My changing style

I was looking back through some old layouts the other day and found the first 12x12 LO I ever did.  I was quite surprised; it seemed very different to the latest LOs I've created and I didn't realise my style had changed so much.

A bit of background - the first scrapbooking I ever did was at 8x8 size as I found the sheer size of a 12x12 page too daunting.  As most of my 8x8 scrapping is in the form of a family photo album, I generally try to fit in as many photos as possible and this affected my style.  I eventually started to try a few 12x12 LOs  and this is the first one I ever did -

At the time I remember feeling very pleased with it, but now I look at it and find it very simplistic and formulaic, too symetrical and rather boring.

Since then I've experimented more with different styles and methods.  Challenges on the UKS website, classes and workshops at my local crop, and LOs I've seen on websites and blogs, have all helped me to develop a style I'm comfortable with.  I'm a little freer with design, less afraid of "blank space", a little more creative, and less scared of my own handwriting (I used to always use computer printed journalling as I dislike my own writing, but I now find the printed journalling a little impersonal and prefer my own writing, despite its imperfections).

I am sure that my style will continue to change and develop.  But I thought it would be interesting to contrast my first ever 12x12 LO with a more recent one.  This one was not part of a challenge or a class or workshop and wasn't following a sketch, it was merely using some photos I wanted to scrap and using some materials I wanted to use.  I know it would have looked very different if I'd completed it 3 or 4 years ago ...