Sometimes, they say, less is more. I think this infamous “they” is probably referring to that second helping of dessert I am currently reaching for…like maybe eating just one helping would actually do more for me than eating two…but since we are talking scrap talk, I’m going to go right ahead and eat this second helping while we talk about how less can be more in digital scrapbooking.

When I first started digital scrapbooking, my photos took up pretty much all the real estate on my layouts. They were huge! Then I had elements surrounding the photos, and text here and papers there, and while the layouts weren’t unattractive, they just seemed busy and a bit crowded. When a layout has activity traveling from edge to edge in almost every direction, the eye doesn’t know where to look first and it tries to take in everything at once. It has no place to rest. Layouts that have a focal point, a place for their story to start and end, are pleasing to the eye, and calming for the viewer. For this reason, layouts that entertain the minimalist style of design are not only very attractive pages, but can be considered exceptional works of art as well.

Be Happy by Anke Turco

Digital Supplies: Paper: It’s Elementary remix by Lynn Grieveson (Designer Digitals), Elements: Torn Ends Photo Mask by Katie Pertiet, Art Class Frame by Katie Pertiet, Clean Clusters and Parts by Katie Pertiet, Just Be Wordart by Katie Pertiet, Stitches, tag and lady bug: Ladybug Summer Kit by Katie Pertiet, Drop shadow styles by Katie Pertiet (all from Designer Digitals), Software: Adobe Photoshop CS 4, Fonts: Ariel.

Design Notes: Giving the frame a little tilt draws the attention of the viewer immediately to the main subject, the photo!

Journaling: be happy

Piggies by Maria Trader

Digital Supplies: Paper: Paper 08 by Vinnie Pearce (Two Peas in a Bucket), Elements: Word Art 01 by K Studio (Catscrap), Flowers: Your Heart by Vinnie Pearce (Two Peas in a Bucket), Bubble Stamp: Your Heart by Vinnie Pearce (Two Peas in a Bucket), Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5.

Design Notes:  It's often hard to get caught up in so many beautiful pieces, but sometimes you have to step back and ask if an element adds to the photo or is a distraction from the main focus of the page.

Journaling: pleasing, satisfying, engaging, charming, delightful, enjoyable, gratifying, agreeable, pleasurable, delighted, happy satisfied, glad, jolly merry, gratified, pleased, jubilant, elated, over the moon, jovial, rapt, enraptured, on cloud nine, floating on air, light-hearted, jocund, gladsome, blithesome, stoked.

Splashing around by Monique Verhaar

Digital Supplies: Kit: Waterpark Collab by Sahlin Studio and Jacque Larsen (The Lilypad), Elements: Wordart Sticker Snippettes: Life’s a Beach by Sahlin Studio (The Lilypad), Staples: Around the World Collab by Sahlin Studio and Britt-ish Designs (The Lilypad), Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.

Design Notes:  You can use the rule of thirds when placing your single photo for a more interesting looking page!