pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Feb 22, 2018 19:59:18 GMT
Does anyone have a good rule of thumb or formula or just some damn advice about giving your Project Life layouts more overall "white space" or breathing room?
I've noticed I rarely, if ever, use filler cards, and my layouts are way more busy/cluttered than I'd like. Which is weird I can't get this down because my scrapbook layouts have plenty of white space.
Maybe you used to do something similar but are now happier with the balance in your layouts. Or maybe you keep something in mind when you lay your cards and photos out.
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Post by deekaye on Feb 22, 2018 20:13:25 GMT
I'm not a PL expert by any means but I do know what you mean about your layouts being too busy or cluttered. I struggled with this for a long time and even though I love PL, I almost gave it up because I wasn't happy with the end result. I started doing two things: Started using more filler cards and treated them as white space. I also try to remember the "triangle" rule (I'm sure it has a more formal name) where you make visual triangles on your layout with your photos, colors, embellishments, etc. Noelle Hyman from Paperclipping taught me that in one of her videos and it is probably the single most useful design technique that I have learned! It keeps my layouts (PL and otherwise) visually pleasing and uncluttered.
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Post by Linda on Feb 22, 2018 20:15:35 GMT
not a PL scrapper but perhaps you could preplan layouts by choosing a filler card for each spread? and then picking photos etc... for the layout?
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Post by lisacharlotte on Feb 22, 2018 20:18:33 GMT
I’m no help because I don’t look at my pages from an aesthetic standpoint. If I was on a design team I would, but I’m not willing to waste real estate for filler. On those layouts when I have fewer photos or they don’t clash and very little memorabilia my pages are more pleasing to the eye. But I refuse to edit out things I want to add. I also limit myself to one album per year so I’m using almost all those pockets. If you check out my scrappy Instagram (lisacharlotte5685) my pockets are filled and nothing necessarily coordinates.
I think the look you’re after uses lots of white space when framing your subject and/or b&w photos so there aren’t clashing colors. One person who I think does a great job with color that doesn’t look like a jumbled mess is Cathy Vee (hellopaperaddict on IG).
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AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,502
Aug 28, 2015 22:31:17 GMT
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Post by AmandaA on Feb 22, 2018 20:24:51 GMT
Hhmmmm... mine are probably pretty busy and full, but it doesn't bother me. I do like Ali Edward's PL style though. She isn't heavy on embellishments and tries to balance things a lot. And a lot of her products are fairly "simple" and don't compete with the photos IMO. A tip I picked up awhile back from someone, don't even remember who, was about using black and white photos to help unify a spread when the colors and photos clash or compete with each other. To me that feels like white space too. I also think sticking with one journaling style helps, either handwritten or typed, mixing them just adds more visual stuff to the spread overall. My formula is generally to use a title/filler card to start the week and balance it with another non-photo 4x6 pocket on the opposite side of the spread. I am also not strict about the photos going in the weekly spread in order. I put them in the pockets so that they feel the most balanced to me.
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Post by houston249 on Feb 22, 2018 21:42:16 GMT
I used a bunch of Simple Stories photo flips in my december daily for this very reason.
The real reason I started to use them was to have room to add a journaling card or a number. Honestly, my album was packed with way to many pictures/stories per day and this was the only way to add journaling and numbers. After a few days, I realized a huge added bonus was the way the pages became more cohesive, pulled together and easier on the eyes. It also made my pages easier to pull together. If my photo, filler card or whatever was not working for the over all page design, i could stick a photo flip on it to make it work.
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Post by woodysbetty on Feb 22, 2018 21:50:22 GMT
I struggle with project life...I can never envision the story in pockets..( odd I know) even if I follow the same style layout on a regular page. Apparently, I need the paper to ground me...
