Gettin' By

Technique on Tuesday | Shrink That Space!

Sometimes starting a double-page layout can be a bit intimidating. I find the 12x24 canvas hard to visually organize, especially if you're used to designing 12x12 pages. One trick I love to implement when starting a two-pager is to immediately shrink the "live area" of the page to a smaller size. Confining your page elements to a specific space also leaves plenty of room for the all-hallowed white space - which is never, ever a bad thing. Today I'm sharing a layout using this technique!

S U P P L I E S:

 

After selecting my background (a snowflake pattern + pink cardstock), I opted to focus my design on a 17.5x8.75 area in the center of the spread. While this might seem like a random size, it was actually based on my photos - three 4" square and one 4x6 (along with three smaller 2" photos I added as well). I arranged the photos in four columns, each featuring a grid of smaller elements above or below the photo. The last column features my largest photo and a die-cut title to fill the space beneath it.

 

To separate my photo columns from the background (and visually define my design area) I matted everything on cardstock and added a stitched border. The small 2" squares were a great place to add fun and festive embellishments that went along with my winter theme.

 

 

To keep the page from being all straight lines and right angles (which, let's face it - can be a bit boring) I softened the corners of my photo block by adding diecut snowflakes. Not only do they help lead the eye from the upper left corner of the page all the way through to the lower right corner, they also add a sense of energy and motion to the page that the squares alone couldn't accomplish. 

 

By repeating the shape of squares throughout the page, I was able to incorporate a lot of elements into a relatively simple design. The grid framework keeps the page organized, but allows lots of little "canvases" to showcase your story. And can I get an AMEN for all that beautiful white space?? 

Happy Scrapping!

Technique on Tuesday | Scalloped Circle Border

After almost 20 years of scrapbooking (and collecting all the latest and greatest scrapbooking products!) I've spent the last few months organizing and attempting to reduce my stash to better fit in the confines of my small home office. I've narrowed it down to the products I truly I love and use regularly and basic shape punches are one item that made the cut. I especially love circle punches and they can be found on many of my favorite scrapbook layouts. (Like this one, this one and this one!)

One technique that put this versatile tool to use is the scalloped circle border. It's a great way to incorporate texture and pattern in a page and it's also super easy, thanks to the handy dandy punch!

 

S U P P L I E S :

 

This page documenting the story of my grandparents' elopement was a perfect setting for a colorful patterned border. The vintage black & white photo meant I could use just about any color scheme, but I wanted to keep it a bit soft and romantic to reflect the theme of the page. I chose smaller print papers from the Amy Tangerine Shine On collection and punched small (1.25") circles from a variety of the patterns. This is also a great way to use up small scrap of paper you  may have lying around!

 

 

Next, I cut the punched circles in half and adhered them to the backside of an 8.25" circle to make a scalloped border. I used two layers of half-circles to complete my border, adhering the second row circles centered between the first row. This technique is totally customizable - you can add as many or few rows as you want, or use a larger circle punch to increase the size of the scallop!

 

 

 

Here's a visual step-by-step of the scallop border technique!

STEP ONE:  Punch circle from patterned paper. I used approximately 22 circles on my page,
but quantity will depend on the size of the cardstock circle you are edging.

 

STEP TWO:  Cut punched circles in half and adhere to back side of larger cardstock circle.
I apply a tape adhesive to the outer edge of cardstock and slightly overlap the edges of the scallops.

 

STEP THREE: Adhere a second row of half-circle, centering each between the first row
of half-circles. And remember the back side doesn't have to look perfect! Once you flip the
cardstock circle over, the border will look clean and crisp.

I'd love to see your pages using this technique - so leave me a link if you do! Happy Scrapping! 

