How to Create a Double-Page Layout in 10 Easy Steps by Nicole Doiron

Today Nicole Doiron is sharing a step by step double page layout tutorial featuring our June Main Kit!

Here's Nicole:

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Do you love double-page layouts like me?  When I started scrapbooking back in 2004, I didn't know why someone would want to create single-pages.  I found that the double spread looked so nice in an album and was able to contain multiple photos, which is the whole point of scrapbooking, right?  The photos!  

Well, I have to admit that 10 years later, I have jumped on the single-page bandwagon! hehe  I love creating single pages and often only use 1 photo on my layouts now.  The fact that I have given up putting my pages in albums is probably a big part of it - I have way too many piles of stacked up layouts in my scrap space right now and it would cost me a fortune to buy albums to accommodate them all.

However, all that being said, I still love double-pages!  I love the challenge of blending one side into the other and creating a double page is just double the fun!  Plus, the friends for whom I create a lot of pages still put them in albums and they love the 2-page look.

So, with no further ado, I will show you how I created one of 

my double-pages this month, using the Main kit, in 10 easy steps.

(Do not mind my messy scrap table - I tried to push away the clutter to take my pictures, 

but hey, I'm a messy scrapbooker and I'm proud of it!)

1. I started by choosing some white 12x12 cardstock for my layout background.

2.  I cut 2 pieces of the Flip Flops paper (blue-green chevron side) 10 1/2" x  5 3/4" and 

centered both pieces on my background, lining them at the central edge of my cardstocks.

3. I cut the Summer Stripe paper into 2 pieces 11" x 3" and tucked them under the chevron paper.

4. I cut both a 6" x 8" (left side) and a 6" x 4" (right side) piece out of the Summer Days paper.

5. I cut out the Summer Days phrase banner out of the Summer Days paper and 

lined it up on the left page and put the Sky Above stripe at the bottom.

6. Using the multicolored side of Summer Floral, I cut a 8" x 4" piece and put it vertically on my right page.  I then created a tag out of a 5" x 3" rectangle by cutting the corners one one side and adding an eyelet. I then decided to add some strips of red rick rack ribbon and the little fishes sticker border.

 7. It was then time to find the perfect spot for the pictures.

8. Next, I added some wood, chipboard and sticker embellishments.  I popped up some of the chipboard and stickers using 3D dots.  I also created some flags out of the Summer Butterflies paper (red side).

9.  Now, for my favorite part, the flowers!  When adding flowers, I always try to make to spread out the colors and sizes so as to make the most of every embellishment.  I added the Echo Park brads in the center of my flowers and added a few more here and there to even out the colors.  I often look at my layout from a distance and half close my eyelids to blur my vision while looking at it.  It helps me see where I should add some pink or another shape.

10. Now, time for the finishing touches like stitching and adding twine.

 Here are some close-ups:

For all you double-page lovers, I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and will try this layout design for yourself.  For all you who never do double-pages, I hope I challenged you to try. :)

If you like my designs, visit my blog Scrap-Utopia for more!

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Be sure to check out Nicole's beautiful work in our Design Team Gallery!

Here's the June Main Kit:

Stay tuned... JULY SNEAK PEEKS are coming tomorrow!

We invite you to join us and experience the possibilities that our coordinated monthly kits offer. To purchase a kit, please visit our website, here.

Flying Banners, Layering, and Titles by Guest Designer Elizabeth Hellum

My Creative Scrapbook guest designer Elizabeth Hellum is back today with a handful of fun techniques featuring our June Main Kit!

Here's Elizabeth:

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Hello there friends, Elizabeth here! It's getting warm outside for most of us and today I wanted to share with you a layout I created using the June Main Kit. I thought it would be neat to show you the process of a "flyin" banner. Kinda like this:

Photo: Sabri Deriz Kizil Dreamline.com

You know the type as your laying on the beach and you suddenly look up and see an airplane with a message floating from the back of it? That's kinda how I always envision my banners to be on my layouts.

So today I am going to show you a very easy way to achieve this

See how that's lifted up there, here you can really see it here..

I see beach+airplane+banner every single time and it's really easy to do this. It isn't rocket science & I'm gonna show you how I did it.

First I cut the banner out from the paper and then I flipped it over and tapped the two end sides like this.

That's pretty simple, in fact the entire thing is! I like simple. Remember to only tape the part you are wanting to ensure goes down on to your page. This way the part that isn't tape will be able to sit up on the page. After you adhere the tape to the backsides of the paper then you are ready to stick it to your paper.

Just press down on the tape part and the paper will bend easily to making it as a banner flying. I pulled up the edges a little bit as well for added effects. Then I was ready to complete the rest of the page!

Which turned out quite nicely!

Remember when you think of banners the next time, try this easy step out and I can guarantee you you'll be glad you did!

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The things I do aren't the latest and greatest, just doing it how I love to do it, simple. That's why I am a simple scrapbooker. I am not knocking those that do those amazing techniques or are out there with their creations but I know me and that means I want to do quick and easy.

Today I wanted to show you my thoughts on layering. It isn't hard at all, and the trend now a days is to cluster elements on your projects. I do that well! It's fun and easy.

We're gonna focus on the right side of my layout, see here

I started with the base yellow polka dots papers (sorry took photo on my phone not the best lighting)

Next I created the tag, cut it out then used the Pounce Wheel on it to create faux stitching.

After that was cut and sewn, I added the ribbon to the tag and then adhered to page. When that was completed, I added the cut elements of ice cream cones along with the sticker which I backed with pop dots for added dimension.

Once that was all in place, I created my title on to the next layer. I don't like to actually stick the alphas all to the page, so I usually just stick a portion of it down for texture. If they won't stick, I'll use hot glue to keep them that way!

Lastly I add a few more elements to the page, and called it good!

