Scrapbooking Layouts -
Enhancing Your Pictures
Caught up in the
scrapbooking fever? If
you are, you are sure to have a heap of supplies - precut
cards, packaged
themes, stickers,
papers
and so on. But what if you feel your scrapbooking efforts
are becoming too ho-hum? Get inspired!
Scrapbooking
is an art. It means more than just pasting photos and
newspaper clippings into a book. The layout contributes to the
enjoyment of the
viewer and is also the main source of creativity for scrapbooking
enthusiasts.
So, where do you begin to create great
looking layouts?
SELECT
A THEME
Start with a theme - are you
presenting a page about the birth of a baby? A
holiday trip? An engagement? A sporting event?
Your scrapbooking theme can be
anything. Perhaps you have photos of Iggy, your
cat sleeping on Uncle Ben’s chest and want to scrapbook
them. So do it!
Then, . . .
SELECT
YOUR PHOTOS
Choose the best photos. They do not have to be the best composition
since you can
crop them later, but avoid fuzzy shots or awkward angles (unless that's
part of
their charm!)
Use odd numbers of photos since they tend to be more appealing in any
scrapbooking
layout. Three, five or even seven if you're spreading them across two
pages -
will work best.
Next, . . .
CHOOSE
YOUR
COLORS
Is there a dominant color in the pictures? Or is there a color you wish
to
highlight (such as baby Jean's red dress)?
Using a color wheel as a guide, find the color you wish to use and
create a
complimentary layout using the hues on either side of your selection.
If you
want some pizzazz try using the color directly opposite your selection
on the
color wheel. These shades make each other jump while colors close on
the color
wheel will create a more soothing visual effect.
And then, . . .
CHOOSE
A FOCAL POINT
If you are
composing a real collage you might want your title
to be the
focal point. Other focal points could be the largest picture or
an embellishment or memento.
Some
ideas are to highlight one photo or item,
such as a newspaper clipping, in the middle. Layout the other photos
around the
focal point. They can be aligned, angled or scattered depending on the
look you
are trying to achieve.
Part of the art of scrapbooking is cropping
pictures, cutting the edges of your pictures into a shape, or just
removing
excess space, will enhance the layout.
The
secret to a beautiful scrapbook page is in the layers. It does not have
to be
complicated, but should lend personality and charm to your layout.
Now
. . .
Bordering
pictures in the complimentary colors quickly draws attention to them.
This can be done with paper borders or drawn on with markers, paints or
even
glitter. Consider using something original to highlight your focal
point; a
paper lunch bag as the backdrop for a school picture. A strip of baby
blanket
can be used in a baby album.
Be creative - glue
buttons, barrettes, ribbons, Band-Aids or other tangible items around
pictures.
Give
your picture a backdrop with colored paper. Layer strips of
coordinating
papers, gift wrap or cardstock and vary the edges depending on your
look. You
can use hole-punches, torn edges or clean lines to enhance your
scrapbook
layouts.
Now,
enjoy your designs and look for great ideas from other scrapbookers,
magazines and online. Your
scrapbook is unique, so don't be afraid to try something
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