The first thing you should do when thinking about creating a scrapbook is to round up as many photos as you possibly can.  Photos are the key component of any scrapbook so you want to have a large amount to choose from.

As you look through your pictures sort them by theme.  Each theme you come up with may be part of a new scrapbook or just a new page in your current scrapbook. 

You can use the original photos directly in your scrapbook by gluing them onto a page; however, if they are special pictures that you don't want to alter by cutting or cropping you can make color photocopies of them.  This will give you the freedom to alter the photos in any way you choose.

When handling pictures, especially the older ones, make sure to wash your hands.  Dirt and oil can damage your precious memories forever.  Washing your hands is particularly important when handling negatives.  If your hands have a tendency to sweat you may even want to think about wearing some gloves when browsing through your picture collection.

Another thing you should keep in mind is that your photo collection should not be limited to your own pictures.  Mementos that relate to your theme such as letters, announcements, or newspaper clippings can really add a nice touch to your scrapbook. 

If you are scrapbooking a particular event gather photos from other people who were present.  They may have captured an aspect of the event that you did not.  Remember you are trying to create something that captures the essence of an event in your life, so work hard to find those great photos. Don’t hesitate to dig deep to find those perfect memories.

Once you have gathered your photos and mementos, your scrapbooking experience can really get rolling.