Pine Tree Wonderland + Freebie

By Marisa Lerin Thu, 11/30/2023 - 22:00

Please stop by and check out all the contributions to this month's blog train here.

Releasing this year's attempt at a Christmas bundle. I took the Christmas theme quite lightly this year, aside from the colors which have a traditional feel. Featuring a classic Christmas palette of red, green, and gold, this collection includes vintage papers, lots of word art and fun and unique elements. I look forward to seeing how you use this bundle for your own holiday memories this year.

pine tree wonderland digital scrapbooking bundle

And here's this month's freebie. Click on the image to download.
Link will expire after December 31, 2023
digital scrapbooking freebie

And now some inspiration from the Creative Team:

▼ By Bourico

By Bourico

▼ By Bina

By Bina

▼ By Brenda

By Brenda

▼ By Becky

By Becky

▼ By Linda

By Linda

▼ By AMarie

By AMarie

By AMarie

▼ By Lou

By Lou

▼ By Cathy

By Cathy

▼ By Shaindel

By Shaindel

▼ By Fibul

By Fibul

▼ By Tiffany

By Tiffany

▼ By Marlyn

By Marlyn

How to Make Grid Layouts Interesting

By Marisa Lerin Wed, 11/29/2023 - 22:00

Recently, I reached out to our community for layouts that you felt weren't quite hitting the mark, in order to help diagnose and solve their design challenges. (Remember, it's never too late to get feedback on a problematic layout. Feel free to add yours to the discussion in this thread here.) Among the responses, Becky generously shared a layout she was struggling with, providing a perfect example for us to explore.

digital scrapbook layout

Examining Becky's layout, the primary issue appears to be a lack of variety in element sizes. The photos and journaling block are uniformly sized, occupying almost the entire layout without leaving any white space. This results in a grid that, while seemingly organized, lacks visual interest and feels a bit monotonous. Grid layouts can be a fantastic tool for bringing together numerous photos in a cohesive manner, but without some creative considerations, they can quickly become dull. To avoid this, let's dive into a few tips and ideas for enhancing your grid layouts, ensuring they are as engaging as they are organized.

1. Play with Sizes and Shapes
Breaking away from uniform squares and rectangles adds an instant interest to your grid layout. Try incorporating different shapes like circles, hexagons, or even irregular forms. Mixing up the sizes of these shapes can also add a dynamic element to your layout, making it more visually engaging.

digital scrapbook layout

digital scrapbook layout

2. Use Varied Backgrounds
Each cell in your grid can become a mini-canvas. Experiment with different backgrounds for each cell – think about using contrasting colors, patterns, or textures. This variety can create depth and make each segment of your layout stand out.

digital scrapbook layout

3. Incorporate Layering and Overlapping
Layer elements such as photos, text, and embellishments, allowing them to overlap between grid cells. This technique breaks the boundaries of the grid, creating a more fluid and connected layout. It's a great way to highlight important elements or create a focal point.

digital scrapbook layout

digital scrapbook layout

5. Play with Typography
Typography is a powerful tool in scrapbooking. Use different fonts, sizes, and colors for your text to add personality and emphasis to your layout. You can even integrate text into your grid design, using letters or words as structural elements.

digital scrapbook layout

digital scrapbook layout

6. Add Personal Touches
Personalize your grid layout with hand-drawn elements, personal notes, or unique embellishments that reflect your style. These personal touches make your scrapbook more meaningful and one-of-a-kind.

digital scrapbook layout

7. Blend Photos with the Background
Seamlessly blending photos with the background of your grid can create an artistic and cohesive look. This technique works particularly well with thematic scrapbooks, where each page represents a different aspect of the theme.

digital scrapbook layout

Looking through all the great grid layouts in the gallery I'm inspired to try one myself and I hope you are too!

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