Ever have one of those layouts that you just couldn't make work?
I wanted to play along with the sketch challenge at Studio Calico. My new kit arrived last week and I figured I'd crack it open with an easy sketch. Didn't really work out that way….
Here's the sketch:
When presented with a sketch, I usually try to go my own way. But I really liked this sketch, so I decided to keep it pretty straightforward. Here's my first attempt:
Ick.
I hate it. It's just a mess and pulling in twelve different directions and just a total disaster.
So I pulled it apart, patched it up, and tried again:
Better, but I couldn't get the image in my head to match what was happening on paper. Alas. Nevertheless I decided to share the layout so that I could talk about "fixing" layouts. I'm generally a firm believer in "make it and let it go," but sometimes I just hate a layout so much I can't let it go until I fix it. I made two major changes to this layout that I think help relieve some of the problems I was having with the original.
CHANGE ONE
- The original layout has an orange polka dot paper on the right side. It matches the orange cardstock and visually extends that orange cardstock area over to the right side.
- I thought this would be a good thing, but it was a bad thing. In the original, the right side looks oddly empty and my eye goes straight to it. It's not meant to be my focal point.
- To fix this problem, I pulled the orange polka dot paper off (I used a lot of Un-Du and patience).
- Having the busy patterned paper wrap around the entire layout helps to focus the eye on the orange cardstock area and thus the large 4×6 photo.
CHANGE TWO
- I felt like the layout was looking really busy and cluttered and decided that the handwritten journaling was contributing to the busy-ness.
- I had a scrap of the same cardstock I used to create the center section. I cut it up and put it over the handwritten journaling.
- To help hide the seam, I re-sprayed the area (I carefully placed the stencil and masked the photo and patterned paper border) to include the new cardstock. I also added new watercolor droplets.
- I added the new journaling strip directly under the cardstock patch to help hide the bottom seam.
- Unless you're looking for it, the top of the patch fades into the layout.
If I were to start this layout all over again, I think I would use different photos. My photos just don't go with the girly romantic feeling of the layout. I would probably rotate the design ninety degrees as well. Ah well, live and learn.
Thanks for stopping by!
The changes really do make a difference. Especially the pp on the right. Funny, but if I re-do a LO I usually like it better but I have only done it a handful of times with photos that are VERY special to me. TFS your process.
The changes really do make a difference. Especially the pp on the right. Funny, but if I re-do a LO I usually like it better but I have only done it a handful of times with photos that are VERY special to me. TFS your process.
The changes really do make a difference. Especially the pp on the right. Funny, but if I re-do a LO I usually like it better but I have only done it a handful of times with photos that are VERY special to me. TFS your process.
The changes really do make a difference. Especially the pp on the right. Funny, but if I re-do a LO I usually like it better but I have only done it a handful of times with photos that are VERY special to me. TFS your process.
I love this glimpse into someone else’s creative process! And I’m really impressed how you were able to unglue paper–I feel like I rip paper when I just try to take a thicker off!
I love this glimpse into someone else’s creative process! And I’m really impressed how you were able to unglue paper–I feel like I rip paper when I just try to take a thicker off!
I love this glimpse into someone else’s creative process! And I’m really impressed how you were able to unglue paper–I feel like I rip paper when I just try to take a thicker off!
I love this glimpse into someone else’s creative process! And I’m really impressed how you were able to unglue paper–I feel like I rip paper when I just try to take a thicker off!
Love your before and after, I have a hard time to undo-ing adhesive and still having usable paper!
Love your before and after, I have a hard time to undo-ing adhesive and still having usable paper!
Love your before and after, I have a hard time to undo-ing adhesive and still having usable paper!
Love your before and after, I have a hard time to undo-ing adhesive and still having usable paper!
You are way too hard on yourself! These both look great. I’m a firm believer that not every project needs to be or is going to be a masterpiece.
You are way too hard on yourself! These both look great. I’m a firm believer that not every project needs to be or is going to be a masterpiece.
You are way too hard on yourself! These both look great. I’m a firm believer that not every project needs to be or is going to be a masterpiece.
You are way too hard on yourself! These both look great. I’m a firm believer that not every project needs to be or is going to be a masterpiece.
