Saturday, February 21, 2009

Low-cost Scrapbooking Options - Monochromatic Layout

Not every layout needs to cost an arm and a leg! You can make a low-cost monochromatic layout for anywhere from $2 to $4 - all you need is a few sheets of cardstock. I always use Bazzill Cardstock because they have textured and smooth cardstock and they all come in a wide variety of colors with varying shades. Select a color that complements your photos and pick out three or four shades of that color. The total amount of cardstock you need will ultimately depend on the final design but in the example below I probably only used four to six sheets of cardstock.

Monochromatic color schemes are not only easy to make, but they are pleasing to the eye! Typically it is best to select one of the colors to be the main color and then use the remaining shades to coordinate. Try layering the carstock from darkest to lightest or lightest to darkest. You can also use shapes in varying shades as I did in the example below. I cut out squares of the various shades of purple and placed them from darkest to lightest across the bottom of the layout.

Want to add a little "pop" of another color? Try using a color wheel, to select an analogous color or a complementary color. Analogous colors are colors that are located next to each other on the color wheel and give a bright, cheery look. Complementary colors are colors that are located opposite each other on the color wheel and will give a more vibrant look to your layout. In the example below, yellow is a complementary color to purple and you can see how the yellow m&m "pops" off the page!

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