How Do I...? {get the layered look without the clutter?}

Today on our blog, we're continuing with a feature we started last month. You ask a question that starts with "How do I...?" and one of our cracker-jack designers answers it.

If you have a burning question, leave it in the comments section and we may be able to answer it next month!

This month's question is...

"How do I get that layered look without it looking like I threw everything in my scraproom onto the page?"

And thankfully, Iris Babao-Uy is here with the answer (and some inspiration)...

Hi everyone! This is Iris and I am very happy to be answering this question we received on our blog. 

One thing I always do whenever I sit down to make a page is to take out my papers and start cutting out elements. It doesn't have to be intricate and exact cuts. It’s all about finding elements in your papers that you can turn into embellishments.

Next, I always start with a clean background. I love working with a white base because you can create your own color and add texture to your background at the same time. Working with a busy background will almost always throw your design off. Because you will be layering, you must make sure that your base is bright and clean so that you can effectively layer elements without making your design look too busy. 

Next, You can use stencils for misting or coloring, or you can even go further and add texture with different mediums. For this page, I used glass bead gels over a brick stencil and colored it with pastel chalks.  

Layering ribbons and trims over hand cut flowers and stems is also a great way to add layers and detail to your pages. 

Another fun thing to do is to grab elements of different mediums like fabric, resin, paper and layer them one on top of the other to add visual interest.

One important thing to remember when doing layered designs is BALANCE. Make sure that the visual weight is evenly distributed.  Think of your visual triangle. Select three points in your page where you want to make clusters and layers and concentrate on those. Also, it's wise to have a good amount of negative space or white space in your layout. This will balance the areas that are busy with layers with areas that are free of design. Allow some space for the eyes to rest and you will see that your design will become more appealing.

I hope these few tips will help you get started designing your own layered creations!

Thanks for stopping by the blog and allowing me to share my art and passion with you. 

Comments

[Mary]

Great design and layout. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day!

[Bellaidea]

Great post my friend and this layout it`s a fantastic one!

[Megan Smith]

Beautiful layout Iris and thanks for answering my question! Love your work!

[Lesley]

Thanks for that Iris, very well explained and I see exactly what you mean, always forget about the 'visual triangle' which is so important and shows out in your design, thank you for reminding me.

[Jean Marmo]

Gorgeous layout! Thanks for the explanation!

[Gabrielle Pollacco]

Awwww! Your little girls are just so adorable Iris and your page is stunning!!! Thanks for sharing your design tips! xx

[iris uy]

thanks for your sweet comments ladies! I'm happy to be able to share whatever little stuff I know with you guys! Of course these are just my personal opinion based on my experience but if it helps you with your creations then I'm more than happy to help out. There are more ways to achieve this style so don't let yourself be restricted by rules. the more important thing is that you enjoy the process and you are happy with the results. :)

[Doris Widder]

Stunning layout!

[Athanasia]

Beautiful!

[Radine]

Beatiful Layout Iris. I luv all the details, colors and especially the brick backgound - it adds texture. TFS

[Jona Panesa]

its so gorgeous sis!!!

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