Title Troubleshooter

Leanne was talking about not being able to come up with titles and since I don't have my camera to post the color challenge with, I decided to write a little short on what I do and maybe it will help someone out :D Once I pick out the pictures I want to scrap with I start trying to think about the story behind the picture. What is happening? How do these pictures make me feel? When were these pictures taken? Where is this place? Why did I take this picture? Usually I just run the answers through my head, something pops out at me, and that's what I end up using for a title. Other times I have to brainstorm harder to get an idea for a title in my head. Here are some of methods I turn to when inspiration decides to leave me high and dry.

Start with just a single word. A past layout with Cait reading a book I used the title "quiet"; another focusing on her and her cousin was titled "Pals". On one of the layouts for my future posts the title for the page is simply "dance". Coming up with just one word to sum up the layout is sometimes easier than trying to come up with an entire phrase. I like to use verbs, adjectives, or feelings for my word. Seasons and locations work great for this too! Think of what is happening in the photo(s). How would you describe them with just one word? Or what feeling does this picture give you? And there is your title!

Expanding on that, sometimes I want to have a phrase as a title to help convey the story about the pictures instead of just a single word. Since it is simpler to come up with individual words or short phrases for a spread of photos, I basically do that then build upon it. The Personality page I did just a few posts back was one such title. I knew I wanted to talk about Caitlyn's crazy hair and about her personality. Personality became the main word and I used the title to spotlight that word, adding the rest of the phrase in smaller, supporting text. I used the story about her crazy hair photo op to portray a couple of the reasons why she 'has so much Personality'.

The idea with expanding that single word into a title can go along way to helping display your story. Often I use what I'm planning to journal about as a catalyst for unvieling possible layout titles, and many times I can pull a few descriptive words that sum up the story and use that as a title instead of trying to find words that describe the pictures. Throughout the years I've learned that I enjoy the layouts with fun stories much more than the layouts with aesthetic appeal but no journaling. Sometimes a title can say it all, but more often than not it's the journaling that takes someone through the adventures of your scrapbook. I almost always journal last but that doesn't mean I don't have an idea about what I'm going to journal about. While putting your pages together think of what you want to say on the layout. What story do you want to tell with these pictures? Then use the subject matter in your journaling as a jump start point for creating a meaningful title.

Sometimes all you need is to describe it, literally. "Christmas Morning PJs", "Pretty Easter Flowers", "Caitie's Pony Parade"; they aren't jazzy or super catchy but they convey what's going on and start the reader off knowing exactly what's on the layout. I like using these titles for things that happen consistantly. Like our Christmas Eve tradition of opening a single present. The title for the page every year is usually the same, "Christmas Eve Tradition". It connects each year to the next with a common theme. Think of what is happening and just describe it with a few words and viola! This also leaves your journaling open or the ability to put many bits of journaling, hidden or viewed, to talk about an event.

Use phrase titles. These titles, for me, go along the same lines as descriptive titles only a little snappier. Trying to come up with a fun phrase you like is sometimes trickier though, and here are some of the things I do to help me find them. Think of how else you can say title yet keep the integrity of your original idea. Is there a catchy cliche that goes with the pictures or story? A play on words you can use? Lyrics from a song or a line from a movies that matches? These titles double as a kind of journaling prompt as well, especially if it's not a something most people would 'get'. You can use that opportunity to journal about the title and how it fits with what is going on in the pictures, which is quite handy if you are struggling with trying to find a story to write about in your journaling.

Just use what was said by inserting real life quotes as titles. I used "I'm doing Cooking" for one of my recent layout titles. It's one of Caitlyn's cute improper grammar responses and I wanted to capture that along with the fact that she loves to cook. These titles already start to tell the story before you even read the journaling and add a little personal flair to the page. Use a common response as a title or an out of the blue phrase that is memorable . Think about what was said in the pictures or what you imagine them saying from the looks on their faces. Was there a funny one liner? A response that is always the same? A comment that was just totally off the wall? Use it as your title, then journal about the phrase.

Regular quotes and poems are occassionally the way to go as well. Sometimes there is a quote you have always loved, or a poem that is dear to your heart. Use a part or all of the quote as a large title. Emphasize a section of the poem or the title of the poem as the title for the layout. Short quotes work great as titles that run down the side of a page. Or even as subtitles! But that is a whole other can of worms, lol. I hope some of these ideas helped. Remember that there aren't any rules to scrapping. If you love it, Scrap It!! The color challenge will be up once I get my camera back to take a pic of the sample. Until then, if you want an early start the colors are Tulip, Honey, New England Ivy, and Vineyard Berry.