite for recording everything from family reunions and holidays to primary source classroom research. While scrapbooking tools and gadgets can add up to become quite a hefty expense, here are some ways to get it all done using digital resources.

What is e-Scrapbooking?
Every scrapbook, whether traditional or digital, uses the same basics – pictures, mementos, journaling and decorative elements to add personal appeal. The digital scrapbook, or e-scrapbook, means the bulk of the scrapbook design and creation is completed on the computer with the help of graphic tools.

1. There are numerous resources for learning how to work with digital scrapbooking. Here are just a few of my favorites to get you and your students started.
• escrapbooking.com This wonderfully rich site offers many models for using scrapbooking in the classroom, with specific strategies for completing a successful project.
• www.adobe.coml You'll find helpful online tutorials for using Adobe® Photoshop® Elements for photo layouts on this website. Be sure to check out the extensive lessons.
2. Once you decide to try scrapbooking, these online resources will really be a boost to your success for both first-timers and experts. Students will be able to create professional-looking scrapbook pages with very little experience. Just choose a layout, drop in your pictures, and print professional-looking pages.
• www.storylife.com
  This incredible database of ready-to-use scrapbook pages is categorized by topic – kids, school, vacation, holidays, seasons and more. Registration is free and pictures can be uploaded to create scrapbooks of all sizes, from 8.5" x 11", 8" x 8", or 12" x 12". The project layouts allow for 1-4 images on a page and have a variety of journaling and picture caption opportunities.


• www.ohiomemory.com
  If your goal is for students to incorporate pictures and memorabilia to tell their bit of history – this website is a great model! Built for the study of Ohio history, this online scrapbook builder is a great jumping-off point for any class research.
3. Creating your own templates can be a snap. Use a paint or graphics program to create a template or themed scrapbook page. The steps are simple:
   
   • First, select a background picture. Students can draw a background and then use a digital camera to snap an image or select from a digital picture library. An easy way to make themed paper is to create a watermark in Word or PowerPoint.
   
   
   • Add photo frames. Decide on sizes and framing style to determine how many photos to fit on a page. You can also rotate or tilt your frames for design interest. If your students are creating their themed pages on paper, be sure to use AccuCut (www.accucut.com) or Ellison (www.ellison.com) dies for interesting photo frame shapes. You can also add borders. I've even used the bookmark dies to create decorative corners.
   
   
   • Add text boxes. Add text boxes for journaling and smaller boxes for photo captions.
   
   
   • Add clip art. Decorate the frames and text boxes with buttons, ribbons, photo corners, etc. Fiskars (www.fiskars.com) has a variety of punches, stencils and decorative scissors to use with paper layouts.

Be creative! Your templates can be reused in exciting digital scrapbooks for research or school memories.

For Reproducible click here. PDF 52KB

For more templates and resources: Ready-to-Use Scrapbook Pages

Linda K. Lindroth is Technology Editor and Web Coordinator for Teaching K-8. She is also a Technology Resource Teacher in a K-5 computer lab in Lexington, KY.

Updated March 2009
March 2006, Vol.36, No.6