Layouts: Picking Pictures & Papers

Hello everyone!  Several of you mentioned that you needed help in choosing and coordinating papers.  Well, I wanted to share my process today in creating a layout and how I choose papers for my photos.  First, I always find the photos I want to scrap.  I pick out several I think I want to use on my page.  Now, I don't always end up using all of the photos I pull out but sometimes I do. I pick and choose as I work on my page.

After choosing my photos, I look at the colors in the pictures and look through my patterned paper selection to see what would match best.  I almost always (99.9% of the time) choose papers that match my photos. If I have papers I absolutely want to use but the photos don't match, I turn my photos to black and white so that I can use those particular papers.

Memory Box Co. makes it VERY easy to choose papers that coordinate.  Each line has papers that coordinate with each other, so it makes it super simple.  Yes, sometimes I will mix papers from another Memory Box line but for this particular layout, I am sticking with the Poppyfinch line.  Here are the photos I am going to work with and the Poppyfinch 6x6 papers.
 
Now at first glance, these papers don't match at all.  Agh, but have you looked through the entire stack of amazing papers yet?  :)  There are some that work perfectly in this line!  Here is what I chose:
 
There are four papers in this line that work perfectly with these photos.  The above photo is a bit light but once I share the entire layout in the next few days, you will see it all come together.  I hope!  LOL!

After choosing the four papers I will work with, I then start laying out a design.  Here is what I came up with so far:
 
Now the strip across the page are scraps of paper from the card I did earlier this week.  You can see it in this post here.  And actually the card pictures are the true colors of the papers.  My Ott lite in my scrap room does not work well for taking photos!  Anyway, back to the strips of paper--I am famous for saving and using scraps for everything. Now these papers are only 6x6 but my layout is 9x9, and the papers are hanging over the edge.  Yes, it is not one strip of paper. It is actually two pieces that I pieced together underneath my photo. No one will ever know!  Well, except all of you now. LOL! Here is what it looks like underneath my photo:
 
The pattern does not even match up but when you only see the left and right hand side of the paper coming out from underneath the photo, it looks like it matches perfectly.  So, there's my secret. :)

Now, your task for today is to pick your pictures and pick your papers.  Start laying out your page and picking embellishments. I will tell you that I am working with plain chipboard. Next time, I will show you how I cover the chipboard and use a portion of stamps to create a fun look.  So, if you want to find some plain chipboard for your layout too, then you will be able to play along with my next tutorial.

So, have fun picking papers and pictures!  See you again tomorrow!

Comments

[Stephanie]

Thanks for the tutorial Patter. I love "seeing" the thought process for someone else.

There's not a store near me that sells Memory Box products. Is there an online store or some other way I can purchase them?

[Chelsea Cook]

Great tips, Patter! I save all my scraps too :) I have SOOO many! Great for cards and strips like you just did here. I found out that a store near me carries Memory Box stamps so hopefully I can pick one up soon so I can play along in your challenges and stuff :)
~Chelsea

[Sue Beaton]

Hi Patter, just come across your blog so I am following this strand, I have a thing about chipboard, I tend to buy covered board and then i cant use it for much of anything. love this tut so far.
My regards for your art. many hugs for you and yours. XsueX