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Making Your 2 Page Layout Flow

Crop Class

Class: Making Your 2 Page Layout Flow 

Inspiration: I couldn’t wait to use the Cuteworld line by Autumn Leaves to design baby pages for my friend Sheila! Since she’s waiting to be surprised with either a boy or girl, I wanted to have one of each ready to go for her hospital gift!  

Class Objective: Creating a double-page layout that looks like one giant 12x24 page. 

Materials: 

Girl Version:

Autumn Leaves – Cuteworld Girl Specialty Pack - Itemnumber: 63-68109
Autumn Leaves - Cuteworld Girl Color Rubons - Itemnumber: 63-61918
Autumn Leaves - Cuteworld Girl Journaling Stickers - Itemnumber: 63-61063
(I used 2 pcs. of white cardstock for the background & 1 piece of dark pink/strawberry-colored cardstock for the photo mats)
Additional materials (can be from your stash):  matching flowers, buttons, ribbon, chipboard or stickers for your title, bling, and any of the cute matching embellishments for this line!!

Boy Version:

Autumn Leaves – Cuteworld Boy Specialty Pack - Itemnumber: 63-68108
Autumn Leaves - Cuteworld Boy Color Rubons - Itemnumber: 63-61916
Autumn Leaves - Cuteworld Boy Journaling Stickers - Itemnumber: 63-61061  (optional)
(I used 2 pcs. of kraft cardstock for the background & 1 piece of light blue-colored cardstock for the photo mats)
Additional materials (can be from your stash):  star punch, buttons, chipboard or stickers for your title, and any of the cute matching embellishments for this line!!

Girl Version:


Boy Version:

1.       Begin by placing the two sheets of cardstock side-by-side. Doing this always helps me see the background “canvas” as one giant layout instead of two pages.  I used white for the girl version & "kraft" for the boy version.

2.  Cut one sheet of the striped paper into two equal-sized 6x12 pieces. When you cut the striped paper, make sure you are cutting perpendicular to the stripes. See my example for how to cut perpendicular to the stripes.  Same step for boy version.

3.  Adhere striped paper to background, approximately 1-inch from the bottom. The idea here is to create a unique background across the entire 2-page layout.  **The more accents you tie together on both pages, the more your layout will look like one giant layout instead of two separate pages**

4.  Cut two equal strips of the green paper to measure 1.5x12.  On the boy version I used the white background "Chugga Chugga Choo Choo" paper for these strips.

5.  Adhere the paper strips approximately ¼ inch above the striped paper. Again, the idea is to create a unique background across the entire 2-page layout.

6.       Place the giant pink flower paper on the left page of your layout. Make sure it overlaps the right page of your layout at least a little bit but don't adhere it down yet.  For the boy layout this is the green star paper.

7.       Once you like the placement of your flower paper, adhere it down to only the left page. Do not adhere it to the right page of your layout yet. First you’ll need to trim it.

8.       Flip over the left side of your layout, and trim just along the edge of the layout where the flower page petals / star page tips hang off. 

9.       Put left page and right page side-by-side again and adhere the petals/star tips that were trimmed off onto the right page so that they line up with the petals/star tips on the left page.  Adhere the petals/tips to the right side of your layout.

10.       Create your large photo mat (for a 5x7 photo):a.       Cut cardstock piece of photo mat at 5.5x7.5  (make the slice on your trimmer at 5.5 - saves paper so you'll only use one sheet for all photo mats);b.      Cut shimmery dot patterned paper mat at 5.25x7.25 (make the slice on your trimmer at 5.25 - saves paper so you'll only use one sheet for all photo mats);c.       Round all corners & adhere dot paper on top of cardstock.

11.        Adhere the dot paper on top of the cardstock paper to make a double mat.  Using double mats for your photos helps give your layout extra dimension by adding layers.  Adhere photo mat to the left page of your layout. I chose to put mine vertical (portrait style) on the girl version but you can also adhere it to be horizontal (landscape) like I did on the boy version. 

12.       Cut two more photo mats for 4x6 photos (use leftover cardstock from when you cut the large photo mat):a.       Cut 2 pieces of cardstock to measure 4.5x6.5;b.      Cut 2 pieces of shimmery baby paper (or dot paper) to measure 4.25x6.25;c.       Round all corners;d.      Adhere shimmery paper on top of pieces of cardstock.

