For my basic scrapbook albums I vary the size of my layouts from 12×12 to 8.5×11 to 8×8. Someone recently asked me how I choose the size for each layout. While I don’t spend any more than ten seconds to decide this, there are about five factors that help me determine what I choose.
Go With The Flow
Sometimes I just feel like I want to do a certain size. Maybe I’ve done a lot of one size recently and I’m ready to do something different. There’s not always a specific reason and I like to allow my moods to dictate what I do. I don’t dwell on this decision.
Smaller Means Faster
There are days I like to spend a lot of time on a layout and other days I want to whip through it. When I am in my fast-scrapping mode, I often choose a smaller layout size, like the 8.5×11 you see below.
I also like to work with 8×8 pages when I’m scrapping from a short journaled story instead of a photo.
Saving Space and Resources
A big size determinant for me has to do with how much space I really need. If I can tell my story and showcase my photos with a smaller size, I do it. Single-photo layouts don’t need a 12×12 sheet, let alone a two-page spread.
If you watch Paperclipping Live or have seen Episode 2, Brainstorming A Layout, then you know that I like to determine my photo placement before I choose my background paper. When doing a multi-photo layout and I’m not in the mood for lots of embellishment, I’ll pack all the photos onto one 12×12.
If I do want to add lots of designs and I can crop my pictures smaller than 4×6, then I can go with a double-page 8.5×11, which is why I chose the size for the layout below. The butterfly design wouldn’t have fit with a one-page 12×12 but a two-page 12×12 would have been more than I needed.
The Paper Is Screaming For A Debut
I prefer to let my photos and stories lead my product choices, but once in a while there is paper or a product that I want to play with. This was the case for the layout at the top of this article, High Places.
While going through my paper I realized that I really didn’t like the look of the original blue design and I was tired of passing over it. It was time to do something about the paper to make it more interesting. After adding the Stickles I fell in love and then it was all about finding a photo that would work with my paper.
Filling The Gaps In My Albums
As I get close to filling an album, I will have some gaps to fill, especially the back-sides of some of the smaller pages. When that time comes I will look for photos that will work specifically with those sizes.
Allowing variety in your scrapbooking keeps the hobby fresh and exciting, just like it was when you first started. 12×12 albums allow you to put all those different sizes together.
While I gave you 5 factors that help me determine which size I choose for a given layout, there is no “right choice.” Don’t want to waste time weighing the different options. Make a quick decision and trust it.
Related Articles:
Varying The Size Of Your Layouts
Five Tips To Scrapbook Your Stories
