Prima’s October Build-a-Page

Thank you to everyone who left me "get well" comments.  I am feeling a bit more human today. 

As you know, every month Prima's awesome sketch artist, Anam Stubbington, creates a sketch.  This is October's sketch:

The flower girls are asked to design pages inspired by the sketch.  All the designs are posted to the Prima blog.  And the monthly contest is then opened to the public.  Basically, you create a layout based on the sketch, using Prima products, upload it to the Prima contest gallery and the winner gets a big goody box full of Prima!!

This month, a twist was added!  The very talented Jo-Anne, suggested that we all use some similar element of same kind.  A debate ensued and the Tropic paper line was decided upon.

Here's my page combining the sketch and the Tropic paper line:

Some details about the layout:

• Using Photoshop, I removed the background color from the main photo.  That way the focus is on the bride and groom’s incredible kiss.
• There is a lot of very subtle inking on this layout.  After distressing the red paper, I inked the edges with 4 different colors (red, brown, black, and purple).  The green bracket paper is also inked (with blue).  Inking adds depth and intensity and really brings the viewers eye in towards the center.  I like to use Ranger's Ink Blending Tool for inking. 
• The bracket was hand cut and I like the fun wonky edge.  It brings energy to the layout.
• To complete my hand cut title obsession, the title was also hand cut.  

As a total side note, if you've never used Prima's "Say It In Crystals" before, they are amazing. (I used them under the flower on my layout.)

Pearls, studs, crystals — in all sorts of colors!  They come in flourishes, frames, shapes, even animals!  I wasn't a huge fan before I started designing for Prima.  But now that I've had the chance to play around with them…let me tell you, I'm a convert.

They're really easy to use and easy to alter.    Those clever designs have all these transparent connectors and so they peel up easily and can then be placed perfectly.  Of course, I do love to cut pieces off or steal a crystal or two, and it's super easy to use your scissors to do just that!

Here are a few other recent layouts I've used them on:

As someone who used to complete every layout with a bit of doodling, I have found that the flourishes add the same kind of texture and "finish" that doodling does, just in a peel and stick formula!  And they often help to bridge the gap between disparate elements on the page.

In any case, you can see all of the Flower Girls' October Build-a-Page layouts here.  Don't forget, you have until October 25 to upload your creation to the contest gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!