|
"Jungle Cruise" by Joann Brown
larger view
Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
When you have photos that you want to include on a layout, but you don't want them to take center stage for whatever reason (perhaps they aren't the best shot of the day or perhaps you want some filler photographs to help tell the story), a great way to use them is by clustering them together. In this layout, I framed them, then "stapled" them onto the page in a cluster, offsetting the heavier, main photograph on the bottom, right-hand section of the page. I love layouts with a main photo, but I also love to include supplementary photos to tell the story.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4
Name of challenge: Create a layout that is inspired by nature.
Other Ingredients:
Journaling: The Disneyland Jungle Cruise is a ride full of one-liners delivered by the boat captain. We had fun on this restful ride through the deep, dark jungles of Disneyland. Spencer wore his new Indiana Jones hat, and we all felt like explorers. What's not to love about the Disney Jungle Cruise? Just stay away from the headhunter, the alligators, and the piranhas, and no one gets hurt... or so we heard.
"Flowers for Mom" by Armi Custodio
larger view
Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
One of my favorite techniques for adding depth and interest to solid paper backgrounds is through the use of brushes. In this layout, I stamped several layers of swirl brushes from Brush Set: Swirlicious Biggie, varying the sizes, opacity, and colors. As you can see, I radiated these swirls around my photo, providing movement, but ultimately directing the eye towards my subject.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3
Name of challenge: Create a layout that is inspired by nature.
Other Ingredients:
larger view
larger view
"Japanese Garden" by Julie Moberly
larger view
Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
I did not want embellishments to compete with the photos on the layout so I decided to create Asian-theme-patterned papers using the colors and textures I saw at the Japanese Garden. In this case, the papers themselves serve as the embellishments, and the layout maintains clean lines and focuses on the photos.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0
Name of challenge: Create a layout that is inspired by nature.
Journaling: The Yuko-En on the Elkhorn garden features the traditional elements of a Japanese garden with plants and landforms native to Japan and Kentucky. Visitors can stroll the gravel paths and arched bridges leading through a water garden, a Zen rock garden, gently rising hills, and past the banks of Elkhorn Creek.
"Hosta" by Janine Buckles
larger view
Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
The top right edge of my photo was very bright, almost white - a result of taking the photo at ground level, pointing up a bit, on a very sunny day. In order to mute it, I did two things. First, I followed the instructions included with ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders to blend my photo into the dark green paper background from Grand Old Flag Collection and then added a bit of texture by placing a paper from ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Naturally Handmade on top of my photo. Then, I selected the paper layer by clicking on its thumbnail image in the Layers Palette, clipped it to my photo by clicking Ctrl+G (Layer> Group with previous), and played with the Blending Mode until I had just a hint of texture. Finally, I clicked Ctrl+U (Enhance> Adjust Color> Adjust Hue/Saturation) and moved the sliders until I had a nice, soft shade in the corner. Originally, that section of the photo was very distracting, and now it's not only soft, but it actually helps draws the eye to the focal point of the layout... my favorite hosta!
Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0
Name of challenge: Create a layout that is inspired by nature.
Other Ingredients:
Journaling: Hostas are the "star of the show" in my gardens. I have collected over 20 different varieties which are represented by over 80 plants, many of which are a good 4 feet in diameter. The one pictured above, called "Blue Cadet" was a birthday gift from my mother. It grows next to some White Trillium, a large Bleeding Heart, and a solitary Jack in the Pulpit. I get great joy out of watching them grow each year, especially the "teenagers" ... the ones, like this one, that I planted 14 years ago.
"Turn Your Face to the Sun" by Jennifer McCabe
larger view
Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
When I took this picture, it was a very windy, gray day. The water didn't have much color at all. I used a paper from Beautiful Life Collection Biggie that had brown at the top and blue at the bottom. I rotated it so that the blue was at the top and then copied the paper several times as well as the photo to create multiple layers of each. Then I played with the Blending Modes to get just the right colors and look that I wanted for the sand, ocean, and sky.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0
Name of challenge: Create a layout that is inspired by nature.
Journaling: Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori Proverb
"Bluebirds" by Charlene Crowder
larger view
Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
I wanted to use a decorative element behind the birdhouse. I loved the look of several items from Fantastic Florals Embellishment Mini, but they were of various colors. To create some uniformity and use colors I preferred for the layout, I used ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Metals Biggie on them. Now, they share the same colors and look.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0
Name of challenge: Create a layout that is inspired by nature.
Other Ingredients:
Journaling: I've had so much enjoyment in watching the bluebirds in our backyard. This was the first time they used the bird house. I hope they come again next year.
"Spectacular Views" by Kelly Favor-Chronister
larger view
Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
First, to get the effect of the coral-colored glitter, I used the Brush Set: Grungy Glitter. Then, I used the coordinating glitter style. Since there wasn't an option for a matching coral shade of glitter, I used the silver glitter style. Next, I used Ctrl+click on the layer in the Layers Palette and selected the option "Simplify Layer." Then I selected the coral paper from the collection and grouped it over the Brush layer and changed the Blending Mode of the paper to "Overlay."
Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0, Adobe Lightroom, and Apple iPhoto
Name of challenge: Create a layout that is inspired by nature.
"Spring Blooms" by Jennifer Wight
larger view
Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
To create my background paper, I clipped my tree photo to one of the templates in ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders. Then, I merged the two layers together. Next, I placed a template from ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Stacked under my blended photo paper layer and clipped them together. With the blended paper selected, I chose the "Overlay" mode from my Blending Mode options. After placing my film strip and brush work to my liking, I also clipped them (Ctrl+G) to my Stacked paper so the ends curled with the background.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0
Name of challenge: Create a layout that is inspired by nature.
If you have praise, comments, or questions for any of our Product Designers or Layout Artists, did you know you can send them a PM (private message) using the message board? It's easy!
If you are a registered user of the message board, just click on the "PM" box at the bottom of any of their posts to send them a message. Or, to check out more of your favorite designer's layouts, visit the Scrap Girls Design Team section of the Layout Gallery.
| 
