Being True to You

Hi everyone! 

A few years ago, I did a layout a day for 31 consecutive days. During the process, I learned a lot about what I like and dislike when creating a layout. As the month unfolded I found my personal voice and style. And one of the things I discoved is my love for white space.

White space is defined as: "portions of a page left unmarked." While white space can be kraft, red, pink, blue or any color you use for your background, in my case it's actually white. Because I use white cardstock in almost every layout. Here's a layout I made for Winter CHA:

You see all that white? To many people, this might look unfinished. Too white. Too empty. But, to me, it looks just right. Especially since, in this photo, my son looks a little lonely, so I love how the whiteness of the page adds to that feeling. I love how the lack of busy-ness makes you  focus that much more on him and the title. And how it makes the few embellishments I used that much more powerful.

I know that it's "in" to use a lot of stuff on your pages. I know it's "in" to mist your backgrounds. But, for me, especially for this page, this is what felt right. And I think what matters most when creating a layout is being true to yourself.

At the end of the day, you're the one who's going to look at this page again and again over the years. Long after the trends have come and gone, you'll have this 12x12 and so it matters that you like it again and again.

Here is a little detail of the layers on the top left:

This is something else I like to do because my pages are white. I want to draw your eyes back into my page so I tend to put elements along the edges to keep your eyes from wandering off the page.

And since journaling is really important to me, here's my journaling from this page:

I snapped this photo of you while you were watching TV. You're holding a tissue cause you like to imitate blowing your nose since I have allergies and do it often. I love how totally engrossed you are and how cute your tiny fingers look in this photo. I just adore you so much.

As you can see, it's not exceptionally pithy. But still, I like to remember why I scrapped this photo. Why I wanted to preserve it. The journaling helps me do that.

I want to emphasize that there's nothing wrong with using very little white space. Nothing wrong with a lot of product or huge photos, or no journaling, or any other combination you like. What matters most, in my opinion, is just that you be true to yourself. To what you like. To what makes you happy. 

As long as you are true to yourself, your page will be a gift both to you and your loved ones because it will have a piece of you in it.

Thank you for letting me share!

Comments

[Jodie R]

I love your use of white space. I feel like my LO's always look too empty and you are right. The look should fit the picture!

Thank you!

[Ali]

hooray for white space - I love it!! Your layout is perfection to me...I love the emptiness, the 'lostness', the cleanliness of it all, stunning in it's whiteness :0)

[misty]

This is gorgeous! Love the zippers!

[Petra Coolen]

I love this page and I love white space!!
You have an unique style and I only wish I could scrap like that.
Greetings from Holland :)

[liz a.]

refreshing! i love doodads and embellishments and "stuff" all over a page; but "white space" is a wonderful thing too! i love that the picture and the story stand out, not just the product! which means, it is ALL good, just the way it should be! thank you so much for sharing!