The people yearn for physical ephemera and memorykeeping, which is fantastic news because there’s no better time than now to begin keeping a physical photo album or scrapbook (I’m using these words interchangeably). This post is your sign, and in it I share one way to approach this hobby—pocket page scrapbooking—and how to get started with it.
WHAT DOES THIS POST COVER?
In this post I share:
- Who this post is for
- What pocket page scrapbooking is
- Terminology
- What you need to get started—the absolute bare basics
- Examples of other common supplies
- Popular community-wide annual pocket pages projects
- Suggestions of where to find inspiration
- How to “do” pocket page scrapbooking
This post is intended to be a starting point. I’ve done my best to include a range of information, examples, and suggestions. Even so, this post is neither exhaustive nor representative of every pocket page approach or style/aesthetic out there.
While intended as an introduction to pocket page scrapbooking, you may find through the links in this post other ways of documenting and memorykeeping that you like better, like bullet journaling, junk journaling, art journaling, or using a memory planner. A lot of pocket pagers that I followed back in the day (early to mid-2010s) have fully replaced or now supplement their pocket page memorykeeping practice with these practices. I have no experience with these practices, so I don’t discuss them in this post.
This post is not sponsored.
1. WHO IS THIS POST FOR?
[return to table of contents]This post is primarily geared toward people who are brand new to pocket page scrapbooking, and those returning to the hobby after a long hiatus.
I especially encourage people who don’t have fancy “real” cameras and those who think their lives aren’t exciting or big or important or aesthetic enough to document to consider this hobby.
I extra especially encourage single women and women who don’t have kids to document their lives. I also extra especially encourage women who are partnered and/or parents to document their lives as people, outside of who they are as partners and/or parents.
That said, anyone interested in pocket page scrapbooking will be able to get something from this post.
2. WHAT IS POCKET PAGE SCRAPBOOKING?
[return to table of contents]Pocket page scrapbooking is:
- A modern approach to memorykeeping
- A mash-up of traditional scrapbooking and traditional photo albums
- A Type A-adjacent approach to scrapbooking
- Kind of like creating a real-life, offline Instagram grid
In traditional scrapbooking, photos, journaling, embellishments, and ephemera are adhered directly to one side of a piece of scrapbooking paper (usually 12″ square), which may or may not be slipped into a plastic sheet/page protector for safekeeping. These completed one-sided pages are called layouts. Layouts often document a single occasion, event, or memory, and are collected together in a scrapbook. They often have a very collage-style feel to them.
There are two main types of traditional photo albums. Magnetic photo albums have a plastic sheet that lifts up. Underneath it, you arrange your photos, journaling, embellishments, and ephemera. It’s similar to traditional scrapbooking, except without decorative paper as the background. Slip-in, or pocket, photo albums have pockets into which you slip your photos. The pockets, also called sleeves, are often the same size throughout the album and there are often multiple pockets/sleeves, per page.
Pocket page scrapbooking combines these two approaches to memorykeeping: you preserve your photos, journaling, embellishments, and ephemera in plastic page protectors. The page protectors come in different sizes and pocket configurations, allowing you to easily arrange and rearrange elements and pages.
There are three main ways to approach pocket page scrapbooking: physical, digital, and hybrid. These approaches are exactly what they sound like. In this post, I focus on physical pocket page scrapbooking because it’s the approach I’m most familiar and experienced with.
3. TERMINOLOGY
[return to table of contents]Like any community, this one has its own vocabulary. Common terms include:
- Project Life v. pocket page v. memorykeeping
- Spread
- Filler/journaling/pocket cards
- Inserts
Project Life v. pocket page v. memorykeeping
Project Life is the brand name for the style of scrapbooking that uses plastic page protectors—which come in different sizes and pocket configurations—to organize photos, journaling, embellishments, and ephemera.
Pocket page is the generic, non-trademarked name for the same style of scrapbooking.
Memorykeeping is an umbrella term that I use to speak broadly about the different projects I undertake to document my life, including pocket page scrapbooking. You may also encounter the phrase “modern memorykeeping” to describe pocket page scrapbooking.
Spread
A spread is the left and right sides (or pages) of a pair of page protectors. Sometimes also called a layout.
