Artistic Scrapbook Pages

All You Need Is A Plan

Scraplift of Jo Corne's Beach Babe layout by Eileen

Scrapbooking has evolved from simply sticking a few photos into an album and noting names and dates to a full-blown hobby for millions.

Many shy away from scrapbooking saying, "Oh, I could never do that. I'm not an artist".

That's simply not true. All you need is a plan.

There are potential scrapbook layout plans all around you.

Plan #1: Scraplift It

When a magazine ad or someone else's scrapbook page catches your eye, try scraplifting it. If the page is for your personal (family) use, there's no need to credit your inspiration.

If you post the layout on a public gallery or blog about it, credit should be given to the original ad or scrapbook page. Online, it is courteous to include a link to the layout that inspired yours.

You'll be amazed - and pleasantly surprised - to see that your design rarely comes out looking exactly like the ad or page that inspired it.

Many online scrapbooking sites frequently run scraplift challenges. That just goes to show how mainstream and acceptable the concept of scraplifting is.

Scraplifting is also a terrific way to learn graphic design principles and fine-tune your artistic eye.

Plan #2: Follow a Page Map or Layout Sketch

Layout by Eileen using a layout sketch from Scrap Girls

Page maps or layout sketches are diagrams similar to floor plans for your house. House floor plans have rooms that flow well. There are little easily recognizable icons for appliances and plumbing fixtures.

Scrapbook maps or sketches use design composition rules to lay out page elements in a well-balanced eye-appealing way which draws the eye around the page to tell the story.

You can buy books and eBooks of scrapbook page maps. An online search can also uncover many free page maps to download.

In a digital layered page map, each element is found on a separate layer. All you do is drag your elements and place them over the diagram as indicated.

Certain elements in the map (like photos, strips of paper to divide the page or frames) can also serve as clipping masks.

If you drag a photo, for example, on top of the shape you want it to take and then clip it to the shape, the part you wanted to trim away disappears from view.

Unlike if you had cut the photo with a scissors, if you're unhappy with the way you clipped the photo, you can:

Undo the clipping and start over;
Simply slide the photo around to capture the view you want to show; or
Enlarge/reduce the photo's size by clicking and dragging one of its corners.

Plan #3: Learn a Few Design Principles

Rule of Thirds layout example by Eileen

Without the cost or rigor of learning graphic design in a classroom setting, scrapbooking allows you to learn by doing and at a pace that is comfortable for you.

With a bit of experience, you'll begin to recognize why a particular layout scheme works well.

To whet your appetite, here are a few of the design concepts that will soon become second nature as you venture further and further into the fun world of scrapbooking.

Rule of Thirds [1+1+1] creates a grid of nine equal squares for positioning elements.
Rule of Odds says that an odd number of elements (photos, embellishments, etc.) is more visually interesting.
Rule of View is determined by the point of view which the photographer assumed: shooting up makes the subject appear dominant or majestic; shooting eye-to-eye conveys equality; shooting down makes the subject appear inferior or miniaturized.
White Space Rule says that a subject or focal point needs clutter-free space to help establish context, e.g. leave space in front of a runner when you crop the photo to help the viewer visualize him running into the open space.
Fibonacci Ratio, a.k.a. the Divine Proportion [1 + 0.618 + 1], creates a grid of nine unequal rectangles often visualized as the cross section of a nautilus shell.

You can find many great ideas and materials online to help you with a scrapbook layout regardless of which approach to learning design composition you decide to use.

Original Independence Day layout by Eileen

And remember, as you gain experience and develop an eye for pleasing composition that helps tell a page's story, you will no doubt look back at your early layouts and think, "I can do better than that now".

In scrapbooking, makeovers are always allowed. They're also a fun way to test or demonstrate how much you have progressed.