Get ideas and practice the bracket and cross compositions with Scrapbook Coach #5 “Criss Cross” and #8 “Bracket”
There are several layout configurations of combined elements that scrapbookers use again and again when making scrapbook pages. We frequently share ideas for single page layouts using these foundations. Here, though, we’ve got ideas for putting those foundations to work on two-pagers.
Bracket. With the “L” or bracket composition, horizontal and vertical arms meet to create a right angle that provides a stable spot for your page elements. We shared single-page ideas for this composition recently here.
Cross. The asymmetrical cross is a scrapbook layout design that has flexibility for just one photo or many. Again, there are two arms that provide homes for elements and stability. We shared single-page ideas for this composition recently here.
Deborah Wagner says, “This a page documenting last year at a glance. I used a crisscross page foundation. The horizontal band holds all of my photos and clusters. The vertical cross contains the journaling.”
Remember 2013 by Deborah Wagner/Supplies: Jana Morton – Storyboard No. 2, Autumn Memories, Angels Wings, Country Christmas, Natures Whisper; Katie Pertiet – Carte Post, Messy Stitched Circles, Receipt of Memories; Studio DD – Ready Made Circles Vintage; Cottage Arts – Soulful Silhouettes
Sue Althouse says, “This page is about our son and daughter in-law’s first home. The horizontal part of the cross houses candid shots playfully arranged, while the vertical contains the focal point photo, title, and journaling. This is an easy way to organize the pieces of a scrapbook page. I used a different background on each side of the layout for interest. Kraft elements sit on the white side and white elements sit on the kraft side.
From House to House by Sue Althouse | Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Stickers: Basic Grey; Alphabets: American Crafts, October Afternoon; Mists: Studio Calico Mr. Huey’s; Photo Corners: Scrapbook Adhesives; Enamel Dots: Freckled Fawn; Typewriter: Remington
Andrea says, “These are my favorite vacation photos. I was inspired by lesson 4 in the Scrapbook Coach Criss Cross class. I used intersecting diagonal lines with clustered photos leading the eye into the middle. Double pages are challenging but it is a great way to share a lot of photos.”
Poconos by Andrea Hayes | Studio Manu, Perfect Harmony Kit.
Susanne Brauer says, “This two-page spread showcases photos from my son’s first Christmas. There are lots of photos of him being passed around our big family.”
“All the photos sit inside a bracket formed by striped red and white ribbon. The long horizontal arm is given further weight with strips of patterned paper. The ribbon ties into the holiday theme. I left the ribbon bows and folds very full to add interest, but kept the flourishes at the ends so they didn’t interrupt the flow across the two pages. I opted to put the title work on the outside of the vertical arm.”
First 25th by Susanne Brauer | Supplies: Cardstock, Ribbon and Buttons, Stampin Up; Patterened Paper and Die-cuts, Fancy Pants, Chipboard, Teresa Collins, Alphabets, October Afternoon and Jenni Bowlin, Journal Card (mat), Simple Stories.
Stefanie Semple says, “This layout celebrates just ten minutes that we spent at a park while waiting for hubby to finish chatting after church. I layered my photos using both lines within the base of the bracket composition, adding stitching and a scatter to visually anchor the photos that might have seemed to be floating, And I layered brushwork and a vellum journaling card in the gap as I didn’t want to cover my daughter’s feet in the first photo.”
Ten Minutes by Stefanie Semple. Supplies: Mye De Leon and Anita Designs collaboration 3:21 freebie; Memory Clips by Ramona: Memory Keeper {Pockets}; Valorie Wibbens : acetate alpha; Pink Reptile Designs : Laugh out Loud alpha.
Michelle Houghton says, “This layout includes favorite photos from one of our more recent visits to the Omaha Zoo. I repeated brackets in opposing corners to create a frame that contains all my photos and content. The brackets were made with Faber Castell Paper Crafter crayons for the green/yellow base and Pitt Big Brush pens for the vine and leaf work. I also ran the title and short journaling along arms of the brackets in opposing corners, with the black strengthening the frame.”
Omaha Zoo by Michelle Houghton | Supplies: card stock; Kraft and American Crafts, twine and chipboard banner; American Crafts, sticker letters; Heidi Swapp, labels; K and Company, markers; Sharpie Paint Pen and Faber Castell Big Pit Pens, colorant; Faber Castell Papercrafter Crayons
