Are you born with your design style? and, thus, your scrapbooking style?
Not exactly. But you’re born with and develop aesthetic preferences as well as the ability and desire to express yourself through clothing, voice, hobbies, friends, interests and more.
Your scrapbooking style can–and should–reflect YOU. While you’ll naturally gravitate to particular subjects, photos, colors, and motifs, it takes a good bit of making to get results that you like and that tell your story well.
Designers Emily Pitts and Leah Farquharson tell you below about their personal style and how that connects to scrapbooking style.
My parents both said they aren’t surprised at how I scrapbook–that I’ve always gravitated toward the elements that now make up my style.— Emily Pitts
I Love You, Too, Buddy by Emily Pitts | Supplies: Patterned paper: Sassafras, My Mind’s Eye, Alphabet: Studio Calico, Flair button: October Afternoon, Twine: My Mind’s Eye, Brad: BasicGrey, Stickers: My Mind’s Eye, Stamp: Studio Calico Embossing powder: American Crafts, Embossing ink: Tsukeniko Adhesive: American Crafts, Scotch, 3L
Emily says:
“I Love You, Too, Buddy” is a good representation of my style right now because of the following elements that I employ often:
- journaling by hand
- slightly stacked and wonky title
- “slice of life” subject matter
- small photos
- playful elements like the heart hanging down from the string
- embellishments that support the topic.
When asked what she thinks her style reveals about her, Emily says:
Talking with my parents about this question, both said they aren’t surprised at how I scrapbook and that I’ve always gravitated toward the elements that now make up my “style.” I made, and wore often, primary colored polka dotted pants and a tangerine jumpsuit with paper doll cutouts printed all over it as a teenager. I used to practice handwriting “fonts” and tried to copy computer fonts as a teen. I loved creating art with typography. I like to scrap about everyday moments and they said I’ve always found joy in the everyday.
It took someone else pointing that out to make me realize that, yes, your scrapbooking style really can be a representation of who you are outside of scrapping. If your pages aren’t reflecting your personal style in clothing and décor, and you want it to, it can.
Do an analysis of the different styles in your life; what you gravitate toward, and think of ways you can bring that into your scrapbook style. Talk to others who have known you for a long time. Get some opinions. It’s an interesting process.
I tried a lot of things when I first started scrapbooking, and about a year in, I hit on what I loved. From that point on, things have all had a similar feel. — Leah Farquharson
Mama Duck by Leah Farquharson | Supplies: patterned paper: Studio Calico, Echo Park. Fabric paper, foam letters, rosette brad, ric rac: American Crafts. Punch out flowers: Sassafras Lass. Woodgrain fabric: Joel Dewberry for Free Spirit. Butterfly: Pebbles. Stickers: Echo Park. Ribbon: May Arts. Buttons: October Afternoon, American Crafts. Jewelry Tag: vintage (from Jenni Bowlin). Sewing machine: Viking. Thread: Gutterman.
Leah says:
My scrapbooking often revolves around our everyday lives – in fact, I sometimes have a tougher time scrapbooking events!
Bright colors, graphic patterned papers, a cascade of elements framing a couple of photos, stitching, watercolor and a smattering of inks scream of my personal style.
For as long as I can remember, I have described my style as “vintage modern.” I use strong shapes, patterns and colors{modern}, and yet so much of it calls to mind vintage elements – like the vintage buttons, flourishes, and woodgrains.
I tried a lot of things when I first started scrapbooking, and about a year in, I hit on what I loved. From that point on, things have all had a similar feel.
As time as gone on, I have learned new techniques, but the essential design elements are the same. The biggest change to my style is the addition of mixed media. I love everything from stamping, masking, inking, watercolors, and paints to build an additional layer into my layouts.
When asked what she thinks her style reveals about her, Leah says:
I did a lot of soul searching on this topic when I started designing for my business, and I think the answers that I found there apply here as well.
I am definitely a modern, city-loving (and, in a lot of ways, unconventional) girl. BUT I was raised in the Midwest US with some very traditional values!
All the while growing up, my mom would take me to craft shows and quilt shops, and I learned to do so many things when I was just a kid!
Of course, I went through a time in my life when I fought that, but as I’ve gotten a bit older, I’ve realized that I can have both. And it’s me, and I love it.
We have a course on style in the Get It Scrapped membership and we run a 5-day event on style every year.
The next round of Style is Leverage is January 15 to 19. Get the details here.
