During the month of February, I participate in the LOAD or Layout a Day challenge. Making a layout each and every day isn’t always easy, but it can also be a good way to stretch your creativity a bit. You develop your creative habit a bit more and really are able to take a look at your creative process. Sometimes though, I can’t devote a large amount of time to that particular day’s prompt. I need a quick solution to help me save time. 6×6 paper pads provide me with that option.
When you are handling a 6×6 paper pad, you have a pre-measured and pre-cut set of papers that are all designed to coordinate together. The common size of a scrapbook layout is 12×12. Four sheets from a 6×6 pad will cover the 12×12 canvas in a grid pattern. This in itself is the beginnings of a basic design. You could then easily fill each quadrant with photos, journaling and embellishments for a quick an easy layout. However, knowing the dimensions of the paper pad, it’s also easy to cut and place sections of it to create other layout designs. Today, I will be working with a simple design know as the asymmetrical cross.
I used 3 sheets of 6×6 paper. One I left intact ( the dark blue section to the left). I used a 4×6 photo, which I trimmed down just a tad. I wanted there to be a wide seam or border between the photo and the adjoining patterned paper. Using a 4×6 photo saves time. It’s already 6 inches long. The same length as the paper in the 6×6 pad.I cut a strip from the second sheet( dark blue section) to place to the right of the photo. This strip is approximately 1 3/4 inches wide. If I didn’t desire the seams/borders between the photo and adjoining patterned paper, then I simply would have cut even increments. The strip to the right would be 2 inches wide. The remaining sheet of 6×6 patterned paper was simply cut it half( hot pink sections). I trimmed it down just a tad to allow for the seams/border to show.
On a Bicycle Built for 3 by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Colorbok; Patterned Paper: Studio Calico; Letters: Jillibean Soup, Simon Says Stamp; Stickers: Bella Blvd., American Crafts; Flair,Tape, Paperclip: Freckled Fawn; Journal card: October Afternoon; Die Cut: Basic Grey; submitted for the monthly motif stash busting challenge at Get It Scrapped
Adding the details was pretty easy. Any border I wanted to add simply needed to be cut 6 inches long. I used my sewing machine to stitch around the edges of the blocks and then added the title and embellishments. The design is an asymmetrical cross, however, in reality, I just shifted a grid around to accommodate the different sizes of the patterned paper I wanted to use.
To make the design more interesting, I substituted some of the words in the title for images.
The journal card is not just a place to house my text. In this case, it also frames the photo. I used a small and simple cluster to adorn it.
Watch the full process used in building this layout:
Using a 6×6 pad will help save you time. It starts off at a size that is easily integrated into a 12×12 canvas. Leave it full size or cut it into strips to work it easily within your design. It sometimes helps to consider the canvas as a grid, even when you work with other design foundations. Just think of it as shifting the grid to work within the chosen foundation.