Some challenges are well, challenges. But this week’s IdeaBooks4u Blog challenge is a fun one! We’re lifting a fresh and funky page of Caroline’s (does she do any other kind?) from the latest Better Homes and Garden’s book, “Page Planner.”

Here’s Caroline’s original page:

and here’s Jess’s twist:

Come check out the rest of our examples and then post your own version in the IdeaBooks4u Inspiration Gallery at Designer Digitals.  Have fun with this one!  Jill

This week’s “Terrific Template” is a double-page, multi-photo layout from Anna Aspnes... have you ever tried one of her templates? If not, this is your chance! It’s awesome! All of us on the CT that used this template, loved it! Amber, Mollie, Sara and I all used the template in the “usual” way… we replaced a few things, moved a few things, but, for the most part, we all used the template pretty much how Anna designed it.

Terrific Template: MultiFoto Double QuickPage No. 9 by Anna Aspnes

Sara and I both filled all nine of the large photo blocks with our tall, vertical photos… the template was perfect for Sara’s fun and colorful Disney characters and it allowed me to showcase nine action shots of my daughter playing soccer. These template blocks are perfect to showcase people.

Sara filled all the blocks with photos! She was able to get TWELVE photos on her layout!

I elmininated the bottom blocks and just used the nine tall blocks on my layout.

I love how Mollie used bright patterned papers in some of the white space and repurposed a couple of the photo blocks… one with paper and one with her journaling.

Amber, took it a step further, using a couple of the blocks for multiple photos. This allowed her to get a total of THIRTEEN photos on her layout! Wow!

Maureen was the most creative of us all… in fact, we all ‘voted’ and she got the “outta the box” award for taking Anna’s template and only using one half of it for this darling layout! (OK… we didn’t really vote, but isn’t it cool what she did?) Not only did she covert the layout to a single 12x12 page, she used two blocks for one photo and two blocks for paper and her title… so clever!

So, didn’t you just love all the layouts this week? Similar, yet so different! Now… let’s see what you can do with Anna’s great template! Check out the DD store for Anna’s Multi-Foto Double QuickPage 9. And, it’ll be on sale tomorrow, May 22nd, only! Remember to post your layout in the template challenge gallery at Designer Digitals!

Since Memorial Day weekend is coming up for those of us in the U.S. (which means BBQs and beach parties!), I kept this week’s challenge simple! And, I made it really simple on myself ‘cuz I used one of the oh-so-talented Cathy Zielske’s NSD challenges on the Simple Scrapbooks Studio Blog! hehehe

CHALLENGE: Use ONE font for your title, subtitle, journaling, photo taqs… ONE font for the whole layout! And, remember to choose a font that is easily readable and translates well into large sizes AND smaller sizes! Cathy says: “I think scrapbookers feel the pressure to be all creative and funky with type. And the truth is that type works best when it’s simple, and allows all of your other elements to shine. Type should be a supporting player, carefully complementing what your layout is trying to communicate.” For this layout, I used one of my favorite sans serif, simple fonts: SS Mono from Simple Scrapbooks.

So, let’s see your one-font layout this week! Enjoy the process and remember to post your layout in the “Just My Type” gallery at Designer Digitals! Enjoy!

One of my favorite techniques is to use a strip of patterned paper - either vertically down the side of the page, or horizontally underneath the photos. This week’s layout by Aino (aka Mrscoala) has a slightly different take on that idea. A strip of paper, but one that stops before it reaches the edge of the page and is “continued” by a section of brushwork:

It’s an intriguing idea and one that you could use in lots of ways. “Extend” that strip with any brushes you want, or with another paper, or with ribbons. Maybe even with another photo. It works so well because your eye “needs” to follow that line of paper to the edge of the page, so using something slightly unexpected there will be a sure attention grabber while still making sure the page design is balanced and restful to the eye.

Or you might be inspired by the brushwork coming down from the top right corner, by the funky big title or by the contrast of deep colored paper on a pale background. Love the use of Anna’s great curled edges too!

Here is what Terri, Tara and Mel were inspired to come up with:

Credit: layout by Tara, Wordy title, Little vintage frame, Letterbox clusters brushes and stamps and stamped stitches No.3 all by Katie Pertiet, Smilin at me kit and Honeybun solids by Mindy Terasawa, Torn and tattered paper template by Anna Aspnes.

Credits: Layout by Terri, Community Center paper, Curled paper edge 3, Fall into Fall paper, Katie’s Jewels felt alpha.

Credits: layout by Melanie, Linen blooms alpha, Krafty bits alpha, (frame and messy overlay coming soon).

If you play along we would love to see what you are inspired to create. This week the Saturday Scraplift Gallery was full of wonderful pages:

~ Lynn

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