Layout and Design Part Dos

More ideas for layout and design from Memory Makers...

43. Use the same base colors - When combining patterned paper, choose ones with the same base shades. For example, even though blue and yellow usually look good together, a yellow pattern with a bright white background will not match a blue pattern with beige undertones.

Just like wine with dinner...use what you like!

44. Heavily journaled pages - Make pages with lots of journaling more visually appealing and easier to read by treating various words differently through-out. Write some in different colors, add interesting capital letters at the beginning of each sentence, add a variety of small stickers, etc.

I think this is self explanatory but, bottom line is most of us don't journal enough much less doing a whole page of it. This is a challenge...JOURNAL A WHOLE PAGE!!!

45. Sketch your ideas - Move photographs into different arrangements on a page or spread until you find the most appealing design. Then place other objects around them. When you've settled on a complete design, sketch it on paper.

This is always a good idea. Another good idea is to "scraplift". Scraplifting is just the idea of stealing someone else's design an putting your pictures and embellishments on your pages.

46. Utilize extras - When faced with lots of extra photos or an over abundance of supplies, take advantage of this by trying a few non-traditional page designs. Cut the photos in small squares for a mosaic page, or adhere paper scraps and other supplies at random for a unique collage-style page.

Always remember - you don't have to use every picture you have. Sometimes picking the best picture can be a difficult job because sometimes they are all good and tell a great story (like family reunion photos). Don't limit yourself a to one or two page layout. It's your scrapbooking...make a mini-album or several 12X12 layouts.

47. Balance - Distribute page elements evenly on all sides of the page to achieve a balanced design. For example, if a dominant photograph is located in the top left corner of your page, offset it (but don't overpower it) with an embellishment in the bottom right corner. You don't want your page "leaning" heavily to one side or the other.

Here is a good example - Photo in the upper left and large "bling" embellishment on the bottom right.