Linda C's Corner: Layout Ideas

Let's see if you are like me......

Do you sometimes get in a scrapbooking slump?
Do you have scrapbooking magazines* aplenty?
Do page layout 'plans' fail to inspire you?

Let me say up front I am not attempting to bad mouth page 'plans'. I know there are many of you who rely on them for structuring your layouts. That is not a bad thing. But for me I just don't get it. Oh, I get the concept of squares, rectangles, and such, but I am not inspired to create when I look at them.

This is my plan of action when I get in a slump.

I look through a few scrapbooking magazine for layouts I like. I may like the color combination, the subject matter, or the construction. I cut the layouts out of the magazine and write on them why I am inspired. My notes may say "design", "school photo", "color combination", or "family". I might think a layout would be perfect with a specific set of photos and make a note of it. I tape them in a journal until I am ready to create.
If a magazine layout inspires me to use a particular paper and/or photo(s) I put all of the items together in a 12x12 folder. BTW, after I have used an idea I dispose of it. I don't usually duplicate a layout I have created.

*Magazines
Creating Keepsakes
Scrapbooks Etc.
Scrapbooking & Beyond
Memory Makers

Here are some samples:

I am not sure which magazine this layout is from, but the artist is Christina Smith. It is actually a digital layout.
When I saw the layout in the magazine I thought it would be perfect for the photographs I had taken of mushrooms when Griffin, Christina, and I went mushroom hunting.

Here is my layout.

~~I apologize for not being able to give credit for this layout. I did not save the artist's or magazine's name. If you recognize this work please let me know so I can give her credit~~. The artist is Valerie Salmon. Thank you, Bettye! You are always so helpful!
Here is my layout.