This Affordable Retro Item Is So Much Better Than Your Favorites Folder

I take so many pictures every week that it’s easy to lose track of certain photos in the vast-ranging sea that is my camera roll. Sure, you can save photos to your favorites folder, but lately I’ve been wanting to display more special photos in a more meaningful way. So when I came across this TikTok from user Jess showing how to make a mini scrapbook, I immediately bookmarked it for my next craft night. 

In the TikTok, she shows you how to create your own mini scrapbook using a small photo album, which makes the cutest mementos for you and your friends. Not only is this craft simple and adorable, but it also doesn’t cost much — just the price of the photo album and the fee to print however many photos you want to include. It makes for a great solo night in, a crafting get-together with friends, or even as a thoughtful gift for someone you love. Here’s how to do it.

• A 4×6 photo album
• Cardstock paper or 4×6 index cards 
• Printed photos
• Glue stick
• Old magazines, stickers, decals, etc.

First, cut your cardboard paper into 4×6 rectangles to fit into your photo album. If you’re using 4×6 index cards instead, you can skip this step. Then, label each piece of paper with the “theme” of that mini collage, so that you know which photos to put where. For instance, you could dedicate a page to a trip you took with your friends or a tribute to your freshman year dorm. 

When your cards are all labeled, you can start scrapbooking. Start by taking one of your printed photos (you can print many for a low cost at CVS, Walgreens, or FedEx), cutting out the part of it that you want to highlight, and glueing it onto the paper. Now, it’s time to get creative. Cut out pictures and graphics from old magazines and grab stickers, pieces of ribbon or lace, and any other craft supplies you have lying around, and use them to curate the page. When you’re done decorating your 4×6 rectangle, you can move on to the next page of your mini scrapbook.

Finally, when you’re satisfied with your many collages, you can start slipping them into the panels of your photo album (make sure to let any glue fully dry first). You’ll be left with a unique memory book that’s customized to your style and will be so much more fun to look through than your camera roll.

Making these scrapbook albums is a super-fun activity, but it also takes some time. If you want the memory book without the crafty commitment, you can find plenty of alternatives online that let you design your scrapbook digitally and have it mailed to you. This one from Shutterfly is totally customizable and includes cute details like little doodles so it looks more homemade.