Do you struggle with the perfect amount of embellishments to add to your layout without making it look too busy and completely distract from your pictures? It's definitely a balancing act and with a few simple tricks you can certainly add some fun and interest to your page without being too heavy handed.
For a start, it's always an idea to keep the background paper relatively plain if you are going to add allot of embellishments to your layout. I've chosen the soft chicken wire paper as it's relatively plain without being stark white. However, I did add three more sheets of patterned paper behind the chicken wire as I wanted a bordered effect to my layout that acted as a frame.
Apart from your photographs, journaling is the next most important thing on your layout as in years to come you won't remember the important details and dates of the photo. So, although it's important it doesn't need to be the first thing you see, which is why I printed my story on white card stock and used blue text to blend subtly into the background and allow the photo and heading to stand out with just a hint of added embellishments in the clouds, sun and little flies.
I've always loved creating scenes on my layouts and the Chit Chat Embellishment pack from the Down On The Farm collection had every single piece and more to make the cutest little farm scape across the bottom of my layout. Now, there's no way you would normally be able to use this many single embellishments on your layouts, however, by overlapping every piece and giving it dimension I was able to blend it into one single panel that ran across the bottom of the layout without looking too busy.
So from a glance the first thing your eye is drawn to is the photo and then it moves across to the journaling and then straight down to the farm scene at the bottom of the page which is the most aesthetic way to design your layouts. I usually draw a rough design before I begin and then work with my colors so that everything blends harmoniously. I hope I've given you some small tips to help you with your embellishing so you can add some fun to your next project in a way that's still pleasing to the eye and practical.
Inspired by the Pun Pal patterned paper from the So Punny collection, I decided to make my very first flip book destined to be mailed to a crafty pal:
All the papers used to build this book are from the 6x6 So Punny paper pad so the closed book, as seen above, measures 6x6 inches. On the cover, I layered a mini doily and a cut-out (also from the paper pad). I embellished with some of my favorite Sprinkles: the So Punny Tiny Hearts!
Let's open the first part:
The book is meant to be fun to open, unfold and flip through so it has interactive parts that are hard to see with photos. For this reason, you will find a quick video at the bottom to better show you the moving parts. On the left page, I created a pocket and a tag on which I have attached a Doodle Pop package (using a tiny clip so it can easily be removed). Die-cuts are from the Chit Chat pack. The right page as a card from the So Punny Create-A-Card pack. I have used several throughout the book... How cute are those shaped Sprinkles on top of it?!
By opening another flap, you find a card to flip open to read a note (embellished with more of my favorite Tiny Hearts) and a pocket decorated with different washi tapes and Glitter Sprinkles. I put a Jelly Clip on top to go with the soda theme of this flap.
Now here is a look at the book fully open:
I adhered an open envelope in the center part and inside is a card holding goodies and a washi tape sampler, all attached with a Doodlebug clothespin. On the front, I added a bigger doily, die-cuts and other favorites: matte Sprinkles (from the Cream & Sugar collection). They look like candy!
On the bottom flap is a treat bag filled with yellow doilies that I attached with a Cute Clip. The whole book is tied together with some red and white Chunky Twine.
Now take a look at the quick video:
I had so much fun creating this project and if you have any questions about it, do not hesitate to reach out to me here in the comment or on Instagram.