Pockets are what you slip your photos, pocket cards, embellishments, and ephemera into. Each page protector has one or more pockets. Most pocket page spreads are made of page protectors with multiple pockets per page; single-pocket page protectors aren’t used as frequently. In the photo above, there are eight 3×4 pockets. In the photo below, there are four 3×4 pockets and one full-page 6×8 pocket.
Filler/journaling/pocket cards
Technically, these are three distinct types of cards.
- Filler cards have a pattern, design, or phrase on them—and that’s it. They’re used as—you guessed it—filler when you don’t have anything else to slip into a pocket
- Journaling cards may have patterns, designs, or phrases on them but are primarily used to include information about the other items included in the spread, or events that happened during the period of time the spread is covering that aren’t otherwise documented in the spread or album (for example, events that don’t have an accompanying photo or ephemera)
- Pocket cards is an umbrella term that includes both filler and journaling cards
In practice, many people use these three terms interchangeably. Throughout this post I refer to them as pocket cards. In previous posts, I’ve used the terms interchangeably.
Pocket cards are used to add personality, context, whimsy, and/or visual interest and/or cohesion.
Some pocket cards can be used as filler without adding anything to them, or as a background for small photos, ephemera, or blurbs of journaling.
I regret to inform you that most of the pocket cards I use are from a brand that no longer sells memorykeeping supplies and therefore are no longer available. Sorry!
Many online memorykeeping shops sell digital pocket cards that you can download and print. Some also sell physical pocket cards, usually in sets or kits, which are printed on high-quality cardstock and may feature premium features like gold foil or letterpress.
Photo flips
Photo flips are individual pockets that self-adhere to page protectors. In pocket page scrapbooking, they’re used to include extra photos, journaling, and ephemera.
Photo flips can flip up, or to the side.
At the time of this post, photo flips are no longer available; they’re yet another OG Project Life product that’s gone extinct (RIP). I included them in this post because (1) if you start exploring this hobby, you’ll come across others using them in their albums often enough, and (2) I’m manifesting their return.
Inserts
Inserts are used to include additional photos, journaling, and ephemera that don’t neatly fit into your spread otherwise. They are slipped into the album between the left and right pages of a spread. Often, inserts are smaller in size than the page protectors used for the main spread. For example, in a 6×8 album, an insert may be a 3×8 page protector; in a 12×12 album, it may be a 6×12 page protector.
Sometimes, inserts consist of a full-size page protector with a smaller photo or ephemera slipped into it.
Inserts can also be made from paper items, and not include a page protector at all.
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO GET STARTED: THE ESSENTIALS
[return to table of contents]There are five physical items you need to get started with this style of memorykeeping.
- An album
- Page protectors
- A camera
- A way to print photos
- Scissors or a paper cutter
In addition to physical products and the money to buy them, this hobby requires practice, patience, storage and work space, time, and the willingness to be a beginner.
To get started, you can expect an initial investment of between roughly $100 and $400 USD:
- For an album, a few sets of page protectors, and scissors or a paper cutter, you can expect to spend roughly $80 USD, give or take
- For a decent at-home photo printer, ink, and photo paper, you can expect to spend roughly $300 USD or more
Albums
When choosing an album, the main consideration you must make is size. Popular album sizes include (in inches) 12×12, 9×12, and 6×8.
The following seven photos are not of my spreads. I’ve included examples of others’ spreads to show what different sizes look like, and a wider variety of styles and aesthetics.
A 12×12 spread by Ali Edwards using 3×4 and 4×6 pockets (this specific configuration of pockets—two 4×6 pockets on both the top and the bottom and four 3×4 pockets between them—is famously known in the community as Design A page protectors):
A 9×12 spread by Kelly Noel using only 3×4 pockets:
A 9×12 spread by an uncredited memorykeeper using 3×4 and 4×6 pockets:
A 9×12 spread by Kristin Tweedale (rukristin) using 3×4 pockets on the left page and 3×3 pockets on the right page:
A 6×8 spread by Tracyxo using 3×4 pockets on the left page and a full-page 6×8 pocket on the right:
A 6×8 spread by Jamaica using all 3×4 pockets:
A 6×8 spread by an uncredited memorykeeper using two 3×4 pockets and one 4×6 pocket on the left page and 2×2 pockets on the right page:
You will also need to decide:
- What material you want your album to be: chipboard, cloth-covered, or pleather/faux leather
- Whether you want your album to be a solid color or feature a pattern/design
- Whether you prefer an album with two rings or six
The size of album you choose will depend on several factors, such as:
- How much space you have to work on your album, and whether you’ll keep it out and open while you work on it
- The level of detail you wish to capture
- Whether you plan to document chronologically or thematically
- Whether you’re documenting for an entire family or household, for a couple, or for just one person
Many pocket page memorykeepers with children, especially younger children, use larger albums. 12×12, 9×12, and 10×8 are popular choices.
