How to make a scrapbook page title

Keeping your title short

A scrapbook title gives your page a clear focus. It tells the reader exactly what they are looking at before they read the smaller journaling text. Because it catches the eye quickly, short titles work best. Aim for 1 to 4 words to keep the design clean and easy to read.

If you have a lot to say, save the details for your journaling block. Your title just needs to spark interest. Good ideas for a short title include a place name, a specific date, or just the name of the person in the photos. You can also use a funny pun or a short quote someone said that day.

Mixing letter styles

Using different font styles makes your title visually interesting. The most common trick is to mix two styles together. You can use a big word in an alphabet or a display font, and then add smaller words in a simple font.

Digital alphabets come as individual transparent PNG files, just like other embellishments. You place each letter on your page one by one to spell out your main word. You can learn more about this in our guide on how to use digital alphabets.

For the smaller words, use the text tool in your software. Pick a basic, readable font that does not compete with your main alphabet. If you need help finding good options, check out our list of free fonts for scrapbooking.

Here is how to build a mixed style title:

• Type your small connecting words like "the" or "and" using a simple font.
• Drag and drop your digital alphabet PNG files onto the page for the main word.
• Resize the letters to fit your space.
• Arrange the small text above or next to the large letters.

Placement and contrast

Where you put your title is just as important as the words you choose. Place the title close to the main photo so they read together. The eye naturally moves from the big photo right to the title text. If you place them too far apart, the page can feel disconnected.

You can read more about grouping elements in our scrapbook layout design basics tutorial. Contrast matters when you want your words to stand out. You need dark letters on light paper or light letters on dark paper. If your background paper is busy, your title might get lost in the pattern.

To fix a title that blends in too much, try adding a solid shape behind the text. You can also use a subtle shadow to lift the letters off the page. Remember that digital papers are JPG files, while your letters and elements are transparent PNG files. This transparency makes it easy to layer your title over any background.

Quick title ideas

Sometimes you want to finish a page quickly without building a title from scratch. Word art and labels make quick titles that look great. These are pre made graphics that already have words designed into them. They save you the trouble of picking fonts and arranging letters.

You can use our word art stickers to drop a finished title right onto your page. They come with ready-made words and fun typography. Just drag the file onto your canvas and place it near your photo. You can resize them to fit your layout perfectly.

Another fast option is using labels. Our stitched labels pack includes ready-made words that work perfectly for a small, subtle title. You can tuck a label under the edge of your photo for a neat, compact look.

When setting up your page for these titles, keep your document size in mind. The standard digital scrapbook page is 12 x 12 inches at 300 pixels per inch, which equals 3600 x 3600 pixels. Working at this size ensures your word art and digital alphabets print clearly. You can learn more about resolution in our DPI and PPI guide.