Layering doesn't have to be a long process and for me its quick every single time!

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As you know, I like to make cute layouts but they have to be easy and quick! Today I wanted to share with you a quick way to make a title.

Here's the title I'm talkin' about

Sometimes, well most of the time I would rather use computer font for my journaling. This time around I wanted to make a title using computer font. It gives it that extra clean look, rather than my messy handwriting!

It's simple. I just opened up Word using a new document and made the layout in landscape so it could go across my page. I entered down to where I wanted the placement of the title

Then I wrote in several different fonts and sizes. Then I went to town creating!

And the completed look & layout!

Sometimes using fonts as our title work is fun, give it a go!

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Be sure to check out Elizabeth's beautiful work in our Design Team Gallery!

Here's the June Kit:

We invite you to join us and experience the possibilities that our coordinated monthly kits offer. To purchase a kit, please visit our website, here.

Let's Talk Process with Guest Designer Elizabeth Hellum

My Creative Scrapbook guest designer Elizabeth Hellum is here today featuring our June Main Kit and sharing a look into her design process!

Here's Elizabeth:

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Good day to you, Elizabeth here!

Let's talk process. There is never a rhyme or reason to the way I create a layout. I normally just have all my supplies out on the table and then I go to town! Today I wanted to show you that process inside my head as to how I normally create.

We're going to use this layout as the bases for that thought process.

There are 6 basic things that has to happen for me to start that process.

1. Usually white cardstock as my background papers. I don't know about you, but I love white and love using it because it is a neutral color that makes everything pop. It is my go-to piece of paper for every single thing I create. Such as the case with this layout, I grabbed the texture white cardstock this time.

2. Usually the next step is something that gets me going. Sometimes its paper, sometimes its a photo, but most of the time its an element that does the trick. This time around it was the hashtag. They are all the rage these days and I love using them. I thought it would be pretty cool to create a layout using the hashtag as my title. I also wanted to use the 2 summer drink veneers as well, and so yep, those things became the bases for my entire layout! Once I got those three pieces out, I realized that it would go perfectly for our weekly girlie bible study times at Starbucks!

3. Usually for me I scrap using the white cardstock as my bases so that means everything else needs to pop against that. I collected things in the kit that would do that and then added those to the page. This meant papers, embellishments, mist, letter stickers, etc. After I collected those I just placed them on the page. Normally this process is very short for me. I do what I like to term as just puking it on there or throwing it on the canvas. Which means I just place the supplies on the page as I see fit. I don't second guess myself, I just roll with it and place them as they land.

4. Usually at this point I start adhering everything down except for the photos. Once I have everything in place, if I am misting like I did here I will do that and then let it dry. While that is drying, I will usually work on journaling whether it be by hand or by computer font which is what I did here.

5. The last thing for me is normally adding the photos. Very rarely do I create a layout with the photos on it prior to the last thing. I may have them in mind, I may not but they don't usually go on until the very last moment. To me, it is easier to add those in to my layout.

6. In the end, I am a very fast scrapper. I don't spend a great deal of time on a layout. If it isn't working for me I will usually just keep going and make it work. I don't like spending a lot of time on my layouts because then I start second guessing myself. I like to get to the blank canvas with all of my paints and paint. I don't think, I just stand there and create!

In a nut shell, I am kinda all over the place with my scrapping, but it works for me and I dig it! Hope you follow your process for you too!

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Stop by again tomorrow for more inspiration from Elizabeth!

Here's the June Main Kit:

We invite you to join us and experience the possibilities that our coordinated monthly kits offer. To purchase a kit, please visit our website, here.

How to Make a Matchbook Album by Lydell Quin

Lydell Quin is sharing her beautiful matchbook album featuring our June Main Kit today!

Here's Lydell:

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Hello and welcome to MCS today!

I am sharing a mini album I created with the Main Kit for June.  It is such a bright and pretty Kit and is perfect for a simple mini album, for some fun summer photos or for a sweet little gift for a friend.  This particular little on is for my little girls friend for her birthday.

Heres the little album

It is a little Match Book album, and is super simple to make

Here's How I did it, so you can make your own!

Cut a strip of patterned Paper for your cover, which measures 4 " x 10.5 "

Score at 1".

Score at 1 1/8"

Score at 5 7/8"

Score at 6 1/2"

TIP-  If you want to make a rounded spine...... score at every 1/8" between the 5 7/8" and the 6 1/2" scores, that way the spine will curve around the fatter end of your pages inside your booklet.

Crease and fold all score lines

Ink edges front and back

Pages

Cut Pieces 3-7/8" x 4-6/8" from any coordinating pages in your kit.  (all double sided papers)

TIP- cut strip 4-6/8 x12" and then trim at 3 7/8" and you will get three pages per strip.

Less paper waste.  Keep your offcuts for embellishing

Score at 7/8" on the short side.

Fold creases and round the outer corders if desired.

Ink each page front and back.

Flip through the pages and arrange how they look nicest together in book format.

On the cover piece......measure roughly 7/8" in from each end of the scored edge and punch small holes in the middle of the strip. 

Slip your pages under the strip and use the cover as a guide to mark all the pages. 

Punch all the holes using a small hole punch.  I used a crop-o-dile.

(dont punch through the back cover though)

Using a large decorated brad from the Kit, attach all your pages together.

(inside)

Now its time to decorate and embellish.

Then you can add your photos!

Here it is embellished!

So thats it for today!

Hope you give this sweet little book a try.  Nice and easy, and quick!

Lovely combination!

Thanks for stopping in!

My BLOG

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Be sure to check out Lydell's beautiful work in our Design Team Gallery!

Here's the Main Kit:

We invite you to join us and experience the possibilities that our coordinated monthly kits offer. To purchase a kit, please visit our website, here.