Delicious Memories: Everyday Scrapbooking with Food Layouts

I've started a new series called "Everyday Scrapbooking." Designed for enthusiasts of chronological or Project Life-style scrapbooking, this vlog/how-to aims to inspire and guide you through capturing the everyday moments of your life. From daily routines to unique traditions, we'll explore photography and journaling tips, design approaches, and how to bring them together on a scrapbook layout.

In the inaugural episode, I'm exploring the art of scrapbooking our everyday cooking and baking experiences. While many of us enjoy time spent in the kitchen, how often do we commemorate these moments in our scrapbooks? 

Imagine immortalizing the preparation of a holiday feast, the joy of baking with loved ones, or unique culinary traditions like crafting homemade ravioli on New Year's Day.

In the video below, I share my experience making sourdough bread with my neighbor Monica. You'll see how I plan photos, capture journal-worthy moments, and design a layout while learning a thing or two about sourdough.

The Journaling is Baked In

Interviewing Monica provided invaluable insight for enriching the journaling on my page layout. By delving into her breadmaking adventures, discussing the intricacies of sourdough starter, and exploring the steps to crafting the perfect loaf, I added depth and a little flavor to my storytelling.

Food Photography with a Mobile Phone

I considered the narrative arc of the breadmaking process in advance of the photo shoot. I wanted to ensure I incorporated a variety of pictures that captured the essence of the experience, from ingredients to kneading to rising and baking. But how do you make bread interesting?

Monica's husband, Mel, a photographer, showed me mobile phone photography techniques to enhance the visual appeal of my pictures by simply experimenting with the various filters and settings on my phone's camera. He revealed that when you take a photo, your mobile phone will adjust your lighting and exposure, making photography a snap for amateurs.

Making the Bread Layout

When it came time to make the layout, I wanted to craft a two-page spread celebrating the art of bread making. While plenty of food-themed scrapbooking papers and embellishments are available, I selected materials from my stash and some die cuts I designed. The two-page spread was based on a sketch template I created that I imported into Cricut Design Space for easy cutting and assembly. I used Flip Flaps from Close To My Heart to incorporate extra pictures on the layout (p.2, lower right).

Food Scrapbooking Tips

Throughout the process, I uncovered some valuable tips for documenting culinary adventures in your scrapbook:

1. Enriching Journaling - Incorporate backstory and personal anecdotes to enhance your storytelling.

2. Crafting Shot Lists - Plan your photos ahead of time to ensure you capture every aspect of the cooking process.

3. Creative Photography - Experiment with angles, lighting, and phone settings to capture captivating images.

4. Utilizing Phone Settings - Explore the capabilities of your smartphone camera to elevate your photography game.

I encourage you to scrapbook your cooking and baking adventures in your own albums. Share your culinary exploits and scrapbooking creations in the comments below. I also welcome your suggestions for future topics via email or in the comments.

And whether you're kneading dough or crafting layouts, may your creativity always rise to the occasion! 😀