All About Girls Week! + Quilted Squares Layout by Lisa Dickinson

Today, I'm giving you a peek into my design process when creating a scrapbook layout. I usually begin with a product I'd like to use, and today I'm going to be using the Oh Darling collection, which is wonderfully girlie and feminine with a wide range of color stories and patterns. I've selected a photo of my daughter to use, and I've also die cut a few squares from kraft cardstock with simple shapes cut from the centers.

I wanted to feature a few of my chosen patterned papers used to spice up each of the die-cuts.  I've also selected a few journaling cards, small pieces of patterned paper, and a frame for my photo and initially arranged them all in a loose grid format across my page.

I love grid-based designs because they provide a great foundation for a page. As you can see, it's easy to incorporate squares and rectangles of various sizes and still have them look balanced and stable. I've tried to stagger my blocks across the page to provide a sight line that "flows" by - going up and down, and leading the eye through the page.

The next step in my process is to get the journaling written. Here, I've typed it on one of the Oh Darling journaling cards. It lists many of the "currents" for my daughter - things she's reading, watching, and loving right now. List-style journaling is so quick and easy! I simply asked my daughter each of the prompts and then added in her answer. It gives a nice snapshot of her life and interests. And the best part is that it didn't take more than five minutes to complete!

Next, I'm adding some detail and texture to my die-cut squares by stitching around the border of each shape. I love the handmade look this lends to the design - much like a hand-sewn quilt square. Small details like this can really take a page to the next level!

Now I've gone ahead and adhered all my grid pieces to the background. Rather than use the white cardstock base I had originally planned, I ended up using a soft teal for the top half of the background. It's a color that appears in some of the patterns in my designs, and I love the contrast with the yellows and reds in the grid. It does add a bit more weight to the top half of this design, but I'm going to balance that out with my title!

I've chose the adorable pennant chipboard letters to create a title for this page. I used the edge of the a plate to create this curve, lightly tracing it in pencil before I adhere the chipboard. A string of baker's twine above the letters makes it look like a true bunting. I love the soft curve and how it plays against all the straight lines and 90-degree angles in my grid.

A fussy-cut dress propped up on foam adhesive, adorns the center of this patterned paper block.

More of the pennant chipboard - this added monogram supports my triangle theme from the title work created prior.

A sentiment sticker dresses up the aqua journal card. This tone-on-tone look is very subtle, but helps reinforce my page theme.

Pairs of stitched buttons form a visual rectangle around my grid design. When you plan to stitch buttons to a page, adhere them first with just a bit of temporary adhesive. Then, use a needle to punch small holes through all the buttons and the cardstock. After that, you can thread your needle and add stitching with very little guesswork involved!

Here is a look at the completed page. Thanks so much for joining me on this little creative journey today!

Comments

[Unidea]

Beautiful layout. Love the die cut squares!

[Daniella Miranda]

Great idea to add the teal top and balance the bottom with the tittle.
I do have a question about printing photos: do you print them at home? If you do what program do you use to edit and sent to your printer?
I am after a good software to to it.
Thanks!!

[Lisa Dickinson]

hi daniella! i do print my photos at home on an HP Photosmart printer. I use Photoshop to do any editing and print from that program as well. I find it produces the most accurate color result in my prints - other programs always seems to print a bit off!

[Valerie.H]

Awesome Lo, Lisa.

[jò]

I love it!

[stacie d]

Thank you for the step by step. Great page and stitching details!

[wida]

Ok there is NO way I would have been able to stitch around those shapes like that!!!