Latest Posts

scrapbook layout, outdoors, hike

Behind the Scenes: Adding Dynamics – The Angle

There are lots of ways how you can add dynamics to a page in order to make it visually interesting and captivating. One way of doing so is by placing things at an angle. Take a look at this page I created the other day with Libby’s new kit “We The People”:

CT-LP-wethepeopleIt would have just been another one of those circular layouts I’ve created lately, if it hadn’t been for the angle. The angle is what creates tension on an otherwise pretty simple page layout and composition, which makes it visually interesting. All of a sudden, the page stands out from the rest, and that is because of the angle I added.

 

How to Add an Angle

Usually, I begin by just scrapping my page, adding paper layers and clusters, my photo(s), the title, and the journaling. If you wait with rotating everything to the very end, you save yourself a lot of guessing work and having to rotate everything individually. After creating your page, simply select all the layers you want to rotate in the Layers Panel, click command + T (or control + T), to edit those layers, go to one of the corners of your selection and rotate either way. Keep rotating until you’re satisfied with the way things look. Of course, you can also add a specific angle by typing in a set value in the “Set Rotation” field in the top bar of your Photoshop screen.

Tip:
Even when you manually rotate your layers, keep an eye on the value in the “Set Rotation” field in the top bar of your screen and remember that value. That way, if you realize you need to add another element to your page afterward, you’ll be able to rotate it exactly according to the angle of the rest of the elements on your page.

 

Try rotating your layouts more often and you’ll see that there will be lots of added interest.

Tip:
You can also rotate clusters of templates  you use to change the look of things (and help you use your templates more than once in a versatile way). Who says you can only use templates one way?

 

P2D: Field Trip

There is so much inspiration you can get from traditionally scrapped paper layouts. The possibilities are endless. Take this page for example from the Crate Paper Blog:

I love the blocked design and all the bits of embellishing that make this page so much fun to look at because there is so much to discover. It totally inspired me to try my hand on a page based on this one, and here’s what I created:

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Like it? Then why don’t you use this as a jump start for one of your pages?

 

Kissing the Fish & Other Wedding Stories

130518-IMG_7907Here goes another wedding. Like every year someone among my colleagues gets married and then everyone is invited (I shared the invitation with you a couple weeks ago). This wedding was a little special because we got to have Hershey’s Hugs and Kisses – a special treat from the U.S.. And boy did we make sure to treat us well with those (maybe to the annoyance of some of our colleagues around, but who cares when there’s so much chocolate to be had). Of course, this being a wedding and all, there was a lot more than chocolate. There were the bride and groom, and cupcakes, and lots and lots of food. Like the fish my friend attempted to get acquainted with a little more closely …

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But see for yourself:

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The bride & groom

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Freebie Friday: Summer Morning – Part 2

Yikes! I’m way behind with posting (as always this time of year when life gets crazy busy), but it doesn’t mean that I don’t have any freebie to share with you. Not at all! In fact, the next kit is done already, only waiting to get posted, so while you may have to wait for a bit to collect the pieces, I promise, they are there already, and you’ll have them together eventually (hopefully rather sooner than later, I’ll really try my best!).

Anyways, here’s the second part of “Summer Morning,” which means today you get the first part of the papers.

 

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Click on image to download

You already know the drill: These freebies are good for personal use only, and if you’d like to share them with others, send them to this website, k?

Well then, I’m off to blog a bit more.

Happy Friday, scrappers!