Scrapbooking layouts

[drs75]

One of my biggest challenges of scrapbooking is coming up with new layouts. If any of you are having similar challenges, I wanted to recommend to you what one of my "traditional" scrapbooking friends recommended to me. "Creative Sketches" by Becky Higgins (Creating Keepsakes magazine). She has two volumes out. She has layout ideas from as few as three pictures a page, up to 15 or more. Basically she has "sketches" of layout ideas--where you could place your photos on a page, and then gives a few examples. I use it as a springboard and then usually end up making changes to make it my own. It does get me started, though, especially when I am running out of ideas. I take these magazines with me whenever I go on the road with my digital scrapbooking.

[mom2bandc]

Creating Keepsakes has a website of Becky Higgins layout sketches that I find very helpful.

http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/mag/sketches/

There is also another site called "Scrap Maps" which is also nice.

http://www.scrap-maps.com/

I also use traditional scrapbook mags and books to get layout ideas!

Kelly

[drs75]

Thanks for the links--they're very helpful. I like the fact that scrap-maps have 11x8.5. I like to print my layouts in professionally bound books, and most of the books are printed in that format. Although, I do make 12x12 pages and then just add "canvas" to the sides of the pages so they fit in the books.

Speaking of professionally bound books, I just discovered a website that prints portrait as well as landscape and the prices are the most reasonable I've seen. I just had my daughter's baby book printed there and I was extremely pleased with the printing quality--and the price. In the end, The book cost me about 54 cents a page. I liked the fact that you can customize your own jackets to cover the book. (www.blurb.com). You can print up to 440 pages without paying over $100. The downfall is that the books are 8x10, so I've had to resize some of my pages to make them fit properly. I had another book printed by a different company, and I thought that printing job looked more like a yearbook quality. Blurb.com just announced that they will be making 7x7 photo books soon. I suggested to them to make at least 8x8 or 12x12; but we'll see. I think they're a newer company and are constantly updating their features. You have to download a FREE program onto your computer to use it. ONE MORE NOTE: If you're going to professionally bind your books, make sure you leave a margin for the spine. I discovered this the hard way. I usually leave 1/2" space on the "spine" edge. When I'm doing my layouts, I draw a visible line in a separate layer so I don't "cross the line," and then just erase the line when I am finished.

It's mac-compatible.

[Parker]

drs75 - Thanks for the link to www.blurb.com Their prices are very reasonable and I am going to give them a try.

[Just Jan]

I find that if I am stumped using "Quick Pages", "Ploppers", "Templates" (and all the other assorted names) really helps spark my creativity.

[indigolisa]

drs75
Thanks for the info on book printing. by the way, you mentioned that you draw a mark on a seperate layer to remind you that you need to leave a spine section. have you tried pulling a guide from the ruler bar?
Lisa

[Kay]

Speaking of professionally bound books, I just discovered a website that prints portrait as well as landscape and the prices are the most reasonable I've seen. I just had my daughter's baby book printed there and I was extremely pleased with the printing quality--and the price. In the end, The book cost me about 54 cents a page. I liked the fact that you can customize your own jackets to cover the book. (www.blurb.com (http://www.blurb.com)).

Thanks for the feedback on blurb. I checked out their site the other day and thought it looked good, and it's nice to know someone has tried it and liked it. I am thinking of doing some Christmas books there.

[amlance]

I put my 8.5 x 11 and 11 x 8.5 pages in sheet protectors. Then I just buy the regular scrapbook notebooks. They are expandable and work great for me. I'll have to try the professional binding though. It would be great for a scrpabook I give as a gift.

[drs75]

I haven't tried pulling a guide from the ruler. I didn't know it could be done. I'll have to try that. Thanks for the tip

ONE MORE THING ABOUT BLURB: Some of the bottom margins got shaved off a little on my book (maybe a little less than 1/4 inch). I don't know if it was just my book, or if that is the "norm." Blurb.com recommends printing a copy of your pages on a layout to make sure everything is okay.

[ScrapperFL]

Thank you for sharing with us the scrap mats link.. they have some great templates there. I have just started to make templates from some of my own LO's that are my favs. It definitely makes putting a LO together go more quickly. I have also found with each different kit I use, and elements, the same template will take on a new look... sometimes just a slight change and...voila! A new LO! Thank you again! :)

[craftymomtwo]

I LOVE Becky Higgins Sketches! They are WONDERFULLY inspirational! I also check out sketch galleries at the different scrapbooking sites and I am TOTALLY hooked on the new Layered Sketches that are out there now! In fact, I even created some and have them for sale at another site. I had used some that I had bought and found it SO quick to put a page together and, because I was working on a specific project, I got 10 pages of a brag book done in about 3 hours! It was SO cool!

Another thing I do if I need inspiration to do a layout is I either look at magazines and scraplift from there or I scraplift from one of the GREAT scrapbooking galleries out there. Just make sure you post the proper credit of the person and layout that you scraplifted when you do that. I know some people get REALLY offended if they think you've scraplifted them and you didn't say it. I, personally, like to get e-mails or PM's from people who have scraplifted me with a link to their scraplift and the layout of mine that they've scraplifted. I LOVE to see other people's takes on what I've done! :D

[gerrronimo]

Was just over at the Scrap-Maps site. What a help to someone (like me) who always thinks inside the same box :eek: and can't seem to get outside of it. :o Thanks so much for listing it here.

[Wags]

All printers trim the pages - usually about an 1/8" all the way around - its the only way to get full bleed pages. The industry standard is to recommend leaving a 1/4" gutter... i.e don't put anything you don't want possibly cut off within a 1/4 in of the edge.

I often put a "gutter" on a different layer (usually in contrasting color) so that I will remember not to put stuff there because I do tend to take my layouts to the very edges if I'm not careful.

[Priss]

Thank you Scrappers, you are coming up with some excellent resources for designing effective layouts. I also like to use traditional paper scrapping magazines for ideas that you can replicate in your layouts. Try making your own layered templates from these motivators.

[scrapperjlc]

I also like to use traditional paper scrapping magazines for ideas that you can replicate in your layouts.



Ditto! Since I have been paper scrapping for about 3 years I have tons of traditional scrapbook magazines and idea books that I look through and think, "Now how can I create that digitally?" and then start playing.

Jodi

[ScrapperFL]

I had a look a that site and i am checking out the other.ScrapperFl nice to see you.So far you are the first one i reconize.I am loving it here as much as the other place i am seen.Hi TZigane! It's great to see you here too. I have recognized a couple of the gals. Gloria is here as is Jacklouie. I hope you're enjoying your time here as much as I am! *hugs* :)

[Honeydew]

Hi,

I know I'm not in the right thread. I'm trying to post my custom shadow link and also post a comment in there. It says that I can't post or reply to anyone. I am signed in. This is the only thread that I have found that I can post in. Please let me know what you think could be wrong.

Mary

[Kay]

Mary- I think you can't post to the thread where people posted their shadow links because they were supposed to be posted by midnight last night, so I think they might have closed posting to that thread. I think there are also some other threads that aren't for posting, because they're just instructions or announcements.

[indigolisa]

Please explain what you mean by "Layered Templates". Do you mean that you put different elements on each layer and then when you are ready to build a page, you just open that template and plug things in and switch things around a bit? If that is what you mean, I would still like to hear some suggestions on how you guys go about this. thanks:rolleyes:

[chris.orrell]

Hi Ingolisa, yes thats about it.
I find a page I like, usually in a magazine, then I basically break all the bits of it down into separate layers, positioning things where they are on the original(i use the marquee tool to map out boxes for the different bits), and add notes for things like what is on the layer (eg photo layer, mat, embellishment, title etc ) then i save the file as a psd file with a template name and also save a copy as a jpg(so it shows up as a thumbnail in explorer, makes it easy to find when i am flicking through later looking for ideas for layouts).
Does this make any sense?

[Wags]

Here is another resource for sketches/maps - http://pagemaps.com/index.htm

[Margules]

Hi Everyone

I recently had to put my 12 year old dog down and I'd like to make a memory book about her. I have many photos to choose from, so I can make a nice book, but I'd like some quick pages to get started. Can anyone recommend a site where I can look for pet pages? I've browsed through our gallery and seen beautiful pages that give me great ideas but some quick pages would help manage the number of pictures I'd like to include. Thanks for the help. Rachel

[carlalee]

Hi Everyone

I recently had to put my 12 year old dog down and I'd like to make a memory book about her. I have many photos to choose from, so I can make a nice book, but I'd like some quick pages to get started. Can anyone recommend a site where I can look for pet pages? I've browsed through our gallery and seen beautiful pages that give me great ideas but some quick pages would help manage the number of pictures I'd like to include. Thanks for the help. Rachel
Hi Rachel, I'm sorry for your loss. I too lost my 12 yo dog last year. I've done a couple of pages so far dedicated to her as well as pages for all of my animal babies. I have them posted on another site (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=39077) if you'd like to see them for ideas. I did a search with a "DOG" filter at that same site and found 440 los. Here they (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&si=dogs&what=allfields&name=&when=0&whenterm=&condition=and) are if you'd like to look. Once again I'm sorry for your loss and hope this helps. Take Care -c-