Thinking Outside the Box: Designing Spreads with Circles
By Cocoa Daisy
Hello, Friends!
In today’s "Tn Tuesday" post, we are focusing on memory keeping spreads with circles as a repeating design element. Circles pop up everywhere in the New Chapter Collection, including the papers, stamps, die cuts, and stickers. Circle makes for great backgrounds, as embellishment clusters or even the shape for your photos included in your layout. Pairing three circles of different sizes, or a circle with a label and a word strip is an easy way to embellishment a corner or open space on your page. We asked our designers to think outside the box and focus on the circles in their designs.
To start, we have a spread from Jennie, who pushed herself beyond her linear ways to embrace the circular side of things.
“I often struggle with circles in my designs, as they don't line up and don't conform to my typical linear style. I decided because they are not always my first choice it was exactly why I should work with them this month!
After I came up with the overall layout of this spread, it was easier than I thought to put it together in my New Chapter Simple Dori Traveler’s Notebook. Once I had those circles, then I started to see circles everywhere! Between the patterned papers, flair button, and ink splatters, this layout is full of circles!”
We love Jennie’s use of the circle in this design, including the banner of circles down the center of the polka dot page. Jennie is also able to repeat the black and white circle pattern from the right page onto the left page by adding the pocket card and paint splatters.
Next, we have a spread full of fun circles from Carol.
“I love the fresh nature of a new year. Full of possibilities and dreams, a time to set new goals and start new projects! This year, I am trying to be very intentional about the stories I am telling in my memory keeping. For that reason, I decided to use the Traveler’s Notebook Memory Keeping Kit to document one day in our life each month. To make it a bit easier, I went ahead and prepped the whole booklet so it’s ready for my photos and words.
The center pages of the booklet reminded me of a spreadsheet and I thought it would be fun to use the spaces for time stamping the flow and rhythm of our day. Being very structured in its lines and boxes, I knew this was a perfect place to add some curves and circles for contrast. Let’s talk about HOW FUN those scribble stamps are! I used the largest straight-lined scribble stamp to add some curves on my page. If you haven’t tried manipulating your stamps into different shapes on your acrylic block, what are you waiting for?
I also love the chipboard circles and used some as page tabs on a simple interactive photo matte. If you would like to see a video walkthrough of this Day in the Life TN Album using this kit and how the interactive elements work, I’ve filmed a quick flip through video, pre-photos, and words. Happy creating in the new year and hope you enjoy finding ways to add all the circle elements to your spreads!”
Carol’s tip to bend and curve your stamps is a great way to make your stamps even more versatile! We also love Carol’s idea to use her Simple Dori for a specific memory keeping purpose.
There are so many circles and curvy elements in the New Chapter Collection, complete with some new tips and tricks on how to use these elements in your layouts! Let us know what you create tagging @cocoa_daisy on social media or posting to the Cocoa Daisy Fan Page.
Best,
Rachel, Memory Keeping Team Blog Coordinator