Hello, I am so happy to be sharing my first Build A Page at Flying Unicorn. I hope you will bear with me as I try to show you as much of a step-by-step plan on how I build my layouts and specifically, this one I created from June's incredibly gorgeous kit. I mostly used items from the main kit, but added some bits from the others, as well. The layout is of my daughter Chandler, taken in early May. She loves this photo, so I thought I would scrap it for the album I am creating for her.

The first thing - and sometimes the most difficult, is choosing the papers and type of background you want. I absolutely love the kits for this purpose because everything already coordinates so beautifully that it is only a matter of how you want to put the items together.

I first started off by using the stencil and inking where I wanted the background to be. I used gold embossing powder for the first layer.

I randomly stencil on the page, already knowing where I wanted the focal point of the page (the photo) to be.

Because the paper is so dark, I make sure that I used a light chalk ink (Attic Dust by Invide Bolme) so that I can see where I am putting the powder.

After I emboss where I want, I continue to fill in the spaces to add even more texture. I use the same chalk ink because it subtly adds a contrast to the gold and black.

I then tear a piece from the top of my page and back it with another paper from the kit. I then adhere the papers to another piece of plain cardstock for extra page strength.

Next, I pull out all of the embellishments that I think I might want to use. At this point I don't know exactly which ones are going to make the cut - I simply want to have all my options at hand.

I start to assemble what pieces I want behind the photo. I edge all the pieces with chalk ink to give the pieces a distressed look.

Then I start to play with the layout design. I love layers and dimension, so I build my pieces upward. To me, setting the lines of the design is the most important part of the layout, and though sometimes challenging, I think it is the most rewarding part of building the page.

Once I get an approximate idea of how I want the layout to look, I take a PHOTO! This is such an important step for me because I fall in love with an idea, and if I didn't have a photo to refer to, I know I would completely forget how I had the overall design. So yes, I cheat a little.

Now, I love to add stitching. This is not a requirement, but I just think it adds a little oomph to the page. For this layout, I decided to incorporate some beads also. I laced up the thread to give it some more detail. As an alternative, you could add a tattered doily or some flowers if you did not want to stitch on your page.

I completely clear off the page and then I start to adhere the background pieces and tags. As you can see, I added some ribbon to each of the tags. I use a lot of sticky foam tape for layering all of the pieces.

The trick with the photo is to keep checking how the photo will correspond to the background. I try to align and re-align to get it exactly as I want.

After all of the background work is complete, the real fun begins - time to embellish! I love to frame my photos with all sorts of embellies and lots of flowers. Mixing light and dark for contrast gives movement to the layout.

Some of my favorite things that come in the kit are the Adornments - they supply so many possibilities and add so much depth. I love to slightly overlap some of the embellishments on the photo to help give the appearance that the subject is part of the background.

More flowers, wood pieces and transparent butterflies to fill it all out.

For the last little bit of detail, I tack down the loose string from the top of the page with some spot gluing, winding it on the page and tying it into the butterflies, so that it all looks part of the story on the layout.

Again, here is the final outcome.

Thank you for taking a peek into my little world of creating. My hope is that you will be inspired to explore and experiment and don't be afraid to do something you have never done before.

Have a beautiful day.

xo Lainie xo

Product List

Main Kit

Riddersholm Tailgate marked 12x12 Paper

Petaloo Peel N Stick Resin Daisy Centers Ivory

Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Burlap

Acetate Butterflies

Metal Keys, Keyholes and Plates

Small Art Big Passion

Melissa Frances Chalkboard Charms

Mixed Passion