Six Tips for Layout Design

Have you ever had the sense that your layout designs felt a little "off"?

I stick with the following six principles when creating our monthly layout cards and pre-assembled page designs.

1. Focal Images
Think of your page as a theater production. Select the best photos to be the "leading characters." Those images will be featured on the full 4x6 single or double mattes. In our July Layout Sketch (included each month with your membership), there are two double-matted spots for focal images and two additional co-stars with single mattes.

2. Groups
Compliment focal images with groups of smaller items. These are the "supporting characters" of your theater production. This sketch has several sets of sub groups. The smaller spots can also be an ideal location for journaling or non-photo embellishments.

3. Anchoring Strips
This is the "backstage crew" of your production! Anchor elements on the layout with 12" strips to prevent that uncomfortable "floating" feeling. Anchors can vary in width and be created with strips of paper, ribbons or even a row of stamped images. I like to alternate with horizontal and vertical anchoring strips.

4. Anchoring Blocks
In addition to strips, another helpful grounding tool is a block of solid or printed paper beneath a group of items. I frequently use complete sheets of 8.5x11 paper as an anchoring block. It also subdivides the page into smaller areas and can make the space seem less overwhelming.

5. Spacing
I like to separate elements on the page with equal spacing within groups. Notice how all of the elements on the double page spread have a perimeter of roughly the same distance. This helps create a cohesive feeling within the group. Avoid trying to distribute the pieces to the top, bottom and outside edges.

Note the difference in the page below with the lack of anchoring, grouping, and spacing principles.

6. Tangents

A tangent simply indicates that two things are touching. And not in a good way. Avoid a tangent created by two corners/edges touching or aligning with one another. The first illustration below shows ideal placement of corners.

Study the differences in the layout below to discover the newly-formed tangents. The vertical anchoring strip is aligned with the edge of the anchor block, and the photo matte in the lower right corner forms a tangent with the right edge of the page. The other newly-formed corner tangents are not as problematic, but the above layout is a better arrangement.

Here is a real-life layout using July's Oopsie Daisy Layout Sketch with papers from the collection:

It translates quite well, doesn't it? Adapting the layout sketch is easy once you know the basic principles. I was able to preserve the tall water tower image by adding it to the grouping on the bottom half of the left page. The anchoring strip was also a terrific place for my page title.

Members, don't forget to download your layout sketches every month for instant inspiration and complete paper trimming instructions.

Have fun and design well!
Tricia

This Hop is a real Picnic!

Welcome hoppers! You are in for a treat today. We have 17 talented bloggers on hand sharing their creations made using the June Picnic collection.

Each year, Kay's daughter Marilee hosts a lemonade stand to coincide with an art festival in town. For many years, my daughter Emma has had the pleasure of being Marilee's sidekick. Kay always documents the event with wonderful photos, and I knew last year's pics would be perfect with Picnic!

Pages created using Picnic CS papers and Layout Card from Trees.

Add dimension with Pop Dots and a touch of sparkle on the ice cube with Stickles.

Picnic Lite Thickers custom-tinted with appropriately-named "Mango Lemonade" Memories Mist.

I couldn't resist making a few cards, too. My stash is severely depleted and I need to restock for my monthly Birthday Club card swap. By the way, we'd love to have you join us . . . there's nothing like getting a dozen or more beautiful cards from your fellow paper addicts crafters for your birthday!

A blatant scrap-lift of Janet's Greetings to Go card. I love the "bite" mark!

More fun with Pop Dots!

This sentiment from an old Aurora Borealis stamp sheet makes me giggle.

I don't know about you, but I'm having a blast with the Picnic kit. Are you ready to hop on over to the next blogger? Julie is next over at Cape Cod Scrapper, and there's a complete list below just in case you get lost along the way.

Karen for Club Scrap Creates

Julie at Cape Cod Scrapper

Inkstains with Roni

Deb at Liftbridge Cards and Crafts

Deb Duz Scrappin'

Jill P's Place

Tricia at The Efficient Crafter

Hetty at Craft Chaos

Kay's Keepsakes

Cathy at The Artful Gamut

Anne at Crzymom's Tidbits
Anne Marie at Artfully Balanced

Debby at Masculine Inspirations

Dishing with Janet

Lisa at Carpe Memoria

Digital Musings from AnnetteD

Donna at The Crafty Colonel

Happy hopping!
Karen

Part 2: Full Color 3D Stamping

In Part 1: Black & White 3D Stamping, I shared how this piece of artwork inspired me to create a similar image using only my unmounted rubber stamps and some black Gelatos. Want to see how these stamped images can be turned into full color works of art with amazing dimension?

Here's how! Follow steps 1-6 previously discussed in Part 1.

Let's review.

1. Choose simple stamp images.
2. Stamp foreground image, Papillon butterfly in CS® Hybrid Ocean Ink.

3. Stamp on Post-it note to create mask.

4. Fussy cut image from Post-it note.
5. Mask the corresponding image and stamp. 

* Note- Use second generation stamping to create lighter stamped images.

