Amy Kingsford

Mojo Monday: Three Ways to Use Inspiration Pieces In Your Scrapbook Page Designs

Most of us use inspiration in some shape or form when designing our scrapbook layouts.

Inspiration for a scrapbook page design really can come from anywhere.  I’ve used songs, jewelry and even articles of clothing to inspire scrapbook layouts.  I also turn to more traditional forms of inspiration quite often–including sketches, scraplifting, challenges and prompts.

Its not so much about where the inspiration comes from as it is how you choose to translate it in your page’s design. Today I’d like to share a few of the approaches that I take in incorporating inspiration in my own scrapbook pages.

 1. Using an inspiration piece as a road map for your page’s design.

I use this approach with more traditional forms of inspiration in which there is a strong “design” element present.  This approach can help you to feel more confident when trying out a new technique or a style that differs significantly from your own.  I also find that using this approach to translate inspiration saves me time and produces quicker results.

My page “Together” was inspired by an Ad Challenge that my friend Paula Gilarde holds each Monday on her blog.  I found this type of  inspiration to be quick and easy to work with and I feel a confidence in moving forward with a design that in sense was already “proven.”

 

2. Finding the single detail that stands out above all the rest.

I try to search my inspiration pieces for the one detail that grabs my attention. Chances are that when incorporated into my own design it will have the same effect –so I find that this is a great approach for adding stand-out details to my scrapbook pages.

The ruffled mat on my page “You’re Why I Love Being a Dad” was inspired by a ruffled messenger bag by Donna Downey and I simply love the way that I was able to translate the details in my inspiration piece into such an eye-catching detail on my page.

 

3. Thinking about how an inspiration piece makes you feel and setting a similar tone in your page.

Sometimes it is not the color or details of an inspiration piece that inspires me, but instead what it  reminds me of or a certain way that it makes me feel.  This approach to translating inspiration is perfect for communicating feeling and emotion in our page designs.

When I think about my son’s sweater that inspired my layout “Sweater Baby”, I am transported back to the last time he wore it and how cozy and warm he looked.  I thought about how even though he was bundled up his cheeks were rosy from the cold and I would hold him close to keep him warm.  And it was this feeling of  coziness that I tried to translate to this page.

 

I hope with these ideas you can start translating inspiration into your own pages in new and creative ways.  Remember that there are an infinite number of ways that you can incorporate inspiration into your scrapbook page design–you are limited only by your own creativity and imagination!

 

Want to dive even further into the world of inspiration?  I’d love for you to join me for my class Finding Your Inspiration Station at Creative Passion Classes!  If your interested in learning to zero in on inspiration that is tailored to your personal style and translate it to your pages then this class is for you!  Class begins March 6th–click here for more details!

 

 

 

Have a Great Day