Step by Step: Seriously 6

I mainly use 4" x 6" photos in most of my layouts. I do sometimes crop these photos but I more often than not just use the original 4" x 6" format and make it work for me. I wanted to go beyond my comfort level in this layout by using an enlarged photo and a smaller photo.

The focal photo of Charlotte is just a non-cropped photo blown up to a 5" x 7". The little photo I played around with a bit. I usually print my photos and adjust the layout to fit them. I did the opposite on this page. I first created every aspect of my layout then adjusted the small photo to fit into the space where I wanted it to go.

Due to these two pictures being the only photos I have of Charlotte on her real birthday, I wanted to make the title a focal point. I used a fun ribbon/paper strip technique to make the number ‘6' pop right off the page. It was a really easy way to make a simple layout shine.

Supplies:

• Making Memories Simply Fab Scrapbook Kit (patterned paper, ribbon, jewels, title sticker, purple cardstock)
• Die Cuts With a View background cardstock
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage Photo
• Font: Balloon
• Doodle Bug Lily White Paper Frills
• Heidi Swapp Large White Floral
• EK Success pen

Instructions:

I started off this layout by making the ‘6' for the title. Here is how I did it.

1. Print a large ‘6' in reverse on scrap cardstock using a word processing program. If you don't have access to a computer, you can either trace or freehand draw a backwards six.
2. Cut random, thin strips of the Making Memories patterned paper. To make sure you have enough contrast, cut the striped paper so that some of the stripes are vertical and some are horizontal. Ink all the edges of each of the patterned paper strips.
3. On the reverse side of the ‘6', adhere the patterned paper strips and ribbon in a pattern, making sure that all strips are over the number.
4. Using scissors, cut the '6' out.

To make the rest of the layout, I did the following:

1. Ink edges of the Die Cuts With a View background cardstock with the Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Ink.
2. From the Making Memory Kit:
• Cut the purple cardstock into an 8½" by 2" piece.
• Cut the flowered cardstock into 3" by 3" square.
• Cut the striped cardstock into a 3" by 3½" piece, with the stripes vertical.
• Punch a circle from the purple cardstock. Using a pen, make dots all around the edge.
• Ink all edges of each trimmed piece of paper.
3. Adhere the purple cardstock to the background cardstock 1½" from the right side and 3½" from the bottom of the paper.
4. Adhere the purple flower paper square 1½" from the right side, so its bottom edge abuts the top edge of the purple cardstock(the right side of both will be even with each other).
5. Adhere the journaling block 1½" from the right, so its top edge abuts the bottom edge of the purple cardstock.
6. Adhere a 5" x 7" photo ½" from the left side and 2 1/2" from the top of the background cardstock. The photo will overlap the purple cardstock strip, leaving a 1/4" showing beneath the photo and 2 1/2" showing on the right side.
7. Cut a 6 ½" piece of Doodlebug White Paper Frills. Ink the edges and adhere it below the photo onto the edge of the purple cardstock strip.
8. Adhere the Making Memories jewels, alternating colors, on every third dot on the paper frills.
9. Adhere the Heidi Swapp flower so that it overlaps the flower patterned paper and slightly overlaps the 5" x 7" photo. Adhere the purple cardstock circle into the middle of the flower.
10. Adhere the ‘6' to the background, 2" from the right side and 3 ¼" from the bottom of the background paper. Make sure it is slightly overlapping the paper frill strip, the flower and a tiny bit of the photo.
11. Adhere the small 1 ½" by 3" photo ½" from the right of the background and 1" from the bottom.
12. Write your journaling.

Voila! You are done.