Project Life | Week 18...

Hello Sassy Friends! It's Leanne here again on this Project Life Monday and I am sharing another spread using the gorgeous Crate Paper Poolside, Pink Paislee Atlas & Amy Tangerine Rise & Shine collections.  

Today is all about colour balance between photos, patterned papers and when I use black and white images to help share the story.

 

 

Oddly enough, I've taken multiple snapshots of flowers this week.  Well, I guess it's not that odd if you count my daughter having a recent birthday and Mother's Day being recorded in Week 18. 

 

When it comes to colour selection for my patterned papers or PL cards, I always try to complement my photos.  Some weeks I am more lucky than not with the colours I've captured in my shots. Where there are dominant colours, such as the yellow and pink for this week, I will tend to use variations of the hues to continue throughout for cohesion.  With any garishly clashing photos, the obvious thing to do is convert them to black and white.

 

 

A second reason to use black and white photos is to soften the overall images.  Be mindful of where the black and white photos sit in your spread too.  On page one, I have created a visual triangle with them to please the eye. Placing all the black and white images together would create an unbalanced look on the spread. This visual link helps to draw the eye across the page.

 

 

For my weekly title card I have used pink and yellow flower patterned paper (Crate Paper Summertime), to highlight my flower bouquet photos. Flowers, as mentioned before, were a big deal during Week 18. Using a patterned paper to support this idea is just a subtle way to reinforce the importance.

 

 

Other touches of patterned paper hold spaces for journaling.  Small amounts of gold throughout the spread, also help link the pockets together visually.

 

 

 Black and white photos can also cover up a multitude of sins! Well, the sins of a blurry kind.  Most photos looks sharper if converted to black and white. If I don't have any other option, touching up my out of focus snapshot this way, makes for a bad photo to look okay.  Not everything has to be perfect though, so don't feel obligated to NOT use those blurry photos.

 

 

Page two is very photo heavy.

 

We had a lot to do this week and most of it was captured. One of the exciting things was the conclusion of my boys science experiment.  The life cycle of a butterfly. I used a collage photo  to represent the main stages of the caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Using a butterfly paper punch I created an embellishment for the story.

 

 

 

Sticker subtitles were added directly to photos as well.

 

 

My final tip when using black and white photos is to create mood. In the photo below, I used my iPhone to snap a silhouette style photo. We were at a parent/teacher interview and apart from not wanting to be obvious about taking a photo, I didn't want to capture other students and their identities in the shot. The mood here suggests foreboding! Ha! Especially for my son. *grin*

 

Thank you for visiting today. Don't forget to call into the Sassy shop for all your Project Life needs..x

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Project Life | Week Eighteen...

Hello Sassy Friends! Welcome back to Project Life Mondays! Today I am going to share with you some detail on how I achieve balance across my spread, while keeping it simple at the same time.      Week 18 | April 28 - May 4.  

This week was all about paring the layers down and keeping my spread really simple.  I wanted the colours to shine and the story to be told.  However, among all the brightness of yellow and hot pink colour pops, I have added the subtleties of black and white photos and plenty of white space.

 

To create balance on my spread, I first look at the combined space of the two pages.  Then, when I am happy with colour and photo placement, I start to look at the finer details on the individual pages.

 

This week, the bright yellow from the background photo mats and journaling card have created a visual triangle.  I have also included two lots of 4"x6" group shot photos.  These photos, on opposite pages, help to create symmetry.

When I look at the individual pages, I place extra colour where it will help me create movement across the page.  Layering hot pink on top of neutral backgrounds attracts the eye.

 



Repeating similar items, shapes or embellishments can also be used to create balance.

  On page two, I have used layered labels - "take a picture", "photo date" and the typed text strip across the loom band ephemera.  

  Don't be afraid to have fun with colours!  But remember, bright colours work best when they compliment your photos rather than over shadow them. Having equal amounts of colour pops across two pages rather than in concentrated doses, lessens the attack on the senses.  When I have multiple colours and patterns in my photos, I tone them down by converting them to black and white.   Don't forget to join me here next week as I introduce you to our new Sassy Scrapper June kit!  I can't wait to share it with you.