Scrapbook Friday - The best way to find scrapbook page layouts

So now that we know what scrapbooking is, what we should do with our pictures and what albums and papers to pick, let's focus on how to find inspiration.

I get inspired with many things and everywhere. Sometimes it is a color combination, a flower bouquet, an outfit, a design on a sweater … anything could be an inspiration. But yes, I know, if you are a beginner this doesn't really help, right? So let's go back to basics shall we?

These days "social media" offers a ton of layout ideas. Pinterest or Instagram for example, just search for page layouts and you will spend hours looking through them. Craft Magazines are also a great way to start but there are not many out there anymore. If you happen to have a Close To My Heart Idea Book well there you go, you got a free inspiration book in your hands. Many layouts and the design papers and cardstock colors all right in front of you.

Let's face it, you don't have to invent the wheel again. It is perfectly fine to copy a layout you see and give it your own little spin. Use different papers and embellishments and call it a day. But for those of you who like to work with a detailed instruction to a page (sketch) there are books out you can use to get started. The instructions include exact measurements of papers and photos and how and where to position them. I often look back into those to start my base and then work from there. Often my picture are not the right direction or they need to be bigger or smaller, but I can make this work. Again if you are new to this, just follow the instructions.

Our Close to My Heart "How to Books" are perfect to get started. You can search the layouts by how many photos you like to use on your page or you just look at the examples and pick the one you like best. If you find sketches online, perfect, use those for your project and always remember they are just ideas and you can change them. Take the design and flip it up-side-down or move things from left to right. Turn it 90/180/270 degrees...one layout design gives you so many more options.

"Make it from Your Heart - Volume 1" is a great way to start and you might want to pick up "Volume 2" too because they both contain super cute layouts including all measurements.

We also have a newer version "Make it from Your Heart - Volume 3" which uses one of the small 6"x 8" ring albums like you see here above. Anyone of these will get you started and I will show you in the upcoming weeks how to use them.

Again a lot of layouts are included in each of these books. The are not relatively inexpensive and I think they can give you a wonderful start into the work of scrapbooking. Try one of them let me know how you like them or if you life in my area come by and check them out in person.

For those of you who are having a hard time to pick color combinations, there is another book out for you. It is called "Love of Color" and uses the small ring album as well. Here you will get introduced into the world of color and it is pretty interesting to refresh your school memories about colors....Love it! But you can always  just go with the flow and see what you like and what works with your picture :-)

If it comes to scrapbooking, like with any other craft, there are no real rules on how to do things. It is up to you to decide what you like. I am scrapbooking together with two lovely friends ones a month and we all have a different approach on things. I like to somewhat measure and follow the pattern, but my one friend just eyeballs things. You can be super exact with your layout or you be free spirit, just try.
While I said before there are no rules, well there is always an exception, right? Yes, if you are a quilter you want to measure and follow guidelines otherwise your quilt might not be looking good. Or if you use templates to create your pages, yes you want to follow the measurements there too otherwise it will be a mess.
But if we are talking about a "normal" page layout, just try it. I often cut my papers and place them with my pictures on the cardstock I chose for the background. No glue, just lay them down and move them around. See what looks good to you. Well, this is hard to explain. It is better if you can see this in real, so next Friday we will start with a layout. Simple step by step instructions, promise :-)
See you next week...…..