Hey Everyone! Kinsey here with your monthly installment of “Simply Crate”…Today, I’ll be showing you guys how to build a fun, layered frame collage layout perfect for multiple photos that’ll work with any event or theme. So let’s get started!
This layout is all about layered rectangular frames which I love because it’s a graphic, yet simple element to create and customize, and they can be used for any theme. For this Barbie/Christmas themed layout, I used a combination of papers from both the Peppermint and Random lines, as well as embellishments and accents from Peppermint.
To get started, I busted out my trusty Silhouette to make the frames for me- if you don’t have an electronic die cut machine, not to worry! Just use a paper trimmer or craft knife. I cut 6 frames total and saved the insides of them as well to fill a couple of the openings (more on that in a sec). The other 2 frames are from the Peppermint Accent Cuts paper, I just used my x-acto knife to cut the centers out of them.
Once you have all the frames cut, it’s time to figure out placement…just move your photos and frames around so that they’re overlapping until you find a configuration that works for you and then with a pencil, lightly trace the inside edges of your frames onto your background paper just in case you’re like me and have a crazy cat who likes to jump on your table and rearrange things a bit when you aren’t looking, ha!
Set the photos aside for a minute and align all the frames with your pencil guidelines and glue only the frames together where they overlap so that you end up with a frame collage. Also, if you want to add frame insides to your collage, now is the time to do it…I did it after I had glued the frames to the background and had to perform scrapbook surgery, ha!
Erase all of the pencil lines from your background paper or cardstock and adhere the frame collage to your background paper. (Note: the little L-shaped marks in the photo below, indicate where my photos go…it’s not a necessary step, it just helps me remember)
With everything glued into place, clean up the edges of the layout, but trimming away any frame overage. Now the fun part…embellishing! Just move a few little baubles around until you get it the way you like and ‘install’.
Finishing touches…for my title, I chose a large chipboard font and a small sticker font. I wanted both to be red so I used Schoolhouse mist by SC to change the chipboard color. Add journaling- I initially wanted to journal inside one of the frames but when it came down to it, I decided to journal around the edge of the title frame instead…just go with your gut! Last but not least, the stitching…this is an optional thing (my layouts always feel ‘nekkid’ without a little stitching somewhere) so I just added a few cross-stitches to the frames…
So that’s all for today folks! Thanks so much for stopping by and hanging out with me for a bit!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh I loveeeeeeeee this idea!! I am gonna try this! Thanks for the inspo and GORGEOUS lo!! WOW! :):):):):):):):):):):)
Posted by: Julie Tucker-Wolek | September 15, 2011 at 05:41 AM
I ADORE this! Gorgeous page! Wonderful tutorial/idea! Thank you!
Posted by: Amy S. | September 15, 2011 at 06:20 AM
Fab layout as always Kinsey!!!!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Suz | September 15, 2011 at 08:58 AM
Totally fun layout and great tutorial!
Posted by: susan stringfellow | September 15, 2011 at 02:06 PM
I LOVE this LO and im so going to lift it. Thanks for a super tutorial :)
Posted by: caroline hancock | September 15, 2011 at 05:17 PM
am so loving this idea! what a fab layout! Tx
Posted by: Tracee | September 17, 2011 at 07:02 AM