The Half and Half: My Favorite Scrapbook Design
When I was asked to write a post about my favorite “Go To Design” for scrapbooking, my first thought was, I don’t have one. I always thought I used multiple designs, which I do. But, after perusing through my albums one distinct design stood out to me. Ant that is what I call the “Half and Half”, also known as the “split” page. It’s simple, versatile and always looks pulled together, kind of like the sweatpants of scrapbook design (only cuter).
Why I Love the Half and Half Design
The beauty of this design is balance. By splitting the page vertically or horizontally, you create a foundation that feels organized, yet flexible. One half can be patterned paper, the other half neutral; one half bold, the other calm. You know the design will work, no matter what direction you take with it.
Plus, let’s be honest, sometimes we need a design that doesn’t require three hours of paper shuffling. The Half and Half design can be used to create a layout in record time.
Let’s take a look of some of my layouts I’ve created using this design.
In my Halloween themed spooky treat layout, I used one side of the page for bold spiderwebs and the other side for a bright pop of orange. Add in some silly spiders and a sweet little face holding a “spooky treat”, and you’ve the got the perfect mix of what I like to call, creepy and cute. This design allowed me to go bold without overwhelming the page.
For this autumn page, I used strips of orange patterned papers down one side against a neutral base, aka white cardstock, on the other. The Half and Half effect kept the bright pumpkin tones from feeling too loud, while still letting the joy of that pumpkin hugging grin take center stage. Plus, as a bonus, all those patterned paper scraps finally found their purpose. Any time I can use scraps to create a layout is a win in my book!
On this layout you will notice that the design isn’t a true half and half, thus the reason it’s sometimes called a split design. The paper doesn’t always have to be of equal measurements to be considered a half and half design. Here, the split is softer and more delicate, with subtle green on one side and a floral pattern on the other.
You’re probably wondering why this photo of our granddaughter putting band-aids all over her Papa’s (my husband) face is called an “Easter Tradition”. The answer is simple. Every year the Easter Bunny would put band-aids in her basket and her favorite thing to do was to plaster them all over her Papa’s face. Sadly, she’s 15 now and the tradition has ended. Now you know.
Here’s some more layouts I’ve created using the same design. You’ll notice they’re not all vertical.
Why It Always Works
This design adapts to whatever story you’re telling. Bright and bold. Soft and sweet. Seasonal and silly. You can tilt the line, add layers that spill over the middle or even shift the balance so one side is narrower. Each time, the result is different, but the foundation stays strong.
Final Thoughts: Split But Never Boring
The Half and Half may sound simple, but don’t be fooled. It’s very versatile. By changing papers, themes and embellishments, you get a fresh look every time. For me, it’s become a favorite go-to-design, (even though I didn’t realize it), that saves me time, keeps me sane and still lets the stories shine.
Scrapbooking isn’t about reinventing the wheel every time. Look through your albums like I did, and find a design that works and roll with it.