Hey all,

In my post about my Creative Manifesto I stated I have a certain scrapbook style. So, what is this style? Is it all fluffy and with lots of extra;s, is it simple and basic, or is it something in between? I was inspired to write by the entry from americanmom Let's see and then I'd like to hear about your scrapbook style!

Photos
On scrapbook pages photos are the main ingredient, but the question is, how you use your photos. And do you use only one photo or do you use many photos? In my case I use many photos. When it happens that I'm only using one photo, it will be because it's a big photo. In the beginning I started scrapping with photos I had printed from film roles, so no digital photo editing there. Nowadays I have a digital camera so I do have the opportunity to edit my photos. However, I will only edit in the way that I'll crop (and in case it's necessary, red-eye removal). I haven't tried any real editing with photo software yet. Maybe I will do this in the future. It does seem an interesting concept to me and I have seen beautiful results from others. For my Switzerland photos and Zoo photos I won't do it (or better: I haven't done it). The main point: I'm using a lot of photos and I'm enjoying it!

Journaling
Since I've started with Holiday Diary in 1993, I've made it a habit to make a diary or somehow include journaling in one way or the other in my albums. With our album about Italy I've written extensive journaling! This came in very handy, because it took me three years to complete the album of the holiday. Due to my diary, I could include journaling in my album fairly easy. And lots of it! You'll hardly find a layout from me without any journaling. Although a picture tells a thousand words, I do believe in journaling for supporting the story. The photo and the journaling are two parts of the complete story. You can't separate them!

Sizes
When I started with scrapping in my very early years I hadn't even heard of the 12" albums and pages. So scrapped in a, for me, normal photo album from Henzo. I didn't know about mini albums either. Right now I scrap with a variety of sizes. Our Italy is still in a "normal" photo album. My "Hikes in Nature" has started in a 12" album and I think it works great! So does it for our Switzerland album. I have made a few mini albums too. These vary in sizes. I use a mini album for just one topic with a few photos. Or in example for a recipe with step by step descriptions and photos. So, I don't have just ONE size I use. I use the size that fits at that moment for the specific photos or theme.

Papers
I usually use solid background papers. Call me crazy but I'm not that much into patterned papers. I'll sometimes use it when it fits with the photos, but that's not often. It's not that I don't like the patterned papers (there are patterned papers I really love!), but since I also frequently use a lot of photos in my layout, I want to keep everything else as calm as possible. Otherwise it tends to get too busy and the photos will not form the main attraction on the page. So, solid background papers it is.

Embellishments
As I said above, I want to keep everything outside the photos and the journaling as calm as possible. This does also mean I don't use many embellishments. The more embellishments, the busier it gets and the more the attention is drawn away from the photos as starting points. With so many photos that would be a shame and I want to prevent it. I'll only use embellishments that really support the photos and the story and that do not immediately draw the attention, instead of the photos. So, yes I do use embellishments but only in as supporting fashion.

I think this is about it for my style. Do you want to know more? Let me know!

Talk to you later!