| Scrapbooking, while a creative process, is also one | | | | photos and paper I want to pull out the orange color |
| that is based on several tried and true design principles. | | | | found in the leaves. By altering my photo corners I can |
| One of those principles is the visual triangle. I've been | | | | do just that! Using a product called Glimmer Mist, made |
| scrapbooking for over 7 years, and the visual triangle | | | | by Tattered Angels, I simply spray my photo corners |
| was one of the first things I was taught. Regardless of | | | | and turn them into a shimmering orange. Glimmer Mist |
| your scrapbooking experience, you've probably used | | | | comes in a wide variety of colors, so you are sure to |
| this concept and may not have even known it. It's | | | | find something that will compliment your project. Best |
| easy, and something I have found to almost be | | | | of all, it is water based and should you make a mess |
| instinctive. | | | | on your work surface you can just wipe it away with |
| According to researchers, the human eye responds | | | | water. Take note that is only works on paper photo |
| better to designs with an odd number of elements. | | | | corners such as the ones made by Scrapbook |
| Placing just two elements on a layout causes the eye | | | | Adhesives by 3L. They are packaged in sheets, which |
| to flutter back and forth, and creates a lack of focus. | | | | makes them perfect for spraying. |
| Furthermore, establishing a triangle within a layout helps | | | | I promised you another tip that helps in the planning and |
| the all around visual flow, allowing the viewer to more | | | | placement of elements. How many times have you |
| easily focus on the design as a whole. The visual | | | | started gluing down a title only to get near the end and |
| triangle is simple to implement and together we will | | | | run out of room? This tip is going to eliminate that |
| walk though the steps. | | | | problem and make gluing down all those letters a lot |
| First gather the basic items you'll be using to create | | | | easier. When working with titles, especially long ones, |
| your layout; such as your photos, printed paper and | | | | or those with small letters I like to arrange them out in |
| cardstock. If you have some basic embellishments in | | | | the area I plan to place them. Going a step further, |
| mind, now would be the time to take those out. I like to | | | | sometimes I want to ensure all the letters are straight. |
| lay things out and slide them around on a full 12x12 | | | | One easy way to do this is to use some removable |
| sheet of paper before I cut anything. I lay out my | | | | tape. The removable tape is made by Scotch and you |
| photos and a portion of my title. Without really even | | | | can find it at just about any office supply store. It is |
| noticing it, I have instinctively arranged my items in a | | | | photo safe and has only a mild tack so that it can be |
| visual triangle. You'll notice that my photos create a | | | | easily removed without causing any damage or leaving |
| triangle, leading the eye from one to the next. Adding in | | | | a residue. |
| the title expands that triangle, flowing from the focal | | | | First I arrange my letters and then line them up so they |
| photo, to the next set of vertical photos, and lastly to | | | | are straight. To ensure they stay that way I pull out a |
| the title. Looking closely, you might notice a third triangle | | | | line of the removable tape and place it right over the |
| in the collection of three photos on the left. The | | | | top of my letters. Now that I have the letters stuck to |
| triangles are literally everywhere, and ultimately | | | | the tape I can pull the tape off and move the letters as |
| creating a sense of balance and flow. As I get closer | | | | a whole anywhere I want! After the placement is |
| to the finished product, and add more elements, you'll | | | | perfect, just pull back one end of the tape. The letters |
| see the triangles multiply. | | | | will come back with it, thus exposing the back so that |
| As I said earlier, I like to be able to slide things around | | | | you can apply adhesive. |
| and play with positioning. There is nothing worse than | | | | After applying the adhesive simply fold the tape back |
| getting near the end of a layout and running out of | | | | over, rub down over your letters and gently remove |
| room! There are a couple of things I do to help ensure | | | | the tape. Left behind you will have a perfectly placed |
| that doesn't happen. First, once I have something | | | | line of letters. This tip is not only a time saver but a |
| where I think I want it, I tack it down with a | | | | stress saver too. |
| repositionable adhesive. My favorite is a product made | | | | To finish up my title I need to permanently glue down |
| by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L called E-Z Dots. It is | | | | the cardboard letters forming the word "fall." I |
| repositionable and removable, and works great for the | | | | distressed all the edges to add a little dimension and a |
| planning stages. The other tip will come a bit later | | | | more finished look. |
| when working with the title. | | | | Taking it a little further and again adding a bit more |
| Diving a bit deeper now I start cropping my photos. | | | | orange, I use a date stamp on some orange cardstock |
| The two vertical photos I leave as is, and the same is | | | | and add that to my title. As a general rule I date just |
| true for the horizontal focal photo. Because I had two | | | | about everything, or at least try to. There is nothing |
| other photos that I couldn't bear not to include, I've | | | | worse than having someone ask me, "when was |
| cropped them down to measure 3" square and place | | | | that?" and coming to the realization that I have |
| them directly beneath the focal photo. In an effort to | | | | absolutely no idea. After having that happen a handful |
| anchor the photos and create a sense of unity, I | | | | of times, I now do everything I can to prevent it from |
| arrange them all together on a piece of brown | | | | happening again. I admit that I don't always journal, and |
| cardstock. You can see an image of the end result by | | | | you can call me a cheater if you want, but I think dating |
| visiting my website. | | | | a layout counts. I've yet to have the journaling police |
| Now moving back to the base of the layout I again | | | | come knock at my door, so I think I'm in the clear. |
| arrange my photos on my selected printed papers. | | | | Returning to the altered photo corners, I can see now |
| Here I'm using two different prints, keeping the larger, | | | | that the layout needs something to balance that out. |
| and bolder of the two under my set of focal photos in | | | | Some shimmering brads in a complimenting shade of |
| a further effort to pull more focus that way. You can | | | | orange are just the right touch. Placing them right |
| again see that the placement of the elements creates | | | | above my date stamp embellishment balances |
| a triangle, with your eye starting at the anchored set | | | | everything out nicely. Can you see some more |
| of photos and then moving down the vertical set. | | | | triangles? |
| With the basic layout setup complete it is time to title | | | | Step back and look at the finished layout. Take notice |
| and embellish. My style is very simple in an effort to | | | | of how your eye flows around the page. Depending |
| keep the focus on the photos and the memories they | | | | on how you look at it there are at least three visual |
| invoke. A layout doesn't have to be covered in | | | | triangles in this layout. Each triangle creates balance |
| embellishments to be a work of art! Next time you | | | | and improves the all around visual flow. So, next time |
| start a layout; try limiting yourself to only a handful of | | | | you start a layout, take note of your design style and |
| items to dress up your page, maybe even limiting the | | | | see how many triangles you incorporate, whether |
| embellishing to only the title. | | | | intentional or not. I would even be willing to bet that if |
| For this layout I am going to first embellish my collection | | | | you pulled out an old layout, you would see that you |
| of matted photos with paper photo corners. I could just | | | | have already been using the visual triangle concept |
| use white, but with all the brown going on in both my | | | | without even realizing it! |