But are we using them? From lack of digital prowess to fear of messing up when it comes to inks, stamping on scrapbook pages can feel intimidating. In this post you’ll learn simple ideas to help reduce your stamp-related fear.

Stamping Ideas for Scrapbook Pages

Our creative team was inspired by Amy Alphin’s love of stamps to create their own pages and use a variety of techniques.

1. Emboss Your Embellishments

For this layout, Alexa Gill stamped starbursts in different colors, then embossed numbers in white on top. Layered with her typed list of favorites, these five embellishments help communicate her story in a simple way.

2. Hybrid Stamped Embellishments

Using digital stamps as part of your hybrid page design doesn’t mean letting go of dimension. Anandi Raman Creath added enamel dots on top of the starbursts that she printed on the background of her pages. This effect could also be achieved with a physical stamped impression.

3. Add Texture with Stamping

While our natural inclination is to make our stamps show up, sometimes what we really want is for them to blend into the background. Audrey Medd stamped a variety of patterned in light pink on a very light color of textured card stock. This adds texture without bulk to her page.

4. Stamp Multiple Times

Stamping, by nature, is an imperfect artform. When you stamp multiple times, layering each impression, you can create an artistic look on your background. On this page Cathy Caines used two different stamp sets to layered over a mixed media background.

5. Brand Loyalty with Stamps

Ettiene Rickles loves to combine stamps from multiple sets by a single designer or manufacturer. Brands will often have a consistent design aesthetic or use the same font faces in their products, making it easier to pair products together.

6. Adding Dimension to Stamping on Scrapbook Pages

Stamping doesn’t have to be flat On this layout Helen DeRam first stamped leaf designs on her background in multiple colors, layering different shapes and sizes. Then she stamped one of the designs separately, cut it out, and adhered it to the page with pop dots for a dimensional look.

7. Digital Stamp Blending

Jan Sowder loves to create blended looks by clipping patterned papers to her digital stamps. Blend modes and transparency can also be adjusted to get the look just right for your layout. This is a great reminder not to assume any product only has one use!

8. Digital Mixed Media

In this layout Jen Johnson used the design of her background paper to select coordinating digital stamps to place behind her photo. You might thing these mixed media style designs belonged to the same kit, but nope. Jen colored them to match her paper.

9. Multicolor Stamping on Scrapbook Pages

Jennifer Larson use multiple ink colors to make her cluster of stamped phrases stand out on her page. She also uses a technique to outline shapes with pen that have an imperfect stamped impression. There’s always a way to make it work!

10. Stamping Inside of Shapes

Many stamp sets come with grids, blocks, or other shapes that can become homes for collections of smaller stamps. Lisa Hausmann used these grid blocks on her layout to add creative interest with a number of sentiments and designs.

11. Choosing Ink Colors for Stamping on Scrapbook Pages

On this layout, Amy Melniczenko recolored her digital stamps to match the patterned papers she chose and bring cohesion to the layout. With paper, this would like choosing 2-3 ink colors to match the most colorful or busy patterned.

12. Stamps as Photo Overlays

Shannan Manton overlayed multiple digital stamps in this page to create her title and embellishments. By adjusting both the color and transparency she was able to make sure each word or phrase was both visible and legible.

13. Stamps and Paper Piecing

In this layout Sara Case not only stamped on her background patterned paper, but use these house-shaped stamps on patterned paper. She then pieced them together to form a scene of stamped images on her scrapbook page.

If you have a stash of stamps not getting a lot of use, maybe one of these ideas will be the trigger to try something new.

Tips for Stamping on Scrapbook Pages

As you include more stamping on your scrapbook pages, it will become more of a habit. But you don’t have to dive in to some of the more advanced techniques our team has shared. Here are four starting points and one extra-important reminder to jumpstart your journey of stamping on scrapbook pages.

• Start There – Pull out your stamps as part of building your page’s background.
• Make a Border – Word phrases look great when stamped along side a photo or paper.
• Try Monochrome – Create a subtle effect by stamping in a color close to the background.
• Stamp the Title – Larger stamped images can serve as a title with no letter stickers needed.
• Go with the Flow – Embrace the imperfection of a stamped look on your scrapbook pages.

For additional tips, check out SYW016 – Don’t Be Scared of Stamping and SYW111 – An Epic Plan to Organize Stamps. And make sure to save this post so you have it for reference later!

The post 13 Easy Ideas for Stamping on Scrapbook Pages appeared first on Simple Scrapper.

In this post I’m sharing a comprehensive look at my history with this annual project, my approach to finishing, and a peek inside each album. I’ve organized the albums into two main sections: the projects I had previously completed and the projects I completed this year.

