Showcasing Your Scrapbook Albums

Where are your scrapbooks? Often they are lying in our scrapbook rooms (if the pages are even put away) and not immediately accessible. We have finished the pages, but have we finished the album? Have we made it available for others to peruse? After taking so much time and effort creating our scrapbook albums, we should take equal care to display them. Here are a few ideas of how to display your scrapbook albums, pages and mini-books.

Shelves. The most common way of displaying scrapbook albums is to store them on shelves. Remember to store them upright and side-by-side. Do not squish them, which will avoid causing the embellishments to press into the pages. If you have the luxury of purchasing new bookshelves, measure your albums before choosing your shelves. Deeper shelves are best for 12" X 12" albums. If you do not have room for an entire bookcase consider single shelving units. These are single shelves that are attached to the wall with metal brackets.

For children's albums consider putting them on a lower shelf so they can have easy access to them.

Many of my albums are arranged on a bookshelf. I arrange my family albums by date and then I have miscellaneous albums in another section. I add albums, even if they are not completed yet.

The visual look of albums together can be striking and it will show off your efforts. For a fun look intersperse mini-albums on the shelves as well.

Tables. Coffee table books are common so why not add your scrapbook albums to the mix? This is particularly attractive for albums with striking covers or albums that cover a single subject or event. Arrange the albums nicely and keep the table as uncluttered as possible. Add mini-albums to the table display if desired.

Display Stands. Do you ever have to prop up books or special framed photos? When I'm cooking, I often have a cookbook open on a stand. In the same way, you can display your scrapbook albums. Use picture frame holders, cookbook holders, etc. They come in wood or metal and can hold various sizes. Chose a size that fits your album when open. It should rest comfortably without any tipping. Leave it open to a special page or one you particularly enjoy.

Page Frames. Page frames are acrylic holders for individual scrapbook pages. Some manufacturers such as Clear Scraps have acrylic page displays which allow you to display one scrapbook page. You can place several next to each other for a two-page layout or artistic design. The acrylic displays can be put in a stand or hung on the wall. They are available in various sizes. While a page frame will not display an entire album, it will allow a few of your pages to be displayed. Consider different spots in the house where they can be displayed. Also consider different locations such as a work place.

Alternatively, you can get a custom-made frame for your scrapbook page.

I have three page frames in the kitchen. They are on an otherwise bare wall. Whenever we have visitors they always see it as they pass through the kitchen! Narrow hallways also make great display areas.

Baskets. Empty shelves, tables, windowsills, etc. are all great places to tuck an attractive little basket. In the basket, arrange several mini-albums. Larger baskets can be purchased and set on the floor for larger-sized albums.

Here are a few more hints on how to make the most of displaying your albums, mini-books and pages:

• Keep Things Clean. Before displaying an album make sure it is clean. Wipe any dust or dirt off the album. Periodically, check the albums and clean them as necessary to keep them in good condition.
• Finish the Album. Before displaying an album, finish it as much as possible. While you may be waiting for photographs or for a page to be finished, go ahead and display it. Just don't forget to add the pages you may have done already. If the album has a window display on the cover, remember to take out the manufacturer's picture and add your own.
• Match the Décor. If you are unsure of which album to display, consider the décor of your room. Will it match the color and/or pattern scheme? Will it fit the mood of the room?
• Change Albums and Pages Regularly. For albums in a stand or pages in a frame, consider changing the albums and pages on a regular basis. You could change them monthly or seasonally.

Look around your house. Find those spots where you could put some shelving, display stand or a basket. Maybe you have a great spot for hanging a page frame. Find that space and get your scrapbook albums displayed.

While I do not have a traditional coffee table I am still able to use an old family cedar chest that is located in the family room. Use whatever flat, uncluttered surface that would make a good display area.

• Wall-hanging display shelf - I've found this is a great way to display mini albums or smaller themed albums.
  
  
• Podium - I'm still on the lookout for one of these, either desktop or full standing podium, but wouldn't that be a great way to display your albums? Use the lower shelves to store them, and then the top can display a most recent album in a place where people can easily flip through them. You could even add a stool for your album viewers.
  
  
• Plate rack - I don't collect plates, but I love to put framed photographs into plate racks on the wall. As I was contemplating what photographs to put into this plate rack, it dawned on me that an album might just fit. It has to be a thin one, but this theme album from a close friend of mine fits and looks great!

• Lower shelf of a console table- My entryway is screaming for a console table, where I would store a row of my larger albums in the bottom shelf. Then perhaps I could find a desktop podium to put on top of it for easy viewing...

Slowly, I'm finding places for all my albums. The sheer number of them has required some creative displays. But in the end, it's been nice to have them displayed in different rooms, in unique ways. Then they're looked at and enjoyed more frequently-like they should be!