SETTING THE TONE OF YOUR PAGES
Match Your Background and Elements to the Mood of Your Photos

Sometimes I am in a really silly (giddy) mood! (Ok, some of you are nodding and saying that a LOT of the time that applies…) At other times I am very serious and love to ponder the meaning of it all. If I were to try to scrap my fun, silly or whimsical photos on my most serious day, they would either not come out right or deprive me of the much needed soul searching and reflection that I was involved in on that day.

This also applies to our photos. If I have a silly photo of a child with spaghetti on his/her head and face I usually don’t want to put that on my most elegant backgrounds with serious clipart*….I want something fun and whimsical such as From the Kitchen by Laurie Furnell. By the same token, if I have a wedding photo, I want lovely backgrounds and artwork such as found in Just Married by Carol Halm . Her work is soft, sentimental and nostalgic and matches the way I journal in both poetry and prose. There are emotions involved in each of our photos and they can guide us as we select our backgrounds and embellishments.

* I say usually because I have done tongue in cheek type layouts where you would use a black tie waiter and chef and child with spaghetti….but that is a different tone.

If I am doing a retro page of my childhood I might like Girly Girls by Julie Torske or I might use my own photos as backgrounds, which I create on the computer. Or depending on the age and era I am scrapping, I might prefer Honeyville by Gina Jane Johnson.

Perhaps you have looked through some of your very first pages and been disappointed in how the pages and the photos didn't’t express adequately what you wanted to say. Sometimes in our rush to use the latest, greatest and newest fad on our pages, we lose the tone that we desired.

Let’s apply these thoughts now to some new pages.

Project 1: He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands

Thank you, Cassie for this wonderful photo!

1. The background page is from Backgrounds by Gina Jane Johnson. I added the background and then clicked on Stretch to fit page in DIP (Digital Image Pro).
2. I used the gradient function to give the slightly ethereal effect and then added the mats and the photo.
3. I copied the background and pasted it on top of the page. Then using the transparency brush, I brushed away the background from the matted photo.
4. The gold plate was created by inserting a shape, filling with gold, and adding noise and was secured with brads with DIP stamp function.

Project 2: Where in the World Are We?

Using the same photo from my friend, Cassie, I created a very simple page with a slightly different tone, but the same simple but classic style still works. I love this photo which shows interaction between friends of different ages. There is still enough room underneath for journaling.

1. This background was created by inserting a shape, filling with blue for background and then creating star cutouts.
2. I used the soft edge feature to make it look as if it were shinning.
3. I added a gold background mat and used a decorative edge downloaded from the web.

Project 3: Three: A Rose In Any Other Shape…

Thank you, Helen for this adorable photo of Calei!
I took a photo of this rose in my backyard. It was opened more than I wanted for the project I had in mind so I played around with it and ended up with the various elements and designs on this page.

For 3, 3a, and 3b

1. I used the Kaleidoscope function to change the rose a bit.
2. By using the Magic Wand to remove some of the color, I created these various elements.
3. In version 1c I used the color picker to add the pink from the little girl’s dress.
4. The next page shows some of these elements after using the fill with color or picture function. (I downloaded the gold gradient from the web)

Project 3a:

Project 3b: Won’t You Come Into My Garden.

Now that I have created these various elements I can pick and choose the ones that I want to use on my page.

1. I opened a new page, added a shape and then filled the shape with color.
2. I used the create a shape tool and added corners which I filled with color and then created a texture using effects.
3. I added the elements to the side of the page and the poem to complete the page.

Project 4: Travel Adventures.

1. Using my favorite photo once again, but with a different tone…this time more fun and whimsical using Carolee’s Travel Adventures.
2. All I had to do was create a solid background, add the images from Travel Adventures and some shadows and use the effects function to add texture.
3. A bit of journaling or a little bit of verse and you have a quick and cute page!
4. In version 4 I used the transparency brush and brushed away the background of the photo and made the background and mat a different color and texture.

Project 4a:

There you have it….a couple of photos used in different ways to present different tones or feelings from reverent to whimsical. You can take the same photo and evoke the feelings and responses you desire by the way you frame it, display it or scrap it.

You know what's next……

And now for your assignments should you decide to accept them:

1. Choose a couple of photos and scrap them from two different points of view or two different tones.
2. Choose a poem or story and a special photo or series of photos to illustrate it.
3. Create a layout with one large photo and one entire page of journaling.
4. Do a page about your favorite childhood memory.
5. Stop by the message board and say hello.
6. Make a list of people /friends/family you would like to know more about
   and make it a point to learn more about them. Create a page in their honor or memory.
7. Hug someone.
8. Try a new craft. Make a glass block light, create a tile, sew an apron, or make a doll quilt….but try something new.
9. Hug someone else.
10. Be known for your kindness.
11. Play nicely.
12. Meet me back here next month!
13. At home or work try thinking of at least three positive attributes of the next person with whom you come in contact.

I plan to be at CKU in March so please find me and say hello if you are attending!

Until then….have a wonderful month and happy scrapping!