Question of the week

[Aly Dosdall]

So...I love hearing what other scrappers have to say about this hobby, so I thought I'd ask a question and just enjoy reading what everyone else has to say. Here goes:

What is your creative process when making a layout? In other words, when you sit down to scrap, what do you do first, next, etc?

[Aly Dosdall]

Here's my response:

It depends on the layout. Some I start with photos and a story. Then I go through my supplies and find paper and elements that convey my theme/subject, match nicely, and make me happy. Then I turn to a few resources for design inspiration: 1) my sketch book, 2) my magazine ad collection, 3) online challenges or galleries. Then I move things around until I'm satisfied.

Sometimes, though, I have an assignment to work with a certain kit or product. This is kind of fun because I basically do my creative process backwards and start with papers/elements, and then go through my photos to find some that fit with that. Either way, my goal is always to tell a story I want to record for myself and my family to enjoy and remember for years to come. As long as I happy with the end result, that's all that matters. =)

[Kayla Lamoreaux]

I always start with my photos - arranging them on the page depending on how many I have for the event. Then I find product that highlights them (colors in the papers and elements that coordinate with the colors in my photos). Sometimes I love a product so much I will change my photos to black and white to use it!

Sometimes I work with product that I am given an assignment to work with - many times I do one photo layouts with these but others - it just depends!

As a busy mom I love templates that have great basic design principles... sure makes my life a LOT easier and I don't have any problems using the same template over and over with different products...

[Kristianne]

I'm really inspired by the products, so that is where I start. Finding enough photos to compliment a theme can sometimes be tricky, especially when scrapping with all those fantastic seasonal kits, so I don't mind using the same photos over again. With a variety of photo effects and techniques, the same photo can have a completely different look on another layout. I am a lover of templates also, so I usually grab a kit, pull out appropriate photos and then a template to fit and I'm a happy scrapper.

[Aly Dosdall]

I agree...templates are awesome! I especially like to use them when i've got a lot of photos to work with. takes the guesswork out of the design process. =)

[Brooke - in Oregon]

I usually start with the photos, then hunt for the best way to highlight them. I was a guest CT for Flergs a while back so that was a different process. For that I started with the kit and then looked for photos, which was harder but it is good to get out of your scrapping rut sometimes :)

I love it when you find a product that really hits you as 'oh ya baby, I LOVE this'! I tend to use those favorite things over and over, just with different photos and kits!

[Lynda Farabee]

I definitely start with photos! That's why I do this....for the photos! ;-) Because I'm such a newbie and have very little artistic blood in my veins, I then look for a template that fits my needs. Lastly comes the kit or paper and elements I plan to use.

When I see a technique or paper or element that catches my eye, then I'll try to find a picture that goes with it. But most of the time....it's the photos!

[Holly]

With Digi scrapping it is different than with paper scrapping. I tend to do multiple "matching" pages, for mini albums and such. I go through my digital stash and copy elements I like into my "current project" folder. I then get pictures and templates and play around and recolor elements and pictures until I find the elements, papers, and photo techniques I like for the particular project and then repeat them throughout the project. When I finish the project folder gets wiped and I am on to the next thing! I hardly ever use "kits" or "sets" together, I just sort of mash different things together to create my own style!

[Aly Dosdall]

i love the idea of a "current project" folder. so smart!

[Holly]

I just got tired of trying to remember where "blah" was when using it over and over for something. And if I change coloring or something I can just save it and not have to worry about my original. I love it, it just works really well for the way I scrap.

[Channon Zabel]

I am like most of you and start with pictures. Then I go hunting for some great papers and embellishments to match. But when I am not feeling very creative when I sit down I always take a moment and browse around to different sites and galleries looking for some great layouts for inspiration. Then when I am inspired by a layout I go back and start my page.

[Cynthia Dale]

I am like Lynda start with photo/photos and see what happens usually a blank stare for a hour or so. Then I try a QP and see what happens from there, Although I seem to get ideas etc. a lot quicker with Digital than paper.

[Hummie]

I start with the photos first. I am an event scrapper. I choose my photos from my event and put them on the page. Then I decide what color mat will make those photos pop using the principles in my Design Principles tutorial.

If the photo is light colored, I use a dark colored mat. There are other examples in my tutorial.

Then I continue to build backwards. I find a contrasting paper to the mat.

Then I add my journaling before I get too far as that is important for every page and I do not want to put elements down and use up vital journaling space accidentally.

Then I start looking for elements to add from my kits.

If I get stuck in the first step, having trouble choosing where to put my photos I have chosen, I go through galleries looking for layouts with that many photos for inspiration to jump start me. I rarely scraplift a whole layout, but just get enough to give me a jump start.