_{Marriage by Candice Stringham, as seen in The Scrapbook Hall of Fame, Vol. 8 by Creating Keepsakes magazine.}

Add a drop cap. If you're looking to add something special to your journaling, consider a drop cap (a larger first letter at the beginning of a block of text). This classic look, commonly found in books and magazines, will allow you to add a decorative element to your text while keeping the timeless look you're going for.

Try a script font. Script typefaces mimic handwriting-making them instant classics. Be sure to select script fonts with traditional lines that are easy to read. Follow Candice's lead and use script fonts to accent layout titles and for short blocks of journaling.

_{The Perfect Day by Kelly Noel, as seen in the June 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.}

Simplify your palette. By limiting your palette to two to three colors, you'll keep the look fresh and current. Follow Kelly's lead and try one to two main colors and one accent color.

Neutralize it. Always include a neutral-like white, cream, black, brown, or gray-in your palette. These are the staples that will ground your bright colors and help your palette feel timeless. You can also use neutrals as the main colors on your layout and then select a single color as an accent for a look that's bold, yet still classic.

Get more tips for timeless design in the "Love Your Layouts in 20 Years" article, featured in the February 2011 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.

Related Links:

 10 Journaling Prompts for Wedding Layouts

 Seasonal Solutions: May/June 2010

 XOXO: Love Layouts from the Little Black Playbook

Appeared in:

February 2011