I love summer. Early morning walks, evening bike rides, eating outside, vacations, staycations, fairs, festivals, farmers markets, outdoor concerts, ice cream, lazy days, a slower pace. That's been our summer so far, so what's not to love? All this fun means we take more photos at this time of year than any other. When I get a pile of summer pictures developed, I want to scrap as many as I can, as quickly as I can. The two-page layout helps me accomplish just that. Some are intimidated by this larger canvas, so today I'm posting a few examples with design tips so your two-page layouts can be just as easy to create as a single page.
Tip #1: Take a cue from the photos to create a background.
The balloons in the second photo inspired me to layer patterned paper circles over white cardstock. I cut one large circle so that it runs off the top of the page and spills over onto the second page. Then I cut more circles in various sizes and colors to keep things interesting. Circles always bring an energy that keeps your eye moving around the layout.
Tip #2: Take a cue from the photos to create embellishments.
Our trip to the Copper Harbor lighthouse in Michigan's Upper Peninsula inspired me to use my Silhouette to create custom embellishments that fit the theme of this two-page layout. The lighthouses are arranged in a visual triangle that lead the eye though the title and journaling, then over to the second page. A row of anchors layered on colorful scalloped circles adds interest and ties the two pages together.
Tip #3: A little patterned paper can go a long way.
On the same trip, we spent a lovely day in Marquette, Michigan. These photos are already very colorful and highly saturated, so I minimized my use of patterned paper. A few strips provide the needed foundation so my photos are not floating on the page. A small cloud punch allows me to introduce a more fluid shape and adds a pop of color at the top of the layout.
Tip #4: Horizontal borders tie everything together.
When designing a two-page layout, I'm always looking for ways to unify the look, which usually means adding some kind of border across both pages. I created top and bottom borders on this layout with paper strips and stitching. Another border of colorful patterned paper runs through the bottom row of photos. Clustering the rest of the page elements towards the center and leaving generous space gives the layout a clean look.
Do you have an abundance of summer photos waiting to be scrapped? Why not make a serious dent in your pile by whipping up some two-page layouts!
