We are almost getting to the end of our introductory two weeks of posts here at THE DAILY DIGI.  Tomorrow (January 15th) kicks off regular posts, the DIGI files, and a whole lot of fun!  I am very excited to delve deeper into some of the categories that we have talked about over the last few weeks.

But before we do, there is still one main area of interest that we have not looked at yet. It is the most obvious: scrapping. Sure, we’ve touched on photography, journaling, computer tips and tricks, “beginners” info, and even crafting and hybrid scrapping.  But we haven’t yet looked at scrapbooking itself.

And that is what the SCHOOL of SCRAPPING (SOS) will be all about.

Scrapbooking…what it is, why we do it, and how we can do it well.  In the SOS, we will dive a bit deeper into the reasons behind scrapbooking, the people who love it, and the art behind it.  Scrapbooking is so much more than just a hobby or a place to put a photo.  There is an art and a heart behind what we do and it is important to allow both the chance to shine.

So get ready to head back to school….the SCHOOL of SCRAPPING!

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Have you ever wondered what makes a “good” layout “good”?  Do you wonder why you are naturally drawn towards some pages and others just don’t grab your attention?  Does it confuse you when you see two people using the same kit and yet the pages they create are so different?  Well, then you better get to class!

The first class we are going to take in the SCHOOL of SCRAPPING is DESIGN 101. Design is “the organized arrangement of one or more elements and principles for a purpose”. Design principals (whether intuitive or learned) are crucial in the making of “good” pages.  I use the word “good” in quotes because we all know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Obviously, any memory of your friends or family that is preserved in your scrapbook deserves to be called “good.”  However, what we are talking about here is pages that are visually pleasing to people…pages that make people want to look longer, to look deeper.  These are the pages that draw you in and beg for you to reminisce.  Behind the photos and the new kit and the even the journaling is a page design.  And that design can change the entire feeling, and therefore the meaning, of a page.

In time, our DESIGN 101 class will look at topics such as unity, balance, harmony, contrast, repetition, variety, emphasis, proportion, and attraction. We will learn how to implement these design principles in our scrapping process so that the final outcome not only holds a special memory, but also is pleasing  to look at!
Just to get you interested, here are some examples of layouts that are incredible from a design perspective. Remember, good design doesn’t necessarily mean one specific style.  Minimalists and element-lovers alike can both produce pages that hold true to design principles.  It isn’t about how much you put on a page, it is about where and why you put it there!

DRAGON RIDER by  littlehiccup

Elephant Tub Shenanigans by kayleigh

ADORE by Chris Turnbull

WATCH no. 9 by Birgit

SILLY SADIE by Gina

TO DREAM by Teresa

(Yes!  You have homework!  Don’t you remember what school is like??)  Your homework for today is this:  Look at the above layouts.  Look at them closely and write down (oh okay, you can just think about it if you want!) what you notice about the layout.  What do you like about the layout?  What draws you in?  How do the colors, elements, and design reinforce the theme of the page?  What makes it a “good” layout to you?

One of the best things that we can do to improve our own scrapping (or photography) is to look at the work of other artists.  In seeing others peoples work we train our eye to know good from the not-as-good. We learn what makes OUR eyes happy and that leads into us being able to recreate that pleasing design on our own pages.

Okay!  There’s the bell…you are dismissed from class today.  Just be sure to return when class is in session again!

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