Laura Vegas

started this layout real quick last night … and finished it right now as the daycare kids are napping. i printed this picture of my neighbor ziek on the weekend when i was doing the others … but just didn't get to it.

i got a comment the other day asking how i go about picking what i use on my layouts. interesting question. i'm actually quite spastic when i scrap … i start with one idea and jump to totally different ideas. lol! just like this layout.

• i started with the clear, plastic title that i had bought a few weeks ago and knew it went with the picture
• picked up a stack of my mind's eye pattern paper and came across the green dot that matched perfectly … the blue and the brown were right next to them so i grabbed those too
• the brown polka-dot ribbon was in a jar on my counter … loved it against the green. i originally had some yellow/blue/green striped ribbon out too
• couldn't figure out the title piece … wasn't sure how to make it stand out. so i dry brushed some brown paint on the edges
• actually had a large, clear star out that i brushed some brown paint on too … but it wasn't looking right
• went to find a smaller, clear star … came across the blue plastic "boy" star and knew it would go good
• there was some cute orange plastic embellishments in the jar too … was originally no orange on the layout … but it was more colorful with it on there
• switched out the yellow/blue/green ribbon for some orange ribbon
• gotta have staples on the ribbon … love that
• still needed another star to balance out the blue one … so i found these other clear stars which are already blue … saved myself some painting
• added the orange brads to balance out the orange ribbon and plastic tab … and also to easily adhere the stars
• typed up some journaling and added that

ok … maybe that really wasn't too spastic.  lol! but i really don't have a method to my creativeness. i just really rummage around and dig through baskets and jars until i stumble across something i really forgot i had … but that is perfect for what i'm doing.

i have also really learned what works for me … what i like to use. i know i love pattern paper … but balanced out with solids. i know i love ribbon … and chipboard … and plastic … and buttons … and all those fun embellishments. i love texture … love having a certain amount of bulk to my layouts. i love the white borders on my photos. i love journaling strips. but i like everything to be clean and neat … totally measured out and even.

and once you know what you like and what you're comfortable using … it makes it easier to narrow down what you use on your layouts. just use what you love! do the techniques you enjoy doing. nothing overly complicated … just stuff that comes natural to you.

i also go with my gut more. once i find something that looks good … i normally don't waste time looking for something else that will work. i used to dig through everything i owned looking for just the perfect paper or embellishment. but there are so many perfect papers and embellishments for every photo. just use what you come across first. sure … i change things all the time while i'm in the process of creating a layout. but usually only because i'm looking for something entirely different and accidently find something. if i have something that works … i use it. if i happen to find something different … i'll switch to that. did that make sense?!?! lol!

i have really become so much more comfortable with my style in the last 7-8 months. i know what i like … i use what i like … and i think it shows! i think it's the best thing when we can easily pull together a layout without thinking too hard … and really be pleased with what we made!