Using Arrows Effectively on Scrapbook Pages

Hi everyone! I thought we’d take a look at how to use arrows effectively on your scrapbook pages! I love arrows! In fact, I love arrows so much that I’ve been known to occasionally purchase entire kits based on the arrow elements!

I think that using arrows in your scrapping is a fantastic way to draw the eye to exactly where you want the viewer’s attention focused on your layout. Arrows can easily and quickly point out where the eye should go and give a scrapbook page an overall sense of flow. Although books are read top to bottom and left to right, scrapbook pages don’t always have to follow that traditional flow. Using arrows is a particularly effective way to help guide someone through a page with non-traditional flow. In addition, arrow usage is a great way to point attention to a small detail that might go unnoticed otherwise or to provide clarity in reference to journaling or a photograph. Lastly, arrows can just be GREAT FUN and add some whimsy to your pages!

I hope this post will help you see how arrows can really add that special ‘something’ to your pages - emphasizing what you want to emphasize, providing visual interest and even giving your page a bit of artistic flair!

You can implement arrow into your page design in so many ways … let’s take a look at a few of them & some examples that really showcase each design idea -

#1 - Use an arrow to point to a specific photograph, embellishment or even a section of journaling

These layouts by Brandi and mommy2boyz demonstrate how effectively an arrow can guide the viewer right to the photograph -

And this layout by Samuelsmommy shows how an arrow can help the viewer find the things that are most important - in this case, the journaling -

#2 - Use an arrow to point out a specific detail within a photograph

editorialdragon’s layout uses the arrow to direct the eye to a critical detail to the story she wants to tell - the pool and the yellow bucket!

And a page that I created shows the use of an arrow to really focus the eye on the details in the photo which really demonstrate the theme of the page - saying goodbye.

#3 - Use arrows as a funky way to point out a list of items or journaling points

This page by staciahall really uses arrows in a new and unique way to specific journaling points - and it makes for a very visually interesting page!

#4 - Use a cluster of arrows as a border

This page by Robyn Werlech is an excellent example of a page using a bunch of arrows as a border - that cluster of arrows on the left AND the cluster on the right, all help add some visual pop to the page!

This page by brodyn also demonstrates how great a border of arrows can be to the overall design of a scrapbook page -

#5 - Use arrows to provide flow and direction for the layout.

I love this page by Jana because the arrows she’s placed behind the photo and across the page do such a great job of setting the flow of the overall page! It really makes for such a visually interesting layout!

I love how the three different arrows on Lili’s page take you right to the various places the viewer needs to go - the journaling, the photo and the title! It really makes the page flow much more effectively!

And Anna’s use of arrows in this layout really help her more effectively tell the story by pointing the way through the relevant embellishments, journaling, title and photograph. All together, guided by the use of arrows, the story is told concisely and the page looks very cool!

This layout by Kimberlee really points out all of the critical bits and pieces of this layout and helps the viewer know how to get from one to another without losing focus. The result is an effective and cohesive layout!

#6 - Use an arrow to draw attention to your title.

Celeste’s page and Jana’s page are both excellent examples of using an arrow to point out the title of a scrapbook page -

As you can see, arrows can be a real asset to your scrapbook pages! If you need to highlight something on your layout or if you just want to add artistic flair, I hope you’ll consider using the arrow to meet your needs! Happy Scrapping!

- Amy