Many pocket page memorykeepers who don’t have children and/or a partner (or who don’t heavily feature them in their albums), or who document a specific theme or occasion, use smaller albums. 6×8 is the most popular choice.
There are several online shops that sell albums. Four popular options:
Scrapbook.com is a marketplace that sells a variety of brands. The other three shops sell only their brand of products.
Over the years, I’ve purchased multiple albums from each of these shops. I think Citrus Twist Kits and Ali Edwards offer the highest quality albums.
I prefer Citrus Twist Kits because they check most of my boxes: they have a large selection of solid-colored, cloth-covered, 6-ring 6×8 albums. My only gripe is that they don’t sell black albums. Their Midnight album is the closest one they have to black. It’s pretty close, but it’s definitely not black.
The other shops primarily or exclusively sell albums that are chipboard or pleather/faux leather, feature patterns/designs, and/or have only two-ring albums.
Ali’s album inventory changes more frequently than that of the other shops, and she always offers albums that coordinate with the popular annual memorykeeping projects she hosts (more below). She also sells 10×8 albums (and corresponding page protectors), a size that she uses and that’s becoming more popular in the community.
Often—but not always—albums come with a few page protectors to get you started. Be sure to read the product description before purchasing to confirm whether this is the case. Before purchasing, it’s also important to know how many rings your album has because that will determine which page protectors you buy. To ensure compatibility, a good rule of thumb is to buy an album and page protectors made by the same brand.
Page protectors
Page protectors, also called pocket pages, are the defining characteristic of this style of memorykeeping. For most album sizes, corresponding page protectors are available in several different configurations.
For example, for 6×8 albums, corresponding page protectors come in the following configurations (per page):
- One 6×8 pocket
- Four 3×4 pockets
- Two 4×6 pockets
- Twelve 2×2 pockets
- Two 3×4 pockets and one 4×6 pocket
- One 4×6 pocket and six 2×2 pockets (not pictured below)
- One 3×8 pocket (not pictured below)
- Two 3×8 pockets (not pictured below)
Page protector configurations are sold both individually and in combo packs. When sold individually, usually you receive 10 pages per pack, all of the same configuration. Combo packs usually come with 10 or more pages total, two to five of each page configuration.
Before purchasing page protectors, confirm they match how many rings your album has. To ensure compatibility, a good rule of thumb is to buy an album and page protectors made by the same brand.
Be sure, too, to confirm the page protectors you’re buying are the right size to fit your album (6×8, 9×12, 12×12, etc.).
It’s easier than you think to accidentally order this 9×12 configuration when you mean to order this 6×8 configuration.
Or to order this 6×12 configuration when you mean to order this 3×8 configuration.
Or to order this 4×6 configuration when you mean to order this 6×8 configuration.
Below are examples of 9×12 page protectors. Note how similar some look to the 6×8 page protectors above.
To mitigate accidentally buying the wrong size of page protectors, I recommend filtering page protector options by size, if the shop provides that function.
Shop page protectors:
- Citrus Twist Kits page protectors
- Ali Edwards page protectors
- Scrapbook.com page protectors
- Simple Stories page protectors
Camera
Any camera will do. Years ago, I used my “real” camera (a DSLR) for many of my photos. Since 2020, I’ve exclusively used my iPhone and my Instax to take the photos that end up in my albums. You absolutely do not need a super fancy, expensive “real” camera for this hobby.
Photo printing
You have two photo printing options: print at home, or use a photo printing service. I’m an evangelist for printing photos at home: it’s much more convenient, it allows more room for experimentation and mistakes, and it’s cheaper in the long run. On the flip side, it does require a more significant startup investment, additional storage space, and it can come with a learning curve.
The most common sizes of photos used in pocket page scrapbooking are 2×2, 3×4, and 4×6.
At home
The Epson Picture Mate 400 (PM-400) is a popular at-home photo printer. It’s the one I use and I love it. I’ve had it for a decade and it’s still going strong, even after several moves and more than a year in storage in a non-climate-controlled garage. I use Epson ink and, depending on whichever is in stock when I reorder, either Epson 4×6 Premium Photo Paper – Glossy or Epson 4×6 Value Photo Paper – Glossy. There’s definitely a difference in thickness between the photo papers. Because I slip my photos into page protectors, that difference isn’t consequential enough to matter to me. I don’t feel like there’s a significant difference in the quality of color or clarity.
Because the Epson PM-400 is the at-home photo printer I have the most experience with, it’s the only one I feel comfortable recommending. That said, I know that Canon PIXMA printers are popular with pocket page memorykeepers, as are the printers Ali Edwards uses.
Note that while the Epson PM-400 has a small footprint, this means it can’t print large photos. You can feed it 4×6 or 5×7 photo paper (or light cardstock). Printing anything larger than 5×7 will require a different printer.
You will need to make your own decision regarding whether to purchase a product protection plan. For what it’s worth, in the decade that I’ve owned mine, I’ve never once had an issue with it (though to be fair, it was manufactured more than a decade ago, which almost certainly plays a role in its longevity).
Often—but not always—a new printer will include ink cartridges and a small pack of photo paper to get you started. Before ordering an at-home photo printer, make sure to read what’s included in the box. Be sure, too, to confirm you’re buying a printer and not a printing subscription.
Photo printing service
There are many photo printing service options. My favorite is Persnickety Prints. Since 2017-ish, on the rare occasion I don’t print my photos at home, they’re the only service I’ve used. I highly recommend them. Their website can be a little wonky. If you can bear with it, their quality and customer service is unmatched.
Other popular photo printing services include Mpix, RitzPix, and Shutterfly.
I recommend googling “photo printing near me” for local options, browsing Reddit’s advice, browsing r/scrapbooking’s advice, and browsing Wirecutter’s September 2025 round-up of best online photo printing services as well as their general printer recommendations.
Scissors or a paper cutter
Whether you print your photos at home or through a photo printing service, you will almost certainly need scissors or a paper cutter, especially if you’re printing multiple photos on a sheet of photo paper.
I recommend using a paper cutter to cut out photos and any regular pair of scissors to clean up the edges, if needed. I use this paper cutter and these scissors.
Before purchasing, you might find it helpful to visit a local craft supply store to get a feel for the difference between different paper cutters—sturdiness, size, weight, type of blade, etc.—especially if you have specific workspace and/or storage requirements, or specific tactile needs.
5. EXTRA SUPPLIES
[return to table of contents]In addition to the basics, many memorykeepers also eventually add to their supplies some or all of the following:
- Photo editing software*
- Typewriter fonts*
- Cardstock*
- Date stamp*
- Adhesive*
- Embellishments*
- Kits and classes*
- Pens, pencils, markers
- Stamps and ink
- Sewing machine
- Die cut machine
I touch on the asterisked items below.
Photo editing software
Two popular photo editing software options: Photoshop Elements (PSE) and Canva.
Photoshop Elements
Once upon a time, PSE was the go-to photo editing software used by many pocket page scrapbookers, and it’s the software I still use to this day. PSE is a pared-down version of Photoshop that’s perfect for any non-professional looking to make simple edits to their photos, such as:
- Cropping
- Resizing
- Rotating
- Adding text
- Converting to black and white
- Adjusting the brightness, contrast, saturation, or white balance
Photoshop Elements is also great for making similar changes to digital filler/journaling/pocket cards.
Here’s what the PSE interface looks like:
PSE currently costs $99.99 for a three-year license (a new change; back in the day it was a one-and-done purchase (RIP)), or $79.99 to upgrade from a previous version to a new three-year license. You can test it out using a 7-day free trial, which is really more like a 21-day free trial, because Adobe gives you an additional 14 days beyond the 7-day free trial to cancel your subscription and receive a full refund. Here’s how to cancel your Adobe free trial or subscription. Generally, Adobe doesn’t prorate refunds. Before subscribing, be sure to read through your specific scenario in their subscription and cancellation terms, and this “how to understand Adobe’s subscription terms and refund policies” article.
