Year in Review scrapbook pages are some of my most favorite scrapbook layouts to create. My kids love to flip through them and remember some of the highlights of that year. Even if you only have time to create one scrapbook page layout each year, you can still have a fabulous scrapbook of memories if you fill that book with year in review style scrapbook pages. Here I share with you some of the tips and tricks that I used when working with the Free Family Tree Year in Review Scrapbook Page Sketch and also the Free Bird, Branches, and Trunk patterns.
1. Rebecca's Completed Scrapbook Page Layout
Rebecca Ludens
On this one double page scrapbook layout (be sure to click on the photo to the left and then expand the new window to full size to see this layout in full detail), I was able to represent 13 events from 2011 in 19 photos. Some of our family events and moments are shown with just one photo, while several of them include more than one. My daughter's trip to Russia is remembered on this scrapbook page in a series of five small pictures. The flexibility of this sketch made this a really fun layout to work with.
To begin, I went through my 2011 pictures folders on my computer and copied a couple from each month to a separate folder so that I could sort and choose which events I wanted to include on the Year in Review Page. Some of the events that I knew already had a full scrapbook page layout in our family albums did not make the cut, as I chose to focus on capturing a little bit of our memories from the whole year.
Next, I printed the photos all in black and white and in a variety of small sizes. With my PictureMate photo printer, I am able to select from a variety of sizes, which is extremely handy for scrapbooking.
Once, I had all of the prints in front of me, I cropped each event as needed, making sure that the photos of any one event were exactly the same size. This helps to visually connect those photos within the "Family Tree."
And finally, I selected two sheets of background paper, and started placing the photos in a tree shape, moving them around, and re-placing them, until I had a shape that I was happy with. I made no effort to maintain any sort of chronological order inside the tree shape, but rather looked to create a pleasing "tree" shape while keeping photos of each event together as a grouping.
Be sure to continue scrolling down this page for 3 tips to help you assemble this scrapbook page with ease.
Supplies Used: All of the papers are double-sided, patterned, cardstock weight paper from The Paper Loft collection called For the Record. Background paper is called Estate, the paper used for journaling strips is called Diploma, the flowers come from a floral sheet called Diary, and the title mat is from a sheet called Records. The black paper used for the tree pieces is basic black cardstock source unknown - I was able to use small pieces from my scrap box.
To begin, I went through my 2011 pictures folders on my computer and copied a couple from each month to a separate folder so that I could sort and choose which events I wanted to include on the Year in Review Page. Some of the events that I knew already had a full scrapbook page layout in our family albums did not make the cut, as I chose to focus on capturing a little bit of our memories from the whole year.
Next, I printed the photos all in black and white and in a variety of small sizes. With my PictureMate photo printer, I am able to select from a variety of sizes, which is extremely handy for scrapbooking.
Once, I had all of the prints in front of me, I cropped each event as needed, making sure that the photos of any one event were exactly the same size. This helps to visually connect those photos within the "Family Tree."
And finally, I selected two sheets of background paper, and started placing the photos in a tree shape, moving them around, and re-placing them, until I had a shape that I was happy with. I made no effort to maintain any sort of chronological order inside the tree shape, but rather looked to create a pleasing "tree" shape while keeping photos of each event together as a grouping.
Be sure to continue scrolling down this page for 3 tips to help you assemble this scrapbook page with ease.
Supplies Used: All of the papers are double-sided, patterned, cardstock weight paper from The Paper Loft collection called For the Record. Background paper is called Estate, the paper used for journaling strips is called Diploma, the flowers come from a floral sheet called Diary, and the title mat is from a sheet called Records. The black paper used for the tree pieces is basic black cardstock source unknown - I was able to use small pieces from my scrap box.
2. Tip 1: Splitting Your Photos
Rebecca Ludens
When working with a double-page scrapbook page sketch, there may be times that some elements on the pages need to be split to cross over the line between the two pieces of background cardstock. In the case of this sketch, many items fall on that "line" in the middle because the tree is center in the middle of the two background sheets. Some important tips to remember when splitting elements include:
Tip 1: Split a photo in a non-essential area. This means, do not cut a photo of a person's face in half. It just never looks good. Plan out your spacing and layout design so that background elements, such as scenery, in the photo are the areas that need to be cut to cross over from one page to another. You can see in the photo shown here (click to see it full-size) that each of the areas in the picturs that I chose to cut landed nicely on background scenery.
Tip 2: When splitting a title try to line up the cut between letters. It will be much easier for the eye to read the word if the cut doesn't disect a letter. In my sample shown here, I was able to place the cut right between the letters "L" and "Y" in the title "FAMILY 2011."
Tip 3: And finally, when you place your photos, embellishments, and title box on the page, be sure that you have enough room on your work surface to lay out both background sheets side by side. Line the background sheets up perfectly and adhere your cut items one half at a time, being very careful to get them lined up exactly so that the layout looks seemless.
Tip 1: Split a photo in a non-essential area. This means, do not cut a photo of a person's face in half. It just never looks good. Plan out your spacing and layout design so that background elements, such as scenery, in the photo are the areas that need to be cut to cross over from one page to another. You can see in the photo shown here (click to see it full-size) that each of the areas in the picturs that I chose to cut landed nicely on background scenery.
Tip 2: When splitting a title try to line up the cut between letters. It will be much easier for the eye to read the word if the cut doesn't disect a letter. In my sample shown here, I was able to place the cut right between the letters "L" and "Y" in the title "FAMILY 2011."
Tip 3: And finally, when you place your photos, embellishments, and title box on the page, be sure that you have enough room on your work surface to lay out both background sheets side by side. Line the background sheets up perfectly and adhere your cut items one half at a time, being very careful to get them lined up exactly so that the layout looks seemless.
3. Tip 2: Journaling Strips
Rebecca Ludens
When journaling a Year in Review layout, you will find that you suddenly have a lot to say. You will want to mention each event shown in the photos on the layout. To incorporate all of this journaling and keep each item clearly separate from the others, I decided to journal on strips. To do this, I opened a Word document and typed my journaling, being sure to leave a double-line space between each entry, and also being sure to not exceed the line length that I had room for on my layout. Then I trimmed down a piece of patterned cardstock to fit in my printed and printed the journaling all at one time. The final step was to use a paper trimmer to cut down the middle of each double-line space to create strips of journaling to add to my layout. For more ideas for journaling read Five Journaling Styles for Scrapbooking.
4. Tip 3: Pop Your Embellishments
Rebecca Ludens
The embellishments for this page consisted of two items, the black pattern pieces from the free patterns that are included with the sketch, and hand-cut flowers. The floral printed patterned paper sheet that is in the For the Record collection was perfect for making hand-cut flowers to embellish my tree. I discovered several tips that will help you make your own hand-cut flowers from floral printed cardstock and you can read those in the article 6 Tips For Making Flower Embellishments from Floral Cardstock.
Remember when you finish your Family Tree Year in Review scrapbook page, you can share it with About.com Scrapbooking readers around the world by clicking to this Reader Show and Tell form.
Remember when you finish your Family Tree Year in Review scrapbook page, you can share it with About.com Scrapbooking readers around the world by clicking to this Reader Show and Tell form.
