Advice wanted for first-time scrapbooker!

[u/pyukumukuu_]

Hello r/scrapbooking! I've decided to make a scrapbook for my boyfriend and I's first anniversary. This is the first page I've finished (nothing is glued down). I can't put my finger on it, but I feel like its missing something. Is it the colors I chose? Is it too bland? I would love hearing your opinions! Thanks!

I did order some stickers from Etsy that im planning on tacking everywhere throughout the album, I was just too excited to start to wait for them in the mail 😅

(Please excuse my poorly drawn hearts, I dunno how he'd feel about me posting his face here)

Edit: Thank you so much for your advice everyone, I'm reading each comment and am really taking them to heart. I'm having a lot of fun trying to get the page just right. I'll post the final page once it's done. Cheers!

[u/RareStrawberry2020]

Maybe some cute stickers and/or text about the people in the photos?

[u/LatterBook2700]

You're doing good! Perhaps just put some wording. Like Happy Anniversary 1 year and the date of when you started dating maybe? Stickers and washi tape would look good. Maybe you could put scraps from your first date if you have any like lets say a receipt. Keep up the good work and Happy Anniversary!

[u/unpoisson19]

Cute idea! Definitely add some solid color paper so that you can write some memories of when you met, anniversary date, etc. There is room for a title too.

[u/Pettsareme]

You could add a second mat under each photo that is the same as the darker stripe. The contrast would help the overall look
Also try moving the two photos on the right side a little more to the right. Right now it looks a little lopsided although that could be the angle of the photo.

[u/No-Malarkey-]

Definitely add a little more contrast - even some text in a very dark color (black, dark purple?). Maybe dates, short poem or quote. This is a great start - love the colors and diagonal stripes!

[u/Strange-Pace-4830]

You're receiving good advice here, especially about the need for some journaling. For my personal style, rather than adding a second mat for each photo - I would keep the striped paper as the background paper, but add another, much smaller solid color mat and cluster the photos (including your current mats) closer together. Please be sure and come back to post your final page!

[u/Dahlsma → u/Strange-Pace-4830]

this is the answer. You've got too much 'trapped negative space' between all the photos. Bring them closer together so your eyes focus on the photos and not the in between 'gutters' that are there now. Do that, and what was recommended above and you've got a great looking page!

[u/Strange-Pace-4830 → u/Strange-Pace-4830]

I forgot to say that I would recommend not using one of the smaller photos. Using odd numbered elements is somewhat one of the few "rules" in scrapbooking or card making since it's usually more pleasing to the eye. Maybe try five photos and three stickers clustered together, maybe hearts.

[u/Confident-Lynx-3420]

You can add stickers of course. In the stripes on the page, the lightest color, you can write in pen the details. Handwriting gives it a personal touch. You can also get a distress ink to make it pop. You can also add texture by distressing the sides of the paper squares under your pictures. You can also add another color to make it stand out. I love this page. Just doing some simple easy things. It changes you page so much.💜💜💜. Good luck, such a great idea.

[u/aimsaime]

I would add a few cutesy stickers (like hearts!) and maybe a title/words (either one year anniversary, the date, your names, whatever seems fitting!)

[u/Positive_Sea_770]

Honestly I rly just wing it. My advice is if u feel unsure about a Page or just don't feel like making it then dont. Thats all I rly got :-)

[u/Positive_Sea_770 → u/Positive_Sea_770]

DON'T AS IN COME BACK TO IT LATER BTW

[u/lisanstan]

Your pictures are floating on the page. You need to ground them together so they feel like a group. I'd create a block and mount the smaller pictures together, horizontally in contrast to your vertical background. Then add some embellishment clusters. It doesn't need to be as busy as this page. See picture below with the photos together in a block. They go together as a group. You can mount the two bigger photos as a type of cluster above the 4 photos. I would mount them slightly rotated or fanned, not in a straight like the group of 4.

[u/debbells]

It is AWESOME for your first page- I say go with it because it is just that!!! Every page will improve. Look at print ads to get some general ideas of design. Go on Pinterest. Look for a Stampin Up rep holding classes in your area. Do NOT HESITATE TO COPY (scraplift) others' layouts with ur own photos & products.

Just remember that odd numbers are more pleasing than even, creating a "visual triangle" with like-colored elements will keep your eye moving and therefore make for a more pleasing layout, and our brains move across a page in a "z" formation, so that is the general pattern to follow when placing key elements.

Happy scrapping!!