Relax Layout

Hey friends! I have a new layout to share with you today with the first samples of my brand new Go the Scenic Route collection!

Check out the process video:

If you know me and my style, you know I loooooooove patterned papers. The more I can include on a layout, the merrier! But, I didn't have any 12x12 papers, so I got creative :) First I started fussy cutting some diamonds from one of the papers in the 6x8 Paper Pad, but I gave up quickly because they were too small. Then I pulled out a set of papers from the 2x2 Paper Pads and started arranging them in a grid design. But I got stuck. Then I fussy cut ALL of the butterflies from one of the papers in the 6x8 Paper Pad. I was most inspired by these butterflies, but again, I got stuck! Holy cow I never knew I was so dependent on 12x12 papers for my mojo!

 I plopped all of the butterflies onto a pink cardstock background, added these two recent photos of Jane (the colors match perfectly with this collection!), and there the layout sat for 24 hours. Occasionally I would come back and push the butterflies around to see if the creative juices would start flowing. They didn't. I was trying to think of a new way to use butterflies. I went through images of all my layouts and found 25(!) pages featuring butterflies! What hasn't been done?!

I decided to just start. Somewhere. Anywhere. I grabbed white acrylic paint and painted stripes across the pink cardstock background then splashed more watered down white acrylic paint on top. Layer one done. I splashed my favorite Pastel Dreams watercolors in lots of coordinating colors on top. Layer two done. Then I ripped off the left and right edges, heavily distressed them, and then replaced those edges with a blue floral paper from the 6x8 Paper Pad for contrast and color. It was a start!

Next I used my Tiles Stencil and scraped white modeling paste through randomly across the background. Once the paste dried I used a few matching colors of Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays and spritzed, sprayed, and dropped them all across the background. I grabbed my photos and fussy cut butterflies again, put them on top for a minute, and FINALLY the creative juices started flowing!! Hooray! It was looking pretty cool! It may look like a hot mess underneath, but building layer upon layer, topped with photos and embellishments, makes it all come together in unexpected ways. I was so relieved and happy about all of this after my mojo had completely ran out on me. It was found again :) By the simple act of playing and persistence!

 Continuing on - I took the perforated strips from the tops of five papers in the 6x8 Paper Pad and punched them into scalloped strips. I chose a rainbow of colors: blue, yellow, green, orange, and pink. I layered the photos diagonally and then machine stitched the scalloped strips in place. Another layer done!

 Then came the fussy cut butterflies. I sprinkled them all around the page and then adhered them in place with a dot of liquid glue so the wings can bend up as if they're in flight. I also found three butterfly Chipboard Stickers and placed them in a visual triangle to help draw the eye all around the layout.

 The title is "RELAX" from the Puffy Word Stickers. I wrote journaling with a blue pen near the title. I added a flower Cardstock Sticker to the edge of each photo for a little bit of pretty. To finish, I added a few of the tiny Enamel Dots here and there between the butterflies for little bits of sparkle & shine. They're like little drops of candy!

 I hope this layout inspires you to pick up my new Go the Scenic Route collection and also helps you when you're feeling in a creative rut. Sometimes just the act of pushing yourself to do things you normally wouldn't do or refusing to give up will get the creative juices flowing again!

  I'll be back soon with more inspiration! Have a great day!

SUPPLIES: Patterned papers, stickers, enamel dots: GO THE SCENIC ROUTE; Stencil: Tiles by Paige Evans; Cardstock: American Crafts; modeling paste; white acrylic paint; Pastel Dreams watercolors; Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays