The Scrapbook Generation – Monster Style
When we think of humans, we think of family members handing down scrapbooks, or scrapbooking supplies, or the love of scrapbooking to the next scrapbook generation. The Monsters have a little bit of a different perspective on family structure, but they still hand down the love of scrapbooking to their fellow creatures they consider family.
This post is about scrapbooking and junk journaling your own history or family history, with ideas and inspiration to make a great scrapbook to hand down or to inspire the next scrapbook generation.
Monsters of Mayhem Crafters
This is the crafting group of the blog! If you don’t know who the Monsters are, check out their introduction post here!
Scrapbook blog posts featuring the Monsters include:
- A junk journal layout or scrapbook layout (we use these terms interchangeably because we don’t really consider them to be different)
- A video showing the creation of the junk journal page or scrapbook page
- A list of the journal supplies or scrapbooking supplies
- Junk Journal ideas inspiration or scrapbook page ideas inspiration based upon what the featured layout is
A Girl & Her Dragon Scrapbook Layouts
Some of the Monsters do come from a more traditional family structure, while others are…unusual. However, they make their own version of family, and their little scrapbook group has become like a family. Two of the closest of the monsters are Dragon and Kel. Dragon is like a father figure to Kel. She dotes on him, and he takes care of her.
Given that it is the Year of the Dragon, they both did layouts with the theme of A Girl & Her Dragon. Each created these gorgeous layouts as a representation of their close relationship. For them, it is kind of handing down the love of crafting from one scrapbook generation to the next.
Sometimes, family can be the family you choose. Sometimes, humans and monsters aren’t so different after all.
The Making of Dragon’s – A Girl & Her Dragon – Scrapbook Page
The Making of Kel’s – A Girl & Her Dragon – Scrapbook Page
Disclaimer: Affiliate links are included for convenience and ease of reference. If used for purchase, they will result in a small commission at no extra cost to the buyer.
Scrapbook Supplies Corner
We know that seeing other people’s (or creature’s) junk journal layouts or scrapbook journal often makes you want to get the same supplies as those being used.
This is the area where we provide quick references for the scrapbook supplies the Monsters use on their junk journal and scrapbook layouts, so you can easily find and get some new products.
For these layouts specifically, besides working with the theme of a girl and a dragon, the monsters focused on incorporating a lot of different textures in these journal pages. They are learning that a variety of textures makes a page more aesthetically pleasing. Here, they used ink and textured paper along with regular cardstock, plus the gorgeous wax seals, and more.
They had seen some incredible videos on Tiktok of scrapbookers & junk journalers using texture paste and absolutely loved the look it created. Dragon gave it a try with some great results!
Generally, you can also look to the Monster’s Junk Journal Scrapbook Storefront (linked below) for all kinds of amazing scrapbook stickers, ephemera, tools, storage, and more for your scrapbooking hobby.
Here are quick reference links for some of the products, or similar products, of these junk journal pages:
[We have learned that there is a type of scrapbook kit or a super sketch club called scrapbook generation that has coupon codes and free shipping type of stuff. This post isn’t associated with that, sorry! The monsters don’t really use scrapbook kits and they don’t belong to monthly kit clubs because, you know, they want to maintain that “mythical” status. We hope, however, that you found this post interesting, inspiring, or just had a laugh either way. We are happy you are here and would love for you to follow along with us!]
Mayhem Crafters Storefront
Quick link to our hobby scrapbook storefront if you want to do a little browsing!
Mayhem Crafters Amazon Storefront - Junk Journal Supplies, Scrapbook Supplies
Historical Perspective of Scrapbooking (History Nerd Moment)
We can’t resist a nerdy history moment, so if you don’t love this part, jump down to the scrapbook prompts!
You could argue that scrapbooking goes way back to the early 15th century with something they called “commonplace books” in Europe. The picture of the diary above is an example of this. It was a book that would contain writings, quotations, mementos, recipes, scientific observations – all kinds of interesting things. We think of this as more like a diary or journal, but it is like scrapbooking too.
Several centuries later in Victorian era (19th century) scrapbooks became popular among the upper and middle classes. This is when the classic photo album was created. You know, that book your grandma had with pictures stuck in it, or with photo corners she tucked the pictures into.
