The Art of Scrapbooking

With scrapbooking, not only are you creating artistic arrangements and layers of objects, but you are doing it around an evocative theme. Scrapbook art always includes: 1. photos around which the theme is developed; and words or “journaling” which evoke, explain and expand on the theme. The words form an integral part of the artistic arrangement. Scrapbookers love to play with and combine fonts to give words visual expression. Just as we use tone and volume to add expression to the spoken word, scrapbookers use fonts, letter placement and color to express their ideas and form a page that is pleasing to the eye. Just as words can be spoken melodically or harshly, softly or loudly, the words on a scrapbook page can visually shout, whisper, sing or pray. I suppose a beginner could “go it alone” artistically, but I found it inspiring and very helpful to view other scrappers’ work in order to appreciate the range of possibilities before I began. If you’re fortunate enough to have a friend who scrapbooks, ask if you can look at her work. Also subscribe to scrapbooking magazines. To begin scrapbooking, it is very valuable to see how varied the art can be. No two scrappers will interpret a theme the same way. This gave me a sense of artistic license when I started. There is no one right way! Four artists, given a theme and even a page layout, will invariably provide vastly different interpretations. In fact, such contests are held periodically. The results are something to behold. If you still feel overwhelmed after seeing the work of experienced scrappers (or maybe due to seeing their work!), start with one of the themed kits that are available in craft shops. For the more adventuresome beginner, it’s time to plan your page and make a shopping list! First decide on the size for your page. The most popular size is 12 x 12”. One scrapper explained that’s because you get more “real estate” to decorate. Decide on your theme and select photos for your page. Scrappers frequently use photos from the same shoot. This helps, not only as far as sticking with the theme goes, but also aids color coordination. Look for colors that dominate or accent the photos to decide on the colors for your background and trims. Be sure you have the ability to get reprints should you damage one of your photos. Accidents do happen. Scan your original to a digital file if you don’t have a negative or digital camera file. Have any valuable old photos professionally copied. There are two reasons for this: newer papers and newer inks both add durability. Plan your journaling: what title and other words can you use to tie the photos together? Take your time with this step. Let your concept evolve and take shape. Think about your audience and especially the person or people in the photos. What will evoke a smile or wonderful memory for them? Diagram a few layouts with your photos to settle on a balanced composition and give you an idea of how much other “real estate” you have to play with. Your diagram will include some or all of the following: background paper; slashes or splotches of other papers; text box(es); a title box; and your photos. Next consider what additional elements and techniques you will use to decorate: stamping; embossing; buttons; brads; ribbons; rub-ons; tags in paper or even glass or metal; twill tape; envelopes; and tiny embellishments. “Tiny embellishments” is a whole industry that was practically launched by scrapbook art. If you remember being enthralled by doll house furniture and accessories as a child, you will be both enchanted and taken back to one of childhood’s joys by scrapbooking embellishments.

Choosing & Using Photos

putting together a scrapbook page often involves the most important part: The photos! How many photos should you put on a page? How many photos is too many? And is it ever okay to use just one photo on a layout—or no photos at all? Ultimately the answers are up to you, but I have a few tips and ideas that might make it easier to plan your page. How many photos should you put on a page? Some people like to use one photo on a page (even a 12”x12” page) while others like to get as many photos as possible on a page. I generally put 3-4 pictures on a 12”x12” page. That way, I’m getting my photos scrapbooked yet I still have room for journaling and embellishments.It’s a matter of personal taste, and much will depend on the size of your photos. For small heritage photos, you could fit 9-10 on a 12”x12” layout—which wouldn’t leave much room for journaling. If you have a large portrait (say 5”x7”), I’d add only one smaller photo (maybe a 1 1/2” square) overlapping a corner of the portrait shot. Keep in mind why you’re scrapbooking. If you just want to place photos onto a cardstock background paper and write small captions beneath the photo, then you can fit more photos per page than the person who wants to include patterned papers, embellishments and journaling. If you’re thinking the layout looks too crowded, remove one photo and see if it makes a difference.Yes, you can—eIf I want to scrapbook an event like a birthday, Christmas or sports event, I’ll use one photo as my focal photo, then use a 1 1/2” square punch to punch out mini photos. I’ll mat these and place them along the bottom or the side of the page. This technique allows me to get several photos on a page without it looking busy or crowded. ven with a 12”x12” page! I generally make single-photo layouts whenever I want to “present” the photo. It might be a portrait picture, the one photo I have of an ancestor, or maybe it’s just a really great shot I took of my daughter. Although I generally try to get more photos per page, the single-photo layout is a nice way to create a special page for a special photo. It also allows me the extra room for journaling or embellishments.Yes, you can—even with a 12”x12” page! I generally make single-photo layouts whenever I want to “present”Absolutely. Sometimes you just won’t have photos that represent a specific time, place or event. Once my friend Shauna forgot her camera when traveling out of town for a family Thanksgiving get-together. Instead of scrapbooking photos that year, she instead made pages with the traditional family Thanksgiving dinner menu, a list of who attended and other “non-photo” memories. In the end, where you put your photos and how many you use is up to you. You’ll find that each layout calls for a different design, and each photo requires a different approach. The best advice I can give is to trust your instincts: if the page looks too crowded or bare, make a few adjustments, step away from the page and see what it looks like a few minutes later. the photo. It might be a portrait picture, the one photo I have of an ancestor, or maybe it’s just a really great shot I took of my daughter. Although I generally try to get more photos per page, the single-photo layout is a nice way to create a special page for a special photo. It also allows me the extra room for journaling or embellishments.