I like this side-by-side walkthrough of the differences between PSE and regular Photoshop.
Canva
Canva is another popular option among pocket pagers. And, bonus, they offer a free version. They also have a Pro version, which gives you access to more—more template, more fonts, more cloud storage space, etc. Canva Pro costs $18/month or $144/year. You can try Canva Pro for free for 30 days. A full comparison of Canva plans is here. And here’s how to cancel your Canva free trial or subscription. Canva does not prorate refunds. If you’re a monthly subscriber and cancel one day into your subscription, you will not receive a refund for the remaining days in the month. If you’re an annual subscriber and cancel two months into your plan, you will not receive a refund for the remaining 10 months. Before subscribing, be sure to read through their cancellation terms.
There’s a pocket pager who has an excellent library of more than 40 video tutorials about how to use Canva for pocket page scrapbooking. She also has a playlist of videos documenting her weekly pocket page scrapbooking process, along with several other helpful playlists. Her entire channel is a fantastic resource.
Typewriter fonts
Printing journaling in a typewriter font is a popular choice for many pocket pagers. If you don’t have a typewriter, you can print directly onto a physical pocket card, or type your text onto a digital pocket card before printing.
Free typewriter fonts
- Canva
- DaFonts (Remington Noiseless is a popular one in the community)
- FontSpace
- Google Fonts
Paid typewriter fonts
Here’s a a look at journaling typed with an actual typewriter (left), and journaling printed in the Remington Noiseless typewriter typeface (right).
The choice comes down to the equipment you have, your budget, and your preference. I like the look of journaling typed with an actual typewriter better than I do that typed with a typewriter typeface. That being said, I like the flexibility typewriter typefaces offer—you can change the size to fit more or less on the filler card or photo, and you can align everything exactly the way you want it much more easily.
Install a font
- Install a font on Windows
- Install a font on Mac
Cardstock
If printing at home, I recommend using a light cardstock when printing digital pocket cards. Since I began this hobby in 2012, I’ve used the Michaels brand 65# white cardstock and trim to size as needed.
Both Scrapbook.com and Michaels sell other packs and individual sheets of cardstock in various colors, sizes, and patterns. When selecting cardstock specifically to print onto, make sure you select a weight/thickness your printer can handle.
Date stamp
There are so many date stamp options out there. Personally, I prefer this simple self-inking date stamp. If you like more variety in typeface, size, and ink color options, I recommend browsing Ali’s stamps and inks or those available from American Crafts.
Adhesive
Roll-on tape dispensers are popular options, as are the other adhesives sold by Scrapbook.com and in Ali’s shop.
My go-to adhesives: regular double-sided tape and an Ellepi stapler.
Embellishments
Embellishments is an umbrella term that covers a whole bunch of stuff, including:
- Badges (pinback buttons with a smooth backing instead of a pin)
- Borders and frames
- Clips
- Die cuts
- Glitter and confetti
- Labels, tags, and tabs
- Stickers
- Vellum
- Washi tape
- Wood veneers
Virtually every online memorykeeping shop sells some variety of embellishments. Your local chain or independently owned craft supply or creative re-use store will carry a selection of embellishments, too.
I keep my small collection of embellishments in a plastic case that came with a tool bag I bought a decade ago. The Container Store carries a similar one.
Kits and classes
Many memorykeeping brands offer monthly and/or quarterly kit subscriptions, which come with a variety of different themed products each month.
Popular kit subscriptions include:
- Ali Edwards (she offers several subscriptions)
- Cocoa Daisy
- Hip Kits Club
- Elle’s Studio
- Everyday Explorers Co.
In addition to annual projects and subscriptions, Ali offers several memorykeeping classes.
6. POPULAR COMMUNITY-WIDE ANNUAL PROJECTS
[return to table of contents]There are several annual memorykeeping projects that many people in the pocket pages community participate in. Most are run by Ali Edwards:
- Day in the Life
- A one-day project documenting what a single day in your life looks like at the time
- Week in the Life
- A week-long project documenting what a single week in your life looks like at the time
- December Daily
- A month-long project documenting the magic/spirit of the holiday season
- One Little Word
- A year-long, paid workshop with monthly reflections and prompts that guide you and your word through the year. This paid project also grants you access to a closed community where you can interact with Ali, her team, and other project participants
You can participate in any of Ali’s annual projects informally for free by using the project’s hashtag(s) and/or adhering to the “spirit” of the project. You can also purchase one (or more) of the corresponding albums and kits that Ali releases for each project each year.
