Embellishments! Do you love them or leave them?
Embellishing is a very artistic part of scrapbooking. Not feeling artistic? That’s okay! I’ll break down some easy to follow rules for embellishing and even share a trick I use to embellish when I don’t want embellishments!
If you are ready to stop getting stuck when you start embellishing your scrapbook pages here’s 3 easy tips to help!
Tip #1. LAYERING
Layering embellishments will give your layout depth. Layering different types of materials or creating layers of different heights and thickness is appealing and adds interest to your layout.
One important step is to layering is to keep the embellishments grounded. Don’t let your embellishments ‘float’ on the page all by themselves. We all remember ‘sticker sneeze’ from the early days of scrapbooking with random stickers floating around on a page. Grounding your embellishments helps to prevent that random, floating embellishment effect.
Ground your embellishments by layering underneath them and letting them touch or overlap other page elements.
Embellishment layers were created with background paper, photo matte, photo, waffle paper, lace, ribbon, sparkle, flowers and metal.
This scrapbook paper has a gorgeous floral design across the page. To embellish it further I layered sparkles and clear flowers over top of the background paper.
Tip #2. CLUSTERS
Embellishment clusters are an appealing way to use embellishments. A cluster can include multiple layers or a grouping of similar or dissimilar objects.
This embellishment cluster of similar objects was shaped like a heart for added interest.
A group of 3 works great for an embellishment cluster, like the three flowers on this scrapbook layout. A group of three is possibly the most simple and easy to use cluster!
Tip #3. LESS IS MORE
When you have strong elements on your page you need to adjust your embellishments to fit.
If your paper has bold colours or patterns you don’t want your embellishments to compete with your paper, or even worse, your photos! If your paper is busy, use simple or few embellishments. This way your embellishments don’t become noise or clutter on your already busy page.
The background of this paper is quite busy. Use fewer or more simple embellishments to create balance.
Using fewer embellishments also allows you to play more with texture. Try dry embossing paper to embellish without adding a lot of bulk or when you don’t have embellishments that seem to ‘fit’ the theme of your page. This is kind of a non-embellishing way to embellish your pages! Isn’t that a great trick!
This layout uses layers of paper with embossed texture to add interest. Simple and easy!
Three simple and easy tips for embellishments:
- Layering- use different materials and heights, and keep it grounded!
- Clusters- a cluster can be similar or dissimilar objects, keep it simple with a group of 3!
- Less is More- strong page elements allow you to use fewer or more simple embellishments!
Use these tips to help you get past the anxiety or frustration the next time you are embellishing your scrapbook page! If this post is helpful for you please share it with a friend and don’t forget to subscribe for free updates HERE.
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Love the ideas!!!!
Thanks for your comment Gerry!
Wonderful help for my layering impaired brain.
I think the most important part about layering is just making sure that everything is connected somehow. I like to make embellishments overlap or touch another part of the page. That is an easy way to make layers and groups work well. Thanks for your comment geezee!
Simply explained and lovely layouts to showcase too.
Thanks for the lovely comment Lynne!
Wonderful tips love the 1st one on grounding did not know that but makes total sense when you look at the layout (I so remember my first layout when you mentioned about early sticker sneeze. I will keep this handy in my favorites
I’m glad you found it useful Tina. I remember learning about ‘grounding’ too, it was like a lightbulb came on and I thought, “Oh! I get it now!” I’m so happy I could share this with you!
Hi Alice! I just wandered across your site and I love it already! Great artlicle thanks for the tips b/c I actually do get stuck with embelishments. Its weird I love decorating and embellishments is one of my fave parts but I get stuck.
thanks for the article great job!!!
Thanks Gerri! These tips were very helpful.
Love this page. I have just started scrapbooking and am learning all the time. I tried making cards a couple of years ago but just could not feel pleased with what I had done.
I find the tips on these pages very enlightening. Thank you.
Thank you Linz! I’d love to have you attend one of the free Scrapbook Live (online) events I host each month. You’d be able to ask any questions you have and it’s a lot of fun to hang out with a bunch of other scrappers! To join us just make sure you’re on the email list. You can sign up here: https://scrapbookwonderland.com/subscribe