diff --git a/0031-cols b/0031-cols
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f44f175
--- /dev/null
+++ b/0031-cols
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+cols = function(margin, data)
+	-- helper for creating a 'cols' node
+	return {type='cols', margin=margin,
+		data=data or {}
+	}
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/0032-rows b/0032-rows
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f08aac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/0032-rows
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+rows = function(margin, data)
+	-- helper for creating a 'rows' node
+	return {type='rows', margin=margin,
+		data=data or {}
+	}
+end
\ No newline at end of file