Bahamas Travel Scrapbook Ideas
- Find a variety of papers for your scrapbook that reflect the Bahamas. Consider cardstock with subtle patterns, vellum and mulberry. Look for various textures with filament and fibers to echo the grains of sand, basketry, reefs and music. All papers should have an island feel to them. Consider the Anna Griffin paper collection in blue stripes, which echo the ocean waves, or the Doodle Bug shindig collection in blue jean.
- First, select a title for your Bahamas travel scrapbook. Ideas include, "Make it Tropical," "Bask on the Beach," "Destination: Bahamas," "Paradise," "Honeymoon in Paradise" or "Island Breeze." The title page introduces readers to your vacation. Select one to two pictures that best capture the overall trip. Add a few simple embellishments, but don't overdo it. Use a sea blue paper with texture as the background. On top of that, place a piece of cardstock big enough to frame the picture. Put the picture three-fourths of the way down the cover or page. Add borders on the left and along the bottom to frame the photograph. Attach shells from your travels along the bottom right and a fraction up the picture's border. Journal or express your experience on stock along the right side of the page. Use descriptive words or make it inspirational with self-adhesive quotes. Place the title of the scrapbook at the bottom of the page in large print. This page alerts the reader to what's to come in the scrapbook.
- Use acid-free markers and pens for journaling to preserve your memories. The writings will accompany the photographs and mementos and must tell something about the places visited. If you went to Paradise Island, write about Dolphin Cay Atlantis or the charm of the colonial architecture. Describe the ocean breezes as you explored Rawson Square. Add detail about the architecture. Include the dates of travel, any songs that you heard or an abbreviated story behind the pictures. Alternate using markers, pens and stickers. All journaling should curve with the pictures. Pick colors to match the border, background or a prominent color in the photos.
- Carefully consider any embellishments to your Bahamas scrapbook. They add the finishing touches. Consider the Bahamas theme once again. Use colors and textures that represent Bahamas. Note the amount of space you wish to allocate for them. Look at borders. Choose self-adhesive paper trim in "ocean water." Find stickers that reflect the island and its color, which alternates from calm to vibrant. Look for die-cuts of conch and shrimp to represent the cuisine you might have sampled. Choose chipboard words like snorkel, island or beach. Look for alphabet tropics or bamboo chipboard letters and use your own one-word description for the cover.
- Divide the scrapbook up into subcategories. Suggestions include: snorkeling, gardens, beaches, sport-fishing, island-hopping, cuisine, sights and attractions, music and dance.
- Find a work surface (a long counter or dining room table) to assemble the scrapbook. You will need to organize your mementos, papers and embellishments. Start by going through all pictures. Pick ones that capture the moment or highlight a particular subcategory. In another pile, place mementos such as plane tickets, information pamphlets, maps, tokens, postcards, money, shells, menus, business cards and any additional items. Start grouping together related items. If you don't know where to begin, there are hundreds of sites online that offer scrapbook page templates, how-tos and page samples. Crop pictures for more impact or balance on the page. Next, start sequencing the pages. Work on one page at a time. On scrap paper, write (journal) a small descriptive summary of what the page represents: thoughts, sights, colors or sounds you experienced. Do this to each grouping. Continue until all pages are laid out to your satisfaction. When you feel that your travels flow to your liking, transfer your journaling onto card stock and start gluing and affixing the pages, one by one. Your goal is to create a scrapbook that is simple yet eye-catching and attractive.
