Formal photos layout by Amanda Jones using World Traveler

Hi everyone! Today I wanted to let you know about one of my biggest scrapbooking phobias... the FORMAL photograph! OK, now you are convinced I'm crazy, I'll tell you 3 reasons why.

1. They're formal, and I don't usually scrap in a formal way.
2. See point 1.
3. See point 1.

I have this photograph:

It's not the best photo in the world, but it's one that is special to me as it was taken on the cruise to New York my parents went on for their 40th wedding anniversary. When I look at the picture with my scrappy head on, however, I draw a complete blank. It's not inspiring to me.

So here's my trick for formal photos. I strip it right back and create a formal page layout. Straight clean lines, grids and minimal embellishments. I take the thinking away. I put the photo on the page and then build a grid around it with simple blocks of patterned paper. Until I end up with sommething like this:

No... it's not ground breaking or earth shatteringly clever, but it allows me to scrap those meaningful moments that I want to preserve without getting hung up on 'creativity'. Sometimes just telling the story is enough.

Have a wonderful day!

Amanda's Blog