Design tips for using alphas

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I need your advice!! I have some great alphas and really struggle with how to use them. Whenever I try they look icky. Too much. I don't know. :confused:

What are some design tips for using alphas?

[Rosemary]

Hi Stacy,

Here's a couple of ideas.

I use them for feature words (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44648&cat=500&page=1), for titles (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33566&cat=500&page=1) , for drop caps (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=39215&cat=500&page=1) or some even use them as embellishments.

I really like numbers (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43056&cat=500&page=1) a lot because fonts so often look boring just as numbers.

And on this one I found the same font used in the alpha and made a complimentary title: Growing Up 4 (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35420&cat=500&page=1).

I hope that gives you some ideas! I am not a hardcore Alpha user like some, but I do enjoy playing with them from time to time.

[Emma]

a single letter as an element
as a short title, or accent words in a title
for the first letter of title words, or first letter in a block or line of journaling (think medieval illumination)
shabby chic/ephemera layouts with stuff all over the place
very small size for date, place, etc

go to the gallery, click All and type in alpha to search, and bunches will come up. You'll quickly see what you like and don't like. copy some of the alpha ideas, and with practice you'll get more creative with your own usage of them

[Pam]

Great advice! I also use them for titles, or for a name - I like Rosemary's suggestion for numbers, also. It often depends on the alpha - some are similar to a font and some are a graphic that does look better as a monogram or a leading letter. I mix them sometimes for a different look yet.

[Luv2scrapSherri]

Rosemary's suggestion really helped me...I took have problems using them...Love to see everyone's LO's with it but when it comes to mine I
begin to fear it won't look right...But Thanks for the ideas and Rosemary thanks for sharing the examples to see!!!!

[Lauren]

another way is to use multiple alphas for a title - one letter from each alphabet to form a kind of whimsical title.

[Rosemary]

Great ideas guys and thanks for the compliments. :D

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I posted a challenge on using alphas. Here's the link. (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6753) Thanks everyone, for your answers!