Back to Basics Blog Hop - Scrap365 and Mixed Media Place

We are getting the scrapping New Year off to a flying start! Hello and welcome to Scrap365's and Mixed Media Place's joint Blog Hop!

The idea behind the hop is going back to basics. Ali explains: "One of the things that we are very conscious of here at Scrap365 HQ is that if you are new to scrapping it can be really overwhelming with the choice of products to use and the host of styles to emulate….the same could be said if you're experienced! So we have decided that 2014 is the year to get BACK to BASICS!! It doesn't matter if you have been scrapping for ten years or ten days...you will be sure to learn something new along the way!"

We also have a marvellous prize in this hop - to either add to your stash or to get you started. It's the "Early Fall" project kit and some fabulous stencils!

All you need to do to be eligible for the prize is follow Scrap365 (link) and Mixed Media Place (link) blogs. Then like both on Facebook (Scrap365, Mixed Media Place) and leave a message to the Scrap365 blog telling which layout principle you are going to try! We would love to see your take on the Principles so be sure to upload them to Scrap365's Facebook page.

This January Blog Hop is all about layout design principles. Ali found a fabulous prompt on Pinterest and we are sharing it with you, courtesy of SuzyQ Scraps. 

On each of the blog participating in the hop you'll find a layout designed based on one principle. Underneath is the list for you to hop. Happy hoppin'! 

Anai 

Finnabair

Laura

Marsha

Linda

Tusia

Michelle

Pascale

Riikka (you are here!)

Lisa

Helen

return to Scrap365 blog

I chose to go with principle 8, alignment. I actually used the principle image as a guideline to my design and tried to align all my elements - the paper layers, buttons, tapes and used a pretty linear background paper, too. I even used strips of paper at the top and bottom of the layout to underline the principle. 

I usually use both horizontals and verticals in my layouts, but in this particular one I substituted the vertical paper layers with the drips of mist. I aligned the little arrow stickers at the both sides of the photo to guide the eye to the shots. 

By looking through my layouts, I see that the first three principles (vocal point, rule of thirds, visual triangle) are almost in every one of them. Like in this one too. There's a heavy area to catch the eye - vocal point in the photo cluster. I almost always position my photo to the layout using "rule of the thirds" - the only exception is when I use the composition shown in principle 4. And I tend to use three of a kind when adding the embellishments and adding them to a loose triangular shape.

I want to share a few thoughts behind my own scrapping process and the way I put the elements to the page. If you are interested to see how the pages I do come to life, please check out my YouTube channel as I have several "from start to finish" videos there!

My layouts always starts with the photo. I choose one and simultaneously the story I want to tell. Then I'm choosing the background paper. If I'm using a color photo I snatch the colors from there and if I'm using a black and white one, I can choose what ever color I feel contributes to the story. 

Then I loosely think about the composition and the place I'm going to put my photo. Sometimes the photo itself guides how to position it to the page. It's quite natural to allow space to a persons gaze, for example. If you put a photo of a person right next to the edge, facing the edge, the mood is quite heavy, even agonizing and the person seems trapped. 

When I have a spot in my mind I start making the background using whatever technique I feel like at the moment - and what possibly is needed to tell the story. After the background layers are all done, I layer the papers usually using both vertical and horizontal pieces of patterned paper to draw the eye in to the photo, to anchor it to its place, so to speak. Then I start adding embellishments, the title and write the journaling. The last phase is actually all mixed up together as I usually add a few embellishments, then the title and balance all out with the additional embellishments and journaling.

Lately I've found a tendency to use the diagonals in my layouts. I position my photo using the rule of the thirds or the golden ratio, and then create a line of embellishments or journaling or other elements flowing from one corner to the other. I guess that might go under the principle 10 - movement and flow. 

Thank you if you managed to read through my ramblings! I hope you found them helpful! And thank you for joining to the hop!

Ps. Have you participated to my blog candy yet? Please, join in!

Materials: Sodalicious, 7 Dots Studio, Tattered Angels, Talens, Ranger, ColorConspiracy, Prima Marketing, Webster's Pages, Teippitarha, Glitz Design, American Crafts, Becky Higgins