I love single page scrapbook layouts. I can do them quickly and efficiently while effectively using my supplies. The single pages don’t take up as much room in my albums.This is something that has become important to me given that I boast over 40 albums of completed scrapbook pages. I know a lot of people associate single page layouts with a minimal use of photos or smaller size pictures. While I do enjoy some one photo pages, I also strive to pack on as many photos as I can if they support my story. I don’t necessarily want small photos either. Sometimes smaller pictures are the right choice, but if a photo looks best in 4 x 6 I want to try to add it to the page without having to sacrifice its size. Enter the classic 3 photo cluster. Clustering photos together is a great way to add layers while including many photos on one page.

Tips for Creating a 3 Photo Cluster

Many of these tips can be used for larger clusters of photos as well. It’s up to you to try to figure out how many photos you want to fit on a page.

1. Don’t cover up the main subject of the photo.

It looks weird if body parts are missing. Do your best to keep the main subject in focus. As you layer the clusters, you will find that in many cases the main subject almost appears to be framed by the embellishments and photos clustered around it.I feel like this is an added bonus to using photo clusters. You should also keep in mind where you might wish to place embellishments. You don’t want to build the cluster of phtoos, only to find the desired embellishment placement covers up too much of the pictures.

2. Use photo clusters to hide unwanted people or objects in the background.

Sure, you can use Photoshop to remove anything unwanted from your pictures. However, if you are lacking in Photoshop skills or simply don’t want to take the time for editing, clustering your photos can save you time. Plan your photo placement so that the edges of the other photos layer over unwanted sections of each picture. You can also use additional embellishments to hide unwanted portions of the image.

3. Use Pop Dots or sheets of chipboard to add dimension.

It’s easy to add distinctive layers to your photo cluster and doing so will add a lot of visual interest.The first photo should be flat against the canvas. Pop the second photo up from the page using a single sheet of chipboard or a few pop dots. I prefer using chipboard sheets because I have more control of how much the photo raises from the page. You can use two sheets of chipboard instead of one on the third photo to raise it up even further. I absolutely love this layered look and I find the chipboard is more sturdy than foam pop dots. There really is no rule for which photo to start with in the layering process, but you may want to consider making your main focal point photo the top layer of the cluster.

From Grandma With Love by Christy Strickler |Supplies Patterned Paper: Authentique, Cocoa Daisy; Letters: Freckled Fawn; Stamp: Gossamer Blue; Die Cuts: fancy Pants; Ink: Colorbox; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico; Other: twine; Made for the Online Scrapbooking Weekend Challenge at Shimelle.com and earning some Calvinball Points at Get It Scrapped

In the layout above, you can see the subtle layering and shadowing achieved by using the chipboard sheets underneath the photos.I didn’t have any unwanted items in the background but I did have a lot of white space in each of the pictures.I anchored the 3 photo cluster by placing it on the small strip of red patterned paper. I was then able to layer the embellishments in, under and around the cluster by placing them on top or sliding them between the layers. To see the difference that clustering and layering makes, compare the page above to the 3 photo scrapbook layout in this post. It features 3 photos but each are placed at a slight distance from each other and all are on the same level (or layer) on the canvas.

Now it’s your turn to try the classic 3 photo cluster. You can use this sketch as your guide. If you make a layout, I would love to see it. Post a link to your scrapbook page in the comments below.