Junior Year | Scrapbook & Cards Fall 2018

Hayden has officially sent off all his college applications so around here we're celebrating that milestone. And by "celebrating" I mean simultaneously high-fiving Mike that we managed to raise a pretty normal, well-adjusted kid that will undoubtedly do much more impressive things than his parents, freaking out that we have a few short months left with this amazing kiddo, and waiting with unspoken hope and anxiety that he actually gets accepted to his first-choice school (and possibly plotting devious revenge on certain admissions officers if he doesn't). Ah, the roller coaster that is parental emotions.

And seeing this layout that I created for the autumn issue of SCT is yet another ride on that roller coaster.  This was my boy one year ago, embarking on one of his toughest academic years, but with what still seemed like a lifetime to go until graduation. And yet here we are. So to keep me from crumbling into a ball of emotions, I'm gonna talk about the paper folding technique I used on this page, ok? (And then go cry into my coffee!)

 
S U P P L I E S :

I'm always a sucker for back-to-school paper collections, and this one (2 Cool For School from Jillibean) is no exception. Any line that has a good dose of navy blue gets my vote (do you hear me, paper companies??) To create a fun textural background, I used 2" punched circles with a 1.5" punched square of another paper layered in the center. Then I used a bone folder to fold the edges of the circle around the square and created these cute little windows:

 

In the center of some of the squares, I added epoxy stickers that coordinate with this collection. It kind of reminds me of an advent calendar with the little windows that open to reveal a treat inside!

 

The title is a mix of Jillibean die-cut letters (YEAR) and the font Pacific Again (junior) that I cut on my Cameo from green cardstock. It's slightly ironic that is the name of this font, since five of the eight schools Hayden has applied to are, in fact, very near the Pacific ocean. And I will likely be crying oceans of tears as I watch him head off into the big wide world this spring. Maybe I should have used a font named Call Your Mother instead?!?

Have a fabulous Friday!

 

SUN & SEA | SCrapbook & cards summer 2018

Have you gotten your hands on the summer issue of SCT yet? If not, you definitely should! It's the perfect companion while you're lounging by the pool, sipping an icy beverage and working on your tan (or sitting in an air-conditioned house with the fan blowing directly on you, while guzzling iced tea by the gallon attempting not to die of heat exhaustion... whatever the case may be!)

One of my contributions to this edition included a layout for the Design School column, which focused on effective use of white space in design. On this page, I demonstrated how  different sized elements in a grid can have the same weight (or focal importance) simply by maintaining equal margins between them.

 

S U P P L I E S :

 

The Bella Blvd Island Escape collection was a perfect match for my beach photos. I used some of the die-cuts and chipboard to help fill a "hole" in the center of the grid (otherwise known as "trapped white space") and they also reinforce the bright, tropical feel of the layout.

 

In the white space surrounding my grid, I used a water splatter stamp from Your Next Stamp to add a bit of texture to my otherwise plain background.  You could also add stitching, doodling, or spray ink/paint to create a similar effect.

 

Be sure to check out the article in Scrapbook & Cards for even more tips and tricks about white space. And stay cool, my friends!

Designer's Challenge | Scrapbook & Cards Spring 2018

Spring has officially sprung and the newest issue of Scrapbook & Cards is available (for download or on newstands) now! I was thrilled to be one of the three artists to create for the popular Designer's Challenge column that's been brought back by popular demand. Each of us received these four products and were asked to create a page using only these items, cardstock, and basic tools. 

 

Echo Park Happy Birthday Girl papers + Dear Lizzy Stay Colorful Layered Stickers + CZ Design All Caps Dies + YNS Sparkle Gumdrops

 

I knew this cute and colorful collection would be perfect for documenting Riely's 11th birthday party, so I printed out six smaller square photos (2.5") and a large focal photo (5x7) to create this page:

 

S U P P L I E S :

I alternated the smaller photos with blocks of patterned paper cut to the same size and layered with fun accents. I also fussy-cut portions from some of the patterned papers to use as embellishments (like the flowers and the candles) on the blocks. This is a great technique when you're working with limited supplies!

 

 

 

I adored the clean, crisp lettering of the CZ Design All Caps alphabet dies and used them for my title and an additional monogram I included on one of the blocks. 

