9.20.2011

Layout Process

I know that everyone creates a little differently so today I thought I'd share a bit about my personal process for creating a layout.

I always start with pictures.  I have to admit that I am quite random when it comes to this.  I have no rhyme or reason.  But what I do have is tens of thousands of photos to choose from.  (no joke!) (I'm a photographer.)
So I open up my folder in Bridge and see what file title captures my fancy on that day.

On this day, I went with our Silverton Railroad adventure in Southwestern Colorado a few years ago.  I choose the photos I want to use and bring them into Photoshop for a bit of editing, print them out and then head to my desk.
Next, I decide what products I want to use to scrap with. Sometimes I choose a kit, sometimes I choose my stash, sometimes a collection, it depends on how I feel at the time.  This time, I had Studio Calico's Glee Club sitting on my desk so I decided I'd use it.

It and the add-ons I used are pictured below.




My photos have a warm cast to them so I felt that the colors would work well.

I've been feeling like I tend too often to choose a solid neutral background and have wanted to challenge myself to use a printed and colored BG.  So for this layout, I chose this paper from Amy Tangerine's new line.  I used the Orange Woodgrain side.

                                                                               
Next, I rummage through the kit and pull papers and embellishments I think might work with the colors I have in mind.  (It's very likely that at some point I'll pull something else out of my stash as well)

I started by arranging my pictures across the page in a line (had a photo, but alas, I seem to have deleted it.  (dumb dumb!)

It wasn't long before I knew I needed a little something different going on so I pulled out a piece of the Amy Tan black and white chevron that was already cut from a previous project and put it down to see how that would work.

I fussed around with some of the kit pieces I'd pulled out, cut out a tabbed shape from some scrap packaging I had laying on my desk as a test shape and tried some ideas.  I like this beginning on the design but it doesn't look finished.


I like the tabbed shape so I commited and cut that shape out of my favorite SC exclusive paper in a while with my Slice Elite.  I also decided what my title would be, '6 if by Train' so now I've got a plan for how I want the title to look and I'm trying it out using stickers placed on a transparent sheet and placed where I want it on the page to make sure it looks good. (thanks Kimber-Leigh for that tip!)


Again, more fussing, staring, looking, tweeking, moving.  I am not good at imagining how things will look so I usually end up placing it all before making a final decision.  At this point, I had a big hole on the left that I had to decide how to fill. That was it's own process, almost like a mini layout.

Add caption


I ended up pulling some 7gypsies ephemera out of my stash and using a vintage 'eye chart' as a background for the '6 if by' portion of the title and the arrow.  I also added the stick on brads and played with the placement of 'Mr. Conductor'.

Finally, I started gluing.  I wanted the adhesive fabric to have a frayed edge so I had to remove it from it's backing and pull the fibers down the sides to get the look I was going for. Then I reapplied spray adhesive to the back of it and stuck it down. 

I stuck all the other background pieces down as well and then added the little embellishments.  Finally, I stitched around the 6 and added some additional brads as accents.  

And here is the final project.  In case you were wondering, this was about a 4 hour process for me.  Yes, I am slow!




I hope that was interesting and enjoyable.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

And feel free to follow my blog if you haven't already.

26 comments:

  1. I love seeing creative processes! Really helps give me ideas when I get stuck. Thanks for sharing :)

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  2. Loved to see how you work. I see you have been hit by the stitching bug like i have, its like i can't leave the thread alone lol. Oh and i may have just ordered 4 rolls of washi from Etsy lol

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  3. What an interesting read :) Love that you shared your creative process and what a beautiful end result! There are so many details to look at.

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  4. Love your process, I'm the same way!!! I love the stitched 6!

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  5. Thanks so much for sharing - very neat! I also start with pictures. It just seems like the way to go since they truly are the focus!

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  6. This was really lovely to read how you put a layout together. I too use a transparent sheet to try out stickers! Great finished layout. Also wanted to thank you for your lovely comments on my blog. Becky x

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  7. Awesome page Ursula! I love that you've created a totally new look with the kit and add-ons that I wouldn't have even known was there. =)

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  8. So cool to see your process! Great layout and I love your pictures!

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  9. your process sounds a lot like mine. lol!! awesome page! everything is perfectly done!

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  10. I am a very process oriented scrapbooker - I love to hear how other people approach their process! Love your page - the wood grain paper is perfect!

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  11. Great post, Ursula! My process is pretty much the same as yours.

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  12. Great post! Sounds a lot like what I go through and maybe more than 4 hours! LOL!! Wonderful page btw!! TFS :)

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  13. I print my pic's first too! You have such a great style~

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  14. Thanks for sharing your process, Ursula! I really, really like that layout and the fact that you used the wood grain paper as your background!

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  15. Thank you for sharing your process! It's fun to see how a page comes together (and it's a great page too)!

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  16. Love seeing this! I'm a pretty slow scrapper too, but I figure it's the end result that counts, not how long it took me to get there. ;)
    - April

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  17. It was so neat to see how the page progressed. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. What a fun page, and thanks for sharing your process.

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  19. Loved seeing your process! I guess that makes me slow, too, but I really don't mind. I'm like you and have a hard time visualizing. I like to leave a layout and come back to it with a fresh set of eyes. Love your finished page!

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  20. thanks very nice ilove how you posted as you went along the complete project is awesome thanks. for sharing..

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  21. Thanks for sharing that! It is fun to see how other people's creative minds work!

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  22. I always love to how other people come up with their designs and their process!

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  23. I haven't been on the Durango silverton loop in so many years!!! What a fun layout! And really nice to see it come together.

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  24. I love this! Seeing other people's process is fascinating to me! I love the stitching on the 6! Such great details on the layout!

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  25. FABULOUS to see how your process works - I always find that fascinating! great post :)

    thea.
    xx

    (www.spoonfulzine.com)

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I really enjoy your feedback, so thanks a bundle for taking the time to leave it.

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