Coming In January – Currently Loving Scrapbooking Workshop Kit
If you’ve been with me for a while, you know my papercrafting journey didn’t start with cards at all — it started with scrapbooking. Way back when, I was knee-deep in 12×12 pages, photos, journaling, and all the decorative bits I could get my hands on. And then life got busy, cardmaking took over, and scrapbooking quietly slipped to the back burner.
Well… Stampin’ Up! just pulled me right back in.
With the introduction of their new scrapbook kits, I decided it was time to dip my toes back into the memory-keeping side of things. So in last week’s YouTube tutorial, I cracked open the Currently Loving kit — available starting January — and walked through creating the first of three two-page spreads. Let me tell you: this kit made the whole process ridiculously easy.
Check out my YouTube video to see more (and please subscribe while you are there!).
Stampin’ Up! got back into the scrapbooking arena in 2024 when they acquired some Close to My Heart product lines and welcomed former Close to my Heart Makers to the Stampin’ Up! Family. Since then Stampin’ Up! has grown its memory keeping product line and currently offers several different Scrapbooking Workshops kits. See them all here.
Now let’s break it down and take a closer look at what’s inside the Currently Loving Scrapbooking Workshop Kit.
A Look Inside the Currently Loving Kit
This kit creates three full two-page spreads, and it’s laid out so simply that even if you haven’t scrapbooked since 2009 (no judgment), you’ll still feel like a pro.
Right on the cover, the kit spells out exactly how many photos you need for each “project” (that’s what they call each two-page spread):
- Project 1: two 3×3 photos, two 3×4 photos, one 5×7(-ish) photo
- Project 2: five 3×4 photos
- Project 3: four 3×3 photos, one 4×6 photo
Each spread coordinates beautifully with the pre-printed Designer Series Paper and the punch-out ephemera. And here’s what impressed me most: every punch-out piece has the project number printed on the back. That’s a level of organization I can seriously appreciate.
Cutting Tips (A.K.A. “Learn From My Oops”)
As I was cutting everything out, I realized I was losing track of which pieces belonged to which page. So here’s my big tip for you:
WRITE ON THE BACK OF THE PIECES.
Yep. Pencil, pen, whatever. Label them “1C,” “1D,” “2L”… whatever the instructions call them. If the piece will get covered by a photo later, you can even write lightly on the front. You’ll thank yourself later.
When the instructions say “cut the striped paper into one-inch strips,” they also tell you which direction the stripes should run. If you’re a rule follower, great. If not… well, you saw me eyeballing things on video. Do what works for you.
Prepping Photos (or… Using the Placeholder Trick)
I didn’t have all my photos printed (story of my life), so I used the kit’s photo placeholders. I attached them with a Glue Dot so they’ll peel right off later when the real photos arrive. Super simple. No guessing. No lining things up twice.
If you ever get behind printing your photos? This little trick will save you.
Project 1: Birthday Memories
For my first spread, I used a set of birthday pictures — my son’s apple-pie birthday (his choice!) and my daughter’s throwback bunny cake we made on Easter. Lots of laughs, lots of sugar, and lots of nostalgia.
The layout came together quickly:
- Photo mats? Done.
- Border stickers? Easy.
- Big floral ephemera? Pop-out, stick down, done.
The directions give exact measurements like “2¼ inches from the top, 2½ inches from the left,” but let’s be honest — I just eyeballed most of it. Liquid glue gives you wiggle room if you need it, and it all worked out just fine.
Project 2: A Day in the Life
This spread used several smaller photos, and again — no stress. You just arrange, layer, stick, and add the ephemera pieces. I staggered mine a bit because I don’t love everything perfectly lined up. (If you’re a “perfectly lined up” crafter, you do you.)
My photos included:
- A Mother’s Day selfie with my daughter
- A big family gathering from this summer
- A still-empty mat waiting for a printed photo
The stickers and embellishments add just enough detail without overwhelming the page. And again — the project numbers on the backs of the pieces kept everything organized.
Why These Kits Are a Win (Even for Beginners)
Here’s the truth:
Scrapbooking can feel intimidating when you’re starting from scratch. These kits eliminate all the guesswork.
You get:
- Pre-designed layouts
- Coordinating papers
- Punch-outs labeled by project
- Easy step-by-step instructions
- Extra pieces for personalizing
I prepped all my cardstock and ephemera in about half an hour. After that, the pages came together fast. And — shocker — I actually felt successful again in the scrapbooking world.
If you’re a scrapbooker already? You’ll appreciate how well designed these kits are.
If you haven’t scrapbooked in years? You’ll ease back in without frustration.
If you’ve never scrapbooked? You’re still going to feel confident and creative right from the start.
Final Thoughts
This was my first scrapbook kit from Stampin’ Up!, and it absolutely surprised me in the best way. I’m already itching to finish the other pages and get more photos printed. And yes… I’m officially thinking about diving deeper into scrapbooking again.
If you want to see the full process — tips, quirks, oops moments and all — make sure to watch the video above. Then grab the Currently Loving kit when it’s released in January and give it a try for yourself.
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Stay crafty,
Judy 💚