My layouts are colourful, doable and photo-oriented. Not that all scrapbooking isn’t photo-oriented, but since I am a photographer as well, my layouts are very much driven around which photo I want to highlight on the page. I find myself doing a lot of single layouts with just one or two photos on them. I can’t even remember the last time I did a double page spread. I tend to be drawn to brighter colors rather than the grungy, sanded and painted look. And while I do some techniques on my pages, for the most part they are totally doable for nearly any scrapper.
I love moving things around and incorporating new products! I normally start with the photos, then pick out some papers that I think will coordinate nicely. I’ll then get something that I’ve been wanting to use and figure out a way to get it to fit into my page. I never, ever glue everything down on the page until I have all the elements laid out and placed exactly where I want them. I’m notorious for moving things around a LOT to get it all ‘just right’.
My photos and colour combos are what bring my pages to life. I really think that it’s my photography that reaches out and grabs people’s attention. I certainly don’t have any more scrapbooking talent than the rest of the incredible designers in the industry and I don’t usually do things on my pages that haven’t been done before. I do also like to use unusual colour combination so that’s always an eye-catcher too.
Theres no place better for inspiration than a bookstore. My favorite place to go when I’m stuck on a project is the aisles of the Barnes and Noble Bookstore. I don’t hit any particular section – I just wander the stacks aimlessly, checking out book covers and general design ideas on everything there. You never know where your next spark of creativity will come from. I’ve found things to incorporate on my pages on anything from self-help guides and bathroom remodelling to travel guides for Southeast Asia.
Music is a great creativity conductor for me I scrapbook much better when I have good music playing. You have to find something that helps your creativity flow when you’re creating. Depending on my mood I’ll have 1 Hit Wonders from the 80’s or something more recent and edgy like Franz Ferdinand or Louis XIV.
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