How to?

Are you making double page layouts?
Are you having trouble presenting them on a blog or instagram?

It isn't just easy to get great photos of double page layouts.

I will share with you how I do it.

I usually take a photo of my double page layouts with my camera (of course you can use a mobilephone or ipad or so).
To get a good photo of the layout there are a few things to remember:
1. Use a white background.
2. You need good light, daylight is to prefer, but not right in the sun.
3. You got to take the photo as straight as possible, eighter by having the layout on the floor or by hanging it on the wall.

I put the layout on a white cardboard on the floor, somewhere were the light is good. It can look like this. In winter the daylight are very limited here, so I often take my photos with the door open to get the most out of the light (outside is often too cold and some snow):

This time I also took photos of one page at a time:

I take the photo as straight as I can, standing over the layout. This is how my photo of my layout looked:

I use the free program PhotoScape, which can be loaded down from here: http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/index.php.

You can use any program you want to edit the photo in.

In Photoscape you can put two or more photos together, so it is easy to take one photo of each side of your double page and put it together after editing them both.

After I have edited it looked like this:

And this was the result of the two photos put together:

Here is how I use it to edit my photo in Photoscape:

1.      I open my photo in the Edit modus.

2.      I crop the photo, so it’s just the layout plus some paper around.

3.      If necessary I rotate it and straighten it up.

4.      Then I crop it again, so just the layout shows.

5.      It’s time to adjust color and lightening. I’m no expert, so I just try different thing until I’m satisfied.

6.      Resize the photo. I usually rezise to 1280 x 640 (1280 x 1280 if it’s a single page).

7.      Save

How to put two layout pages side by side in Photoscape:

1.      Open the Combine modus

2.      Select Horizontal

3.      Select photo one and then photo two (you can change the order up where ou can see the two small photo icons.

4.      Save

Instagram
On Instagram you can now put in a photo that is not a square with all four sides the same.
Open your photo in Instgram an resize it til you can see it all, then you will have a rectangular photo showing off your double page layout.

If you have any questions about this, please ask.

Golden Gate Bridge

It's time for more inspiration on the double page sketch at Stick it Down.

Here is my take on it:

Here is the sketch:

 As you can see, I choose to stick pretty close to it. I used only white cardstock and made my own background using gesso, stensils, stamps and mists (Starburst and Moon Shadow sprays from Lindy's Stamp Gang).
I printed one photo in a heart form, and sewed it to the background.

I used two chipboards which I colored with embossingpowder.

I cut up a wood veneer and used the four pieces around the two pages.

For my title I used thickers and tiny alpha stickers.

 Here is the other chipboard, and more of the wood veneer.

Another closeup on the background.

This month I have also done a "How to" on taking photos of double page layouts for publishing on blogs and other places. You will find it in my next blogpost.

LA Chinatown

It's time for more inspiration from the double page team at Stick it Down.


Here is my take on the sketch:

And here is the sketch:

I liked working with this sketch and had a fun time finding all the cut off strips from patterned papers, the ones with the brand and name on one side and a pattern on the other. I always cut these off and save them. They seldom get used, so I have a lot of them.
So fun to get to use them.
I cut them off in different lenght and glued them down on the cardstock.

My photos where a bit larger than on the sketch so I put four on the left side and two on the right side.
For embellish I used micro beads in two different colors on some places on the layout.

I put a clock and a tab with date down in the left corner.

Down on the strip at the edge I glued three large glass beads, and did the same on the top of the strip on the right side.

Some embellishments in the right down corner.

I used glue to seal the alphatiles and put some micro beads there too.

Sunset over Grand Canyon

It's time for the reveal from the double page team at Stick it Down.

I have made a layout with photos taken in the sunset at Grand Canyon. It was great to see, but it's hard to catch with the camera. 

Here is my page:

As you can see I used square photos instead of the circle ones in the sketch. I did it because I think it was better for my photos this time.
The sketch indicates two layers on top of the background paper and under the splash. I used only one and used washitape and a faux stiching to mark the other layer.

Here you can see the washi and the faux stich:

The sketch had very little embelishments, so I added in some more. On the photo over you can see a sentiment and an arrow that I put down on the left side.
I used some diecuts of trees in some places.

I used a Colorwash spray on the background and dripped some other mists too.

For my title I used thickers which I colored with gold Inka Gold.

The patterned papers are from Authenthique.

You have until October 31 to participate in the challenge at Stick it Down. And don't forget that we also have monthly sketches for cards and one-page layouts too.

Sunset

It's time for more inspiration for the double page sketch at Stick it Down for September.


Here is my take on the sketch:

And here is the sketch:

As you can see did I go for a pretty c&s take on this sketch.
I used three photos, and cut one in three.
The photos is from a sunset in Enchinitas, California last November.

Here you can see my small flower cluster and a part of the chipboard.

For the title I used thickers and stickers.
On this closeup is it also possible to see the mist that I had on the background.

Mindekirken

It's time for more inspiration on the double page sketch for August at Stick it Down.

Here is my tak on it;

Here is the sketch:

As you see, I used photos for some of the sirkles in the bacground and framed the three square photos with white paper.

Here are some closeups.
I used at stensil and som distress ink on the background.

I wrote my journaling direct on the background, and put an arrow beside it for the visiual effect.
On the bottom of my pages I've used two different paper strips.

My title is cut out with an TH alphabet.

I sometimes put on a date somewhere on my page, so also here.

Why don't take a look at all our August sketches over at Stick it down.

Sketch reveal at Stick it Down

It's time for new sketches at Stick it Down and here is my take on the double page sketch, using photos from our trip to Grand Canyon last November:

And here is the sketch:

As you see, I cut my patterned papers and used two differents in horisontal strips for the large one going over both sides. That way I didn't have to use two of the same papers. For the banners I used leftovers. I mixed papers from different manufactures.

Over at the Stick it Down blog you will also find the July card and one-page layout sketches.

Her are some closeups of my page:

I used Prima flowers for my flower clusters.

This swirl were cut for another project, but I didn't use it and have been laying on my table for a time. Now I got to use it.

I used a die from Spellbinder to cut out corners and used them in the places of the swirls on the sketch. Here together with one of the flowerclusters.

In addition to the journaling I put on two labels with the names of two of the stone formations.

My title says "magnificent" in norwegian.

June double page inspiration

It's time for more inspiration from the double page team at Stick it Down.

Here is my page:

 And here is the sketch:

Since I don't like to cut photos appart to get them to fit in the middle of a double layout, I choose to make this sketch with two smaller photos on top in the middle of the page. If you like to cut a photo in half and put the two halfes on the edge of the pages, do so. I would love to see that on a page.


For my page I have used photos from Petrified Forest, taken in November last year.
I used several layers of papers (to save some paper I have cut out the middle section of two of them).

The pattern papers are rom Prima, as are the flowers.

Here are some closeups:

I used some micro beads around the flowerclusters and on some of the flowers.

I put my journaling on some cardstock strips, and used tiny alpastickers for the name of the specific place in the National park where these photos are taken. All the journaling is about this place.

Here are three more flowerclusters.

And at last. I used some wordsstrips from Tim Holz for the subtitle. I had Prima Art Alchemy Metallique wax on the edges. I also had some wax on the flowers, but that isn't showing so well.

 Hope you will try to make a layout based on the sketch and play with us at Stick it Down. You have until June 30, to enter.
We pick out one random participant who get this prize: