Digital Scrapbooking: From Story to Layout – Part 1
There are many approaches when it comes to making digital scrapbook layouts. Just like photography, there are many styles, variations in process, and reasons to create. Some enthusiasts craft pages to keep their memories, others see scrapping as a way to heal, and others find it a perfect outlet for artistic expression. So, when readers emailed and asked me to demonstrate how to make a page, I wondered how I’d go about such a project. Then, I thought, I’ll just explain that there is no right way — or, single way — to create pages. From there, I decided I’d share the one approach I know best: My own.
My scrapbooks are collections of memories, artistic and not, filled with photographs and words that represent my family’s journey through life. What seems to be consistent throughout them is that I use the computer often and I follow a process.
Story to Layout: A Process
In general, I start with a story and an illustration. While there are some stories without photographs (and I’ve illustrated them in other ways), most of my layouts are illustrated and inspired by photos (not surprising since I’m a photography nut!). Then, I’ll:
- Sketch out a plan for my page and arrange it in a way that supports the mood and themes of my story. I might make notes on the sketch, too, with color and line ideas. It just depends on the layout.
- Create a template in Photoshop Elements — something I can save (as a PSD file) and use again. It almost always includes a title spot, a journal spot (i.e., a text box), and a date spot.
- Style the page with digital paper (a background) and elements (e.g., borders, swirls, overlays, digital stamps, etc.), choosing colors, type faces, lines, and so forth that help convey the meaning of my story.
Great Resources
What I love about creating my pages digitally, is that there are so many possibilities when it comes to sketches, templates, and supplies. Once you have them, you can modify them to fit your story (in terms of color, size, etc.). Plus, I can either make my own elements or purchase them from other designers. For example, Designer Digitals, my favorite resource, has a huge collection of templates, paper, and other elements.
Another great thing about digital scrapbooking is that there are lots of tutorials and classes on how to do it. For example, in Designing Storyboards, Diana Day shows how to use clipping masks and templates (the same method I use for my layouts) to create a multi-photo story. Indeed, there are a lot of great tutorials and tips on the site under the Scrapbooking category. Likewise, AliEdwards.com provides tutorials (including video tutorials) to help get you started and JessicaSprague.com offers online classes from beginner to advanced in digital scrapbooking. If you’re interested in digital scrapbooking, the possibilities are endless!
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In Part 2 of this post, next week, I’ll share a video of my process — from sketch to completed layout.
Mary
March 12, 2011 at 5:44 am
Hi Liz!
Great post about one of my very favorite subjects – Digital Scrapbooking! And you are so right – with digital scrapbooking, the possibilities are endless.
For me, digital scrapbooking is a way to freeze-frame life, pausing at both the big and small moments that make up the journey. Like you, the colors, mood, layout and flow of my pages are often driven by the photos I’m scrapbooking and the story they tell. But, not all photos tell a story. Or, at least, they don’t scream it. So, many times, my pages are not so much about a story a photo tells as much as it is about the emotions that that image brings up in me.
And, I think it’s really important to remember that scrapbooking doesn’t have to be just about the big events in life. Scrapbooking can be just as satisfying if a page is simply about an everyday moment, all those tiny little instances that make up our lives.
So, maybe the first step to keep in mind when you want to get into scrapbooking is to take lots of pictures. I carry my camera around with me everywhere. And, I take tons of pictures of everything and try to capture it all – not just the big events, but also the everyday moments.
Enjoy!
Mary
Liz
March 12, 2011 at 7:50 am
Thanks for your comment Mary!
I’m right there with you about the everyday being just as important as the big stuff. Also, I love your perspective, “…many times, my pages are not so much about a story…[but] the emotions that an image brings…” That’s one of the cool things about the hobby — our pages allow us to embrace our lives through the moments captured in them. And, it’s interesting how a single photograph might wind up in more than one layout — because there is so much in it. Our photographs — our moments — are so rich with meaning and impact. I think that by scrapping them, we really get to see and experience that. Scrapbooking is such a wonderful extension of our photography hobbies and photography is such a wonderful extension of a scrapbooking hobby!
Thanks again, Mary!
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NOTE: For others reading our comments, please check out Mary’s site, too. It is another great resource for scrapbook supplies: http://scrappydigits.com/
Mary
March 12, 2011 at 11:35 am
Thanks Liz!
Mary
Alfred
March 30, 2011 at 8:16 am
Hi Liz,
……… I think you are quite brilliant in the manner you make these things…I have tried to emulate your instructions and in some instances i have succeeded, but I still have trouble trying to :clip” the photos to the shapes I use. I am a late bloomer/beginner ( read ancient) so mayebe its the alzhiemers creaping in) but it does frustrate me somewhat. I cant seem to make the photo fit the frames from the back, as you do, but do appreciate the quality of youe videos.. thank you… Ben
Liz
March 30, 2011 at 9:07 am
Alfred — thanks so much for your comment.
You know, clipping is a strange technique (and can be difficult). Which makes me think that a tutorial on just that topic would be helpful. I’ll create one for next week (with both a video and text instructions).
Thanks again for your note!
=) Liz
Alfred
April 3, 2011 at 7:55 am
Thank you Liz,
…………………..I shall look forward to seeing the mystery explained for my addled brain ( Th Golden Years have come at Last ?)…….great stuff Liz….anxious ! ben