The top trends in scrapbooking are:

• Color
• Paint
• Textured Effects
• Ink
• Fonts and Monogramming
• Stamps
• Stencils
• Fabric

Color!

2004 brought all thing feminine to the forefront, most notably, the color pink. 2005 will show a more mature and sophisticated feminine look with purples and aqua's. Not your cup of tea? No problem! As long as your colors pop any will do. Pair neutrals with brights, blacks and browns with pastels and primaries with each other. No matter how you slice it, as long as you use colors you love, you'll be a trend setter.

Soothing water tones are perfect for vacation photos or any layout with "relaxed" themes.

Pink and black are still hot -- here they take a more sophisticated turn.

Brights, pastels and everything in between are right on trend when they reflect your personality.

Paint

Paint is the perfect tie-in with the current color trends. Paints let you blend your own shades, create unique backgrounds, color-wash embellishments and even tint photos. Apply the paint according to the look you want: saturated color, opaque color, textured effects, even watercolor looks. With blue colors becoming more in demand, you can use vellum, a tearing ruler and Keepsake Colors to create an oceanic background to match your favorite beach photos.

Use paint in your layouts to make photos stand out.

Your background will always compliment your photos when you can blend colors to match.

Motifs come alive when they are hand painted!

Textured Effects

Whether you use sandpaper to achieve a distressed look or paints and dyes for an antique look, textured backgrounds make layouts pop! Crumple up card stock and dip in paint, use FolkArt Papier Paint to create dimensional borders, or even pull a wood-graining tool through a painted background to get fun and different effects for each of your pages.

Combining or layering texture techniques can also create fun layouts Crumple your paper, then brush a sheer color over it to bring out the dimension. Use a die cut machine to add different textures to your card stock, then create a "checkerboard" background, with each block of color and texture. Even a technique as simple as weaving paper can create just the right background texture for your layout.

This layout layers four different textures for the background. Since each texture is in a complementing color they come together to create a stylish page. Want to add more texture? Create your own embellishments (like the tag and envelopes shown here) to show off.

Ink

Ink is extremely versatile -- use it to edge photos and embellishments, stamp out words, motifs or backgrounds or even rub directly onto patterned paper to heighten there effect. Inks can be used to create watermarks or to emboss special elements. Apply inks with stamps, brayers, sponges, or even directly from the ink pad. Inks can be used to create sophisticated statements or casual ease. Some inks can even help you create a "dirty" look on your pages!

Think of all the things you can do with ink when you make cards and apply that to your layouts! Plus new techniques are developed everyday. Regardless of current trends inks should definitely be a staple supply for any scrapbooker.

Here ink is used both for stamping and for colorizing card stock

Stamping your backgrounds with watermark ink adds extra punch to special layouts.

Fonts and Monogramming

These two go hand-in-hand. Both can set the tone of your layout whether it is formal, casual, or somewhere in-between. Not sure if you want your page to be playful or serious? Linear or eclectic? Pick your font first. Once your letters have some attitude, your layout will, too!

Monogramming can do so many things in a scrapbook page. Use the monogram as your theme -- for instance, school layouts featuring a different letter of the alphabet on each page. Use it to introduce different people or events or even use it to help tell your story. Monograms paired with fonts are a great way to help tell your story.

This layout starts with the "Y" monogram in the upper left corner. The font used in the monogram compliments the photos and is carried through out the titles for a more unified look.

Stamps

Stamps are a fantastic and economical way to add flavor and flare to your layouts Red rubber, clear and foam stamps can all be used. While clear stamps offer the security of perfect placement on your pages, red rubber and foam stamps are equally easy to use. Plus, foam stamps are perfect for the junior scrappers in your life!

Stamp your images with ink or paint depending on the effect you want to achieve. Stamps can be used over and over again to create a united theme in your scrapbook. Get more mileage out of your stamps by varying their usage -- use them for backgrounds on some pages and motifs on others. Plus, ink color selection, heat embossing and colorizing can all change the look and feel of the stamp to suit your layout.

Foam stamps are fun for all ages. Young kids will love adding these stamps to layouts.

Rubber stamps make for beautiful backgrounds and funky fonts!

Use stamps to highlight themes and special events.

Stencils

Stencils are the great untapped resource for scrapbookers. They are a fantastic, economical design tool for any layout. Stencils can be used to create borders, frames, backgrounds, motifs, repeating patterns, themes, monograms, journal blocks and much, much more. Stencils designs can be the epitome of sophistication or as casual and fun as you want them to be. Want to get more creative with stencils? Use the actual stencil itself as part of your layout. Stencils are another great tool for younger scrapbookers, as well. Once you start using stencils your imagination will carry you away with the possibilities.

Here stencils make cool borders and fun motifs to balance your page.

Use stencils to help tell your story.

Fabric

Quilters aren't the only ones who can use piece and reuse sentimental fabrics. Whether you buy new swatches in your favorite colors, or add bits of an old baby blanket, fabrics are a fantastic way to inject a more personal touch into your layout. Use a quilt block for your background, use smaller swatches to frame your pictures. You can even use the fabric instead of photos to tell your story.

Felt appliqué livens up this layout for the ultimate in holiday cheer.