Welcome to another edition of the Tuesday Template Challenge here at ScrapMatters!  There are no specific requirements for this template, except to have fun with it. 

Download here.

Here is the page I created with the template using Fairytale by The Design Girl and If You Give a Girl a Castle by Erica Zane.

And check out these great layouts the CT did with it.

Ami created this page using Captured by Jenn Labre.

Here is one from Tronesia using Blossom by Jennifer Labre.

And one from Kat using Little Fish and Splish Splash by The Design Girl.

Here’s the rules:
*Use this template to create an awesome layout. Post your layout into the Tuesday Template gallery AND to this post to get one point for completing this challenge!
*You can receive an additional point for using new Scrap Matters products; please make a note of new products in your post. And at the end of the month you’ll be entered into a random drawing that could earn you some bonus points!
*Your layout MUST be unique to this challenge, no double-dipping!
*You will have until the end of June to complete this challenge.
*You do not have to use ScrapMatters products, but we certainly love it when you do!

Hello ScrapMatters Friends! Becca (aka becca372) here with you today. So, I totally went back and forth this week on what to do for this Saturday Special. It’s my first challenge and my first blog post as a ScrapMatters Creative Team Member. I thought and thought, and then settled on something I love to do with my layouts! We’ve talked here in the past on the use of color, on color schemes, and on using the color wheel…well, throw that out the window today, because we’re going to keep it simple! One of my favorite things to do when creating a layout is to use a monochromatic scheme.

A monochromatic color scheme focuses on one color, and uses neutrals (black, white, brown, grey) to accent this color. When I do a monochromatic layout, I love to pull a color from my photo to be the main color of my layout. For example, this photo of my DD (today’s her third birthday, by the way!) in her butterfly shirt.

I didn’t want the landscape colors to blend into the layout, so I pulled the color of the blue butterfly out of her shirt, and made that the focus of my layout.

So, I browsed through my kits to find one that went with this color and photo…thanks to ScrapMatters, and a slight kit addiction, I had a lot of choices. Eventually I settled on Erica Zane’s Sweetest Days kit. The next thing I did was pick 2 papers for the background that have different tones of the blue. That’s one of the tricks to use when creating a monochromatic layout-working different tones of your color throughout the layout.

This look is easier to achieve with some kits than others (take a look through our shop and you’ll even find quite a few monochromatic kits to make this challenge a breeze), but sometimes I love to mix and match from kits and element packs to create this style of layout. I also love elements that I can customize to match my layout (if you need some hints on this, check out these two Saturday Special blasts from the past, one and two,  all about recoloring elements!). Check out Alamama and Sarah Bennett’s layouts below for some awesome recoloring, and TanyaH666′s for doing a great job of pulling from TONS of  products-you’ll just have to check out both of their layouts in the gallery to see all that they did to make those gorgeous pages! !

Here’s *my* finished product, using Sweetest Days by Erica Zane, and Stitch Me Up element pack by Chelle’s Creations

Here’s a beautiful layout by Alamama, using Sahlin Studio’s NEW Rejuvenate, Sunshine and Daffodils, Tangie Baxter’s  Explain It,
By Becca Lightness of Being (recolored ribbon), Brittish Desgins Around the World, and NEW Trixie Scraps A Mother’s Love.

here’s a really fun, potluck-style layout by TanyaH666, using tons of Britt-ish Designs products, particularly her brand NEW Collectible Cardboard.

and last, but certainly not least, here’s a bold and bright layout using Erica Zane’s NEW What Say? kit, by Sarah Bennett

What do you think? I know I love a monochromatic layout!
Your task for this Saturday Special is to create your own monochromatic layout, using neutrals as accents only! Have fun, and I hope you like this technique as much as I do!

Here are the rules for this challenge:

* Post your layouts to the Saturday Special gallery. You will also need to link us up here so we can leave you love !
* You will earn one point by participating in this challenge. You can receive an EXTRA point for using a product that has been released in the seven days prior to your post – be sure to make a note of this in your post so you receive proper credit!
* Your layout must be created for this challenge – no double dipping.
* You have the rest of April to complete the layout.

Thanks for playing along with me, I can’t wait to see what you create!

Size Does Matter With Elements

For this one I used smaller elements.

Here’s some inspriation from our CT, who are the best!

Christy made this LO using Erica Zane’s *Sail Away*

See how the big waves “hold” the photos in place. While the smaller size of the chair, shell, birds, etc. add to the feeling of the LO and not distract from the photos.

Monique made this beautiful LO using Grab Bag No.4, by Anna BV Designs, Designs by Tater, Dirty Feet Designs and Geeky Diva Designs.

Notice the three different sizes of the flowers. They balance, highlight and really add to the LO. The circles bring your eyes right to the photo.

Cyndi made this LO using Ohana & Date Stamped by Britt-ish Designs and Fun Times Alpha by Andilynn Designs.

