The story behind this layout is a complete scrappy nightmare. It started 2 months ago with this red and cream background and the dark blue piece, which had an horizontal orientation at the time. The plan was to tell the story of our first road trip to Toronto, with 3 pictures of various size of the car, us... arranged on the blue piece in a very "square" design. I hated it. the layout was very "cold" and "masculine" to my taste. So i tried moving the picture in a more freestyle way, adding a few paper with a more girly touch (like this multicolored one from Amy Tan). But it still sucked. So i left it in a corner of my desk and stopped thinking about it. Then a few days ago i saw it. And decided to change it all. Removed the photos. Changed the orientation of the blue piece and added the teal paper on top (mostly because i decided i wanted to use those teal glitter thickers). Then chose new photos, of New York this time. Added lots of bits and pieces to embellish the layout , my title (which i moved at least 5 times, unable to decided if i wanted it on the left or on the right). And what felt like 2 centuries later, i called it done. Let's be honest, i still don't love it, but i don't hate it either. 
What would you have done? Gave up from trying to make it better from the start? Stayed with the original version even though it was ugly? after all, it's just paper. So maybe i just went a little overboard...
I love your layouts, Alinor. I have been thinking lately that, much like project runway, the best scrapbook pages are as much about editing yourself as they are about creative genius, the skill of looking at what you created and being about to say good or bad and be correct is a rare and valuable one!
ReplyDeleteI would probably done what you did. And I have been there: I struggle with pages about the males in our family because they always end up - masculine, and then I'm not so keen on them.
ReplyDeleteright there with you. if i ever have kids and they're boys, they'd better be ready for pink layouts no matter what!
DeleteI think it turned out great! It's all part of the process of learning what you like and what you don't. when I'm in the middle of something and not feeling it, I'll let it sit for a few days. If I'm still not liking it, I'll put everything away and move on. Go back to those photos later. I have plenty of layouts in my albums that I pushed through and just made without really liking what I was doing. Nothing wrong with that - it is only paper. But I've gotten to the point that when I'm in process if I don't like it, I just stop.
ReplyDeleteI think this is fantastic! Has a very FUN feel to it! I feel for you, though... you want something to work out so badly - and no matter how hard you try, it just won't! But that feeling you get when suddenly it just all comes together {after setting it aside} is WONDERFUL!!!
ReplyDeleteJasmine
alittledabofglue.blogspot
oh yes. i can't tell you how relieved i was to finally be able to put it in the album and knew i was done with it
DeleteI have struggled with layouts too, sometimes you just have to call them done and put them away. Love all the arrows on your layout :)
ReplyDeleteI really love your layout :)
ReplyDeleteLove how it turned out....I say just go with it....I often will start a layout one day and finish it another...it helps me with perspective
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