This is my second attempt at scrapbooking. I don't feel scrapbooking is much different in design than in collage. Maybe I have much more to learn on that fact. But I used the same design principles of layout, color, and subject. I do like the idea of premade elements but as usual I have to do things my way and change a few things.
This collage started with my first download of two inspirational kits from Cottage Arts that I thought would be good for the projects I do for my church.
I liked one of the papers in Michele Shefveland's kit Simply Faith #5 paper. I added a framed flourish and two polarioid aged framesfrom the same kit. But then changed my thought of design back to the China photos and decided to try a few shots from an after dark waterfront cruise in Shanghi. The photos had been dark so I decided to make them more artistic than realistic by using levels, color curves and sometime brightness and contrast, plus sharpness. I really liked the effect.
So I chose three photos from the group based on color and layout. Placed one in the flourish frame, & the two polaroid aged frames. I then went to the Travel kit I received from Linda Sattgast with her fantastic instruction CD on Scrapbooking. I added a travel sun that was in gold but I changed to a greenish blue to go with my photos and letters. Also added a compass overlay from the same kit.

I had chosen some scrapwords in the greenish blue from my second kit from Cottage Arts called scrapwords inspirational (I think), title of scrapwords was Believe in pastel. This was actually my inspiration for color to go with the background paper. (The colors are accross from each other on the color wheel. ha ha)

I wanted to make my page a little more Chinese looking so I added a design to the background paper using a type brush I had made from chinese print I found on the internet. Then added text under the photos plus drop shadows and bevels where needed. I used the embossing techigue I had just learned from Linda Sattgast to frame the page.

A great learning experience and great fun too. Your comments appreciated, I have lots to learn about scrapbooking.