Trapped Space - a tutorial

Today I have a little design rule for you, if you care for it. My old students who read this blog will be aware of it, but there may well be many of you who are unaware of it, so I will repeat it for you. This rule has the potential to transform your lives (not really, but maybe just your pages). I'm bringing out some really old pages to use as examples proving that simple is timeless. The girl in the first layout is almost 12 now!

The rule of trapped space involves NOT trapping any space between items on your page. When one DOES trap space the layout can look like the elements are all too separate on a page, and not working together and flowing nicely. We, as scrapbookers, subconsciously might know that it's 'not coming together' but not know why, and try to fill the spaces with more and more embellishments, trying to make it 'work'. Decent design early on, will save you a lot a time and anguish, and embellishments!Though even if you do like a less 'simple' look, you can still design the page well, then go to town with embellishments if that's your style.

For example compare the two sketches below. On each of the sketches, the same five elements have been used (consider them 3 photos, a journaling black and a heading). Which layout looks well thought out, organised, pleasing to the eye. It’s 'B' - hope you already guessed that. There are large amounts of space ‘caught’ between the items on 'A'

  

A

 

    

 B

You can certainly have large amounts of space, but it needs to be able flow OFF the edge of the page. Pretend the blocks of space are water. You want it to be able to flow easily off the edge of the page, not create a puddles or wide rivers in the middle.

It’s a bit hard to explain on paper, but hopefully you are understanding what I am trying to say.

Have a look at these layouts below. This first layout over page titled ‘Be Silly’ uses pretty much just BAZZILL cardstock and have a look at where the blocks of space are. Top right hand corner, a bit in the lower right hand corner, and a strip of space is down the left hand side. All three of these blocks of SPACE flow off the edge of the page. All the items, (the heading, journaling and photos) are kind of grouped together. The ’space’ between the journaling and the photo is only about 2cm wide - about the widest space should be before it is considered ‘trapped’ space.

This next page below is titled ‘the life’.  Where are the blocks of space? Top right corner and bottom left corner - not trapped in the middle. For this page I just drew lines on the page in WORD, then put the journaling into text boxes and moved them around to fit where I wanted them.

There are times when rules can be successfully broken. But it always helps to know the rules before you break them! At least then you are doing it on purpose. I often ‘frame’ my page with a narrow frame or border - this doesn’t seem to create a trapped space issue. Just consider the frame the edge of the page - eg below.

You getting it? Basically, group stuff together. Free the tapped space. That’s it. Have fun.


Nicole x

PS. Scroll down and have a look at where the empty space is in the last few layouts posted, eg 'dance' by Emma, and 'Olivia' by Di.  Why do these layouts work so well? It's the lack of trapped space. My old students... I am so proud! 
(Sharon, yours is lovely too, I just didn't have the pleasure to teach you! :) Though if I had, I bet you would would have been the naughty one up the back with Di, who never stopped talking!