How to Start Digital Scrapbooking from Scratch
- Rea Weeks
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
So you want to start digital scrapbooking… but you’re staring at a blank screen wondering where to even begin.First of all: YAY! 🎉 You’re in the right place. Digital scrapbooking is one of my absolute favorite ways to document memories, tell stories, and get creative — without needing scissors, glue, or a craft cart the size of a small car.
Whether you’re coming from traditional paper scrapbooking or you’re completely new to memory keeping, this post will walk you through everything you need to start digital scrapbooking from scratch — step-by-step, no stress.
Let’s dive in and turn your digital pages into a cozy little time capsule. 💛
💻 What Is Digital Scrapbooking?
Digital scrapbooking is basically memory keeping — but made on your computer, tablet, or phone instead of using physical supplies.
You use digital papers, elements, photos, and text to design scrapbook pages you can:
Keep digitally (in albums or cloud storage)
Print out for physical albums or journals
Share on social media or your blog
Use in photo books or journals
And the best part? No mess, no waste, and you can reuse your favorite papers forever.
🧰 What You’ll Need to Get Started
You don’t need fancy tools — just a few basics to begin:
✨ Design Program
Start with a beginner-friendly platform. I recommend:
Canva (great for drag-and-drop, templates, and ease of use)
Or if you’re more advanced: Photoshop or Procreate
💡 Canva is my go-to for beginners AND pros — easy to learn, easy to love.
✨ Digital Scrapbook Supplies
Here’s what you’ll want to start collecting:
Digital paper packs (backgrounds, textures, patterns)
Embellishments (stickers, washi, icons, tags)
Photo frames or clusters
Alphas or word art
You can find high-quality, themed scrapbooking kits in my Etsy shop:🎨 A Rea of Treasures on Etsy
I design them to be print-ready, Canva-friendly, and full of cozy vibes. 🌼
✨ Your Photos + Stories
Pull together your favorite photos to get started. You can scrapbook:
Monthly highlights
Special moments or holidays
Everyday life
A travel story or weekend adventure
Your kids, pets, or hobbies
A journaling spread with photos + quotes
There are no rules — just stories you want to save.
📝 Step-by-Step: Start Your First Digital Scrapbook Page
1. Pick a Theme or Story
Start small. Choose one moment or memory. For example:
“Sunday Morning Coffee”
“First Day of School”
“A Cozy Fall Walk”
“My 2025 Mood Board”
Knowing your theme helps you pick colors, elements, and photos that feel cohesive.
2. Open Canva and Choose a Page Size
Recommended sizes:
8.5 x 11 in – great for printing
12 x 12 in – classic scrapbook size
1920 x 1080 px – ideal for digital display or blog posts
Canva has pre-made templates too — but you can totally start from scratch!
3. Add Your Background Paper
Upload your digital scrapbook paper and drag it onto your canvas.This sets the tone — choose something that matches your story’s vibe. (Florals for a nature walk? Gingham for a picnic memory?)
4. Place Your Photos
Use Canva’s frames or grids to drop in your pictures.You can crop them into circles, polaroids, or torn-edge rectangles — whatever fits your aesthetic.
5. Decorate with Elements
Now for the fun part:
Add washi tape over photo corners
Use tags to write little notes
Layer flowers, buttons, or ribbons
Add a title using a cute font or pre-made word art
🎯 Remember: less is more! You don’t need to fill every inch of space.
6. Save and Use Your Page
Download as PNG or PDF
Save to your digital scrapbook album or tablet
Print it out and pop it in a binder or memory journal
Post to your blog or social feed if you want to share!
✨ And just like that, your first digital scrapbook page is DONE!
💌 Join My Mailing List for Freebies + Creative Prompts
Want a free character profile template to get started?Join my email list and get:
A printable + digital character sheet
Monthly creative freebies and Canva tips
First access to new Etsy launches
Encouraging emails for your writing + storytelling journey
Let’s make writing feel like a cozy adventure again. ✍️✨
🛍 Browse My Scrapbook Paper Packs & Kits
Need help finding the perfect paper for your theme? I’ve got printable and digital kits for every mood:
Spring florals
Cozy cottagecore
Summer adventures
Autumn journaling
Pastels, boho vibes, vintage grunge — all the faves!
🛒 Visit my Etsy shop to explore:
Everything’s made with love — and ready to help you tell your story beautifully.
💛 Final Thoughts
Digital scrapbooking is the perfect blend of creativity, memory keeping, and mindful storytelling.You don’t need a craft room or a big budget. You just need your photos, your stories, and a little space to play.
So grab a kit, open Canva, and start with one page.You’ll be amazed at how fun (and peaceful) it feels to design your own digital keepsakes.
Your memories matter. And now, they’ll live beautifully on every page. ✨
Happy scrapbooking,
Rea 🌻Creator of A Rea of Treasures
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