Learn how to start your first scrapbook page with this easy beginner-friendly guide. From collecting travel memories to arranging photos and paper elements, this scrapbook tutorial shows how to create cute looking, creative pages with confidence.
Introduction
Hi! I’m Martje, the creator behind @martjes.journal. I love journaling, stationery, and preserving memories in creative ways — especially through scrapbooking.
If you’ve ever collected receipts, photos, tickets, or little paper treasures from a trip and didn’t know what to do with them, scrapbooking might be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s a mindful, creative hobby that allows you to slow down, reflect, and turn everyday moments into lasting memories.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to create your very first scrapbook page, step by step — without pressure, perfection, or complicated rules.
What You Need to Start Scrapbooking
Before creating your first page, gather a few basic materials. You don’t need fancy supplies — scrapbooking is all about using what you already love.
Here’s what I recommend for beginners:
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Paper elements like receipts, tags, small bags, postcards or flyers
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Printed photos (for example from a trip or special day)
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A notebook you love — I personally only use Archer & Olive Notebook because of the thick, high-quality paper
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Scissors, glue, stickers, and optionally a hole punch
Printing and Preparing Your Photos
Photos are often the heart of a scrapbook page. I love printing them in smaller, cute formats so they layer beautifully with paper elements.
You can experiment with:
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Mini photo prints
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Square or vintage-style formats
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Black & white or muted tones
Lay your printed photos on top of your collected materials to see what combinations feel right before gluing anything down.
Choosing the Right Scrapbook Notebook
Your notebook sets the foundation for your scrapbook. Thick pages are important so the paper can handle glue, photos, and layered elements.
I recommend using a notebook from the Archer & Olive Notebook Collection they’re perfect for scrapbooking, journaling, and memory keeping thanks to their sturdy paper and beautiful covers.
Creating Your First Scrapbook Page
Now comes the fun part — building your page!
Follow these simple steps to get started:
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Give your page structure by placing paper elements first. You can tear papers instead of cutting them for a more organic look.
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Add stickers, washi tape, and photos to your layout.
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Move everything around until you’re happy — don’t rush this step.
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Once it feels right, glue the elements down.
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Write a title or “adventure name” with a larger pen (for example: London 2025).
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Add small handwritten notes, dates, or thoughts if you like. For example with the archer and olive Pen
There are no rules — every page should reflect your memories and style.
Finished Page & Creative Confidence
Your finished scrapbook page doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs to feel meaningful to you. Every page you create builds confidence and helps you develop your own creative flow.
Over time, your scrapbook will become a collection of stories, textures, and emotions you can return to again and again.
Final Thoughts
Scrapbooking is about joy, memories, and creativity — not perfection. Start simple, trust your instincts, and allow yourself to experiment. Your first page is just the beginning of a beautiful creative journey.
If you need more ideas for creative projects, feel free to check out my latestes Posts. It’s about penpalling — a cute way of writing letters or how to start with bullet journaling instead of doomscrolling.
If you’d like more inspiration, behind-the-scenes looks, and scrapbook ideas, feel free to visit me on Instagram: @martjes.journal or check out the associated video:
And here is a scrapbook guide for a easy start for you:
You can also share your scrapbook pages using the tags @archerandolive, @archerandolive.community, #AOShare and #archerandolive.
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