The Making of a Layout

Ever see a sheet of pretty patterned paper and wonder what you could do with it? Here are some ideas from start to finish.



Shown above is a piece of new embossed paper we just got in from Best Creation Inc. I decided to run it through the die cut machine to make the edges scalloped. Then I used a punch-out sheet (by My Mind's Eye) with flowers, brackets, tags, and the bingo card to decorate the whole layout with. Chipboard and die cut letters make up title. I added a touch of gathered ribbon as a photo corner to draw your eye to the picture. Simple as that! This layout was quick and easy to create. (If you knew how I long it usually took me to scrap, you would know what kind of a miracle this was!) :D




Next, I used this beautiful piece of embossed and glittered paper. Notice the pre-printed photo matte? Well, I decided to think outside the box (pun not intended!) and extended my photos down the length of the page instead of placing them inside the designated space. It gave me a lot of freedom to decorate it how I wanted. I added scraps of paper, lace, ribbon, chipboard, rhinestones and flowers as embellishments. Oh, and you know those cardboard boxes or packaging pieces you end up with sometimes? Don't throw them away! I used a small portion of a clean cardboard box in the upper left corner of the layout as a subtle accent. If you are worried about it being acid free, you can always spray it with Archival Mist. It evens out the acidic level of non-scrapbooking items.




Finally, if you have ever wondered what to do with those pretty transparent overlays, here is an idea you might want to try. Remember that you can layer parts of your layout over the transparency as well as underneath. As shown here, the photo, photo matte and tickets have been attached underneath the transparency. Then the buttons, ribbon, journaling strips, flowers, etc. are all placed on top. If you like the elaborate look an overlay gives to a layout, play with them a little and see what you come up with. We have a selection of them in stock now ranging from nature to birthday themes.

Sometimes using patterned paper can be a bit overwhelming. Just remember that it doesn't have to be used "as is." Play around with it and have fun creating!