Family Christmas Scrapbook Layouts

From LoveToKnow Scrapbooking

Even experienced scrapbookers often admit to being bored by the process of creating family Christmas scrapbook layouts. However, you don’t have to limit yourself to designing yet another page of people opening holiday gifts. The Christmas season offers many opportunities for creative scrapbooking.

Scrapbooking Christmas layouts doesn't have to seem like a chore!

Ideas for Family Christmas Scrapbook Layouts

When scrapbooking your family’s Christmas memories, try to resist the temptation to simply create a timeline of activities. Instead of just listing the presents you received and the holiday parties you attended, try to tell the stories behind these events.

Here are some ideas for special layouts you may wish to include in your album:

Scrapbook the process of decorating your home for the holidays, recording the history behind your favorite lights and ornaments.
Scan your child’s letter to Santa and place a copy in your scrapbook for a clever journaling block that reflects his/her handwriting and personal interests.
If your children frequently mangle the words to Jingle Bells or other popular Christmas carols, document their version of the song next to the correct wording. To make a truly special keepsake, include a CD of your children singing the music.
Make a page that pays tribute to the ritual of shopping for Christmas presents. Does your family live for Black Friday sales or do you prefer last minute shopping? Do you shop with a list or pick out whatever gift strikes your eye first?
If you are planning to give handmade Christmas gifts, make a page documenting the creation of these special presents. Take photos of the project in progress to place next to a picture of the recipient opening the finished item.
Document the stories behind your holiday traditions. For example, do you always purchase new Christmas pajamas for your children? Do you have a special ritual that dictates how you open holiday gifts or certain songs that you always sing on Christmas Eve?
Include copies of your favorite recipes next to photos of everyone enjoying Christmas dinner.
Place small blocks of cardstock in a pretty basket by your front door. When guests visit for the holidays, invite them to take a card and jot down their thoughts to include in your scrapbook at a later date.
Save Christmas cards and holiday newsletters from far-away relatives to make a pocket page or mini album.
Make a “through the years” page that compares photos of you as a child to current family pictures. It’s fun for kids to see pictures of their parents visiting Santa, baking Christmas cookies, decorating the tree, or opening gifts.

Christmas Scrapbook Quotes

To add the perfect finishing touch to your family Christmas scrapbook layouts, consider including one of the following quotes on your page:

“Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.” --Mary Ellen Chase
“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” --Burton Hillis
“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.” --Laura Ingalls Wilder
“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold; everything is softer and more beautiful.” --Norman Vincent Peale
“For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.” --John Greenleaf Whittier

Additional Information

For more great Christmas scrapbooking tips, check out these helpful links:

The Creating Keepsakes idea book Scrapbooking Christmas Memories is also a helpful resource for crafters in need of holiday inspiration! This guide includes holiday photo ideas, journaling tips, memorabilia solutions, and color scheme suggestions, as well as step-by-step instructions for designing unique gift albums for friends and family.