How to Use Microsoft Word 2007 to Scrapbook

Download your photographs onto your computer and organize in files. Non-digital photographs can be scanned to create JPEG files, then stored on your computer.

Open a new document in Word 2007 by clicking on the round “Office" button, located in the upper left-hand corner, and clicking on “New.”

Choose between 3 to 5 photographs that you would like to include on your photo page. Each time you create a photo page, it will be a new document. You will work on one page at a time.

Insert your chosen pictures on your document by clicking “Insert” in the ribbon (or menu bar) and then clicking on “Picture.” This will open a window, and you can choose the pictures you want to add by retrieving them from where you placed them on your computer.

Organize your photographs by clicking on one picture. When you click on the picture, “Picture Tools” will appear in the ribbon. Click on “Picture Tools.” Look for the “Text Wrapping” icon in that ribbon (it looks like a dog with horizontal lines) and click on the icon. This will give you choices on how to arrange your photograph. Choose “Behind text.” Repeat for each picture, then move each to where you want it to be on the page.

Resize your images, if necessary, by clicking each picture and dragging the corner of the image inward or outward.

Edit your pictures by cutting them into shapes, adding borders or frames. Do this by clicking on the picture you wish to edit. When you click on the picture, “Picture Tools” will appear in the ribbon. Click on “Picture Tools.” When a picture is clicked on, you can choose from editing options in the Picture Tools Format ribbon, which include “Picture Styles” to add a frame, “Picture Shape” to reshape the image or “Picture Border” to add a border.

Make the adjustment to allow your printer to print a background. To do this go to "Office," "Word Options," "Advanced," then check the box under “Print” that says “Print in Background” and click “OK.”

Add a background color, image or texture by clicking on the “Page Layout” tab in the ribbon and choosing “Page Color.” From this menu you can choose different patterns, colors or images from your computer. Before adding a background, ask yourself if it will be worth the extra ink used and if it will enhance your page.

Add clip art to your page by clicking on the “Insert” tab in the ribbon, then choosing “clip art.” A menu will pop up, giving you the option to choose clip art on your computer or online.

Add text to your page by clicking on the “Insert” tab in the ribbon and choosing “Text Box.” Choose the option to draw the box where you want the text. To move the text box, use the same procedure as for repositioning photos, as stated in Step 5. Instead of choosing “Behind Text,” choose “In Front of Text.”

Remove the white background or border of the text box by clicking on the text box, then clicking on the “Text Box Tools,” then on “Format.” Shape Fill and Shape Outline will allow you to change the background color and border of the text box.

Change the font color and sized of your text by highlighting the text, then clicking on the “Home” tab in the ribbon. You will have the option in this ribbon menu to make changes to the font style, color and alignment.

Print your page when you are finished. But let it dry completely before you place it in the page protector.