I love seeing this! I’m always doing this with my stuff too. But mine usually gets chopped up into something not recognizable at the end of totally being different than the original.
I love seeing this! I’m always doing this with my stuff too. But mine usually gets chopped up into something not recognizable at the end of totally being different than the original.
I love seeing this! I’m always doing this with my stuff too. But mine usually gets chopped up into something not recognizable at the end of totally being different than the original.
I love seeing this! I’m always doing this with my stuff too. But mine usually gets chopped up into something not recognizable at the end of totally being different than the original.
Thank you so much for sharing layouts you don’t like … and then how to fix them. Even though when I saw the first, I thought what is not to like????
But then the second one does take it up a notch. So, thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing layouts you don’t like … and then how to fix them. Even though when I saw the first, I thought what is not to like????
But then the second one does take it up a notch. So, thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing layouts you don’t like … and then how to fix them. Even though when I saw the first, I thought what is not to like????
But then the second one does take it up a notch. So, thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing layouts you don’t like … and then how to fix them. Even though when I saw the first, I thought what is not to like????
But then the second one does take it up a notch. So, thanks!
Guess I’m in the minority here but I actually like the first one better.
As for the right side I probably would have extended the flower Pattern to frame itself around the orange dot paper? Make sense? The whole LO would be framed by the corner rounded flower Paper.
The second LO has my eyes entering through the top left and then moving across the LO and then it just gets stuck on the flower area and doesn’t want to go back into the LO. I also loved the messy journaling, went well with the titling treatment. Just my opinions. Thanks for sharing your process. Oh and hi, guess I’m out of lurker mode, I read your blog all the time!
Guess I’m in the minority here but I actually like the first one better.
As for the right side I probably would have extended the flower Pattern to frame itself around the orange dot paper? Make sense? The whole LO would be framed by the corner rounded flower Paper.
The second LO has my eyes entering through the top left and then moving across the LO and then it just gets stuck on the flower area and doesn’t want to go back into the LO. I also loved the messy journaling, went well with the titling treatment. Just my opinions. Thanks for sharing your process. Oh and hi, guess I’m out of lurker mode, I read your blog all the time!
Guess I’m in the minority here but I actually like the first one better.
As for the right side I probably would have extended the flower Pattern to frame itself around the orange dot paper? Make sense? The whole LO would be framed by the corner rounded flower Paper.
The second LO has my eyes entering through the top left and then moving across the LO and then it just gets stuck on the flower area and doesn’t want to go back into the LO. I also loved the messy journaling, went well with the titling treatment. Just my opinions. Thanks for sharing your process. Oh and hi, guess I’m out of lurker mode, I read your blog all the time!
Guess I’m in the minority here but I actually like the first one better.
As for the right side I probably would have extended the flower Pattern to frame itself around the orange dot paper? Make sense? The whole LO would be framed by the corner rounded flower Paper.
The second LO has my eyes entering through the top left and then moving across the LO and then it just gets stuck on the flower area and doesn’t want to go back into the LO. I also loved the messy journaling, went well with the titling treatment. Just my opinions. Thanks for sharing your process. Oh and hi, guess I’m out of lurker mode, I read your blog all the time!
I like the original one, too. 🙂 Thank you for sharing! Love seeing your process. 🙂
I like the original one, too. 🙂 Thank you for sharing! Love seeing your process. 🙂
I like the original one, too. 🙂 Thank you for sharing! Love seeing your process. 🙂
I like the original one, too. 🙂 Thank you for sharing! Love seeing your process. 🙂
Too cute, Julie! You look great in that space cadet outfit. Great layouts. After you pointed out the details, I can see why you were pleased with the second. Greetings to you!
Too cute, Julie! You look great in that space cadet outfit. Great layouts. After you pointed out the details, I can see why you were pleased with the second. Greetings to you!
Too cute, Julie! You look great in that space cadet outfit. Great layouts. After you pointed out the details, I can see why you were pleased with the second. Greetings to you!
Too cute, Julie! You look great in that space cadet outfit. Great layouts. After you pointed out the details, I can see why you were pleased with the second. Greetings to you!
fascinating
fascinating
fascinating
fascinating