Scrapbooks are a wonderful and unique way to display your memories. They can be much more interesting than a plain photo album. What makes a scrapbook different than a regular photo album? Texture! Even though your scrapbook pages have to fit in a book, that doesn't mean they have to be completely flat. When you're choosing scrapbook materials, make sure to choose ones that will add lots of interesting textures and colors to your pages.

One way to add texture to your scrapbook pages is by choosing a textured background. Many background pages actually have real texture, like cloth or embossed details, or a metallic or satin finish. Others are made to look like they have texture. You can buy background pages designed to look like everything from leaves to waves, and in every color of the rainbow. Pair your photos with an interesting background paper to really bring them alive.

Use a textured background page that matches the theme of the photos. For example, use a soft, fuzzy background for a baby book, or a leafy background for memories of a camping vacation. Choose waves as a background for your trip to the beach. Use a background textured like a burlap sack, or a piece of fabric from a handmade costume, for a Halloween page. There is no limit to the backgrounds you can use for your scrapbook pages!

Once you have chosen your background pages, there are still many other ways to add texture to your scrapbook pages. You can use scrapbook embellishments like ribbons, lace, or foamy or fuzzy stickers to make your pages 3-dimensional. Try cutting out letters from sheets of felt or foam. Besides making your own decorations, you can also buy a wide variety of pre-made embellishments at your local craft store. These are tiny replicas of everything from baby bottles to soccer balls. They may be die-cut paper or foam, or made of plastic. These can be great additions to a theme page.

To make your scrapbook pages interesting, also pay attention to the colors you are using. This is one of the most important decisions when deciding on a scrapbook layout, and it is limited only by your own imagination. Make sure the colors work well with the photographs you are using, and convey the mood or theme. For a serious and elegant tone, use metallic colors and dark shades. For a calm and soothing effect, like a baby book, use pastels. For a more upbeat tone, use brighter colors. You can also match the colors to the event, like holiday colors, wedding colors, or the colors of the sports team.

Combine different colors and textures to make a really unique scrapbook page that is completely personalized. By layering different pieces, you can create a 3D affect that's much more interesting than static images set onto a plain background. Instead of the boring white background of traditional photo albums, you can continue the theme of your photographs by choosing the right colors and textures, making the whole page a visual masterpiece.