12 Scrapbook First Page Ideas with the Printables to Make Them

The first page of a scrapbook is the hardest one, because it is still empty and it sets the tone for every page after it. The easiest way through is to keep it small: one photo, one sheet of patterned paper, one larger picture and a few stickers.

Quick answer: a scrapbook first page needs four things: a background paper, one photo (or one large picture if you have no photo yet), two or three small stickers and a short handwritten line with the place or the date. Below are twelve first page ideas as finished layouts, each with the printables it is made from.

A simple formula for a scrapbook first page

One sheet of paper for the background. A small pattern such as dots, gingham or tartan keeps the page calm.
One photo, matted. Glue the photo on a slightly larger piece of plain coloured card so that it stands apart from the pattern.
One centrepiece a little smaller than the photo. A large sticker or a printed picture that says what the album is about.
Two or three small stickers. Place them in a group near a corner of the photo, not all over the page.
A few words by hand. The place, the season or the year is enough.

Every piece in the layouts below has a simple outline with a white border, so the page can be cut with ordinary scissors.

First page ideas with one photo

1. A trip abroad

Scrapbook first page on blue tartan paper with a photo of a couple in a gondola, a watercolour bridge print, coffee, gelato and suitcase stickers and the words A little Italy — Layout mock-up.

For a travel album, open with the moment you remember best rather than with a map. A cream label beside the photo gives you a place to write the name of the trip.

Background: Blue Tartan Seamless Pattern, Classic by Florid Printables.
Centrepiece: Rialto Bridge Venice Watercolor Print by October Second.
Small stickers: coffee, gelato, a suitcase and the tile border from the Venice Travel Mini Journal Printable Kit by Mermaids Cove.
Words on the page: “A little Italy”.

2. The first snow

Scrapbook first page on blue gingham paper with a photo of three children hugging a snowman, an arctic fox sticker and owl, wreath, gift, lantern and cabin stickers — Layout mock-up.

A winter or family album can start with one loud, happy photo. The arctic fox sticker overlaps the corner of the photo mat, so the page reads at a glance.

Background: Blue Gingham Checkered Digital Papers by Florid Printables.
Centrepiece: Little Arctic Fox Watercolor PNG by FoxArtShop.
Small stickers: a snowy owl, a wreath, wrapped gifts, a lantern and a log cabin from the Snowy Woodland Animals Clipart Bundle by V-Design Creator.
Words on the page: “snow day smiles”.

3. A cabin Christmas

Scrapbook first page on red and green plaid paper with a photo of an older couple holding mugs on a cabin porch, a Christmas tree sticker and mittens, cinnamon bun and red cottage stickers — Layout mock-up.

A December album for parents or grandparents: a quiet photo, a decorated tree beside it and a patterned border along the bottom to finish the sheet.

Background: Tartan Plaid Digital Paper, Seamless by Florid Printables.
Centrepiece: a decorated fir tree from the Winter Forest Deer Watercolor Set by TatiMockups.
Small stickers: mittens, a cinnamon bun, a red cottage and the Nordic border from the Lapland Travel Journal Mini Kit by Mermaids Cove.
Words on the page: “warm winter memories”.

4. A camping weekend

Scrapbook first page on green dotted paper with a photo of a father and daughter roasting marshmallows, a large tent sticker and campfire, mug and boots stickers — Layout mock-up.

For a summer or outdoors album. The tent is the largest sticker on the page and sits just under the photo, where the eye goes next.

Background: Green Basic Digital Papers Set by lapeticrafter.
Centrepiece: Camping Tent by River Watercolor Art by designcrafts.
Small stickers: a campfire, an enamel mug and hiking boots from the Camping Adventure Mini Kit Printable by Mermaids Cove.
Words on the page: “campfire memories”.

5. Baking together

Scrapbook first page on pink polka dot paper with a photo of a mother and daughter icing cookies, a pastel candy cottage sticker and cookies, gingerbread and gift stickers — Layout mock-up.

