There are three types of books on scrapbooking:
1) Idea books: most people buy these for ideas to “scraplift.” Actual text or explanation is minimal.
2) Technique books: you buy these to learn new and tricky techniques. The focus is on step-by-step instructions with samples.
3) Concept books: these are heavier in text than the other two types and range in topics from design to organization instruction to scrapbook philosophy.
601 Great Scrapbook Ideas is an idea book. It is a thick book with more layouts than you’ve probably ever seen in one place before; six hundred and one layouts, as a matter of fact.
Expectations From An Idea Book
There are two things you should expect from an idea book for it to be worth your money. It should have fresh examples of topics most people scrap: birthdays, holidays, toothless grins, graduation, and all those other life events. This is the reason most scrapbookers buy idea books.
I realize this is a generality, but unless the book specifies a different type of audience, it is marketing to its average demographic.
I also expect the layouts to be scraplift-able; meaning, you could figure out how to replicate the layouts, since that is why people buy the book. Because there are no instructions, the layouts shouldn’t be too complicated.
Does 601 Meet Expectation #1: Layouts On Subjects We Typically Scrap?
There was one thing I was looking for to know whether 601 met my first expectation for an idea book that targets the typical scrapbooker. I wanted to know if the Christmas layouts had normal Christmas photos, as in, multiple photos of that morning when the lighting is imperfect and the “models” have just woken.
I turned to the Christmas section and saw the usual perfect single photo layouts featuring one gorgeous child gazing at the tree. Sure, they’re beautiful pages, but is it the kind of layout most of us are putting together after Christmas?
I turned the page and found three layouts with multiple photos showing children with their presents on Christmas morning…exactly what I was looking for. Plus there were multi-photo layouts on other topics regarding that holiday. I was surprised and happy to see a normal Christmas that was well-represented, as were Halloween and vacations. In fact, every holiday I checked had both single and multi-photo layouts.
This books isn’t where you’ll go for a lot of multi-photo two-page spreads with 4×6’s. There are more single page layouts with only one or two photos and those layouts with multiple photos used pictures that were cropped down.
But, the layouts cover almost every topic you’ve ever seen…even teenage boys and no-kid layouts make a strong appearance in this book.
Does 601 meet expectations #2: Are layouts scraplift-able?
The layouts in 601 don’t require step-by-step instructions for unusual techniques. They are simple to replicate yet interesting and diverse in style. The editors chose the right layouts for this type of book.
Do I recommend this book?
This is a great resource for those scrapbookers who need help coming up with layout ideas. If you struggle to put a page together on your own, then 601 Great Scrapbook Ideas by Memory Makers is the book I would recommend for you. You won’t find such a comprehensive book of layouts anywhere else.