6. Create additional masks and continue stamping.

*note- Use only the top portion of the Hydrangeas Art Nouveau leaves image.  

Stamp leaves randomly around the entire masked Hydrangea/butterfly cluster.

Finished stamped image.

7. Use Gelatos and a water brush to color in your images and add a shadow to create the illusion of depth. I created a video tutorial on adding a shadow to your stamped images. If you are having trouble viewing the video, click HERE.



Apply more color toward the outside of the image and lesser amounts toward the center. For example, when painting the leaves, use a darker shade of green toward the outside of the image and then leave a white highlight in the center by adding very little color or no color at all to the center of the leaf.

Continue to add metallic purple and blue Gelatos with a water brush, where the butterfly and Hydrangeas stamped blossoms overlap. Add black Gelato to these areas for even more dramatic shadowing.

Every month our members are treated to a free sketch with detailed assembly line instructions. This recipe can be used to create layouts with any papers from your stash. My layout came together nicely using cardstocks from Written Word, Bridges, Trees and a Pattern Basics Bright text print.

Hope you enjoyed Part 2 of this tutorial and will give it a try for yourself.

Julie











Additional supplies used:
Blossom purple translucent paper
Sizzix Die - scroll stems and flowers
Hydrangeas purple pearls (included in Embellishment pack)
Hydrangeas Border and Backgrounds UM Rubber Stamps
CS® Amethyst and Moss Hybrid Inks

No-Limits Layout Card

Just in case you forgot, members get a brand new layout sketch every month. Be sure to download your new formula right away so you can "shop" for inspiration on your laptop, tablet, or printed stack of ideas.

Remember . . . the layout cards can be used with any papers from your stash, not just the collection for that month!

I used our latest recipe from March with paper from the Trees collection but then dipped into my old stash of UM stamps for a few simple captions and the page title. Do you recognize the stamps I used for the title?

Speaking of . . . be sure to take a gamble on our exciting unmounted stamps seconds sale starting today. We have an impressive inventory of near-perfect sheets ready to be loved at a price you won't believe. Beth said she'd do her best to accommodate all unique stamps for multiple quantities of the 5-pack, as long as they are placed within the same order number.

Have fun!

Tricia

Graffiti and a Pop of Color

If you utilize your entire kit with the ALSB instructions each month, there may never be a need to use that sweet little layout card included with your membership*. Just remember--it's there for you!

The 12x12 Black Smooth Prints were used as a base for this Graffiti layout, and I added the 8.5x11 White Felt Print and White Felt Plains along with an 8.5x11" portion of that gorgeous coated Pink from the collection. While it wasn't included in the original paper pack, individual 12x12 sheets are available. Scope out your paper stash for other bright colors to add some pop to the set!

The photos were from an historical boat ride through several old locks and dams on the Fox River. The industrial look and water theme of the pictures worked surprisingly well with this collection!

I had a blast adding stamped images and accenting them with the White Galaxy Marker. All told, it took me longer to write this blog post than it did to make this layout. I love that!

Thanks for checking in today!
Tricia

*Members will receive a special email with the link to the layout card.

Layout Cards Are Little Gems!

If you're attempting to start a page totally from scratch but find yourself staring into outer space or maybe reorganizing your stuff (again), remember your layout cards!

Each month we give our members a totally fresh recipe. The link to the new card is included in your member email from Club Scrap. If you tend to use up your entire stash of kit papers by following the ALSB instructions provided, challenge yourself to use other papers from your inventory with the new formula.

Here, I took the December card . . . 

. . . and used Aspen papers to create some pages of my hubby's trip to British Columbia. I made a few subtle tweaks to the arrangement of the right side of the layout to accommodate the 8.5x11 Almond Print. Worked like a charm!

RuthAnn already has the December layout sketch challenge started in the Community . . . make your own layout with this sketch and be sure to post it there!

In the mood for a quickie card?

We've got you covered in that department, too!  Marya started the December card sketch challenge in the forum, Jac designed a free hybrid download (found in that challenge thread), and I just couldn't resist making that cutie! Lots of others are participating, too. Check it out!

Here's to having another creative day. It "aspen" so nice to share it with you!

While you're here, be sure to take a second and leave a comment below to enter your name into the drawing for today's giveaway . . .

Tricia

**********THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**********

Are you ready for another giveaway? Today's blast from the past is the June 2004 Extra! Extra! Club Stamp Kit.

This kit contains a generous bundle of 8-1/2 x 11" premium papers (printed and plain), an unmounted rubber stamp sheet, one wood-mounted stamp, printed paper tape, faux typewriter keys, a frame project and much, much more!

To qualify for the random drawing, leave a comment for Tricia on today's blog post. A winner will be chosen and announced on the December 11 blog post by 10am Central. Best of luck!

The Day 9 Giveaway random drawing winner was comment #31, Sandy! Congratulations! Please contact Karen at karen@clubscrap.com with your contact information so we can arrange to send you your prize!