Scrapbooking Tip: Odd-Sized Layouts

A few years ago for Mother's Day, my husband bought me a beautiful Hallmark scrapbook album.  It's an odd size, approximately 9 x 12, and this presented a challenge to me.  I've never seen layouts in this size, so I had to come up with some ideas to work with the pages in the book. 

I decided to approach the layouts from an 8 1/2 x 11 perspective.  This worked very well at first, because I even had a little extra room to spread things out if necessary.  After awhile, though, it became a little boring, doing the same basic layout over and over.  Then it hit me.  Why not turn the layouts and make them horizontal?  I had seen this done with 8 1/2 x 11 layouts many times, and I really liked the way they looked.  So I tried it.  Here is one of the layouts, which I think turned out great.  It also adapted it for a 2-page sketch challenge on If It's Groovy this month. 

So, the next time you're faced with an odd-sized layout, try looking at things from a different angle!  Happy scrapping!

 

Scrapbooking Tip: Using Patterned Papers

As a scrapbooker of more than 8 years, I know how confusing patterned papers can be to work with.  It's so easy to fall in love with all those delicious colors, patterns, and textures.  What does one do when trying to use more than one pattern on a layout?  Well, here are a few tips.

1.  Use coordinating papers made by the same company.  On this layout, for example, I used K & Company's Girl Scouts paper line.  (This is the original line.  K & Co. has replaced it with a new line of GS papers.)

2.  If you have the option, choose double-sided papers so that you have more choices of designs that coordinate nicely. 

3.  Use plain cardstock as a background/base paper, and add patterned paper effectively.  In this case, I used the patterned papers to draw attention to my photos and move the viewer's eye from the top of my layout to the bottom. 

4.  Choose coordinating embellishments that pick up a few of the colors in your layout.  Try not to over-do the embellishments when you're using patterned papers.  You don't want to take the focus away from your photos.

5.  Another idea for incorporating patterned papers into your scrapbook pages is to use them for your titles.  For this layout, I used one of the patterned papers for the letters and a coordinating solid paper to mat the letters.

Try using some of these ideas, and you'll see how even the busiest papers can be incorporated into your layout to create a very eye-catching effect.  Happy scrapping!