Summertime Celebration: A Scrapbook Album Project

My virtual digiscrap friend, Michelle (creator of the famous Scrapability blog), had a great idea for a scrapbook album to document her family’s summertime activities. She posted 30 ideas to create memorable layouts to be assembled into an 8x8 album (or whatever your favorite size happens to be). I am in the midst of my Project 365 album, but I think I’ll jump in on this one as well. We always have a busy summer and take lots and lots of photos that always beg and plead to be let out of their computerized imprisonment and into the light of day – well, into a layout at least!

I have taken Michelle’s album ideas and rewritten and rearranged them to suit my own typical summer. I have also decided to do 20 layouts – the typical minimum amount for any printed album or, if I decide to print them myself, it will also match the pages included a standard scrapbook album.

As you read through the ideas and follow along with the project, you may find that you want to do more than one page per topic. No problem…it’s your album and it should reflect your summer in the way you want. As I read them over again, I can see where this is going to happen to me, too. I can see myself easily ending up with 30-40 pages!

I may even decide to create a hybrid (a combination of digital and traditional paper scrapbooking) album to use up some of my large stash of dusty supplies. Hmmm…I wonder where I put that double-sided sticky tape…LOL!

Tip1: If you do one page for each idea below, the even numbered pages will be on the left side and the odd numbered pages will be on the right side. This is important if you’re going to create two-page spreads and want to keep them together!

Tip2: Don’t worry about doing the pages in order. Some of the topics may come before others in your summer schedule. If this makes you crazy, just rearrange the order of the pages to suit your style. ;-)

Outer Book Covers and Spine – If you are going to print your album with a photo printing service like Shutterfly, think about creating your own custom front and back covers and spine. When I did my '2007 Year-in-Review' album, I found this easier to do after all my pages were finished because I wanted it to represent what readers would find inside. I was also able to use extra photos that I didn't use on the layouts.

Dedication Page – If you want to make one, this would be best placed on the inside front cover to avoid any 2-page spread complications with the rest of the album. If you’re doing a digital book that will be professionally printed, there is usually no option for creating an inside cover page. To get around this limitation, have your page printed separately and use your favorite adhesive to attach it to the finished album.