Cyndi shows how you can use various sizes and use a lot of elements, yet keep the photos as the focus.

Cristina made this LO using Strips and Pieces Template and Foam Stamp Alpha White by Sahlin Studio
Girl Power by Chelle’s Creations
Font: Pea Olson

Cristina kept her elements on the smaller side as to not take away from the totally cute bunny!

Can’t wait to see what you all come up with!

Remeber:
You must post to both the gallery and the forum.
You get one point for participating in the challenge.
You can get one more point for using a new release (something from the SM shop released within the last seven days). PLEASE let me know it’s NEW in the forum!
You can get one additional point for being the winner. I will pick a winner at the end of July.
No double dipping…your layout must be unique to this challenge.

And, since this challenge is posted during the last week of the month, your layout can count for this month or next. If you want it to count for this month, you must post before the end of the month, and if you want it to count for next month, then you should wait and post your layout after the 1st of the month.

Hi Everyone.

Denise here to bring you another Saturday Special….and I am excited to be talking to you about white space (or negative space or empty space).

I LOVE white space. I think one element of my personal scrap style is the use of white space…and I love it because of what it can do for you layouts.

White space is the portion of your layout that you leave empty. It includes the space between your photos, margins, edges, etc. The white space on your layout is an important design element and key to good composition.

If you don’t have enough white space on your layout it will appear busy or cluttered…and if you have too much your layout it will appear unfinished.

White space…gives your photos space…to be featured, to be admired…and adds style to any layout. But, your layout doesn’t have to be ALL white space to fit into this category…you just need to have some.

If you don’t normally have a lot of white space in your layouts I know you are thinking…oh no  I have to do a layout with just one photo and almost no elements. And, believe me, those kind of layouts work and are so beautiful, but you can have white space in a layout with five photos and 20 or 30 elements.

Don’t believe me?

Well, here’s my layout…showing off white space.

There are many things that you can do to utilize and maximize the white space on a multiple photo layout. You can pull your photos off to one side, leaving the other side free. The way that my photos and my elements are grouped adds drama and style to my layout…but still plenty of room.

Here are some other examples of using white space with multiple photos from the creative team.

Stacy grouped her photos together and pulled them off to the sides. She took advantage of two sides of her layout and still left plenty of space in the middle for breath and flow. I love how her white space really creates a fun movement across the page…and you feel like you are actually in the trees with her daughter.

Christy grouped all her photos and elements together and pulled them into the middle. This cluster is dramatic and interesting without being overcrowded or busy. Her use of the cluster and the added white apace really conveys a sense of fun and highlights her beautiful daughter.

Krista used the same techinique as Christy…but she took one of her elements all the way across the page…so that her white space is above and blow her cluster, rather than surrounding it.  And since her layout is open relaxing and openess…her theme is reflected not only in her photos and her journaling…but in the actual composition of her layout.

Melanie choose the center cluster, but she also used the space on the side of her layout for journaling. ..and the journaling becomes its own element…but again…lots of space to add drama and focus to her layout.

Finally, Christine choose to group her photos and use paper to really anchor her layout down. But, rather than being heavy…the added white space creates interest and focus and on her amazing photos.

So, your challenge is to create a layout using white space and multiple photos.

If you are new to using white space…start small. I would suggest grouping your photos and your elements together to create a cluster…and place it in the center or on the side of your layout. If you are used to using really big photos…try making them a little smaller and giving yourself a little room.

And, a few housekeeping details:

There’s no double dipping. Your layout must be unique to this challenge.

Everyone who completes the challenge will get a point in the Matter of Scrap Challenge System.

You do not need to use ScrapMatters products, however, if you use something new from the ScrapMatters store (within the first seven days of a product’s release), you get an extra point.

And, I will choose my favorite layout to get one more point at the end of the challenge.

Don’t forget to upload to the Saturday Gallery here , and link back to this thread with your layout image and link.

You have until the end of June to complete this challenge.

Happy scrapping!

Happy Template Tuesday my fellow scrappers.  It’s Cyndi, here to give you this weeks template challenge.  It’s another multi photo template, so just have fun, do your best and earn that point.

Download Here

You have all month to complete this challenge. Please upload your LO to the Tuesday Template Challenge gallery (HERE), as well as linking it back to the forum thread (HERE) to get your point. You can also earn an additional point by using any product released in the past 7 days in the SM shop. Just make sure you mention which new product you used when uploading your page. At the end of the challenge, I’ll be choosing one random winner who will earn an extra point as well!

You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products to participate in this challenge, but we love it when you do! Remember, no double dipping. Each LO must be created for one challenge only. Can’t wait to see your pages!

Not let me me show you what our fabulous CT/DT whipped up…

from Kim

using Enjoy the Moment by Sahlin Studios

from Christy

using Let’s Go Bowling by Andilynn Designs

from Andrea

using Sail Away and Woodland Fantasy by Erica Zane

That’s some good stuff.  Now let’s see yours