My Creative Process

Someone asked me what my creative process was for creating scrapbooking layouts … hmmm? I had to think about it.

When creating a page I almost always start with the photo(s). I’ll add that most of the time I’m a one photo type of girl.

Then I think about the title. I have been know to ask Randy for help with coming up with a title. The title seems to set the mood for the page for me. So I often use a pun, quote or words that evoke feelings about the photo. Once I come up with a title I start to think about the actual design of the page. Sometimes I use a sketch to get me started. I rarely use a sketch as is. I like to change them up a little, even if that means just turning it on it’s side or upside down.

I’m going to say that most of my creative energy goes into picking the papers and the embellishments. I go through my stash and pull papers that will enhance the photo(s). Next I pull every embellishment I think is even a possibility to use. Papers and embellishments are based on color and/or theme.

Then the fun begins! This might include trying a new technique or new scrapbooking tool. I love to distress, layer, ink, paint, mist … you get the picture. Putting it all together means moving and tweaking the embellishments and then moving and tweaking them some more. Until finally scrapbooking perfection has been reached.

I struggle with journaling. I think I get so caught up in the page design that I forget about the journaling till the end (if at all).

If I’m working with a kit then the papers come first and then the hunt is on for the perfect photo(s). If it’s a new technique I want to try then I start with the supplies I need to accomplish that. I think I’m safe to say that my creative process changes depending on what I’m working on or with.

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For the following page:

1) I picked out a photo of Gracelynn. This was the easy part since my daughter Jessica takes so many cute photos of the kids.

2) Randy actually came up with the perfect title for this page. "be yourself ... everyone else is taken"

3) I picked out my background paper and applied a thin layer of Gesso with a makeup sponge.
a) to keep the paint from soaking into the paper and
b) to make the paper a little stiffer so I could apply heaver elements and layers

4) I decided my layered patterned paper and photo would go in the middle of this page. I applied some distressed paint with a makeup sponge to the outer edges. I applied one color at a time, allowing for drying time. Since I don't have a lot of patience I used a heat gun to speed up the drying time.

5) Although I’m going for the fabulous finished page … sometimes I think it’s more about the process than the finished product. The hunt is on! I find it almost therapeutic to look for the perfect embellishments to complete a page.  When digging through my stash I always find supplies I was hoarding ... I mean I forgot I had.

 

6) Now the process starts of putting it all together. This means tweaking the design and moving embellishments around until I’m satisfied with the results.