13.       Adhere photo mats to the right page of your layout. I chose to put mine horizontally (landscape) on the girl version but they will also fit vertically (portrait) as you can see on the boy version.  **The trick here is to have a mix of horizontal & vertical photo mats across the 2-page layout and to use different-sized photos.**

14.       Once all of your paper is adhered, it’s time to start adding your embellishments. To tie the left and right pages together, use matching embellishments on both sides of the layout. 

You’ll see I chose matching flowers(girl) & rub-ons from the Cuteworld line for this. For the boy layout I used a star punch to create my own embellishments with the blue paper.  If you don't have a star punch you can draw a star on scrap paper and then trace it onto the paper.  Circles will also work for this layout.

**Design tip:  My goal was to use three sections of layered flowers, which creates a visual triangle on the layout. Using a triangle on your layout is one way to tie things together and draw attention to the photos (assuming they’re in the center of the triangle).**

15.       After layering the flowers/stars and matching buttons, use a paper piercer to poke through the button holes. This makes it much easier when you sew your buttons on.  Extra layers of flowers helps to add more dimension to the layout but makes it tough to use adhesive.  Anytime I layer buttons on top of flowers I ALWAYS sew them for strength...I want my layouts to be around FOREVER!!

If you don't have buttons, you can: 

         a.  create your own with a circle punch & some coordinating cardstock;
         b.  use brads/other embellishments;
         c.  use the rub-ons on cardstock to create your own embellishments.

**Tip:  Put an old piece of foam underneath the layout when you’re poking the holes with your paper piercer. This way your paper won’t bend and you won’t poke yourself!**

16.       Once you’ve added the flowers & buttons (or other embellishments) onto the layout, you’ll want to add your rub-ons.  I started with the 12-inch one along the side that looks like circles with thread between.

**Tip** First cut out the rub-ons you’ll be using from the large sheet. This will help you avoid pressing other rub-ons onto your layout as you work.  I never believed it, but a rub-on tool will DO WONDERS!!  Mine is by Basic Grey and I resisted buying one FOR YEARS b/c I swore off rub-ons...this tool is AMAZING!!

17.      Here's what I mean by a rub-on tool. The Cuteworld set comes with a popsicle stick, but a rub-on tool helps everything go on more smoothly with less cracks!  One side of the tool is like a ballpoint pen (without ink) and the other side is like a spatula. 

18.       I used the 12-inch rub-on strip across my layout (girl version) - about 1/4 inch above the green paper, and then cut other cute pieces for around my photo mats. 

For the boy version, I used the 12-inch strip about 1/4 inch above the train paper strip, but knew it wouldn't fit across the two pages.  I put it slightly off-center and added embellishments to each side.  Then I put the train rub-on on the left side.

19.       Once you’ve adhered all of your rub-ons and embellishments, it’s time to adhere your title and journaling box. 

I adhered my Cuteworld journaling spot first so that I could then adhere my title around the shape of the journaling spot. 

Title options: Use your Cricut to cut a matching title from leftover paper/cardstock, use stickers from your stash, paint bare chipboard (this is what I did for both versions), use color coordinated chipboard. I layered my chipboard before adhering it for the title on the girl version to make it more cutesy, adding ribbon & bling to dress it up. 

20.  If you choose to layer chipboard, I've found that a mixture of glue dots & pop dots works perfectly.  I use the glue dots on the pieces that touch the layout, and the pop dots for the raised pieces. 

You'll see on the boy version I didn't layer my chipboard at all - since the title was shorter I left it alone. 

21.  I'm adding my photos later because these are a gift for my friend, but at this point you should have completed layouts ready for your photos.  BONUS = if you bought the Cuteworld paper pack you should have enough leftovers to create this entire layout again!!  What a steal - only $6.99!!! 

About the author ...
Kathy started scrapbooking about four years ago and almost immediately became addicted. Her layouts have been featured in Creating Keepsakes, Ready,Set,Create, and Scrapbook Trends Magazines. She loves paper scrapping but has tried a couple of digi layouts as well and is honored to be a Creative Team Member here on ACOT!

Submitted by katarria