CTMH Artbooking: My Happy Place

Some say “save the best for last”, but I have to admit in this case I would have preferred to have done this layout first!!  This was the final layout during our Album Retreat and it was an intense one!!  Placing all those little background pieces behind the overlay looks FABULOUS; however, it was painfully tedious!

If you opt to try your hand at a similar layout, here are a couple suggestions to make it less painful!

1. Use Cricut Craftroom!!  If you do this, you can cut the same overlay in 3 or 4 colors and “Hide Contour” some of the cuts, creating completed backgrounds for you!

2. Another option is to “trick” your cricut.  Cut your overlay at 11”, then cut it again in several colors at a larger size (tricking your cricut by telling it you’re cutting on a 12x24 mat so it will allow the larger size).  Then your “negatives” from the overlay will be slightly larger so you can glue them behind your primary overlay without them showing up behind the cuts in other spots.

The Cricut Craftroom version is by far the simplest way to do this, but option 2 works as well.  Either way, the final look is fabulous with all the background colors thrown in!  But after a full weekend of these detailed layouts, I did not have the energy or desire to finish this one…but I forced myself along, as I was determined to leave the CTMH Album Retreat with ALL of my pages completed!!!  (Way more than I can say for some of the layouts I created at my previous album retreat 6 years ago!! DOH!!)

Stamp Sets: E1027 Framework Alphabet, B1432 Love This,

                          D1559 Geometric Backgrounds, and D1574
                          Take Note (from Cricut Artbooking Collection)

Cardstock colors:  Colonial White, White Daisy, Juniper,
                                        Whisper, Lagoon, Ruby, Sky and
                                        Smoothie
B&T Patterned Papers:  Sarita (Outdoor Denim dots),
                                                   Sparkle & Shine (Stripes/Dots)
                                                   and My Crush Best Day Ever
                                                   assortment

Tips/Techniques:

- Add a variety of paper behind overlays to create a detailed
  pattern
- Stamp on Cricut® shapes for visual variety
- Use the filmstrip border to allow for additional photos on
   layout
- Use the negative space from the heart shape somewhere else
  on the layout
- Cut bracket shape in half and place behind photo to add
   focus to photo
- Use "Hide Contour" feature in Cricut® Craft Room to
   create a modified overlay
- Add a touch of sparkle to the page with Shimmer trim,
   which can be cut into strips, dovetailed, or used as is
- Layer the circles on top of each other using 3-D foam tape

Cricut Artbooking

Best Day Ever Assortment

Bronze Shimmer Trim

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