I usually digi scrap one page at a time and I don’t worry about creating my layouts in any certain order. I love the freedom to scrap as I please and it keeps me fresh and excited about documenting my memories. When it comes time to put my layouts into albums, I do think about what will go on the opposing page. I love the cohesive look of 2 layouts that pair well together so I put some thought into how my pages will be displayed. As I browsed through my past layouts, I found that I have 10 tried and true tricks for making the most of a double page area. (All images are linked for credits)
1. Double Page Spread
This is a very logical and easy way to approach filling the real estate of a 2 page area. I often rely on double page spread templates to help me fill the entire area and I find it easiest to use the same kit and supplies and treat the layout as a whole instead of 2 separate pieces. Be sure to check out Janet’s tips for 2 page layouts for more ideas.
Here’s what the layouts look like when they are printed as individual pages:
and here are the layouts viewed side by side. I prefer post bound albums because spreads like this are kept together instead of visually separated by rings. However, the rings are really no problem and many scrappers prefer the ease of using them.
2. Use a similar design and ingredients for both pages
Even though the contents of these 2 layouts are very different from each other, I used a similar design approach on both of them. There is a large square in the middle that is bordered with a patterned paper. Everything is from the same digi kit to keep it all cohesive in design.
These layouts look like they belong next to each other.
3. Same kit but different page designs
The page structures are different from each other in this spread. One layout has a large photo with design elements along the bottom. The other one has a grouping of photos with just a few small accents. The continuity of the subject matter between both pages also ties them together.
I thought about the visual weight of each page when I designed each layout. They balance each other out nicely with heavy title and design work along the bottom of one page, and a lot of visual weight from photos on the upper part of the other layout.
The eye moves easily across both pages to help the viewer see the complete story.
4. Minimize design and/or colors on one of the pages
When I create a bold or colorful page that I want to keep as a focal point, I often keep the opposing page more minimalistic in design.
I originally tried a dark background on page 2, but found it competed too much with the photos and the large, colorful image of page 1. It felt better to go with a neutral background and add some touches of color in the title and dotted border.
The “voyager” page is the definite star of the spread, but the photos on the the “Epcot” page are still easily appreciated as well.
5. Use a scan or an illustration to complete the story
I created this layout about my kids working on an art studio and didn’t even think about what would go on the other side. Almost a year later, I realized that I wanted to finish off this spread and I brainstormed to find something that would fit.
I had a light-bulb moment and realized it would be fun to include a scan of the actual painting my son was working on in these pictures!
I love the way the scan finishes off the story! Some other approaches would be to use drawings, hand-written notes, documents, or even digital illustrations to create a memorable pairing.
6. Fill a page with a great big photo
I love large photos, especially for vacation memories. One of my favorite tricks is to use 1 page of a spread and fill it entirely with a large photo.
There’s no need to journal or add anything like a title – unless you want to!
So easy!
7. Tell a big story
If you have a lot of journaling, use one of the pages as a storytelling platform. In this case, I realized that I needed a lot more space than this layout allowed.
You can journal on top of a photo, or on a paper background.
A great way to document a big memory!
8. Make a photo collage
I used this page to highlight a special photo and write about a favorite destination.
I didn’t need to include more journaling, instead I just wanted to share some of the photos from Gardner Village.
Collages are fun to create and are a great way to finish off a 2 page spread! Check out this post on quick and easy collages for more ideas.
9. Repeat one piece on the opposing page
I created this layout using some simple colored cardstock for the background.
The next page had a different design and covered a different topic. I tied them together visually by using the same piece of blue cardstock on both layouts.
They complement each other because they share a design element.
10. Forget the matching and just do what you want!
I love matching, but sometimes it’s great to just enjoy each layout for the unique creation it is.
I didn’t create these layouts to go next to each other, but they ended up side by side in my son’s album.
I love them both – who cares if they “match” or not!
Do you think about the opposing page when you scrap? Did you learn some new tips from what I shared? I hope you’ll give some of them a try!
Share This Using…
I’ve had to let the matching pages go. It was more important to me to just get them done and in the book. I imagine myself or my kids looking at an album 10 years from now and I KNOW they won’t care or even notice if they match or not.
Great tips here Katie. I don’t usually worry about making the opposing page match, but I’ll remember these when I want to!
I love the full page art photo, and I really love how you did The World is a Great Mirror.
I choose not to even worry about it- I use 3- ring binders and so there is a gap- one that doesn’t bother me when I do a two page layout. But I don’t dictate how the opposing page is going to look when I create- I just tell the story I want to tell and let the story and the pictures guide that particular page.
