Scrapbooking is one of those timeless craft forms that so many do but many of us less-crafty-types tend to steer clear of. It’s messy. It’s time-consuming and you have to cut out teensy pieces of paper right? Wrong. Scrapbooking doesn’t have to be overly difficult and time-consuming, nor do you have to be super-creative to make something that’s appealing and book-shelf worthy. The thing is, there’s no real hard and fast rules for scrapbooking (don’t shoot me down scrap-booking pros), however there are a couple of simple tips that will make your newest scrapbooking adventure visually appealing without too much effort. So if you’re new to this whole scrapbooking deal, grab a cuppa and a pen and paper and read on as we give you a seven simple scrapbooking ideas that will make your creation really pop!!
1. Overlay Photos
Remember the old photo albums when all the photos were lined up neatly, in their little squares? Never to be moved. Well forget that now you’re a scrapbooker. In fact overlaying and uneven photos in your scrapbook is an acceptable, no expected effect – so overlap away.
image source: debbiehodge.com
2. Focal-Point Photo
Choose about 6 photos that you would like to be placed on your scrapbook page. Now out of those 6, choose a primary/main photo and print it in a large size (8×8 square). The remaining 5 photos should all be printed in a smaller size (4×4 square). Now use the big picture as your focal-point photo and the remaining should be place in a vertical or horizontal line at the corner of the page. This is a great way of emphasising a moment or a relationship or removing emphasis from the other photos of Aunty Iris that you feel obliged to include.
Image source: fionacarter.typepad
3. Grid Line Photos
Clutter isn’t cool in a scrapbook. Keep your pages clear, uncluttered and use the space between them effectively. For a grid line photo effect print 12 photos (or more or less depending on the size of your scrapbook) of the same size and layout. Divide your page roughly into three equal parts horizontally then place the photos roughly along a horizontal line slightly overlaying from the corners. Do that across the three sections of your page. Maintain a fairly even gap between the 3 horizontal lines (if your page is too small, only use two lines of photos). There’s no need to be perfectly straight when you overlay the photos – in fact it’s a much nicer effect if the photographs alternate between a little higher and a little lower of the gridline. Again – get away from the ancient photo album mind-set.
Image source: scrapbookingbyani.com
4. Prep the Background
If you’ve got a bit of gift wrap lying around – great – use it or any patterned paper as background on special pages and then place photos over the top. The bright colors and pattern will brighten up the page giving it a noteworthy look. You can also outline the photos with lace or ribbons to make it stand out. Use patterns or textures that reflect the mood of the moment captured in the photograph.
image source: vintageimagecraft.com
5. Mix and Match
Draw a horizontal or vertical grid making 6 or more boxes. Fill 3 of those boxes with photos and in the remaining 3 boxed, add notes using colored markers or paste patterned paper. This is great for people who don’t like flooding a single page with a lot of photos. This will balance the page, is easy on the eye and tells your story. Naaw, doesn’t that make you feel all warm and gushy?
image source: paperclipping.com
6. Strip your photos
This is a simple effect where you take one photo and cut it into equal sized strips. You can past them to the page separately and parralel or you can overlay them depending on the effect you want. Yeah, another simple trick.
image source: scrapbookmax.com
7. Use your colours
An extension of stripping your photos, print your selected photo in both black and white and colour. Cut both photos into equal sized strips. Lay the black and white parts of your photo evenly on the page then place one strip of coloured photo offset on the page (see below). Such a nice effect to highlight the parts you want. Plus this effect makes you look extra creative.
Image source: acdigitals.com
So you see, you don’t have to cut teensy, tiny pieces of paper to create a cool scrapbooking project. Quite often it’s about thinking outside the conventional photo-albumy type ideas and adding a few twists here and there.
Do you scrapbook? What project are you working on at the moment?
If you’re looking for a printer to print the PERFECT sized photos for your next scrapbooking project, I’m thinking you might want to check out the Pringo wifi photo printer. It’s small. It’s cute. It prints straight from your smartphone. And it’s awesome!!
