Something I’ve learned since I started scrapbooking in 2021 is that I prefer working on craft projects that have a clear beginning and end.
Rather than ongoing everyday journaling or perpetual projects that involve documenting every week or month of the year, I like things I can finish within a reasonable amount of time. The idea of falling behind on a daily/weekly/monthly practice or needing to ‘catch up’ simply doesn’t appeal.
Clearly defined projects suit me best because my brain likes mapping out the steps I need to take to complete them. It also likes lists, especially the part where you get to tick tasks off and call a scrapbook ‘done’.
Scrapbook Projects I Enjoy
December Daily is a mini-album project that usually documents the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Some people start earlier or finish later, but the simple goal is to capture the spirit of December via one story per day. 2025 will be my fifth time participating.
✂️ Learn More About December Daily
✂️ See my completed December Daily 2024
Week In The Life is an annual seven-day documenting project designed to capture the simple everyday details of life with photos and words. 2024 was my first time participating {more on this below}.
✂️ Learn more about Week In The Life
Little Summer Joys is a mini-album project I discovered in 2023 via Amanda Wilder. In the past, I’ve religiously followed Amanda’s weekly prompts throughout June, July and August. More recently, I’ve used them as a jumping off point, adding a few ideas of my own to document our summer. This year, Amanda also created a set of prompts for spring.
✂️ Learn More About Little Summer Joys
✂️ Learn More About Little Spring Joys
Day trips, mini breaks and holidays are my favourite things to document, and I treat my travel scrapbooks like individual projects in their own right. Capturing travel memories is how I was first introduced to scrapbooking as a child and it remains a huge passion of mine.
✂️ Learn How to Make a Travel Scrapbook
This is just a fraction of the established scrapbook projects out there. Pick a month of the year, any month, and there’s probably something going on. October Daily, Thankful 30, One Little Word… there’s plenty to choose from.
And of course, there’s nothing to stop you creating your own project with your own prompts, creative constraints or a specific focus. I’m currently dreaming up a mini-album dedicated to documenting our big garden renovation and my first year of growing and planting in the new space.
So, Do I Finish Everything I Start?
No, but I try to. Emphasis on the try.
I currently have an unfinished travel scrapbook from our big trip to Australia in 2022. It was a long six-week holiday, and I took thousands of photos that I still haven’t culled, sorted or edited. It feels massively overwhelming, and I don’t know where to start, but I’m sure I’ll go back to it one day.
In the meantime, not finishing taught me a lot about how to approach travel scrapbooking and set myself up for success going forward.
Does It Matter?
Yes and no.
Personally, I don’t want to accumulate a huge pile of unfinished projects. To avoid this, I set myself a few boundaries. For example, if I want to buy new supplies for December Daily when they’re released in the autumn, I must have completed the previous year’s scrapbook. Once my new supplies are delivered in October, I won’t open them until I’ve finished documenting our Little Summer Joys. I find this helps me stay motivated and focussed on finishing.
Right now, I’m working on a previously unfinished project – Week In The Life 2024. I was very tempted to join in again this year, especially when I saw the new collection. Instead, I decided to use the excitement and momentum of the community documenting week to reinspire myself and find renewed motivation. It seems to have done the trick, and I’m hoping to be done with this project by mid-July.
However, I don’t think completing a scrapbook is necessarily the most important thing. None of the travel scrapbooks from my childhood are finished. This doesn’t make them any less precious. I’m grateful I have the memories I managed to capture, and I can still recall the pleasure I derived from documenting them. I believe it’s possible to gain just as much, if not more, from the creative process than from the result of our efforts.
Tips for Finishing Things {If You Want To}
For me, the secret lies in my craft planner. I break larger projects down into manageable tasks and create monthly to-do lists to keep me on track. I shared more about my set-up here:
An Ode to My Craft Planner
I’ve been using a dedicated craft planner since March 2024. One year on, I can safely say I’ll never scrapbook without it.
How to Approach Unfinished Projects
If you decide to set aside a scrapbook project, there are ways you can make it easier to return to at a later date. Store your project safely with everything you need in one place. Photographs {if you’ve already printed them}, any journaling, ephemera, and supplies. If your photos are still on a device, try to at least organise them into a dedicated folder. Make sure everything is clearly labelled and consider jotting down some notes for your future self to refer to. You could also include rough sketches of pages or elements you’d like to create.
One of the hardest aspects of returning to an unfinished scrapbook project is remembering things from the past. Here’s what works for me:
Take a look at your calendar or diary. Did you note down any plans or have any appointments that day?
Check your camera roll. Scroll back to the date{s} in question and see if anything sparks a memory.
Ditto your Notes app. Did you record any quick thoughts or make any lists that day?
Look back at what you shared on social media. I’m very consistent on Instagram Stories, so I can usually find something useful in my archive there.
Check your call log/texts/messages. Who did you speak to that day?
If a significant amount of time has passed, don’t expect yourself to remember every little detail. Look for clues in the photos/videos/notes you can find and focus on documenting what you can remember.
Are you someone who has to finish a craft project before starting something new? Or do you pick up the next thing whenever you feel like it? If so, how do those unfinished craft projects make you feel? And do you have any plans to get them done?!
I think we are all victims of shiny new things! 🤪
Gosh this is so timely & so useful. My shoulders have come down so thank you!