One of the side effects of being a professional scrapbooker is that everywhere you look, you see scrapbook inspiration! My latest simple scrapbooking jolt of inspiration came from the American Girl store.
I won’t insult you by going into the full history of the American Girl franchise. Suffice it to say, if you’re a girl between the years of 4 and 12, you probably have — or want — at least one American Girl doll, outfit, magazine, or book.
This was the first time I’d been to the store, and it was an event in and of itself. From wall, to wall, it’s girl heaven. I was enthralled with the variety of merchandise, the way it was displayed, and the way my daughters interacted with the products. And, of course, I grabbed a few scrapbooking tips while I was there. And, of course, I’ve written them all down for you!
Scrapbooking Tips from the American Girl Store:
1. Small things are cute. I don’t care if it’s a tiny watch, a tiny pencil, or a tiny iron and laundry basket… small is adorable!
Takeaway for your scrapbooking: Don’t be afraid to use smaller embellishments on your scrapbook layouts. A grouping of tiny butterflies, a small selection of tiny brads, a sprinkling of small flowers… go ahead and use them! Sure, bigger items make more of a visual impact, but surprise your viewers with some smaller goodies, too.
2. Details matter. On the same note, details count! Look at these ice skates: You wouldn’t consciously notice if they DIDN’T have the cute plastic guards on the blades, or DIDN’T have laces that really tie. But you notice that they’re there — and it gives you an impression of the quality and care of the product.
Takeaway for your scrapbooking: People may not consciously notice how you finish the ribbon on your page, if photos are trimmed evenly, and if your title is spelled correctly. But they will pick up on the overall care you take with your page. Don’t go overboard, but do take an extra minute to eyeball your creation and see if anything jumps out at you.
3. Cohesion captivates. The thing you notice immediately when you walk in the American Girl store is how clean the lines are, how everything matches, and how it all looks like it belongs together. It just feels…right!
Image from DollDiaries.com
Takeaway for your scrapbooking: Have a vision for your page. It doesn’t have to be Garanimals-matchy-matchy, but have a feel for how things are going to fit together. Don’t add anything to your page unless it rolls up into your overall vision (for more about choosing products to help tell your story, you’re going to want to check out my “You Are a Storyteller” eBook coming out in a few weeks! Make sure you’re on my notification list to get first dibs!).
P.S. What stores have been inspiring you?
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