GCD Studios: May Technique: Using White Space as a Design Element

I recently had the pleasure of taking a "Back to the Basics" Layout a Day (LOAD) class led by Lain Ehmann. One of the challenges was to create a scrapbook page that utilized white space. Lain explained that white space is defined as, the empty spaces in a design and that it is not always white, but rather the empty parts of the page that lack graphics or text in a layout. She went on to say that, "Space should be treated like a design element on your page, just like the title, the journaling, your photo… don’t just think about, it, make room for it! Let your other page elements BREATHE."

I love that she then went on to say that it wasn't until she'd become more comfortable with scrapbooking that she was less likely to cover the entire sheet of cardstock with something." For myself, I've only recently been "playing" with the idea of "white space" in my scrapbook layouts, so I was delighted when I learned the technique we would use on our May GCD Studios Design Team projects was this very technique...White Space!




Using White Space

 Now remember, I said that I'm pretty new at using this whole "white space" thing, so I opted to literally use white cardstock as my "white space" (I'm original like that... ha). I started by printing my journaling out (using my word processing program) on a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock and cutting it down to fit the space I wanted as the "white space" in this layout. I then paired the white cardstock with patterned paper from two different and delightful  GCD Studios collections.

The foundation for the layout and the patterned paper mat under the photograph are "Sunday Morning" and "Chocolate Bunnies" from the Youthful Eggsuberance Collection (who says you can't use Easter-themed papers for more than just Easter, right?!!) and for added interest, I used bits of  "Test Your Luck" and "The World's Greatest" from the Fun House Collection. With the exception of the simple banner (created with a triangle punch) at the top left of the page, I chose to group the photo and other elements together to create the white space in this layout.

I have to admit, I'm starting to feel a bit more comfortable with this whole "white space" technique, next time I might even try creating it with something other than white cardstock.... because, I'm daring like that... kinda.