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Super Spreads
Top design tips for two-page layouts
I love looking at layouts that consist of one artistic photo surrounded by carefully chosen embellishments and a good amount of white space. But the pages I create can’t all look like that if I want more than a miniscule sampling of my photos to make their way into my scrapbooks.
What if I want to display the latest portrait of each family member all on one layout, or seven shots of my son’s basketball game instead of just one? At times like these, a two-page layout is an absolute necessity.
The good news is that you don’t have to give up on artistry or great design just because you want to use lots of pictures. Follow these tried-and-true principles to see how easy it is for your two-page, multi-photo layouts to be just as inviting and well-designed as any single-photo layout out there.
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Supplies: patterned paper (Making Memories) • transparency (Making Memories, Creative Imaginations) • font (Century Gothic) • 8½ x 11 spread by Autumn Baldwin |
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Tip #1: Line it up.
The simplest way to use multiple photos across two pages and maintain a strong design is to create a row of same-sized pictures. This keeps the layout clean, unifies the two pages, and offers plenty of room for up to six photos (or eight photos on 12 x 12 spreads). Once your photos are placed in a straight line, add some curves to your layout: use patterned paper with circles in it, cut paper or transparency in a curved shape, or add flourish embellishments to soften the look of the layout.
Fit More Photos
Have twice this many photos to fit on your page? Make two rows of same-sized images that stretch the width of your page. I shrunk each photo to 2½ x 4 inches before printing them and adding them to my page. |
Supplies:
font (Century Gothic) • software (Photoshop Elements 6) • 8½ x 11 spread by Autumn Baldwin |
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Tip #2: Fill it out.
Another simple way to use lots of photos without compromising design is to try the magazine approach: completely fill one side of the layout with photos, and place the title and journaling on the opposite side. The photo page can easily accommodate seven or more photos, while the open space on the title/journaling page keeps the layout from being overwhelming to look at. Enlarging one of the photos and changing the color of a few others keeps the pictures from blending into each other.
Fit More Photos
If I needed to include more than seven photos, I could have fit two landscape images where my large portrait image is, or I could have added a few small accent photos to the right-hand page. |
Supplies: fonts (Century Gothic and Pea Nic) • patterned paper (The Queen of Quirk Spring Chicken, twopeasinabucket.com) • cardstock (Vintage Florals kit, shabbyprincess.com) • stitching (Wild Child Paisley kit, simplycleandigi.com) • software (Photoshop Elements 6) • 8½ x 11 spread by Autumn Baldwin |
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Layout #3: Carry it across.
Try thinking of a two-page design as a single canvas. Using large elements that span both pages will give your spread a cohesive feel, so it doesn’t look like two separate pages that happen to be sitting next to each other. This layout uses a large block of digital patterned paper that houses all the photos and the journaling. The inked edges and white outline around the photo block further strengthen the link between the two pages.
Fit More Photos
By combining 4 x 6 prints with wallet size photos, I easily fit eight photos in this design. If I sacrificed a bit of the white space, I could make room for up to five more photos if needed. |
Supplies: patterned paper (Raging Sea kit, digitaldivasdesigns.com) • font (Optima) • button • twig • red paper • alpha • decomat (Photogenic kit by Paislee Press and Audacious Designs, oscraps.com) • 8½ x 11 spread by Autumn Baldwin |
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Layout #4: Group it together.
This layout uses multiple photos of many different sizes, plus white mats to group some of the photos together. Design-wise, each group of photos acts as a single element, which reduces the busyness of the layout. To create unity, some elements (patterned paper strips, the color red) are repeated on both sides of the layout. Note: Don’t be afraid to let one large photo cross over both pages. Just be sure not to place something important, like a person’s face, right across the gap.
Fit More Photos
I think nine photos are enough on this particular design. But if you need to fit more, look for new ways to group and layer your photos, and get as creative as you want to be.
Coming Soon!
On December 15, look for Ella's newest eBook, A Year in the Life: Scrapbook your year in 24 simple layouts, which was collectively authored by the members of Write. Click. Scrapbook. This eBook features the only 24 layouts you'll need to document a year of your life, whether you're focusing on a year that has almost passed (2009) or you want to create two layouts a month for the coming year (2010). Bonus! This eBook features a total of 19 multi-photo, two-page layouts, which are designed to help you collect lots of memories into one place.Did You Know?
Among the 30+ members of the W.C.S. inspiration collective, you'll find Stacy Julian, Lain Ehmann, Angie Lucas, Autumn Baldwin, Rebecca Cooper, Sara Winnick, and Katrina Simeck, all of whom have been Ella eBook authors, article writers, or bloggers!