Many scrappers look to magazines for inspiration in creating a layout. Next time, do not limit yourself to just scrapbooking magazines! Fashion, home, beauty (even those tabloids we don't admit we read!) all has one thing in common...advertisements. If you look at a full-page ad closely, you will notice they are designed almost exactly like a digital scrapbook layout. They use color schemes, themes, photographs, and text art to describe and inform of their product. Their format must be eye-catching, able to hold your interest, and be on top of the latest trends. Since these are all things scrappers look for when creating, ads are perfect examples to lift ideas. The only difference is that they are selling their products to customers, while as a scrapbooker, we are selling our memories to friends and family.

How to Incorporate Ads Into a Layout

1. Use a full-page design, adding subtle changes relevant to your theme. As with the example below, you can use any 8.5x11 ad and stretch it to a 12x12.

Keep text placement the same, using the similar style fonts. I found all of mine free online, or with CDs that came free with magazines. As this company did here, make the photo your main attention-grabber, but change the background to a coordinating paper. The title was easily created using Photoshop, where I intertwined the words and added drop shadows to create depth. Add your favorite embellishments where they place their product. Instant layout!

2. Incorporate an effect or digital technique. I love ads that use a unique technique, like the one at left. The half-photograph, half-vector image look intrigued me. I wanted to recreate the effect, but wasn't sure how to make a whole layout of it. So I applied the idea to just my photo. A vector image is a 2-D graphic made only using only mathematical lines and separate outlines and fills. I easily made the photo a half "vector-looking" image, focusing on the dress as the only aspect I wanted to be realistic. You can acheive this look in Photoshop, or other photo-editing software of your choice. First use the eyedropper tool to add a single color (like the skin beige) to the foreground color. Using the magnetic lasso tool (right click the lasso tool and select the third option in Photoshop), outline part of the object you want to be all that one color. Tip: Clicking the mouse sets the magnet once, then traces around the closest edge it finds. It takes a few tries, but once you master it, it is the best tool you can use for this project. Double click to get the marching ants. (Hold the Shift key to select more than one area, like an arm or a leg.) Once you have your area selected, use the Edit, Fill With Foreground Color option to color it in. You can also use the magic wand to select certain areas by shade using a low tolerance (I used 20) then Edit & Fill them separately, until all your desired colors are added. Leave one distinct part of the photo alone to make it stand out. Once your photo is done, add it to a simple lined background paper using basic colors.

Written by Marie Di Raimondo, design team member, CottageArts.net