Hi there!
After all this talk about taking photos, I thought that today would be a great day to have a little show and tell here at WCS. What good are photos if you don't use them and show them and share the stories behind them?
Let's begin with a layout from the talented Elizabeth Dillow:
She chose a period of time (in this case one month) and took photos of the same location (her backyard) at regular intervals. I love the sense of progression this gives--how the season can change overnight! This would be really fun to do over the course of a year.
Here is another take on multi-photo layouts using primarily landscapes. Francine Clouden designed this layout about weekly nature hikes in Barbados:
I love her mix of landscape and close-ups. The subtle background is perfect for letting the photos take center stage.
Next up, how about a layout from Celeste Smith, whose boys got up-close to nature with all its slime and wonder:
Squirming subject + close-ups + patient photographer + cute accents = one fun nature story.
And one from me, documenting the fun my kids had at the pumpkin farm last year (We're definitely going back this year, but I'll plan their wardrobe a bit more! Who wears pink to a pumpkin farm? Well, Josie does. And sparkly sunglasses, too. Oh dear.)
So what about using actual natural elements on a layout, like pressed flowers and leaves? Have no fear, it can be done. Elizabeth used real pressed leaves on this layout:
And she is happy to report that the leaves are holding up really well. She even used rub-on letters and numbers directly on the leaves, with great results. What a creative idea, proving that rub-ons really are the greatest invention of the last decade! She does suggest that layouts using leaves are kept safely in page protectors. Which is what I have done with this layout:
And my leaf is holding up pretty well, too. It was an afterthought, to tell the truth, but it ties all the colors together and created a use for that paperclip that I love.
A few tips about using actual natural elements: make sure they are as clean as possible before using them on a page, and if using leaves, it helps to press them for a few days between the pages of a heavy book (that dictionary you never use) or in a flower press (mine was a gift from my mom - I love it!)
That's all for now! Tomorrow is give.away.day. so be sure to visit!
And Friday I have some projects to share, so don't be a stranger! Until then, my friends,
