The Layouts

 

 

 

Layouts are a pattern or guide you choose before you start scrapbooking that help with the over look of your book. They are a great place to start when creating a scrapbook, as it gives you an idea of what your  photos and papers will look like on your scrapbook pages before you "glue" everything down. Designing with layouts can give your scrapbook a more organized and balanced look. You can choose to do your layouts however you want.  You can create your own, just using your imagination, or you can search online search engines or websites like pinterest for ideas. There are even pre-made pages that you can order online if you just want to add photos to paper. 

When choosing a layout, decide on how many photos you would like on one page. You may choose to just one central photo or go with a page with several photos. Some scrapbookers like to crop photos to highlight main details and then surround that larger photo with a few smaller photos on the same page.It helps to keep your layouts simple and consistent. For example you may choose to use just two or three colors of paper or the same style frames or borders throughout your book. Journaling, quotes, recipes  or notes can add story to the photos on your pages. If you decide to add any of the above, make sure to leave some room on your pages for them.

If all this seems overwhelming, you can always purchase a premade themed scrapbooking kit. These kits can save you a lot of time and effort. They are available online on websites like eBay and etsy. The kits usually come with everything that you need to get started. Layouts, card stock paper, frames, embellishments, etc.. They come in many different themes and are great for special event scrapbooks like baby showers and weddings. 

Planning your layouts is fun,  but it also allows you to experiment with different looks and styles. It is also a great start to your project.