White Space...March life{365}

Ins and Outs of Life {365} for March

This month we are going to work on embracing the white space. What is white space? It is the open background on any layout. For this month I used white cardstock as a base so you could really see how this works. Sometimes the background becomes so busy we lose the focus of our layouts...the pictures! This month I really tried to keep the backgrounds simple and let them truly be less visable.

In the layout below I used some strips of various sizes to draw the eye to the photo mats. This is the kind of technique that you will either love or be more ambivalent about.

This next layout moves to a filled background. I wanted you to see the difference and to have a clear example of how a filled space demands visually arresting photos to be able to draw the eye to them. I love this layout. It has so many possibilities for me. It would be easy to lose the pocket and tags on the bottom right area and add a cluster of four square photos to fill the space.

This layout has almost equal parts open background and filled background.  The filled area is slightly less. I did this on purpose. If I were to make it even the layout would not have the visual interest. It is the difference along with the strips of color that keep the eye moving back and forth. I could have left the tag in the bottom right off but I liked the sentiment so I left it in place. 

The title itself stands out because a) it is a horizontal element on a predominately vertical layout and b) because the horizontal band across the bottom is not in color but in black and white.

This last layout is my favorite and has the most white space. The paper itself has the scooter and balloons on it. I add only two small vertical strips to mimic the horizontal balloons and then just three horizontal elements in the mat, the descriptive words and the title piece.  This will really be striking when the right picture is added.

One more note on this month's layouts. Because of the busy colors I chose in the papers themselves it was really fun to add the bold black and white prints to pop the colors!

I hope you have fun with this kit. I would love to see what you do on your own embracing white space!

always,

michele

A huge thank you to Jodi and Jared Sanford of Fancy Pants Design for getting these beautiful papers to me so quickly. This is one of those amazing companies that deserves our support!

The Ins and Outs of Life{365} 2/17

This month I chose Flora from Carte Bella Paper as our papers for Life{365}.

I fell in love with the colors and patterns.

Here are your four layouts for the month

I wanted to point out a few little ins and outs to making this a successful month for each of our subscribers.

#1

Your kit comes with each layout stacked in such a way that the parts and pieces are in order. If you take it from the packet carefully you will not have to search so much for the pieces to each layout.

#2

You have three individual bags of embellishments.  Since this paper line came with only a sticker sheet and that just isn't enough for some of us (me) I shopped and created embellishments to go with the layouts.  This required more work on my part but I really am delighted with the results.

Explore your embellishments but be aware that if you lose them I cannot replace them.

#3

I used a simple technique of piecing the background on the last page.  I explained it on our facebook page, Michele Makes Art, but simply stated I took one piece of background paper and cut it into two pieces. I left the UPC strip in place  You will find these pieces in your kit.  Glue the smaller piece to the larger piece using the strip as a splice.  It is an easy technique and allows you to use both sides of

 the paper. 

 #4

I did a great deal of fussy cutting in this kit.  In the picture above you can see that I cut out the printed doily shape from a card and then took the larger 5x5 piece you will find in the kit and cut a shadow of the shape.  Behind this I tucked a striped heart and faux glass heart I made for you.

#5

If as you are putting your layouts together you would prefer to use the opposite side of the paper please do.  These are your layouts and you should make them your own!

  

I hope you will have fun putting these layouts together.  Your March Life(365) will be ready on the 20th of the month.

These kits are shipping today.

always,

michele