Romantic gift ideas: Scrapbook

Posted by r2moo2 on Mar 19th, 2010 | 2 comments home title

If you are looking to create a personalized gift for your boyfriend or girlfriend, making a scrapbook is one of the best ways you can express your love with your creativity juice and words.

Although scrapbooking is uniquely common to girls and I have not yet seen a guy doing this before, I always felt a personal warmth and touch whenever I see a scrapbook being made for someone else.

What is a scrapbook?

If you happen to be clueless about scrapbooking, a scrapbook is a form of art to preserve photos or information, and to beautifully beautify them with your creativity using ‘scrap’ materials such as used magazine papers, buttons and whatsoever you can find in your house.

scrapbook_example

Scrapbook example, from Grrlscrap

In today’s context, we do not usually use ‘scrap’ or ‘unwanted’ materials in the house to make a scrapbook. There are scrapbook shops that sell specialized materials and equipment just for you to make a great scrapbook!

In Singapore, during shopping I chanced upon this scrapbooking shop at Dhoby Ghaut, Plaza Singapura shopping mall, that specializes in selling scrapbook materials, and even provide courses for you to learn this art!

When I looked around in the shop, it seems as though it is a girls’ paradise for personalized gifts. There are many other scrapbooking ideas than just beautifying photos into scrapbooks; like creating personalized ornaments, hand crafts and more!

Anyway, I am not advertizing for the scrapbooking shop. They just fascinated me with the handcrafts and scrapbook that they made.

How do you express your love with a scrapbook?

These are some common ideas of expressing your love to your beloved boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife.

1. Frame up some of your favorite photos into a scrapbook.

As shown with the example above, you can actually frame up some of your favorite photos with your partner, beautify it with your creativity and add a short message to it.

There are some recommendations after seeing some scrapbooks.

a. It is good to be fancy, but when you overdo it with too many designs and materials, it looks messy instead of beautiful.

b. Try to emphasize only a few photos, maybe 1 to 3 photos, and not with a dozen. That way the recipient can zoom in to whatsoever you are trying to emphasize to him or her instead of being overwhelmed.

c. An economy of words is important in scrapbooking, as it is not an essay. Short but meaningful words work the best.

Well, I am totally inexperienced in scrapbooking to even make recommendations, but if you are a girl and you are thinking of giving a scrapbook to your boyfriend, you really need to make it simple, as the men don’t get it.

2. Make a diary or a journal of your love journey between the your boyfriend or girlfriend and you.

This is another common idea to make a scrapbook. You can gather up paper with great designs, get a hard cover back and combine it into a book.

Then you can design the scrapbook and start turning it into a journal of experiences between your beloved and you, with photos and words. This will make a wonderful gift!

However this takes a long time and experience to create one. So start simple by giving framed up photos and beautifying them first.

3. Create an ornament with a theme or a message.

This photo was taken in one of the scrapbooking shop that I visited. The design is not by me, but from the people of MadeWithLove.com.sg.

I felt that this is a really cool and unique scrapbook ornament that you can give to your beloved. The whole design just tells it all about the message it is trying to express.

You can use nicknames you have given to each other, or a specific theme that you desire to express your love and message to your beloved. I believe that your partner will be proud to receive such a gift!

Occasions you can give a scrapbook to your beloved

A scrapbook is very personalized and can be adapted to any occasion you truly want. You can give a scrapbook as a homemade gift idea during Christmas, Valentine’s Day, as a birthday and even an anniversary gift for your boyfriend or girlfriend to enjoy.

Do pick a good occasion to make a milestone of your journey between your beloved partner and you. I believe that your partner will truly enjoy this gift as you put all your heart and love into it!

What are your experiences in making a scrapbook and giving it to your partner?

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2 Responses home title

Mia Harris says:

May 26, 2010 at 9:12 am

Scrapbooking was one of my hobbies when i was in high school and college. it was quite fun.**;
Carolyn Davies says:

May 29, 2010 at 12:06 am

I find the best scrapbooking supplies are found around the house or at general store, such as dollar stores. Look for everyday items that you can add to your scrapbook. Around the house, the more personal an item is, the better. Items such as event programs, menus, cards, receipts, or anything else that will lend a personal touch and dress up your scrapbook are great.