Whether you are new to scrapbooking or a veteran, it is always fun to imagine a new layout idea, and watch it come together on your pages. If you are an avid scrapbooker, then you have come up with ideas that have worked and some that haven't. Trial and error are necessary processes, because there are many ways to display your photos or memorabilia.
Who Will View
When contemplating a layout idea, you should first determine how many pictures you have; how many will fit comfortably on your pages (two pages next to each other); how many pieces of memorabilia you want on the page; how busy the page will be; and who will be viewing the pages. A memory book created for a child's grandmother in another city or state will have different things on her pages than the scrapbook you make for your home, since you have access to different bits and pieces of information that might only be of interest to the immediate family.
Map It Out
A successful layout is one that has been selected from among several others that you've considered. Start with basic colors that will draw out some of the subtler colors in your photos, and then choose a "frame" color to either set your pictures on. If there is not enough room for another picture on the page, is there room for embellishments, journaling, or other detailing? Do a few different selections at a time and really choose the design that best fits the need and feel of those photos. Try laying out the photos to fit across the layouts with half the photo on each page. Add additional journaling in a corner. Put some ribbon our buttons in the corner. Layouts are not just 2 12X12 pieces that site next to each other, try carrying your ideas to cover the full 24" spread.
Pros and Cons of Consistency
A layout that showcases every page in the same way becomes boring to make, as well as boring to look though. After the first or second page, people will stop seeing the pictures. Mixing up the layouts with different photo arrangements, embellishments, decorations, and memorabilia not only adds some excitement to the pages, it keeps the people looking and reading, as there is so much going on within the page. You can use the same color scheme throughout the book, just mix it up with the difference in the layouts and designs.