1. Title Page – This will be the first right hand page. Every album needs a title page. I usually create mine at the end of the project because it takes me that long to think it up! Just kidding...I actually like to make the title page reflect the theme of the album and sometimes I use a picture or two taken from the last few layouts.
2. Waiting for Summer – Tired of those wet spring days? Ready to shed your bulky sweaters and coats? Are the kids getting restless waiting for school to end? When will it finally be “summer”!! What are your plans during the good weather – work or play or a little of both? Share your observations and expectations. This page goes well with Last Days of School.
3. Last Days of School – I’ll throw this one in for those of you that have kids still in school or might be in school yourself. Sometimes the summer break for school age folks doesn’t happen until mid July. How do you survive the seemingly long wait until school is finally over? When it arrives, do you have to make special childcare arrangements, sign up for special activities and camps? If you work, do you skip a day here and there to go on a summer adventure with the kids? Do longer summer evenings mean the kids have later bedtimes than in other seasons?
4. Summer Clothes – Break out those shorts and flip-flops, sun hats and sarongs. Do you paint your nails when you wear your fancy blinged up sandals? What are the hot colors this season? Show off your summer fashions. This page goes well with Summer Vacation – especially if you get some new clothes for your trip!
5. Summer Vacation – Do you plan to get away from home during the summer months? If you are going to do a vacation album anyway, here’s a good place to get it started or combine all your trips in one layout or a two page spread. Maybe you plan on 'vacationing' at home or you have grandkids or relatives or friends coming to stay for all or part of the summer. How does this change your daily routine and what special things do you do together?
6. Food and Drink – We always connect summer with certain special foods like potato salad or Nana’s pea salad, grilled hamburgers, and ice cream. What does your family like to eat or drink? Include a special recipe. Don’t forget those special cocktails – what’s the 'in' drink of the year…pomegranate martinis or blueberry lemon drops? This page can be part of a 2-page spread with the next page – BBQs.
7. BBQs – We like to BBQ all year round but summer BBQs and potlucks are the best (or the worst!). Show off your outdoor cooking skills or memorable disasters (when we comment on 'burnt offerings,' my dad always says that "charcoal is good for the digestion!").
8. Water Fun – We live in an area where it’s generally too cold to swim in the ocean but we do love to go to the beach and fly kites. We also love to go to the lake and swim or fish. Does your family spend time at the beach, lake, river, or swimming pool? Do you beat the heat with a slip-n-slide, water gun fight, or play in the sprinklers? This page can be part of a 2-page spread with the next page – The Great Outdoors.
9. The Great Outdoors – We love to camp at the lake and try to go as often as possible. Do you go hiking, camping, fishing, or a day trip to your local outdoor recreation area? Don’t forget summertime sports and those you only do on vacation like scuba/snorkeling, golfing, boating, etc. Or maybe you spend your time in the Great Outdoors of your own backyard. Do you break out the patio furniture or get a new set? Do you add fairy lights or ornaments to your garden? This could also be a double page spread on its own.
10. Weather – Rain, sunshine, thunder storms, and hot August days. What’s your weather like? Do you love to sunbathe (using sunscreen, of course) or do you avoid the sun? Why? Note: this page may take all summer to finish. This page can be part of a 2-page spread with either of the next page – Summer Rain.
11. Summer Rain – I live in the western part of Washington state and, yes, we do get a bit of rain now and then…LOL! No matter where you live there’s something magical about a day with summer rain. What do you do on a rainy day – read, do craft projects, play games, bake cookies, watch DVDs or go to the movies?
12. Summer Flora – Summer is a major gardening season with gardens full of colorful summer blooms and ripening veggies. There are temporary fruit and veggie stands on every corner and enterprising kids may even have a lemonade stand down the street. Do you live in an area with seasonal markets? What does your neighborhood or town or city look like in summer? This page goes well with Summer Fauna.
13. Summer Fauna – Dragonflies, butterflies, mosquitoes, ants, young deer just losing their spots, and wild bunnies are just a few examples. Take photos of your pet dressed (or not) for summer fun, playing in the park, or napping in the sun.
14. Family & Friends: Getting Together – Summer is the traditional time for family reunions, weddings, and company picnics. You may be involved in the planning or just plan to attend and most of the time these involve BBQs and potlucks and sometimes involve a bit of travel. Are you combining one or more with your family vacation plans? We always go to the lake for the Fourth of July, have a community potluck, and watch a big fireworks display over the lake. Do you have a special family tradition for your get-togethers? Do you entertain friends and family at your home? Do you belong to a club that has a special event or two during the summer? Do you have any summer birthdays? Most of us have a combination of things going on so this could easily become a two page spread or more.
15. Summer Projects – Summer time is all about fun and relaxing but sometimes it also means it’s time for that home remodel or repair project you had to put off all winter. Maybe it’s yard work or house painting or participating in a work party to help out your community; just remember to take before and after pictures!
16. Summer Festivals & Fairs – We usually go to at least on of the many Highland Games in our area as well as the local Renaissance Faire. Summer is full of many local and national county fairs and festivals focused on music or beer or food or a combination! You might attend one or more or be involved in the planning and organizing of some of these. This can be a two-page spread.
17. A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Summer Solstice – The longest day of the year is coming up in just 9 days (20 June) and is a seasonal turning point. After this day, the hours of daylight get shorter as we move towards fall. What, if anything, does this mean for you? Do you feel the need to hurry up and cram as much into the remaining days of summer as you can? How do you spend your long summer nights?
18. Dog Days of Summer or Harvest Time – The summer heat sometimes stretches into September and brings sunflowers, ripe tomatoes, and juicy blackberries. Canning season is here and it’s also a great opportunity to squeeze in some last minute outdoor fun. This page works well as a two page spread with Back To School.
19. Back To School – Depending on your school schedule, this may be in late August or early September. While I don’t have school age kids anymore, I do have grand kids I who suffer through the traditional first day of school photos…LOL! Document your school clothes shopping trip(s) here, too. If you plan on going to college or taking a few adult education classes, tell about it here.
20. Summer’s End – This is the last page. It can be a summary, a photo collage of the highlights or a lead in to fall with the turning of the leaves, the coming of cooler temperatures, and a cup of hot cocoa or warm cider.

Hey, did you like this project? Why not plan one for Fall, Winter, and Spring. When you’re done, you can put them all in one jumbo “year-in-review” album or four separate albums. Don't forget to post your finished layouts in a gallery and come back here to share the link. I'd love to see what you come up with.