This is the first time I’ve really examined my past projects in depth and I was surprised to see how much my style has stayed consistent over the years. You can see elements of my 2010 project (ribbons, tabs, layers, overlays etc.) in my 2021 project!

Above all, this year’s journey offered a clear reminder that I do love December Daily. I had felt discouraged with my long list of unfinished projects, but have now recognized the personal and creative prerequisites to a successful project attempt.

My History with December Daily Projects

I believe I discovered December Daily in 2009, but didn’t have the courage to jump in until the following year. I was 100% digital at the time and had no supplies nor any idea how to create a mini album. I was definitely intrigued and curious.

My first three projects were the easiest to finish and I attribute my subsequent experience to having a busy little girl. I had some sort of start every year, but in that season of life (2014-2016) I didn’t have the energy to show up regularly. I also had gone back to work in the office and the business of Simple Scrapper was my evening focus.

In 2017 I found a bit more space in my days, but my increasing struggles with anxiety definitely impacted my ability to finish in 2018-2020. It wasn’t until I finally reached out for help in late 2021 (i.e. therapy and medication) that I felt ease in the process. For the first time in as long as I could remember I was able to create because it was fun and without feeling overwhelmed by everything.

Previously Completed December Daily Projects

As I’ve looked back at my previous projects, especially those I finished with relative ease, most had something in common: foundation pages.

I’ve never been one who could do anything daily and all of these were completed in batches, but having starting points made the decision-making so much easier.

6″x6″ Mini Book for 2010

This is my only album to use a chipboard foundation and I’ve noticed how well it has help up, especially compared with my 2011 and 2012 albums. I’m curious to try this approach again in the future now that I have a more advanced set of skills!

6″x6″ Mini Book for 2011

This was the first year I used foundation pages, focusing on a repetitive grid design and playing with numbers for the first time. I remember feeling like a “real scrapbooker” working on this one!

6″x6″ Mini Book for 2012

In 2012 I actually sold a mini book kit for the project. It was a fun experience, but products and shipping are not the right business for me. I am proud of my kit selections though and how easy this one came together. It was also the year I felt in love with white paint markers on photos!

6″x4″ Mini Album for 2014-2016

My original plans for 2014-2016 were Project Life pages, a 6×8 album, and this 4×6 album, respectively. None of the projects progressed past the supply acquisition stage.

In 2021 I built this compilation album from scratch, relying on repetition of three different page styles and an assortment of supplies from my stash. For each of the 25 story spreads, I selected images from one or more of the featured years.

To uncomplicate photo selection I only chose from the images that corresponded to the “day” of the story. For example, on December 1 the images used were selected from December 1 in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

6″x8″ Album for 2017

This is one of my favorite albums for its mix of creativity and simplicity, with pocket pages as the focus. Most of the project was completed in December, with the balance finished in summer 2018.

These days there is a lot of emphasis on ultra-creative and hybrid “out of the pocket” pages, so browsing my 2017 album offered a lovely reminder of where to find more ease.

How I Approach Finishing December Daily Projects

For me finishing is never about just pushing through. There’s always a reason a project is incomplete and it often doesn’t make sense to follow the original plan verbatim. My process began with observation:

• How much of each project was done? Do I still have the supplies?
• When and where did I get derailed? Why do you think that was?
• What’s different about this unfinished project compared with others that I did complete?

The goal of these observations was to determine the right course of action for each project. There’s no “one size fits all” approach to finishing and I used four different strategies to complete projects 2013, 2018, 2019-2020, and 2021.

The December Daily Projects I Completed in 2022

This year my shelf was completed with four albums representing five years of December memories.

2013 December Daily: Redoing a Completed Project (6″x4″)

This project was technically already finished, but it had always bothered me. It was a Project Life mini book with some of my best December photos and decorative “filler” cards.

I decided to use an album foundation I made in a class to add retrospective journaling to the project. This format also addressed that the original album looked awkward on the shelf.

Since I used my existing photos on this finish, the journaling took about 45 minutes to complete.

2018 December Daily: Finishing a Half-Completed Project (6″x8″)

I struggled with this project from the beginning. While I love to look at others using Felicity Jane products, they never quite suited me. Too much black and white, I think. I tried to take a similar approach to 2017, but stumbled after being out of town two weekends in a row. The rest of the month was a blur.

When I sat down to decide on my approach, I recognized that the format was simple enough to mostly carry on. I didn’t do really do anything special instead focusing on pocket pages and 6×8 mini layouts. Adding some straightforward pockets (as seen in the last photo in this grouping) was as “wild and crazy” as I got.

