Guest Post: Creating Layers & Dimension in your Project Life Layouts by Jodie King

Hi there Scrapbook Creations fans, my name is Jodie King and I’m here today with a guest post all about how to incorporate layers and dimension into your Project Life layouts.

Have you caught the Project Life bug yet? (SC has with it’s daily PL Inspiration!) Perhaps you’ve just started documenting your family’s memories this way for 2014. This really is my favourite way of recording our family’s everyday moments. I think of it as a combination of traditional scrapbooking and a weekly family journal.

I love to create layers in all my projects, including Project Life. But fitting dimension and layers in those tiny 3×4 and 4×6 pockets can pose its own set of challenges. Today I’d like to share some ideas to create interest and layers to your Project Life pages, and still fit them in those little pockets!

To begin I like to grab some 12×12 papers, some 6×4 and 3×4 journalling and filler cards, sticker sheets or ephemera and multiple sets of alphas. I’ll generally also reach for some bulkier embellishments, like flair buttons or buttons, and wood veneer shapes.

This is my 2014 Week One spread, the left side:

And the right.

Now for some tips to get those layers started. 

1. Stitching
A great way to add texture to your pockets is to use stitching. Stitching adds visual interest while adding barely any dimension. In this spread I have machine stitched in two types of thread, and also hand stitched in embroidery thread.

This pocket has a stitched border in topstitch thread (which is a little thicker than regular sewing thread), and also stitching in gold metallic thread straight through the letter stickers.

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2. Backgrounds Using Paints & Other Mixed Media
My Project Life style doesn’t include much mixed media, but I will water down some acrylic paint and put a few drops here and there to build a background. It can be subtle, but a little mixed media does add visual interest to your background.

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3. Ribbon
Ribbon is quite versatile and doesn’t need to be relegated to your card making supplies. It can be threaded through banners and tied into bows, and can also be stitched into place directly onto cardstock. It compacts fairly easily and so doesn’t bulk up your pockets too much.

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4. Those Bulky Embellishments
Okay, so there are only a certain number of layers that will fit comfortably into one of these pockets before it starts bulging in discomfort. You’ll see quite a few layers in this pocket, but what isn’t so noticeable is that the wood veneer heart, the button, and the enamel dot are actually adhered on the outside of the pocket protector.

To position your bulky embellishments on the outside of the protector, first add all of the less dimensional layers to the card base, and slip it into the pocket. Then adhere the bulky embellishments in place directly to the plastic protector. This could include buttons, flair buttons, wood veneer, even chipboard and resin pieces. My favourite adhesive for this task is Glue Dots, as they give an instant strong bond…and no mess on the protector.

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5. Photo Frames
Photo frames are a popular item at the moment. These ones that I have used from Crate Paper are chipboard, but they are a thin chipboard, perfect for Project Life pockets. Fabric frames like these are even thinner. They’re great not only to frame a photo, but can be used as a layering element, or to create a low profile shaker element like this one.

And finally…

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6. Words & Phrases
I like to think of words, phrases and alphas as one of Project Life’s best friends. Words like ‘Delightful’, or ‘Precious’, or ‘Wonderful’ or a phrase like ‘The Best’ serve as prompts for both memories and journalling. Again, these words can form part of your layering. Look for patterned papers like this one that can be trimmed into a multitude of tags and words. Don’t forget to use smaller alphas and letter stickers to create your own words and phrases.

I hope this has given you some inspiration to start adding layers to your Project Life Layouts. If you liked this post, I’d love for you to comment here and share your own PL adventures or to stop by my blog, Instagram or Pinterest and say hi!

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If you’re interested in publishing a guest post with us, please email Ellen at scrap.editor [at] gmail.com with the subject SC Blog GUEST POST. (This will make sure it doesn’t get filtered as spam.)