Spend a few days in my world and you will quickly learn one thing about me: I am into order. WAY into order.

Now, this doesn't mean I'm not fun. I mean, I can roll with things…on OCCASION. Really. I can.

But in my work as a graphic designer, I've learned a thing or two about how caring about order lends itself to creating designs that communicate well and are aesthetically pleasing. And what does this mean for you and for today's challenge?

First, here's the thing: I scrapbook in a very linear manner. I don't tilt things very often. I don't get too crazy and funky. I keep it, for lack of a better term, clean and simple. (Yes, that IS a book series plug!) Further, I would hate it if everyone scrapooked like me. How boring! Part of what's cool about this hobby is how many different ways it can be done. Just look at Donna Downey. She'll scrapbook on an old toilet seat if you let her. But I digress.

However, there is one design convention that can be incorporated into any style of scrapbooking and will instantly create more unity and purpose in your design. That convention is common margin spacing.

What are margins? Well, they are the spaces on the edges of any page of information. But margins also exist in and around visual objects within a space as well.

The layout above that just ran in our March/April issue features common margin spacing in and around all of the lower photos, and also, in the area where the title is (the kraft cardstock area). The equal bits of spacing just add to the overall cohesiveness of the photo spread area on the layout.

Even if you like to tilt, and distress and go all nutty, you can still try to include bits of common spacing in and around your layout.

And that, my friends, is your final challenge of the week. Create a layout that shows common margin spacing in and around photos and elements. And remember, you can eyeball the spacing. I promise, for as anal as I appear, I never use a ruler to measure margins. Okay, never is a pretty strong words. Let's say, almost never.

Be sure to post your page to the Simple gallery and include "Margin Challenge" in the post title. And come visit the blog tomorrow on National Scrapbooking Day to see the winners!

Until then, happy margins.