Friday 5 August 2016

Boots to Bloom In: Adding Layers

Once, when The (Not So) Small One was a little girl, she got herself all dressed up to go to a birthday party; and then she wrapped a scarf round her neck and she was ready to go. When she came home, she said that all the mums had told her that she looked just like me. Well observed. Not the looks, obviously, but the scarf, for that would be me, no doubt about it.

Sian Fair for Get It Scrapped

She's all grown up now, with her own style, which, thanks to a special order birthday present, includes a pair of bright blue Doc Marten boots.

I'm still a scarf wearer. I layer. And that's not just my age talking. I've always done it, in scrapbooking too. I find it hard to resist adding just one more piece (though when I'm layering on paper I try to add meaning with every detail I include. Meaning, or purpose).


By which I mean, let the layers work for their place. I have a painted over book page to show that her school days are over, flowers to add emphasise to my title, a bow to bring out the detail of the shoelaces in the photo, and I hope that brought together they give my layout greater emotional depth.


That's the fancier way of putting it. I could just as easily say that adding embellishments to squares is a lot of fun. The advantage of building on the squares is that you don't have to glue the end result to your layout if you don't like it, or if you take one look and decide that it would better suit another project. It's a win, win before you even begin to factor in the stash usage.

This page was originally made for the new Get It Scrapped article Scrapbook Ideas For Creating Pages With Rich Layers


21 comments:

Ruth said...

I need to make friends again with my sewing machine ... I love how the wonky stitched border looks, intentional or otherwise!

Julie Kirk said...

Gorgeous! And those boots are pretty special too.

Susanne said...

Cute page, fabulous layers and details. I often find that many of the little bits I add during the process have meaning that I didn't purposefully choose but notice tie into the theme when I step back and look at the page as a whole. I suppose that I havejust been at this hobby long enough that my subconscious helps me out.

Lizzy Hill said...

The layered squares are scrumptious & add lots of meaning [all those hearts for a start!!!] & her boots are SOOOOO Yum!!!! Gorg page:):)

Maggie said...

They are a smart pair of boots. One of Emma's friends wore her Doc Marten's under her prom dress. Very sensible I would say. No aching feet, no risk of sprains and no stepped on toes. Now I think about it a memory has jolted back of myself at 15. A momentary hippie phase, off to the YMCA in my Laura Ashley long skirt, top with flared long sleeves, long hair and... Desert boots on! Remind me to show you the picture!
Thanks for that memory Sian!

Debbi Tehrani said...

Those are some awesome boots, and what a fantastic page. Love the stitchy, embellished blocks at the bottom!

Patio Postcards said...

Such a fun page. Those Doc Martins are too cha cha for words!

Alison said...

Catching up on some blog reading here (at last!)...love all the layouts and the stories behind them...hope TNSSO enjoys Prague xx

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Those DMs are just fabulous! I'm a fan too and have had one pair or other on the go since my early twenties. Lost one or two pairs to my boy, when he caught up in shoe size in his teens. Luckily for me my girl never did and boots with scribbly flowers weren't quite his style!

Jo said...

Those embellishments squares are a great idea, love the DMs :)

Carmen said...

Love how you've explained the layers and the boots are just gorgeous. She has inherited excellent taste :)

Barbara Eads said...

What a good idea about your embellishment squares. I can see making some with the leftover bits of layouts and just saving them for the perfect addition to another layout. You are always on top your bits and pieces! Oh, and I love those blue boots!! When my middle girl got her first pair of DM---they only came in black--1990 or so. When she came home, she had just the shoes as the store didn't have the boots in her size. She returned them the next day when I asked her why she decided to get bus driver shoes!

Lisa said...

such a great page and the meaning you've added in with the layers make it all the more lovely. I, too, find myself adding little elements that only mean something to me. It makes the layout so personal I find. Beautiful as always.

Anonymous said...

Love the page, love the layers but most of all love those boots.

Melissa said...

OH, I really like those squares of embellishments, but it's the boots that I'd like to have in my closet! :)

Ali said...

Great layout fab funky boots :-)

Karen said...

What fabulous boots! I'm a huge fan of scarves---have quite a collection. Shoe and boots are another fave, and those bright blue ones are marvelous! I'm quite sure they'd look a bit odd on someone my age, but I do envy the girl who can wear them! And it's a great layout to document the purchase.

alexandra s.m. said...

You are the Queen of layering and I love that layout of yours!!

Missus Wookie said...

Love the boots. We have a Dr Martin's store not far from us (several actually) so DD had lots to choose from when she bought her pair for her 18th.

Love the layers and the meaningful bits and pieces.

alexa said...

Another lovely page, with that great photo and stunning boots. I love your description of,your process and the thinking behind all the special bits and pieces. I am another fan of your stitching!

Anonymous said...

Another great looking page and I love your take on adding embellishments to squares before adhering them to the page.

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