Hey y’all! It’s Cheryl (@watchcherylscrap) here, and I’m so excited to share my latest scrapbook layout using the absolutely gorgeous Trailblazer collection by Traci Reed Designs. If you haven’t checked out this collection yet, it’s packed with beautiful stickers, inspiring word art, and vibrant colors—perfect for storytelling.

For this page, I wanted to challenge myself to use as many of the collection’s elements as I could. I started with two sweet photos of my daughter from 2009, placing them on opposite sides of the layout to create balance. Then I began layering—first with journal cards and floral clusters, then adding larger word art pieces to build some visual weight.

Once the bigger elements were in place, I had fun tucking in smaller details—tiny word strips, floral accents, and little bits and pieces that added texture and movement to the design. I kept adding and adjusting until everything felt just right. In the end, I had a small open space in the center, which I filled with mixed media elements layered over the butterfly background paper. It added the perfect finishing touch! I love how this layout guides your eye across the page, from one little detail to the next. It’s always so satisfying when everything comes together like that.

5 Tips for Creating a Maximalist Layout That’s Easy on the Eyes:

1. Create Visual Anchors

Use your photos and a few bold elements (like large word art or clusters) as anchor points. In this layout, the two black-and-white portraits stand out against the color explosion, helping the viewer’s eye find a resting place.

2. Use Color Cohesion

Even though there’s a lot going on, the color palette stays consistent with earthy oranges, purples, and teals. Pick 4–5 core colors and repeat them throughout your page to tie everything together - this is easy to do with Traci’s collections!

3. Vary Element Sizes

Mix up the scale of your embellishments—combine large florals and word art with small labels, stars, and hearts. The contrast in size adds interest and keeps the layout from looking too "flat" or monotonous.

4. Cluster with Intention

Instead of scattering items evenly, group embellishments in tight clusters. This creates texture and dimension while also giving the eye specific areas to explore. Notice how butterflies, word strips, and florals are grouped in pockets around the photos and journaling.

5. Leave Breathing Room

Even maximalist layouts need a little white space. Here, the light background and soft watercolor areas provide just enough openness to balance the detail-heavy areas.

I hope this inspires you to play with the Trailblazer collection and fill your pages with the little stories that matter most.

For a detailed look at my creative process, be sure to check out my scrapbooking process video on the Watch Cheryl Scrap YouTube channel or follow along on Instagram @watchcherylscrap.