 

 

To create a border along the top and bottom of my photos, I used the dies to cut lots of round letters (O, G, C and Q) from pink cardstock. I trimmed off the rounded portions of those letters and lined them up to create a unique scallop across the page. I love the bit of whimsy it adds and it helps to balance all the straight lines in this design.

 

 

To see how Stacy Cohen and Kelly Goree used the same supplies to create their layouts, be sure and grab your copy of the magazine.

Happy Spring!

 

BasicGrey | Love

Mike and celebrated our 18th anniversary on the 18th (does that make it our golden anniversary?!?) so I thought this week would be a perfect time to share a layout about us. It's another two-pager that features circles folded into squares as a design element. It's a super easy technique to add dimension and incorporate lots of various patterns onto your page!

 

S U P P L I E S :

InLinkz.com

 

The squares that embellish this page started out as circles. I cut 15 circles (3-inches in diameter) from various BasicGrey Dear Heart papers, but any double-sided paper will work. I also cut a 2.125" square as a template (this can be a scrap piece of paper or cardstock) to determine the placement of the score lines. 

 

 

Place the square template in the center of each circle, and score along the straight edges.

 

 

Then just fold along the score lines!  You can adhere the folded flaps down, or leave them loose for added dimension. The result is small boxes that are perfect for featuring an embellishment or small snippets of journaling.

 

 

 

 

This technique can be used with a variety of circle sizes for completely different looks. I know I'll be trying it again in the near future!

 

And after some research, I discovered 18 is actually the porcelain anniversary. Hmmm...I guess I should be thankful my gift was a nice dinner out and not a toilet, right?!?  Happy Thursday!

 

 

Technique on Tuesday | Slanted Squares

I'm always looking for new ways to put a creative spin on classic design frameworks. I use the basic grid as a starting point for many of my pages, so finding new applications to use on those grids assures that all my layouts don't end up looking the same. Adding an angle is a great way to change up the basic grid and it's the basis for my technique of Slanted Squares!

 

S U P P L I E S :

InLinkz.com

 

For this grid, I started with 2.75" squares, three of which were photos and the rest were assorted patterned papers from one of BasicGrey's final collections, Saturday Morning. (You can still find some pieces from this release and it's fabulously versatile for both feminine & masculine pages!) Because these squares on the larger side, I knew it would be difficult to center the design, so I planned for it to bleed off the edges on three sides, leaving some white space on the left for a title and journaling block. But rather than arrange the squares in a traditional grid, I slanted them almost 45˚and offset the seams between blocks.

 

 

 

On most of the patterned paper blocks, I layered coordinating embellishments including flowers, cork stickers and vellum pieces. I also added some circular stitching to a few blocks, which - unless you are a professional seamstress - is nearly impossible to do perfectly, so embrace the fact that the circles will look wonky! I love using this method for adhering vellum and mesh pieces where traditional adhesive would show.

 

 

For the embellishments that were more linear like the "kindred spirits" and "good times" banners and the vellum rulers, I adhered them atop the squares perpendicular to the page edges, which adds stability to the design. (The title and journaling block also serve this purpose). If every element were at an angle, the design would feel like it's sliding off the page, so it's important to balance the slanted lines with elements that feel stable and grounded.

 

 

Slanted squares create dynamic movement in a design, so they are great on any page theme that needs a sense of motion and energy. This design is easy to replicate with smaller squares as well (and a great way to use up smaller scraps!) and you don't necessarily have to incorporate the photos into the grid; they could be layered over a grid background. Adjusting the angle of the squares is another way to mix it up, so try changing the tilt of the grid with each new page! 

Regardless of the angle or size of the squares, adding a slight slant puts a fresh spin on the grid (and results in some pretty fun pages!)

