If you're lucky enough to reside in a warm climate that is home to a parade of cacti, then CP Gal Melissa Stinson's multi-photo layout is a must-see! Or maybe you simply adore the sweet and solo cacti of the Crate Paper collection, Open Road–either way, check out today's cacti-friendly installment!
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I've thought from the very moment that I first laid eyes on the chipboard in Crate Paper's 'The Open Road' collection that the adorable little cacti were probably my favorite things on it. I don't know why, but I have a small obsession with desert plants–succulents included–and whenever my husband and I go on vacation somewhere tropical, I always come back home with endless photos of the ocean...and cactus.
when choosing photos for my layout this month, I immediately thought back to a trip to Aruba that we took several years ago, where we were amazed at the variety (and sometimes the size!) of cactus around the island. I pulled out one of my favorite photos to scrap, and then immediately several moderately related photos that were also in my 'To Scrap' binder–they jumped out as perfect companions.
I took a few photos of my layout as I scrapped it and wanted to share a peek at my process along the way!
This is the very start of the layout, where I've selected the photos I want to use along with one design element that will be used to help set up the photo arrangement. This is how I start almost every multi-photo layout that I scrap–photos in a variety of sizes, a design element (sometimes it's a big piece of floral chipboard because I love those!), and a sheet of white cardstock. I may or may not stick with the white cardstock in the end, but it's a starting place, and you have to start somewhere!
Choosing a photo layout is really just a matter of moving them around until they fit together like puzzle pieces or a loose grid. I work with them until I have a visually pleasing arrangement with no awkward gaps between any of the elements. This is how I work a multi-photo layout whether it's a single or double page spread, and my best piece of advice here is to print your pictures in a variety of sizes and a mix of square and rectangle if you want. I'd already printed all of these photos long ago and didn't want to reprint any, so I went with what I had.
Once the photos are in place, I'll add in a few large pieces that I want to include. For this layout that meant a journaling card (gotta have a place for words!), a large floral chipboard piece (of course!), and also, a little cactus chipboard piece.
Many of my multi-photo layouts end up without much patterned paper in the mix. That's partly because there's already so much going on with the photos visually, and also partially a space issue. Sometimes, I will mat a photo or two with patterned paper as an accent or to make one particular photo stand out, but on this page the edges were already fitting together nicely, so I left the photos un-matted. I did work in some patterned paper elsewhere on the page, mostly from the cut-apart sheet in the Open Road collection. Two little tags were tucked under the floral chipboard and a photo, and I also pulled a floral piece from the die cut pack to tuck under another picture.
You may have noticed in the previous photo that I thought about using some sequins on my page, but I decided to add in a little stack of patterned paper scraps at the top instead. I've already used The Open Road to make a mini album and have lots of little bits left over, and these three pieces were already cut to size, so I grabbed them and stuck them down.
Before adhering my final page, I also changed out my background since I felt that it looked a little plain. I didn't want a ton of bold pattern or color, so I went with a subtle ledger print from the collection.
My last steps are always to adhere everything down, add machine stitching, and write my journaling. I don't always do them in that order, but they are all done at the end.
I still had lots of little leftover pieces on my desk after finishing my layout, and I decided to make a set of journaling cards with them before putting everything away!
I grabbed a few blank Project Life lined cards and used paper scraps, stickers, chipboard, frames, and some kraft tape from the Maggie Holmes 'Styleboard' collection to whip up a set of cards for use on a future Project Life page. I love growing succulents at home, so I'm sure these will get used fairly quickly.
LOVE this!!
Posted by: Theresa Grdina | July 03, 2014 at 06:23 AM
Great page Melissa! I think this style of multi photo pages is my favorite! + i love this collection like crazy!
Posted by: Nathalie | July 06, 2014 at 10:20 PM