I feel like we’ve all run into the problem at least once where we want to get something really meaningful and special for a friend or family member but then you just get them a gift card. 

I honestly probably do this almost every time when a birthday pops up.

However, this time I actually did something- I made a scrapbook for my friend who is turning sixteen.

This was such a fun project to do and I think is also a great gift idea for someone you care about but don’t know what to get them. 

Here’s how I did it!

~the materials I used~

  1.  scrapbook & blank pages
  2. tape/glue
  3.  scissors
  4.  stickers
  5.  photos (4’’ by 6’’)
  6.  gold sharpie & colorful pens

~the format~

For this scrapbook, I wanted to create a timeline of my friendship with the person I was gifting it to. 

I first organized everything in chronological order and then within the chronology I separated them based on different trips, activities, and experiences we’ve shared together. 

(ex. a page for our trip to Disneyland,  school,  summer, etc. )

~the cover~

When creating my cover, I created a background for my photo by using scrapbook paper.

Doing this made The front cover look a bit more put together.

This is all I did for the image, but I think another good idea would be to write a little note at the beginning, or even just put ‘to ____ from ____.’

~the pages~

Every page in my scrapbook was a little different for me, but the basic process for creating each one stayed the same. 

I started by rearranging and cutting the images to how I would want them to appear on the page. I also left room for text where I wanted to put it.

After I had taped/glued down the images, I decorated the pages with text, stickers, and drawers. 

 The stickers I used were image corners, which made the page look more put together without being too fussy. 

Sometimes I added a border or drawings to add color if I felt the page was too bland or boring.

~the closing page~

I had an extra page left over so I wanted to use it to make a closing page to wish my friend a happy birthday. 

On the front of this page I wrote a list of inside jokes and memories that we have shared throughout our friendship.

On the back I wrote “WE LOVE YOU” in big letters and had my family members sign it so she had a page with all of our signatures. 

I think that another great idea to do here would be to write a letter, or even attach a small gift such as a gift card.