Scrap Booking

Themes, layouts and inspirations

11 Tips, Tricks and Techniques to Try in Your Art Journal

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11 Techniques to Try in Your Art Journal

If you find you’re in a creative rut doing the same things over and over again remember there are so many different products and techniques you can try out to add something new to your art journal.

Step out of your comfort zone and try adding watercolors to your backgrounds, add images with stamping and rub-ons, try mixed media products like art crayons and pastes and add extra interest with layers of washi tape or handmade pockets. The team over at The Cherry on Top has gathered together 11 ideas you might not have tried on your designs. You can also apply these ideas on greeting cards, scrapbook layouts and traveler’s notebooks pages too. 

11 Techniques to Try in Your Art Journal

Be sure not to miss out on a delightful journey through a plethora of creative techniques – a total of 11 unique approaches that promise to spark your imagination and ignite your artistic flair. To witness these techniques come to life, head over to

Check out all 11 different techniques and find photos of each idea over on The Cherry On Top blog. 

-Heather

You can purchase many of these products at the shop at A Cherry on Top.com

4 FREE Retro Summer Journaling Cards

DIY Journaling Booklet

6 Free Summer Scrapbook Journaling Card Printables

Journaling Prompt Tags

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10 Modern Rainbow Scrapbook Layout Templates for Single Photos

There’s something wonderfully uplifting about rainbow-themed scrapbook pages — they add instant joy, a sense of hope, and that lovely feeling of “better days ahead.” But not everyone wants the classic curved rainbow we all grew up drawing in kindergarten. Modern scrapbookers are leaning into geometric rainbows, with clean arches, bold shapes, layered semi-circles, and minimalist lines. And honestly, they look stunning on a page.

This new set of 10 single-photo scrapbook layout sketches combines that modern rainbow aesthetic with simple, clean design ideas that are perfect for everyday memory-keeping. Whether you’re documenting a milestone, a quiet moment, a favourite snapshot, or even a healing chapter of your life, these layouts allow the rainbow to act as a symbolic backdrop without overwhelming the page.

Each layout includes space for one photo — because sometimes that ONE image tells the whole story.

Use these rainbow sketches for:
 • kids’ artwork and school photos
 • birthdays
 • bright outdoor memories
 • “first day / last day” pages
 • mental health or personal growth journaling
 • celebration of small wins
 • Pride-themed layouts
 • baby and toddler albums
 • anything that feels colourful, hopeful, or meaningful

Here’s a look at what you’ll find in this modern geometric set:

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 Layout 1 – Half-Rainbow Arch Behind a Central Photo
 Simple, bold, and great for patterned paper lovers.

Layout 2 – Layered Semi-Circle Stack
 A modern twist that looks incredible with textured cardstock or tone-on-tone colours.

Layout 3 – Offset Rainbow Bands + Journaling Strip
 Asymmetrical but balanced — perfect for candid photos.

Layout 4 – Triple Geometric Arches in a Vertical Column
 A clean, fresh layout with lots of white space.

Layout 5 – Bold Oversized Rainbow + Minimal Embellishment
 Your photo becomes the centrepiece while the rainbow adds gentle framing.

Layout 6 – Rainbow Layer Cluster Behind a Tilted Photo
 Adds instant movement and energy.

Layout 7 – Concentric Semi-Circle Trio + Title Banner
 Very modern and perfect for scrapbooking boys, teens, and minimalist pages.

Layout 8 – Soft Arched Shapes + Bottom Journaling Panel
 A gentle, calming design ideal for quiet or meaningful stories.

Layout 9 – Rainbow Block Background
 A more graphic layout that uses straight-edged shapes inspired by rainbow palettes.

Layout 10 – Chunky Rainbow With Clean Title Placement
 A bold design that’s perfect for showcasing a favourite photograph.

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 How to Use These Modern Rainbow Sketches

  • Use tone-on-tone papers for a subtle, sophisticated look
     • Try patterned paper for rainbow bands — stripes, dots, grids, or watercolour prints
     • Keep embellishments minimal to let the geometric shapes shine
     • Add stitching (real or faux) along the arches for texture
     • Use cardstock scraps to create a rainbow without cutting into new sheets
     • Match your colours to the emotion of the photo — bright for happy moments, muted for reflective ones

What I love most about modern rainbow layouts is how versatile they are. These designs can feel playful, peaceful, bold, or soft depending on your colour choices. And because each sketch only uses one photo, you can easily create a whole rainbow-themed album without feeling creatively overwhelmed.

If you use these sketches, tag CraftGossip on Facebook or Instagram — I adore seeing how you all interpret these designs in your own style.