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Feb 22, 2018 22:02:30 GMT
I don't do PL, but I make a lot of gridded 12x12 pages. The photos in my grids are often all from the same event or location, so the color story for the page is usually pretty coherent, which is helpful. (I don't like resorting to reducing my photos to b/w, though I did reluctantly one time when my DDs wore pink and red to the pumpkin patch. ) Like lisacharlotte mentioned, I also don't like wasting real estate on filler. But I try to keep my pages from looking cluttered by choosing arrangements that don't put similar next to similar (no group shot next to group shot, or scenic next to scenic.) I often find that there's "white space" within some of my photos, and I can use those photos to separate more cluttered looking photos. For example, if I have two close up group shot photos, I could separate them by placing between them a distanced single subject photo where the subject is surrounded by "white space" scenery. This kind of photo would serve the same function as a filler card would on your page by breaking up the visual clutter. I'm not sure if any of that made sense, but I hope you can find a solution you're happy with
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Post by jamiebohbamie on Feb 23, 2018 2:01:46 GMT
When I make an album, I always sketch it out first. Example: My Florida vacation album was rotations of 4 sheets/8 sides- Design 2, Design 3, Design 2, Design 4. Repeat. I'd designate the bottom of the first Design 2 of each rotation to a photo and the top a paper. The reverse might be a photo on top and journaling typed and printed on white cardstock below. I'd add an embellishment or two but at least I had my white space. On the right side of that spread was then Design 3. The top two 3x4 spaces might be two complimenting papers- one a design on white and the other a pattern. The bottom would be a photo. I would sketch this all out in advance and I'd fit my photos to the sketch which is fine because I print more than I need and the excess goes in a box or to my mom or dad (who always want photos of their grandchild). I allot myself a lot of white background journaling space and sometimes even cut a 1" white strip and put it at the bottom lip of the 3x4 darker patterned filler papers for brightness.
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Post by joblackford on Feb 23, 2018 2:30:10 GMT
My PL was a pretty cluttered mess. I definitely didn't have space to waste on filler cards, so every pocket had a photo and usually some words too (I was doing 6x8).
I felt like the PL spreads I looked at that felt less chaotic had more lightness in the photos - less clutter, more negative space, bright light photos. I tried using a template similar to the Collect app to make white borders around my photos, which also gave me space for the words, but I still felt like the photos were cluttered and busy. When I look at other people's spreads the quality of the photos seems to determine how I feel about the spread much more than the details of the way the pockets were filled. To some extent I just had to accept that my life isn't lived in a bight white minimalist box (or even a moody set of flatlays in hipster coffee shops like KP's). I take a lot of random photos in crowded tricky spaces and I don't often use my big camera that would give me better depth of field to focus on the important stuff.
So -- shrug -- I guess my approach was to accept what I had and not worry too much about it. I didn't see a PL spread as needing to be as visually cohesive as a layout page. But I also gave up on PL after a couple of years, so maybe don't listen to me!
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Post by LisaDV on Feb 23, 2018 3:08:06 GMT
When I do pocket pages, I like to use pl filler cards or cut cardstock that I layer embellishments on. I also have journaling cards too. I like the look better than just all photos. If I were doing a pl styled pocket page, I’d probably add a journaling card between days/event or at least between a couple of days.
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Post by grammadee on Feb 23, 2018 3:27:23 GMT
I don't do many pocket pages, and when I do, it is prob b/c I have an abundance of photos. I usually sandwich the pocket page(s) between traditional 12x12 LO's, so I get my design fix there.
I often start my pocket page by inserting double sided pp or cs pieces into the pockets. Some may be journaling cards, but not every page has one. I then have them all "full", and feel more free to pick and choose where the photos go. I don't usually decorate any of the spaces I leave open, but I have looked at pocket pages constructed by others, and I really like the look.
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Post by infochick on Feb 23, 2018 4:35:16 GMT
I just took a look through my albums. My favourite PL spreads are ones where I don't use filler cards, but rather fill the entire space that I would normally reserve for filler cards with something more cohesive. For example, on Design A page protectors I would take the middle section that is divided in 3x4 spaces and I would cut a piece of paper that is 4x12. On the paper I would cut a large title from my Silhouette...something that would take up most of the space. Then I might add a few embellishments. Finally, I cut it up into 3 inch segments and put it in order in the pockets. I find it looks less "choppy" than my layouts with filler cards. I think having something that is a larger scale to look at gives the eye a bit of a rest, rather than looking all the little small things individually.
