This coming June, I will have my 8th year anniversary of digi scrapping! I can hardly believe it’s been 8 years, but definitely do not want to go back and check out those first few layouts! Over time, I’ve found that I do things in a certain order for each layout. Moreover, that there are certain “finishing touches” that I do to every layout before I call it done. Today I wanted to share with you the 4 things I do before finishing a layout.
So here is my layout as I am about to finish it. I could save it right now, and it would be great. There are a few things I want to do, however, to take my layout to the next level. Follow along as I take those steps.
Step 1: Add a white border to my photo/photos. I have been doing this a long time, and I think it really helps to make the picture stand out. Also, it mimics how I print pictures “in real life” so it makes sense for me to add this border in for my digi layouts.
Step 2: Add the date. If there is not a specific place for the date in the template I am using, or on the elements I’ve used, I go in and add the date. I usually aim to add it in somewhere inconspicuous, somewhere that you may not even see it, but I know it’s there to help me preserve the memory.
Step 3: Add in paint, doodles, and stitches. These are the elements that I use to help make my layout come alive. I rarely do a page without any paint on it, and if it makes sense to use doodled and stitches, I do. Given the doodled nature of the elements on the page, I wanted to finish the layout off with a nice doodled border, and the stitching matches the theme and adds a little to that paper block.
Step 4: Edit those shadows. Up until this point, everything on my page has a common basic shadow on it. Once I feel like I am ready to save a layout, I start with the bottom most layer, and work my way up, adjusting the shadows as necessary. Sometimes I apply a deeper shadow, often I warp the shadows that are there. This is my last chance to add some realism to my page. Once that’s done, I start saving my layout and get ready to post.
Here’s my completed layout. I hope you can see how these four steps take my first, ho-hum layout to the next level. Do you have any things you do right before you save your layout?
Justine/bellbird says
i liked this post about your process – i think i learnt something to save me time! i should do the same with shadows last, as i usually end up switching BG papers around again before i ‘finish’ and have to readjust all the shadows (uggh!) Thanks!
norton94 says
Great tips Aaron!