I have always believed that scrapbooking page ideas are the foundations upon which more complicated layouts are built. The most beautiful, multi-layered scrapbook albums that you have ever seen all started out with just a simple layout. Every scrapbooker should have at least three basic layouts that they can use in situations where they get stuck on a theme. If you have a few basic layouts in your repertoire, you will always have something to fall back on if you need ideas.
Another great reason for having a few simple scrapbook designs up your sleeve is to have something to build upon. Like I mentioned above, you can always use a simple layout and then build upon it to get a gorgeous design that’s more complicated than what you started out with. The simple scrapbook ideas I’m going to share with you have also been tried by some of my friends in their own projects, and if you saw their finished pages, you’ll never believe that they started out with a basic layout such as the ones in this article.
The first basic layout you can use is a grid layout. Divide your page equally into thirds, or maybe into fourths if you have a bigger-sized page. For photos and journaling elements, it’s advisable to use the same sizes to get a uniform look across the whole page. If you have gaps or margins between each photo or journaling element, make sure that they are also the same sizes throughout. A grid layout will look at its best if the sizes of the margins and elements are of uniform sizes.
Now you can add all the embellishments that you want. You can also use background paper of different patterns or colors for each square in the grid to add more spice and contrast.
The second layout you can use is the lined layout. This does not mean that you have to use a background paper with lines all over it. A lined layout means that your main elements are placed in a straight line. The most commonly used elements for a layout like this are the photos.
You will get a better-looking design if you use photos of the same sizes. Arrange the photos in a line across the page, whether vertically or horizontally. Sometimes you can try a diagonal line if you’re feeling experimental. A lined layout also gives you more space for your other elements, such as journaling or just more embellishments.
The third simple layout is the focal point layout. You should have a large-sized photo to use as your subject. It is going to be the focal point of the page, so it is a good idea to have your photo in a larger size than the rest of the elements surrounding it. Place your big photo slightly off-center on the page; start by placing it smack dab on the middle, then move it a few inches to the left or right. You can then add a journaling element below it or beside it, plus the embellishments you want.
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