I also cut my photos down 1/4 inch and mat them all in coordinating paper. I realize this is fussy, but I find it helps to give them a bit more room and ties things together as well. That and I have way too much paper so I use it wherever I can.
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,495
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Feb 23, 2018 5:35:36 GMT
I keep my journaling and weekly title cards the same through the whole album. The first year I did I used the BH gridded PL cards, a roller date stamp, and the placement and general design of the title card the same throughout the whole year.
The last album I did used a pale pink grid that had a multi-coloured banner across the top for my journaling, and I added "wk _" on a small jewellery tag to each weekly spread. I also tried to keep anything else I used within a set colour scheme that changed from week to week - so any paper layers, embellishments, and the letter/number stickers I used for the week no were one colour + neutrals. On the busiest weeks that one consistent colour helped tie everything together which I hope made it feel less busy.
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Post by Patter on Feb 23, 2018 10:21:00 GMT
I love to print SO many photos that I too struggle with this. I have found having white borders around each photo helps a bit. I also try to include more photos on one print. For instance, here is a 4x4 photo with 4 pictures on it. That way I didn't use up 4 pockets, and I could put a fun title card or something "open" in another pocket. That is what helps me right now but it seems to be an ever-changing process.
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Post by dudleypippen on Feb 23, 2018 11:45:17 GMT
I'm certainly no PL expert, having done 1/2 of 2016 physically and then switching to the app for 2017 and now 2018. What I've found for me was that I needed to get out of the mindset of having to write about every single picture and instead letting the picture be the story. I try to balance journal cards with a lot of space to write on with those that are mostly design with just a line or two and use that design as part of the breathing space. While I've spent countless hours studying Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration, admittedly I don't know much about design and honestly, for me the sum is greater than the parts. When I look back I'm so glad that I took the time to record those weeks that I can forgive some busyness on the pages.
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Post by lynnek on Feb 23, 2018 16:48:50 GMT
I agree with the people above about putting a white border around my photos. I think that really helps add white space. Using the Collect App does too.
The other thing I try to remember is what Ali says about not having to tell all the stories. So, if it gets too cluttered, I look at what story I could take out. That way I make sure to have spaces for filler cards which creates more white space. An example, I read a lot and I used to put the books I would finish in my PL. I felt like reading is a huge part of who I am so I wanted to include that, however, it took a lot of space overall in my PL albums. So, this year I stopped doing that and am making a different mini album for my reading, which I have liked better because I can add more detail about the books than in PL.
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Post by anniefb on Feb 23, 2018 17:04:51 GMT
I don't do a lot of pocket page layouts, but have found keeping white space around the photos themselves does give a 'cleaner' look. I use a lot of layered templates from Tracy Larsen which do that for me. You can check out her Simply White templates in her shop here. Here are a couple of examples.
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Post by sleepingbooty on May 1, 2018 15:45:05 GMT
Sorry for resurrecting a thread from two months ago but Tracy Larsen template users (like anniefb), do you know whether she has sales/coupons for special events? Maybe iNSD? Should I wait to buy the remaining collection packs I'm interested in or is there no price drop hope? Many thanks in advance!
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,081
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on May 1, 2018 15:54:49 GMT
Sorry for resurrecting a thread from two months ago but Tracy Larsen template users (like anniefb), do you know whether she has sales/coupons for special events? Maybe iNSD? Should I wait to buy the remaining collection packs I'm interested in or is there no price drop hope? Many thanks in advance! anniefb led me to Tracy's templates a while back but I've never seen her have a sale. She's also just released 9x12 templates as well. I am having a frustrating time with them in PSE though. Why can't I just drop the photo in the alloted space and have it automatically 'fit' itself. I am surely missing something. I still have to finagle the photo to fit into the template space and I hate it not being exact.
