It's really not as difficult as you might think. There are
no hard and fast rules when it comes to the creation of a scrapbook page, however, many strong layouts build on common themes
and design principles.
1. Sort Your Photos
- generally, 5-7 photos fit on a two-page spread and 3-5 photos fit on a single page
- keep in mind that you don't have to scrapbook every photo -- select only the
best ones to highlight the event.
2. Select 2-3 Colors of Cardstock That Complement Photo Colors
- start by pulling colors found in the pictures themselves
- experiment with different color combinations to find the perfect ones
- consider adding decorative patterned paper
3. Choose a Photo For
The Focal Point
- choose an enlarged, unique,
or exceptional photo; the goal is to capture the viewer's attention
4. Crop
- photo cropping can remove
a busy background, or reduce the image to a workable size
-
never crop one-of-a-kind photos, work on duplicates
- keep
in mind that simple shapes are the most eye-pleasing, and that not every photo needs to be cropped
5. Give
Prominence to the Focal Point Photo
- mat
the focal point photo, and possibly others as well (you don't have to mat all photos on the layout)
6.
Begin Arranging The Page
- place your photos
on one or two-page layouts
- move the photos around until
you've achieved a look that is visually appealing
- remember
to leave space for a page title, journaling and embellishments
7. Title and Journaling
- a creative title announces the theme of the page
- journaling is a way of recording the details surrounding the page, including dates, those appearing in the
pictures, and information about the event
- journaling doesn't
have to be paragraphs and an essay, but can be quotes, poems, lists, or other creative ways of providing information
8.
Embellish
- much of the fun in the creation
of a scrapbook layout is in the embellishing
- whether you
choose ribbon, fiber, punched paper shapes, stickers, or other items, this is the final touch
- use embellishments sparingly -- the photos should be the main attraction