Selecting, editing, and printing the photos took about an hour and then assembling another hour.

2019-2020 December Daily: Starting Over with a New Project (4.25″x8.25″)

These two years caused the most decision-making agony. They were initially started in different sizes (3×8 vs. Life Crafted) and different formats (100% hybrid vs. TN memory journaling). Neither had more than a few pages added, so following the original plan felt like no fun at all. Just combining them into one album and calling it done felt awkward.

And so I decided to reimagine the project as a comparison between 2019 and 2020, two very different years in our life. I cut papers (mostly from my 2020 purchases) to an out of the pocket size and left those with smaller dimensions be smaller. There are a few “in the pocket” pages that were already cut to size, but most are mini layouts with no page protectors.

For the photos, I made a list of 25 typical December Daily story topics. I then selected a pair of images, one from 2019 and one from 2020, to represent each. I also stamped and die cut two styles of tags for my journaling. Assembly and journaling took maybe an hour, but I had worked on the photos a little bit at a time over several days. Having everything ready to go made the process super fast!

I can 100% say that my approach to finishing this project was inspired by my 2011 album. Foundation pages with repeating elements is so handy!

2021 December Daily: Finishing the Project with Ease (6″x8″)

I gained renewed familiarity and fresh perspective on my stash and my process after finishing my 2014-2016 album (earlier in 2021). I started to recognize the types of pages I was having fun creating and which ones felt easy. I paid more attention to inspiration, primarily on Instagram, and started saving ideas to try.

When it came time to put together foundation pages in November 2021, I was all in! My album was about 70% complete by December 7, when we left for a family vacation. Another 20% was completed prior to Christmas and then the final sprint took place quite recently. I still needed to include photos from that vacation, from Christmas Day, and a bit of journaling on stories that didn’t have photos.

While this project helped me embrace imperfect and experience with new techniques, my favorite part is a new-found love of ribbons and fibers. I can’t get enough!

What I’ve Learned about December Daily Projects

There was a point when I thought I might be done with this project. I was so discouraged by all the unfinished albums and my inability to do a “daily” thing daily. But through this process of finishing I’ve learned what works best for me:

• Recognizing the season of life I’m in right now and how that will impact my time, energy, and motivation for scrapbooking. I then plan my project scope and format accordingly, so the album is more finishable.
• Building foundation pages and working ahead of the holiday chaos. Having a clear vision for the project in November helps December feel more like filling in the blanks and fitting together pieces of the puzzle.

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The Vision for My 2022 Album

I will share all the photos and more details when 2022 is finished, but this video shares a sneak peek at where I’m headed with the 10×8 album.

The post Finishing Twelve Years of December Daily Projects appeared first on Simple Scrapper.

While a few respondents felt discouraged, the vast majority attributed their success (of any scale) to a simpler approach. In this post we’re breaking down how to simplify scrapbooking in 2025 so you hobby feels like it truly works well.

Cultivate a “Simple Scrapper” Mindset

If you tell yourself “I don’t have time to scrapbook,” you will believe it. So often the stories we are telling ourselves about our lives and creative hobbies aren’t completely true. That’s why your mindset should not be overlooked.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably attracted to our more thoughtful approach to scrapbooking. We love pretty things, but what’s under the hood drives fulfillment (and finishing projects). It’s worth the pause to observe what’s real and use that data to move forward.

All that said, try not to stay completely in your head. With photos, stories, and products, scrapbooking has a lot to juggle. That’s why we recommend using a paper or digital “creative hub” to make sure you don’t have to carry around your plans and ideas.

When your hobby is working well, it is also flexible and resilient. There will always be more memories to document, more classes to take, and more Heidi Swapp stamps to play with. Before you consider the more tangible aspects of simplified scrapbooking, see if your mindset could use some TLC.

Choose What Works for You to Simplify Scrapbooking

If you’re a listener of our Scrapbook Your Way podcast, you already know how much we value a personalized approach to scrapbooking. The more you can lean on what works, the easier you’ll be able to identify what doesn’t. In practice, this looks like operating in your comfort zone most of the time to find ease and flow.

“What works” can be specifics of your hobby as well as lifestyle decisions that support doing it. Consider which project formats feel easy to finish, how your aesthetic preferences have changed, and even the type of creative camaraderie that is most motivating. Think about when you most want to create and when you actually have the time available.

Finding your own way to simplify scrapbooking is a bit of an experiment and a puzzle. It takes time and iteration to hone in on the sweet spots that make your hobby feel both fun and functional.

