3 Simple Scrapbook Layouts (for speed scrapping)
Today we’re going to talk about 3 simple scrapbook layouts that can be used over and over again just by adding in different elements. And while we’re on the topic of scrapbook layouts and saving time, it’s time for May’s scrapbook status update.
If you have been following along, I made a goal of completing 11 scrapbooks in 12 months.
Scrapbook #2 is finished and…..in the books (pun intended)!!!! Whoo hoo!!! It was my older brother’s album, so now both of my brothers’ albums are complete.
I thought I would show you a few of the layouts I used. These layouts allowed some pages to go much quicker than others, which speeds things up when you already know how you’re going to put it together. It’s like laying your outfit out the night before.
I love having a few different layouts I can fall back on, but I also love having pages that are a make-it-up-as-you-go design. I like having the balance of both. I neither get bored nor overwhelmed. Balance is good.
Simple Scrapbook Layouts #1
This simple layout is one I use alot for school picture pages. I usually have an 8.5”x11” picture to start with. The picture is off-centered on the page and then 3 squares are centered vertically to the right of it.
This is about the only time I will use a single picture on a page. My mantra is to include several pictures on a single page.
I use each of the squares to list the following information about the photo.
- grade (6th grade)
- school year (2000-2001)
- age (12 years old)
As with any simple layout like this you can mix it up not only by the paper choice (ie. different colors and designs), but also with a matte or two around the photo, funky edges on the squares, layered squares, creative fonts on the squares, and small embellishments on the page.
Other Ideas for Layout #1
On some pages where I use this layout, I’ll tuck the 3 squares up a bit closer to one another, and then attach a long, narrow strip (about a 1/2″ wide) across the bottom of the page and overlaps the bottom of the photo. Here I will list the name of the school.
On some of these layouts I would slide the classroom picture (the one with all of the kids in it) behind the page where I created the individual school picture page. And then I would note at the bottom of the page “class picture behind page”.
Doing it this way keeps everything closer together and organized. I would do the same sometimes for team pictures. If I had enough action shots, the team picture would go behind the page, with a note indicating that.
On another page using this layout, instead of using the 3 squares, I added in 3 small pictures with a label on the bottom of each picture.
Just keep in mind anytime you see a layout, especially a really simple scrapbook layout like this, know that you can totally revamp it for each use. All the little elements mentioned on a layout like this can really change up the pages while also giving some consistency to the album.
Simple Scrapbook Layouts #2
Another simple layout I use quite a bit usually involves a 5×7 picture. It may be a prom picture, a school picture, a graduation picture etc.
The 5×7 picture would again be off centered. I would either “tumble” 4 square pictures vertically down the other side of the page, as seen in the photo above, or I might place them a little straighter. Sometimes I would overlap them as you can see happened in this layout.
Other ideas for Layout #2
Again, one little change I did on this page was to throw a wide vertical strip behind the 5×7 picture. On it I added another layer of coordinating paper labeling what the picture was, the year, and who was in the picture.
Keep in mind, if you don’t have 4 pictures for the right side of the page, feel free to use one of the spaces for a page label or a coordinating embellishment.
Simple Scrapbook Layouts #3
There was usually always a page or two of what I would call a conglomeration of pictures. These made for a really simple scrapbook layout.
They might have spanned numerous years, maybe I wasn’t exactly sure of the year for a few of them, or maybe there were just a ton of pictures all within the same month or event.
These all went on one page usually in some sort of 3×3 layout. I might mix it up on the center picture, cutting it into an oval, or matting it so it was slightly bigger, or even shaped differently than the rest.
Labels and small embellishments added to the charm of the page. Again, different but consistent.
Other ideas for Layout #3
On some layouts like this, I would add a small label to each picture identifying who was in the picture, when it was taken (if I knew), and maybe where it was taken.
Others I kept simple like this one: date, age, and a one-liner about the fact that Grandma had visited with us.
Maybe you don’t have 9 pictures? Maybe you have less? Then use one of the spaces for a page label or an embellishment.
Maybe you have more than 9 pictures? Can you cut 2 of them down into one of the spaces. I’ve done this before by cutting 2 photos into ovals that fit pretty closely in one of the photo spaces. You could also do this on opposite corners if you like that balance.
If you notice to the far left of the layout you can see the other page. The background paper for that page matches the matte I used on this page for the center picture. This is an easy way to tie pages together.
Concluding thoughts on these 3 simple scrapbook layouts
Since finishing both of them albums, I want to go back and add a page or two for other things like pictures of the house we grew up in. I’d also like to add pictures for each of our grandparents, preferably with the album’s recipient in the picture, along with the funeral card for each of the grandparents.
Do you ever finish an album and then have an idea of yet something else you could have included? How did you add it into the finished album? Drop me a note in the comments!