When cameras became more affordable scrapbooking really took off. It went from just a way to store pictures or mometos to a full fledged creative hobby. The business of scrapbooking also took off, with the introduction of stickers, die-cuts, patterned paper, and rubber stamps being staples in every scrapbookers arsenal. More recently, digital scrapbooking has really gained popularity. Scrapbookers can create digital only albums to document life events and memories associated with it.
The monsters can attribute social media platforms as the reason they started their junk journaling hobby. Pinterest and Instagram have been big influences on scrapbooking, and more recently TikTok has really showcased this awesome creative hobby. {The Monsters are on all platforms as Mayhem Crafters, as well as being associated in every Slowestuff Blog account as well. We would love if you followed along with us on your preferred platform!}
Overall, scrapbooking or creative journaling has evolved into a hobby that people of all ages have embraced. It is a great way to preserve memories but it also perfectly scratches the creative itch in our brain. It is almost like decorating, but just on a smaller scale.
Scrapbook Ideas to Document Your History
If you are looking for inspiration and ideas of things to scrapbook about, or a theme to base a scrapbook page or junk journal layout on, here are twelve different ideas to give you inspiration!
Personal Stories:
- Family history: Geneology is always so interesting, so if researching your family tree is one of your hobbies, or if you have some juicy details in that tree, doing a scrapbook based on that family history is a great idea. This is also a great idea to make and give as a gift for mother’s or father’s day!
- Childhood memories: Gather photos, report cards, drawings, and other mementos from your childhood. You will be surprised how much these “meaningless” things will mean to you later, when you realize you preserved them.
- Life milestones: This is an obvious one, but celebrate important moments like graduations, weddings, births, and career achievements through photos, invitations, and written reflections. Make little notes about small observations of the day when they are fresh on your mind that you will likely forget later.
- Travel adventures: Travel journal pages are some of our most favorite to look at. Document your travels with photos, postcards, maps, souvenirs, and journal entries capturing experiences and cultural encounters. Like the life milestones, make notes about funny things or interesting tidbits about your travels when it is fresh on your brain.
Family & Relationships:
- Love stories: Capture the story of how your parents or grandparents met, fell in love, and built their lives together through photos, letters, and mementos. It will be a gift that they will treasure, and they will be touched that you took the time to remember and memorialize them.
- Family traditions: Document unique traditions you celebrate with family, including recipes, photos, and written explanations of their significance. This is a great idea and is a perfect “coffee table book” to have out for family members to flip through when they are all in town for Thanksgiving or Christmas. They will all love the trip down memory lane.
Ideas & Inspirations:
- Dreams and aspirations: This one is for you. You have heard the statistic that writing down a goal is a big step in making that goal happen. Putting it in scrapbook form not only has you writing it down, but also spending time creating around it. Include handwritten notes, sketches, or collages representing your dreams and aspirations for the future. We believe in you!
- Quotes and poems: The monsters love to use quotes and sayings in their layouts. Collect quotes or poems that resonate with you and offer inspiration or guidance for future generations. Check out Dragon’s Jane Austen spring layout for inspiration!
- Historical events: Honestly, if you are reading this, we have ALL lived through significant historical events recently. Making a personal scrapbook page that includes newspaper clippings, photos, or personal reflections capturing those moments is something you will look back on and say, wow.
Adventures & Experiences:
- Learning a new skill: You will love looking back on this! Right now, we are in the thick of learning how to make homemade sourdough bread and have been documenting it to scrapbook later. Capture the journey of learning a new skill, like playing an instrument or mastering a new language, through photos, notes, or progress reports.
- Starting a business: You know starting a business involves a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Document the process of starting a business, including brainstorming notes, business plans, and photos of milestones to see how far you have come.
- Creative projects: Some of our favorite scrapbook layouts to look at are ones where the scrapbooker showcases their creative endeavors through sketches, paintings, poems, or stories you’ve created. We love to look at art!
The Scrapbook Generation – Monster Style
We hope this post has been helpful and inspired some creativity for each scrapbook generation! If you want more general scrapbook or junk journal inspiration, check out our scrapbook layout section of the blog for lots of inspiration!
Hey crafty peeps, let’s be friends on TikTok!
Happy Scrapping!
Mayhem Crafters, crafty division of Slowestuff Blog
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