Tips for Creating Photographic Scrapbook Paper Layouts

Posted on by Noreen Smith

The Planes, Trains and Automobiles Paper Packs feature striking papers with photographic scenes on the reverse side. For some scrapbookers, these photographic backgrounds can be tricky to work with — you don’t want to cover up the featured image on the paper, you aren’t sure what size of photos will work on them or maybe you don’t know how to embellish without making them look too busy. But fear not — once you know a few tricks, they can be one of the easiest and fastest ways to create a layout! Check out these tips and examples on how to create stellar photographic scrapbook paper layouts!

Take a look at the three layouts below (each is made with photographic papers from the Planes, Trains or Automobiles Paper Packs) and then watch the video for three easy tips that will make you reach for this type of paper more often!

NSmith Planes LO

To make the Planes Layout you will need:

Step 1: Arrange the papers as shown to use as base pages for the layout. Trim four 4″ x 4″ squares and two 6″ x 4″ rectangles from Gray Cardstock to use as photo mats. Crop four photos to measure 3-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ and mount on the 4″ x 4″ squares. Arrange in a grid on left-hand page and adhere with a Tape Runner. Crop two photos to measure 5-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ and mount on the 6″ x 4″ rectangles. Arrange and adhere on right-hand page.

Step 2: Use Foam Squares to mount the plane sticker borders onto the pre-printed borders on the papers. You will need to trim the border with All-Purpose Scissors to fit the pre-printed border on the right-hand page.

Step 3: Embellish the layout with stickers on either side of the photos as shown. Journal on a small piece of Beige Cardstock and attach below the title on left-hand page.

NSmith Automobiles LO

To make the Automobiles Layout you will need:

Step 1: Use the scenic road paper as the base page for the layout. Trim two 4″ x 4″ squares and one 3″ x 3″ square from Rich Brown Cardstock to use as photo mats. Crop two photos to measure 3-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ and mount on the 4″ x 4″ squares. Crop one photo to measure 2-3/4″ x 2-3/4″ and mount on the 3″ x 3″ square. Arrange photos in a block towards the upper right-hand corner of paper, overlapping as shown. Adhere to base page.

Step 2: Use Repositionable Adhesive to adhere the laser cut title beside the photo block. Use Foam Squares to adhere the “Nothing behind me…” quote sticker to the lower left-hand corner of the layout.

Step 3: Use the Brown Dual-Tip Pen to journal under the photo block.

NSmith Trains LO

To make the Trains Layout you will need:

Step 1: Arrange the papers as shown to use as the base for the layout. Trim four 4″ x 6″ rectangles and three 3″ x 3″ squares from the Black Cardstock to use as photo mats. Crop three photos to measure 5-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ and mount on the 6″ x 4″ rectangles. Crop one photo to measure 3-3/4″ x 5-3/4″ and mount on the other 4″ x 6″ rectangle. Trim three photos to measure 2-3/4″ x 2-3/4″ and mount on the 3″ x 3″ squares. Arrange photos as shown in photos. Adhere to base page. Tip: Mount the two 3″ x 3″ matted photos that overlap the other photos using Foam Squares to make them stand out from the photos behind them!

Step 2: Punch two borders from Black Cardstock with the Train Tracks Border Punch. Arrange them along the diagonal lines on the photographic background papers and adhere with Repositionable Adhesive. Trim border pieces that overhang the edges of the layout with All-Purpose Scissors.

Step 3: Add the laser cut train engine and boxcar to the train track on the right-hand page using Foam Squares. Tip: Use the open circle in the boxcar cut out as a frame for another small photo!

Step 5: Add title sticker and embellishment cluster to the solid band on the upper left-hand page. Add a couple of other sticker embellishments at the corners of the photo blocks.

Step 6: Use the Black Dual-Tip Pen to journal on the solid band on the lower right-hand page.

What other tips for using photographic papers help your layouts come to life? What types of photographic scrapbook paper layouts will you create with these tips? Let us know in the comments below!

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15 thoughts on “Tips for Creating Photographic Scrapbook Paper Layouts”

  3. Thanks a million, Noreen, for this explanation and demonstration of what to do with photographic papers! This kind of paper is beautiful, but I’ve never bought the packs with these papers because I had no idea how to use them. Thanks to you, now I know!

    Reply

  7. Noreen, you are simply a genius. These tips are so very helpful, and especially to see how you apply the finishing touches with embellishments. Thank you!!

    Reply

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