Maybe not a new trend but certainly one that is popular right now is the use of horizontal strips of paper on cards, layouts and off-the-page projects. With the trend leaning towards cross-crafting and fabric style patterned papers, more and more scrapbook artists are using small segments of these patterns in strips reminiscent of quilter's "jelly rolls".
Scrapbooking using strips allows you to showcase many patterns without overwhelming the page and can be applied to any and every layout from light and fun like this joyous layout by Nicole of her daughter Madeleine, right through to any theme you can imagine. It's also a great way of using up scraps!
On this layout, Nic loosely handcut strips in happy colours before applying them to the negative space on her photo. She used these strips as a beautiful mat for her journal block.
In design terms, horizontal lines can create calm in the eye of the viewer so if you have a lot of busy design going on, horizontal lines can calm the layout down.
On this layout also by Nicole, she used the horizontal strips to balance out the heavy journalling area and to also add some warm texture with scalloping, distressing and lace. The subject of this layout and its journalling are serious so Nic stuck with a muted colour palette and kept most of her embellishing within the smaller block.
This gorgeous layout by South African scrapbook artist Kim Watson displays the perfect use of horizontal strips as a base for her photo and embellishments. Using border punches and much layering, she was able to use many colours as a base for the heavy embellishing. This is a divine page, thank you Kim.
This perfectly sweet page by Holly Humbert is another fantastic example of using horizontal strips. Holly has used one large strip to "ground" these adorable photos and balanced the page with the strip on top. Her cute embellishments create the perfect balance to these gorgeous photos - thanks Holly.
We really love this lovely layout by Rebecca Grinder. Rebecca has created a layout inside a layout using the most delicious colour palette. Her use of horizontal lines is evident on the base of the layout and what we really love is the subtle texture she has added with the row of tags along the top border and the bunting-style pattern underneath. She has used a beautiful lace as the bottom row and the smattering of flowers is the perfect finish, thanks Rebecca.
Here Julie Bonner has created a gorgeous base for her photos with a wide horizontal strip as a photo mat and then all pulled together by adding all of the others. Topped off with a horizontal bunting and the layout is happy and obviously full of love.
Last but no means least is this adorable layout by Liesbeth Parlevliet from The Netherlands. Liesbeth has used a simple design to perfection creating energy and fun for these beautiful photos. The Basic Grey patterns are genderless so perfect for family photos like these and the simplicity of her embellishing allows the photos to take centre stage. Liesbeth thanks her photographer Florence Bavinck, and we thank you Liesbeth for allowing us to share your fabulous layout.
