Summers on Martha's Vineyard are filled with beautiful photo opportunities and the rich memories that accompany them. This layout captured our joy as Jim and I shared lobster and a glorious sunset on the beach at Menemsha on Labor Day.
In my last post (Stamping Enhances Summer Scrapbook Layouts: Part 1) I illustrated how stamping flourish designs with acrylic stamps over pretty wave-patterned paper can enhance a summer-themed layout. Here is another example of the same technique, using the same paper, but achieving a slightly different result. On this page, the title was stamped at the top of the layout, and the waves and flourishes act as a backdrop and also set the tone for the beach-themed photos.
Blue ink was used for the title and orange ink for the flourishes, to pick-up some of the colors in the polkadots of the paper. I paired the wave paper with a solid orange paper this time to represent the sunset, and I added a whimsical blue wave pattern (cut out with a punch) to ground the bottom of the page.
I stamped some flourishes on this side of the double-page layout as well, to tie it in with the opposing page.
I love seeing these two layouts side-by-side as testament to how the same paper can be enhanced and manipulated with similar stamping techniques, yet end up with interestingly different results.
Both layouts capture special summer memories, both layouts utilize similar techniques, yet the tone of each is quite different. Each layout is defined by the placement of different emphases on the various elements of design.
If you've been afraid of stamping, start with baby steps. Practice on scrap paper and learn how the ink responds to your touch. I find I am more successful when I tap my inkpad onto the stamp, instead of pressing the stamp into the inkpad, which tends to cause accessive pooling of the ink on the stamp and creates messier, less sharp images.
Stamping is not meant to be overly precise. Part of its charm is its imperfection, so throw caution to the wind and give it a try -you may just find a new passion.
Preserve those precious summer memories! -Enikö
