Saturday 1 November 2014

One Page Two Plans


Or, the post about the thing I thought I'd never do..

Change a layout? I've always been such a big follower of the it's done, put it in a page protector and move on school of scrapbooking. Even when what I see on the page isn't anything close to what I had in my head I don't stress over it. I can only make what I can make: if that's the way it turns out when I start sticking, then that's the way it's going to be. I have more pretty papers to cut up and many, many more stories to tell.

But. But. Every so often one page stays in my head. This time I've made what it was I had in my imagination, followed my plan, but I don't like it as much as I thought I would. That page sits on my desk upstairs calling to me to come and help it out, spruce it up or put it out of its misery

Late One Night Sian Fair

Recognise it? It's the page I made to go with my Halloween story. Made it, photographed it, posted it, even. Because I did like it. A little. Until it started calling, demanding, that I head back upstairs and start peeling it apart. I thought maybe you'd like to see? This is what I did so it doesn't look like this anymore:


  • Lifted the big black word up from the bottom and put it under the photo. I love its drama and how it sits against the white, just like the cottage appearing out of the darkness at us, but I think adding more emphasis to the picture and less to a different part of the page works better
  • Added some machine stitching. Sometimes with a white page everything looks like its floating. Stitching, even if it isn't actually over everything, seems to hold the page down. This isn't as obvious when you have the page right in front of you, but it shows up more in a photo
  • Added more rub ons in a "go big or go home" kind of way
  • Splattered some yellow ink on. It picks up the yellow in the window frames of the cottage


  • Reintroduced a touch of black at the bottom to draw the eye right round the page. These chalkboard speech bubbles I got in a Jenni Bowlin kit have been my single most useful embellishment this year. A little splash of black AND they say "listen up, here's a story.."




  • And the biggest change of all? I trimmed off the border music paper and added that much brighter border instead. I don't think I have ever done this before. I love my paper! I've never heartlessly chopped it off and thrown it away! I can't help thinking about what else I could have used that lovely music print for. I was brought up in a house where we learned to fold up brown paper and save little pieces of string: wilful discarding of perfectly good paper? Never. 
But I did it. And I like the result. I'd go so far as to say I might do it again if I have to. It's fun to experiment and it's good to take a deep breath and just start cutting. And, believe me, the new Sian cuts fast. 

Maybe I've inspired you to cut? Or maybe I've confirmed you in your belief that walking away once is enough? What do you think?

22 comments:

Karen said...

I'm quite sure I would have been quite happy with the first edition, but I think you made some wonderful changes and I loved reading about them. I think the one with the biggest impact was moving Wonderful up to the photo----great idea!

8thgypsy said...

Interesting. I loved the first layout so much that I saved it and planned a scraplift. And not just a scraplift where I used your layout as inspiration but an exact copy, or as close as I could get. Then I saw this post and the revised layout. Sorry but I am in love with the first one and although I may agree with the movement of "Wonderful", I believe the first layout was perfection.

I need to add that I love your style and always look forward to your posts - not only for the layouts (although that is my primary draw) but also your sense of humour and the "slice of life" that you often share with your readers.

I will now go back to lurking.

scrappyjacky said...

While I do love what you've done....and really like the 'new' layout....I have to say the first one is still my favourite....I love the colour [or lack of it!] and slight atmospherics of the music paper for your story.

Lou said...

i am sure it was perfect the first time around - still I know what you mean and is no good when it keeps calling. I love the added stitching (it always works) and the bright colour does make it stand out x

Lea Lacoste said...

hmm that's a tough one! the colorful background is indeed super awesome!! I did liked the title at the bottom because it created a cool triangle but it does make the photo stand out more that way! I do feel like calling a layout done is the hardest part of scrapbooking!

Sandra said...

I totally understand what you're saying, if a layout doesn't feel right, it will be one of those in your album, you'll want to flick over.

Both of your layouts are lovely and if I made anything as amazing as these, I'd be over the moon.

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

I wonder what the consensus will be? I like both, but the first version just edges it for me. If I was going to make a change to it, I would have moved the "Wonderful" so that it was just above the scroll, but still at the bottom of the page. It's a funny thing, how a page can look so different (to my eye) once I've photographed it!

Michelle t said...

Whoops! I even commented on how much I loved the music paper. Oh well, as someone else said, back to lurking for me... love this too. Michelle t

Jennifer Shaw said...

I loved the first page but also love the second page. But I have had that same experience where I can't let go of a LO in my head. I know that there is something I need to change or it will really bug me. I too once even posted a page and then had to go back, change it and repost. I think it is great to change things up when we feel the need to. But, we are always our own worst critic, or maybe we are all tortured artist. haha

Nathalie said...

I like the new version: I especially noticed the big change the new title spot made. Definitely enhances the photo, in a great way. I also like the colorful border better.
I have been known to change up a page after sharing it online... and I think that's ok :)

Jane said...

I agree with moving the title but really like the softer background. It's interesting to see your thoughts behind it all.

Sian said...

Lurkers, please, please stay unlurked :) It's so good to hear from you and to know what you like to read about. Michelle and 8thgypsy I don't have email addresses for you to thank you and reply personally so I hope you see this and know how much your comments are appreciated

Lizzie said...

How interesting, Sian! I'm not sure which I prefer. I did rather like the simple black-&-white, almost starkness of the first layout - it went with the story.
But there it is, with a colourful border and lots of exciting words...
I like them both!

Melissa said...

I'm with you - I rarely ever go back & change something. I can only think of once that I've done it. But I do like the changes here & that colorful background!

Sandie said...

I did like the first layout Sian, but I know what you mean about something not feeling quite right and niggling for attention.
I admit I like the changes, in this case more is more! The colour border does give added effect and I share your dislike for waste! I cut out the centre of papers if I only want to use the edge ;)

Barbara Eads said...

I think both layouts are great. Like you, I rarely go back to a layout. I just tell myself---"not every layout can be a masterpiece!" If I were choosing between your two layouts, I choose the second one just because of moving the word "wonderful" up to the photo. That looks great.

Jo said...

Both of the layouts look great but the small changes make a big difference. I never really say a page is done until I've looked at it the next day with fresh eyes :)

Susanne said...

So it was fun to the hear that little voice in your head tell you to make those changes. Just be careful, redoing can be a very slippery slope.

Lesley G said...

I love them both!

Missus Wookie said...

I like them both. I'd not even noticed that the background border was actually a border on the last posting but I'm glad you had a go at something that bugged you!

Anonymous said...

I really liked the original but I think those little changes you made are big and I like this version more. I keep thinking I'd like to change a few layouts I've made, particularly old ones, but I know that's just not going to happen.

Ashley Calder said...

I loved it before, but love it even more after! Great decision to make those little changes.

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