Another popular annual project:
- October Daily
- A month-long project that’s basically December Daily for Halloween; to my knowledge, this projects doesn’t have a formal facilitator or kit
7. FINDING INSPIRATION
[return to table of contents]There are (so!) many places online to find inspiration regarding what to document and how to document it. A few to get you started:
Online shops
- Ali Edwards
- American Crafts
- Elle’s Studio
- Everyday Explorers Co.
- Hey Scrapper
- Hip Kit Club
- In A Creative Bubble
- Lifelovepaper
- Paper Person
- Push Print Studio
- Scrapbook.com
Instagram accounts
- @aliedwards
- @aliedwardsdesigninc
- @amygretchenstudio
- @ellesstudio
- @inacreativebubble
- @ink.paper.photos
- @jwhitt_creates
- @lindalovescreating
- @mamarubioxo
- @paperperson.shop
- @stacie04
- @sunday__plans
YouTube Channels
Hashtags
The following hashtags are all linked to Instagram. They may also be popular on TikTok. I don’t know because I don’t have TikTok, sorry!
Popular general pocket page scrapbooking hashtags include:
Popular project-specific pocket page scrapbooking hashtags include:
You can append to the end of any of the above hashtags a given year to further refine results. For example, #projectlife2026, or #decemberdaily2024, or #aeweekinthelife2017, etc.
I also recommend searching hashtags for specific brands or designers to see how their products are used and to find additional hashtags, products, brands, techniques, and memorykeepers to follow for inspiration. For example, try searching #paisleepress or #everydayexplorersco.
On Pinterest, you can search any of the Instagram hashtags listed above as either hashtags or phrases; the names of your favorite memorykeepers, brands, and shops; or, you can rabbit-hole your way through my memorykeeping inspiration board, which I’ve organized into several different sections:
- layouts, pages, and spreads
- filler card patterns
- filler card phrases
- articles about memorykeeping
- ideas, prompts, tips, and tutorials
- miscellaneous memorykeeping projects (non-pocket pages projects)
I also have two additional sections, each for a different memorykeeper whose pages I return to over and over when creating my own:
Following lists and hashtags
As you find memorykeepers and brands whose style you like, scroll through the lists of who they’re following and the hashtags they use in their posts—you will absolutely discover new-to-you memorykeepers, brands, styles, and techniques this way.
8. HOW TO “DO” POCKET PAGE SCRAPBOOKING
[return to table of contents]There is no singular or “right” way to “do” pocket page scrapbooking.
Some people keep chronological albums, with each spread sequentially documenting a single week or month. Others create themed albums—think “baby’s first year” or “my pregnancy” or “Disney World 2026.” Some go with the flow, creating and filling spreads as time permits or as inspiration strikes, without defining their album by a strict theme or period of time.
When I first started pocket page scrapbooking, the standard approach was to document your life chronologically by the week. At the time, most people used a 12×12 scrapbook, Design A page protectors, and a weekly title card, often in the top left pocket, as seen in this spread from Ali:
Over the years, my approach has shifted. I’ve gone from using a 12×12 album to a 9×12 album to a 6×8 album, which has coincided with my transition from documenting family life with three young children to primarily documenting my life, not my kids’. Another change: While I still document chronologically, I’m much more loose with it these days—I’m not worried about each spread strictly documenting a single week, and I’m not worried about photos being in exact chronological order.
The shift in my approach has also coincided with a broader shift in approach within the pocket page scrapbooking community. These days, I see far more loosely chronological and thematic approaches than I do strict weekly or monthly approaches. Many people use Ali Edwards’ different kit subscriptions as their primary approach—the kits provide both a prompt and products themed to said prompt, which many people find easier/enjoyable to work with than a blank canvas.
* * *
Is there something I didn’t touch on in this post that you wish I would’ve? Please share in the comments.
Are you included in this post and you don’t want to be?
Please reach out to me and I’ll remove you from it: kelseyetcetera (at) gmail (dot) com.