I actually scrap in at least three different sizes all mixed in my albums- 8.5 by 11, 12×12, and 6×12- so if I worried about what the opposing page would look like, I’d be super tempted to then worry about the pages peeking through when I do a page that’s not 12 by 12.
My pages are filed by theme/concept- like our love, moments, or outdoors- so even if my opposing pages look totally different, there is still a common denominator. But, honestly, when I get my pages back from Persnickety, I just file them in the right category wherever there is space- not even considering the opposing page.
You can see more about how I handle my pages and the categories I use on my blog.
Hi all y’all: I have a pet peeve I hope you keep in mind when you next revise the blog. I am sometimes close to desperate to see when a post was made. On this post, for example, I can assume it was put up yesterday or today. Of course, I don’t really know which and soon that isn’t of any help anyway. When I clicked on the link mentioned in number 1 above, I got a page that I had no idea of when it was originally posted. I have learned to scroll down to the comments and hope that (1) there is a comment and (2) it was made about the time the post went up. Please take pity on me and consider putting a date at the top of the post. Pretty ironic when you consider that yesterday’s post was about the virtues of including a journaling date! Thanks for your consideration.
My dear, sweet, favorite senior-scrapper-with-blue-feathers-in-her-hair Joyce! I’m curious to know why you want to know the date so badly? I deleted it a long time ago after reading a study that people will not read information online older than year because they don’t think it’s relevant. After getting rid of the dates, the amount of pages viewed by individuals actually went up. Crazy, huh? So, I’m curious to know if you want to know the date so you know if you should read it or if it’s too old to bother with?
Katie and I were talking about you the other day and I need to email you
I look for the dates when I am trying to determine the sequence of postings or to figure out if I have read them or not (for instance I KNOW I haven’t read anything from 2010 or earlier). I agree that sometimes I will think something may not be relevant if it is old — including offers that I better not get too excited about! If no dates is the modern way you kids do things, I’ll try to adapt (I’ll fail but I’ll try). On another topic, I have shot my before and after images and have worked on a couple of the photos. Some good things, some not so good things, but fun and interesting over all. I am in Logan and have been for a bit but I didn’t bring my blue feathers with me so I am just plain as I write these words. Love and kisses, Joyce
My facing pages often match because I do a lot of double page spreads. I love two-page layouts! And I scrap in order so it’s pretty natural for me to do it that way. I like your tip about a huge photo. I’m going to try that one soon. Thanks!
Sarah DG
I just ordered my photobook and while some of the pages are spreads, most of them are not. I like them to be in chronological order so yes, my book has lots of non matching pages next to each other. But that’s ok. I print chronological but I don’t scrap chronological, it would be a pain to keep reference of which kits to use! Besides, I don’t want to limit my creativity by having to scrap twice with every kit. I’m much more anal about my kits being in the same color schemes as my photos though.
@Adrienne: Kudos for you that you manage to do this!!
I love a matching opposing page, but just never seem to get it together enough to get any of them done. But I’ve decided that it just doesn’t matter. Very few of my pages match and I’m ok with that because pages are getting done, printed and put away. And now when I look back over an album the lack of matching doesn’t bother me since the stories and memories are recorded.
LOVE these ideas. Right now, I use journaling templates to record my Facebook updates from around the time of the events in the scrapbook page, but I’m excited to try a lot of these ideas, too.
I’m so aware of the opposing page that I’m a bit nuts… my book has to be on chronological order so I have all my pictures in my EHD broken down into years, then months and then “needs to be scrapped” and numbered so i know which pictures will be on facing pages so I can scrap them in the same kit so they match. I’m pretty nuts!
What a wonderful set of ideas here! I love all your examples to illustrate your suggestions. Thank you!
Great post! I will be referring to this often. I also love the simplicity of the layouts; it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the great stuff in a kit and I find that, for me, less is more.
can I suggest a article I would love to see, how to use overlays in white to change the effects of a paper. I have both PSE and CS5. I find myself leaning more and more to a softer look that Sweden offers in paper designs that I want to print and use in my hybrid card making. http://www.majadesign.nu/ is a perfect example.
I am always confused how white works in printing…to my mind it seems it is the absence of color so the paper doesn’t have ink there. yet overlays seem to be in grey and then we change them to white.
Thanks for considering that.
This was useful. Thankyou
Great ideas and wonderful photos. I’m going to Disney next month and your pictures got me anxious to go.