I often have much to say on the topic of scrapbooking, but when it came time to do Angie's Circle Journal, I was at a loss! Her topic was Tips, Tricks and Techniques. The idea is that she'll have a reference book to help her with her scrapping.
There were already entries about sewing, embossing, patterned papers and even "naked" scrapbooking. I really wasn't sure what I could contribute.
Then I thought along the lines of design. The Rule of Thirds is design rule that has helps organize elements on a page; everything from photo and embellishment placement to colour and pattern.
Here's what I wound up including in her book:
While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes
to scrapbooking, putting some thought into the design of a page can take your
scrapbooking to the next level in several ways. It can spark creativity and
inspire pages that are pleasing to the eye. It can organize your photos and
thoughts to tell your story more clearly or thoroughly. It can also make
scrapbooking a little easier (and more fun) when you have a plan for your
pages—you won’t be scrambling to pull elements together because before you begin,
you’ll have an idea of how the page should look.
The Rule of Thirds is a design idea that can be
applied to various design elements. Here, I’ll focus on four elements important
to scrapbooking: page layout, colour, pattern and embellishments.
Don’t feel like you need to apply the Rule of Thirds
for every page or every element on your page. Use it as a general guide to
bring order and balance to your pages.
And always remember, sometimes,every rule should be broken.
Page Layout: Use the Rule of Thirds to determine where the focal
point of your layout should be placed. Imagine a grid on your page (like a #
symbol) that splits the page into thirds vertically and horizontally. The
places where the lines intersect are where people’s eyes are naturally drawn.
Put your focal point on one of these spots. The Rule also applies
to blank space on the page. Use 2/3 of the total page for pictures, journaling
or other large items. The blank space will give the eye a place to rest. An easy way to create
a balanced double-page layout is to arrange elements according to the Rule on
one side and do the mirror opposite on the other.
Colour: The simplest way to remember the Rule of Thirds when it
comes to colour is this: Gallon, quart, pint. Use a gallon of the
main colour (i.e. it will be the base colour of the page). Gallon colours are
good for the background page. Use a quart of the
secondary colour (i.e. it will be the focus colour of the page). Quart colours
are good for patterned papers and titles. Use a pint of a
highlight colour (i.e. it will be the “pop” of colour on a page). Pint colours
are good for photo mats and embellishments. Remember, using
contrasting colours will add energy and vibrancy to a layout, whereas analogous
colours will create a calmer layout.
Pattern: The Rule of Thirds as it applies to patterns tells us to
be mindful of the amount and type of pattern on a page. Generally, use one
stripe, one floral and one dot pattern per page. Also generally, use one large
pattern, one small pattern and one linear pattern per page. Pair the rules for
pattern with the rules for colour to mix and match papers. For example, use a
large floral paper in the gallon colour, a chevron paper in the quart colour
and a small dotty paper in the pint colour. Don’t be afraid to
mix patterns. All patterns “go” together—the key is to keep them from
overwhelming each other. Try sticking to 3 or fewer patterns per page. And
remember, flat and textured cardstock is a pattern! (Or absence of one at
least.)
Embellishments: When it comes to embellishments, the Rule of Thirds
tells us to keep it in 3’s. Use 3 brads in a line. Use 3 flowers clustered
together. Use 3 rhinestones in a spray. You can also imagine
triangles (a three pointed shape) across you page for placing the
embellishments. Remember the grid of your page layout and find triangles around
your focal points. Place embellishments at the three corners of the
triangles—in threes of course. Create embellishment
clusters by using three elements together. For example, layer a flower and a
button on a tag. Or place a ribbon, brads and a bow together. You can also use
multiples of three for larger embellishment scapes.
Can you spot all the ways I used the Rule of Thirds on Angie's page?