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Post by sleepingbooty on May 1, 2018 16:02:16 GMT
I am having a frustrating time with them in PSE though. Why can't I just drop the photo in the alloted space and have it automatically 'fit' itself. I am surely missing something. I still have to finagle the photo to fit into the template space and I hate it not being exact. Thanks! I might just buy them straight away then. What do you mean? You do use the clipping mask, right? I adjust the overall size of the photo using the W/H percentages so the ratio is kept perfectly. Then, it's only a matter of moving it so it's centered where you want it beneath the mask.
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Post by anniefb on May 1, 2018 19:54:27 GMT
Sorry sleepingbooty not sure about TL sales, though perhaps there might be something for iNSD?
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Post by caspad on May 2, 2018 19:24:46 GMT
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,081
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on May 26, 2018 20:18:19 GMT
I am having a frustrating time with them in PSE though. Why can't I just drop the photo in the alloted space and have it automatically 'fit' itself. I am surely missing something. I still have to finagle the photo to fit into the template space and I hate it not being exact. Thanks! I might just buy them straight away then. What do you mean? You do use the clipping mask, right? I adjust the overall size of the photo using the W/H percentages so the ratio is kept perfectly. Then, it's only a matter of moving it so it's centered where you want it beneath the mask. sleepingbooty Can I trouble you for some specific directions/steps or a mini tutorial on this? I have watched a few YT videos but it still seems like a lot of trouble! Maybe I'm lazy but I really feel like I'm perhaps just missing something simple. Idk. I would greatly appreciate it if you wouldn't mind!
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,485
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by caangel on May 26, 2018 20:44:43 GMT
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Post by sleepingbooty on May 26, 2018 21:27:32 GMT
sleepingbooty Can I trouble you for some specific directions/steps or a mini tutorial on this? I have watched a few YT videos but it still seems like a lot of trouble! Maybe I'm lazy but I really feel like I'm perhaps just missing something simple. Idk. I would greatly appreciate it if you wouldn't mind! Hey nicolep, happy to help. Have you tried one of the basic Photoshop tutorials that explains clipping masks to scrapbookers? This one by Liz Tamanaha should provide all the answers. Make sure to select the layer you wish to drop your photo onto, import (simple drag and drop from the file your photo is in), resize (percentages at the top), place and then go to your layer box to select the photo (above the layer with the mask), right click and "create clipping mask." Sorry, it's 11:30PM on a Saturday night. I'm a little foggy with tiredness and booze... Follow what Liz says. Let me know if it works!
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Post by legalmemories on May 26, 2018 22:21:34 GMT
Since the thread has been ressurected -I find I can keep my project life spreads clean if I use the 4x6 pockets for just full-sized 4x6 photos, and then with the smaller journaling pockets I have a system of 2 colors - one neutral color for the cards I write on and then 1 contrasting color/ pattern for the filler cards and I make sure I keep it even on both sides of the spread - so maybe 3 kraft color cards, and 1 pink filler card. I keep embellishments simple, and while this may be counter intuitive - I like to use fewer larger embellishments, instead of lots of small stuff.
But I also agree Tracy Larsen's templates are great too - especially if you want to add photos with poor resolution that can't be blown up to 4x6 - I find when I download photos from Facebook they usually can't be printed as full-sized 4x6 - so a smaller photo with a clean white border looks good.
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Post by michellewedertz on May 27, 2018 16:23:37 GMT
I'm a fan of filler cards. I also use white borders on all of my photos. If my pics are making my page too busy, I like to switch them to B&W. My journaling is also very uniform--I type it all on my typewriter. When taking photos for 4x6 pockets I like to include "blank space" on those too---for example if I take a photo of a face, I will have the face on one side of the photo.
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,081
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on May 29, 2018 12:15:24 GMT
This was just what I needed! So simple and fast. Thank you so much! sleepingbooty LOL! Did you recover? 😋 Thank you for your advice as well!
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Post by melanell on May 29, 2018 12:31:03 GMT
I find my journaling cards help with white space. I try to use cards that are a light color with little to no pattern or just a simple lined or graph square card. Another thing I do is to mat wallet sized photos on 4x6 cardstock before putting them into a pocket, which seems to help.
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