Hi everyone! Vivian here with today's Tuesday Tutorial. Today we're going to look at a quick and easy way to add oomph to your layouts with 8 X 8 paper pads.
I think one of the most overlooked October Afternoon products is the 8 X 8 paper pads. Sure, the patterns are the same as the 12 X 12 patterned paper sheets, but...and this is the key here...the patterns are on a smaller scale. The 8 X 8 papers are not just an 8 X 8 slice of a 12 X 12 paper, but are the 12 X 12 pattern reduced to 8 X 8. I've found that those smaller-scale patterns open up a new world of design opportunities.
One of my favorite ways to use the 8 X 8 papers is to just tear out a whole sheet from the paper pad, glue it to the center of a 12 X 12 sheet of patterned paper or cardstock, and use it as a canvas within a canvas. Because the 8 X 8 papers have small-scale patterns, they can be used as a background canvas more easily than their 12 X 12 counterparts, as a smaller-scale pattern is less likely to compete with other page elements.
The layout I created for today's tutorial makes use of the Sidewalks line (with a flashcard from the 5 & Dime Miscellany thrown in there). The small-scale text-print paper is from the 8 X 8 Sidewalks paper pad, and is set against a larger-scale 12 X 12 patterned paper, also from the Sidewalks collection. Using the two patterned papers already made for an interesting layout, so it was quick to finish out my design with Miscellany, Flower Sack bits and pieces, and a label sticker cut in half.
I will leave you with two oldies but goodies, layouts I've done previously that use this same technique of a sheet from an 8 X 8 paper pad on a larger 12 X 12 canvas. The first showcases the Boarding Pass collection and the second showcases the 5 & Dime Collection.
If you try this design technique, please post your layout to our October Afternoon Flickr pool, as we'd love to see what you create!
Wonderful way to let the beautiful OA papers shine! Great job :)
Posted by: Renee VanEpps | October 23, 2011 at 07:57 AM
your daughter is absolutely adorable with that typewriter. she seems like a great reader!
Posted by: Nirupama Kumar | October 18, 2011 at 01:57 PM
Vivian...love your layouts and especially the EMIGRATE family story!
Posted by: Monika Wright | October 18, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Such a fabulous example of how to use the smaller sheets for quick, but stylish layouts! Love!
Posted by: Clair | October 18, 2011 at 09:46 AM
THANK YOU. I have nearly all of the 8x8 pads and make heaps of cards with them but get a bit challenged when i have to do a 12x12 LO, i never would have thought to do this.
Posted by: Linda in Aus | October 18, 2011 at 06:47 AM