A recipe album or a mother and daughter album opens well with hands at work. Pink dots and a candy cottage keep the page sweet without a single word about food.

Background: Blush Pink Basics Digital Papers by lapeticrafter.
Centrepiece: Winter House Watercolor PNG Sublimation by Diy Crafts Ideas.
Small stickers: cookies with a cup, a gingerbread man and a gift from the Pink Victorian Christmas Fussy Cuts by Digital Magpie Design Studio.
Words on the page: “sweet winter wishes”.

6. A seaside holiday with friends

Scrapbook first page on turquoise grid paper with a photo of two laughing women on a white seaside terrace, an Ocean Breeze sticker with dolphins and straw hat, sandals and seashell stickers — Layout mock-up.

Bright turquoise, a coral mat under the photo and one large, busy sticker: a first page for a beach album that looks like the holiday felt.

Background: Blue Basic Digital Papers Set by lapeticrafter.
Centrepiece: Ocean Breeze Watercolor Sublimation PNG by Rx Graphic Studio.
Small stickers: a straw hat, sandals, a seashell and the wave border from the Santorini Travel Journal Mini Kit by Mermaids Cove.
Words on the page: “sun sea smiles”.

First page ideas without a photo

No photo printed yet? Start the album anyway. On these six pages one large picture takes the place of the photo, and you can add a snapshot on the facing page later.

7. A garden page

Scrapbook page layout on sage green daisy paper with an arched bee tag and flower stickers — Layout mock-up.

Daisy paper, one arched tag with a bee and a handful of flower stickers. A good opening for a garden journal or a spring album.

8. Merry and bright

Christmas scrapbook page layout on red gingham paper with a gift tag and holiday labels — Layout mock-up.

Red gingham, a Christmas tag in the middle and printed labels around it: a title page for a December album.

9. A rose garden

Scrapbook page layout on pink floral damask paper with a rose tag and spring cut-outs — Layout mock-up.

Pink damask and roses for a wedding, anniversary or mother and daughter album.

10. A little Paris

Travel scrapbook page layout on cream floral paper with a tall Eiffel Tower bookmark and Paris stickers — Layout mock-up.

A tall watercolour bookmark stands in for the photo, with macarons, a bicycle and a suitcase around it.

11. A gingerbread house

Christmas scrapbook page layout on peach gingham paper with a watercolour gingerbread house and bakery stickers — Layout mock-up.

Peach gingham and one large gingerbread house: a first page for a holiday baking book.

12. A winter fox

Winter scrapbook page layout on blue checked paper with a white arctic fox and woodland stickers — Layout mock-up.

A white fox cub on pale blue checks, with an owl, a lantern and a snowy cabin. A calm opening for a winter album or a child’s nature book.

How to print and cut the pieces

Print the background on its own sheet. Digital papers are usually square; on A4 or Letter trim the print to your page.
Print the photo small. It should be the largest thing on the page, with patterned paper still visible on every side.
Print the centrepiece and the stickers on white paper or sticker paper and cut each one with a white border around the picture. A smooth outline is quicker to cut and looks tidier than a close cut.
Lay everything out before gluing. Photo first, centrepiece at one of its corners, small stickers in a group of two or three.
Write last. A soft pencil line first, then a pen.

Questions and answers

What should be on the first page of a scrapbook?

What the album is about: one photo or one large picture, the name of the trip, person or season, and the year. Everything else can wait for the next pages.

Can a first page have no photo?

Yes. Use one large printed picture in the middle, as in ideas 7 to 12, and add photos from the second page on.

How many stickers are enough?

One large and two or three small ones. If the background can no longer be seen between them, there are too many.

Do I need a cutting machine?

No. All twelve layouts use pieces with simple outlines that can be cut with scissors.

More page ideas

Junk journal idea generator Pocket and envelope templates Scrapbook paper Stickers Junk journal kits

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12 Scrapbook First Page Ideas with the Printables to Make Them

A simple formula for a scrapbook first page