 

Simple Saturday | Bananas

Most of you familiar with my scrapping style know that I'm not a very technique-driven scrapper. I tend to stay away from messy mediums and strive to keep things pretty simple in the design department. But occasionally I do like to try a technique, especially if it's one that won't permanently stain my fingers blue. (Don't ask.)  Here's one such technique that was inspired by several party projects on Pinterest featuring fringed banners:

I knew this festive craft would translate great to a scrapbook page and the fact that it would only require scissors and a minimal amount of hand/eye coordination, I was game to try it out. And less than an hour later (and without injury to person or home, miraculously enough) this is the page that resulted!

S U P P L I E S :

InLinkz.com

I'm often conflicted when scrapping Halloween layouts. While I usually love the photos of the event, I have a deep seated dislike for most Halloween-themed scrapbooking products. (I'm working through this with my therapist.) Rarely do my photos work with a traditional orange/black/purple scheme, so I've found that avoiding the themey products is usually best for my sanity.  On this page, I opted for red, blue, yellow and black that works well with the photos of my vampire and banana-man (which, on a sidenote, has been the most used costume in the history of the Dickinson family. With the bow tie and trench coat as accessories, I think this is its fifth reincarnation as a Halloween get up!)

 

Inspired by the fringed party banners, I made borders for my page made with 1-inch strips of patterned papers that I cut about every 1/4 inch using small scissors. The cuts onlyu go about 2/3 of the way into the strip, leaving one edge intact for adhering. After layering them vertically on the page, I gently bent up some of the fringe for dimension. 

I added some twine at the base of the border to finish it off and I love the festive result! I kept the party-theme going with my titlework, which features chipboard letters atop black cardstock pennants, strung across the bottom of the page.

And that's your super simple technique for this Saturday! Hope you all have a great weekend!

Technique on Tuesday | Big Time Banners

Banners are such a fun page accent, and you often see small rows of banners (also known as garland or bunting) strung across the corner of a page as a whimsical embellishment. But banners can also be used as a major design element, and the patterns, shape, and repetition they add to a design is impactful.  A recent page that I created for BasicGrey features their Tea Garden banner stickers, which I used to create a colorful background:

S U P P L I E S:

InLinkz.com

The banners were a great match with these photos of Riely on a wooden swing at the beach and helped me establish a carefree, easy feeling for the page. I first cut a large frame from grey cardstock and stitched a piece of vellum behind it. On top of this frame, I adhered rows of the banner stickers, aligning the rows on a slight curve to mimic the look of hanging garland.

Once the stickers were in place, I ran thin line of glue above the row and adhered a piece of white twine to connect the pennants. A few enamel dots atop some of the stickers were all I needed for embellishments.

While the banners are a focal point in this particular design, you could also use a similar treatment as a background, layering the photos and title over the top. But with certain page themes, it's fun to let the banners take center stage! Here's some examples of pages where I've used bold banner treatments:

 

 

So are you inspired to go big time with your banners? I'd love to see what you create!

Technique on Tuesday | Clothesline Design

Looking back through my albums, I often take note of the design techniques that appear frequently on my pages. One such technique is what I've christened the "clothesline design" - where the page elements all appear to be hanging from a horizontal line that spans the page. It's a great way to incorporate lots of fun embellishments and create a lively, whimsical feel!

S U P P L I E S :

InLinkz.com

On this particular layout, I only had one photo to include, so it takes center stage at the middle of the clothesline. But you could easily include more photos and fewer embellishments - this design is pretty flexible, and that's one of the main reasons I use it over and over!

On some of the embellishments (like the tags), I actually strung them on the twine, but on the others, I just adhered them with foam adhesive slightly overlapping the twine, so they'd appear to be hanging. 

 

Since I wanted the items on the clothesline to be a focal point, I chose a neutral cream cardstock for the bottom half of the page where. Because there was a lot of contrast between the top half with the bottom half of my layout, I used a die cut frame that includes my title (you can download the free file here!) to help connect the two.

Here are some more examples of my "clothesline design" technique in action!

 

See, there are lots of different ways to use "clotheslines" - and not one of them involves laundry! Holla!