Have you ever created a layout that fits one of these categories?
A) You created a page that was given away as a gift, but secretly you wished you were able to keep it because you were so happy with the results?
or
B) You created a layout months or years ago, that you really loved and were proud of creating at the time, especially because you absolutely love the photo(s) or story. But looking at the page now you wish you were able to freshen it up or re-do it completely?
or
C) You have new items in your stash that would just go "perfectly" with a particular page you've always wanted to re-do?
or
D) You have a page that you originally created with one or two photos and wished that you'd created with more?
or
E) There's an unfinished page in your album (or 10, or 20) that need to be completed, and you just need a push to make the time to do it.
or
F) Are you kidding? ALL OF THE ABOVE!
Well, I know for myself, it's and easy "F", All of the above!!. I have tons of unfinished pages that are patiently awaiting completion, and another ton that I'm unhappy with, and also a few that I've given away and wished I'd had versions for myself.
So, today I thought I would share my process for recreating a layout that actually fits many of these situations listed above for me. The original version was seen a while ago here on the OA blog, and was created way back in July. It's a page that I created for OA's Sidewalks introduction for the booth at CHA-Summer. This was my very first project using Sidewalks and I absolutely fell.in.love. with this collection while creating this page! When it was made, I had a very limited amount of product from the collection, which isn't uncommon because most manufacturers are in production-mode during their introductions at CHA and not all of the items are completed. So with what I had, I did as best I could to create a page I'd want to keep for myself, knowing that I would be giving it away to OA for use in the booth. Upon completion I photographed it, and sent it off to CHA, never to be seen in my hands again. I really loved this page and the combination of the papers that I used, as well as the story, so I knew I wanted to re-create it at some point, but with some tweeks, especially since I had more of the collection to work with now.
So here's what I did to get started:
I printed out a an image of my layout as it was originally created. Then I circled the parts of the page that I really loved and wanted to keep on my new page. Essentially what I was creating was a Pro's and Con's list.
Pros - I want to keep:
1) the hand cut flowers
2) the triangle in the design that the flowers created
3) most of my original paper choices
4) scalloped edge
5) stacked buttons
Cons - I want to change:
1) Title work
2) Photo
3) Background-cardstock for patterned paper
Taking all of these issues as my direction for my new page, I began my project. The first thing I changed was the photo. Instead of one large photo, I decided to use 6 smaller versions of a series of photos of both of my kids in the same swing. Different expresssions in all of them. Since I take multiples of any given situation, I tend to have many different expressions from any given event and I love showing those moments off in my pages.
This by far was the largest change to the page that I made.
Next up was the title work. I really wasn't happy with how I ended up having to outline the title work in pen to make it stand out on the beautiful plaid paper in the original page. So I decided to really play up the yellow gingham paper from the original layout and then create a tone-on-tone title so as not to take away focus from the photos, which I wanted to be the hero of the page. But I also wanted to create a secondary focal point in my title, so I decided to use the large chipboard ampersand piece (from 5 & Dime Miscellany) in the title as well, rather than the smaller one I used in the original layout.
Ultimately, this misted chipboard piece played a huge role as the center piece of the main title, the sub-title on the left of the page, as well as a grounding point for the whole page, something that was missing in the previous layout. This was a happy suprise while creating this new layout. So with these changes that I wanted to make, along with maintaining those elements I really loved from the original layout, my updated project was complete.
So, would you like to see the final, updated version of my page? Here it is!Play & Swing Together / You & Me Together & Carefree (Sidewalks Collection)
I really love how it turned out, and I love that it looks similar to the original (with all the pieces that I wanted to keep), but updated to fit my new desire for the page, including replacing the one photo with multiple, the addition of more product, a longer title, and new focal points within the layout. Sometimes taking an objective view, either simply with the elapsing of time, or by purposefully critiquing your own work with a list of pros and cons is just the nudge you need to take a project from that place of "I'm just not sure" to "I'm happy and I can now walk away from this."
This is such a great way to complete your unfinished pages or create a new version of previously created projects simply by noting what you'd like to keep and what you'd like to replace moving forward. It's an easy and fun exercise to get your creative juices flowing, especially when you're stuck!
Here's a side by side comparison to show you just how much of a difference a few changes can make in the overall appearance of your work. I hope this has given you the inspiration to re-CREATE something that you've always wanted to re-visit from one of your uncompleted or other past creations! Thanks for joining me today! I hope you have a wonderful day! :D