Be Realistic with Your Project Goals

You might be thinking: “That’s all well in good, but I have so much to do!” We get it, but do you really?

Scrapbooking is not a race. It’s a unique hobby that combines a creative outlet with the stories of your life. Anything you create is a win. As Stacy Julian has taught for years, one of the very best ways to simplify your scrapbooking is to let go of any strict definitions of “caught up.”

We love goals, but we also recognize that the season of life you’re in will dictate how much scrapbooking is possible. Like so many other things we’d love to achieve, there are tradeoffs. We can’t do it all.

What you can do is be realistic about the time you have in a week and the major obligations already set for the year ahead. Knowing what you’re working with is core to setting an achievable goal and creating a plan you can actually follow.

Include Accountability in Your Plan to Simplify Scrapbooking

In the responses to our question, we consistently heard that having a time, place, and process for photo management was foundational to feeling good. After all, it’s pretty hard to scrapbook without pictures.

Mindset and accountability are the salt and pepper of simplified scrapbooking. You’ve got to think and act differently to experience a different result. Even the most comprehensive plan is nothing without follow through.

In teaching and supporting thousands of scrapbookers since 2008, we’ve learned that your internal and external accountability systems are what truly make the difference between a hobby that works well and one that feels frustrating.

Consider what is needed for you to have the time, energy, and motivation to scrapbook. What systems, habits, or routines do you need to put in place? How does your personality impact the structure and support you uniquely need to get to the finish line?

You get to ask for what you need. And when you’re looking back on 2025, we’re confident that the support you leaned on will be something that worked well.

The post How to Simplify Scrapbooking in 2025 appeared first on Simple Scrapper.

Week in the Life is a community project from Ali Edwards to document seven days with words and photos. It is popular within the scrapbooking community, with many participants creating smaller 6×8 or 10×8 albums to celebrate their week.

I know myself and an album project during the busy early summer season just isn’t a good fit for me. This year (2022), I instantly noticed the giant heart pockets featured in the Week in the Life product collection. As a result, I planned to use those on a scrapbook layout documenting the selected week in June. Similarly, I’ve also completed Week in the Life photo collages, 8×12 pocket pages, digital layouts, and photo book pages.

Some years my Week in the Life project has been all about the photos and in others, like this year, the words were the focus. I love capturing a slice of everyday life in different ways and aligning the approach with my available time, energy, and motivation.

Creating My Week in the Life Layout for 2022

Those heart pockets from the 2022 Week in the Life collection completely inspired the composition of this double-page spread. I typed up “I want to remember…” journaling each day and printed it on cardstock. The photo was printed larger than the heart dimensions, then cut to match. The faux stitching is with a Uni POSCA paint pen. Papers are Jen Hadfield. All chipboard from my AE stash.

In addition, I originally didn’t plan on adding the branding strips, but I felt like the hearts were just floating in space. These paper pieces ground the pockets and draw the viewer’s eye across the spread. All of the repetitive elements make this Week in the Life layout feel cohesive, despite the contrasting background papers.

This was my first time creating one layout as my Week in the Life project. I have to say; I’m a big fan. I can see this becoming a thing with its own section in my albums. I love going all out with creativity at other times of the year, but Week in the Life brings a certain documentation intensity. Therefore choosing a simple, minimal approach makes sense for me.

Do you participate in Week in the Life? What ways have you found to simplify the project?

The post Week in the Life with One Layout appeared first on Simple Scrapper.

Life is moving far faster than your creative energy and motivation. It’s hard to keep up with this year’s photos, let alone venture into the past.

We’ve made it our specialty to help scrapbookers set priorities, make significant progress… and enjoy the ride along the way!

There are two key factors that can help you stay caught up, in anything!

#1 is rails. This looks like turning most scrapbooking activities into projects that have constraints in time, format, and creative style. The more clear and specific you can get, the easier it will be to pick up where you left off.

#2 is accountability. A big part of productivity has nothing to do with what you are doing, but simply showing up to do it. The strategies you use to put in the time make a huge difference, especially over the course of a year.

If it takes these factors to find consistency, how do you make it all happen?

Inside of the Simple Scrapper community, we’ll guide you to creating a flexible plan that fills you up and fits your life. Every month we’ll check in with your plan and offer accountability opportunities to keep you progressing.

The post How to Stay Caught Up appeared first on Simple Scrapper.

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Whet​​​​​​​her Lightroom is the tool for you or not, I hope this series helps nudge you forward in giving your photos the love they deserve!

The post My Lightroom Process appeared first on Simple Scrapper.