Scrapbook & Cards Today Blog: Creating a tone on tone background with Laura Vegas!

Hey everyone! Laura Vegas here with a quick tip for creating a subtle tone-on-tone background for your projects. I am a huge fan of creating die cut backgrounds to add a bit of interest to my layouts, without overwhelming the rest of the elements on the page. I tend to use my Silhouette Cameo to die cut most of my backgrounds, but there are occasions that I just can’t find the exact background that I’m looking for.

Since I use white cardstock as the base of so many of my layouts, I especially love to create white-on-white backgrounds. It helps add some texture and dimension on which to build the rest of your design. For this layout, I wanted a star background on half of the page. I couldn’t find the design I had in mind to use with my Cameo, so I pulled out my trusty star punch and punched out a ton of stars from a sheet of white cardstock. I adhered them in rows on one half of my white cardstock background.

When I have a large portion of white that will show on my page, I like to lightly spritz the area with some spray mists so it’s not so flat or plain.

I then went about assembling the other half of my page, adhering some patterned paper strips, a glittered paper strip, and a few punched border strips.

Supplies: Cardstock: American Crafts; Patterned paper: Simple Stories (blue), Pink Paislee (cream music note); Glitter paper: Fancy Pants; Alpha stickers: American Crafts (grey), Jillibean Soup (blue), Making Memories (cream ledger); Chipboard alphas: Making Memories; Plastic stars: Heidi Swapp; Rhinestone brads: Making Memories; Silver glitter accents: SEI; Mists: Heidi Swapp; Punches: Fiskars

Here’s how it looks on my finished layout. The white punched stars add some interest to what would otherwise be a flat and simple background. By keeping the stars the same color as my background cardstock, they still allow my title and journaling to stand out.

Thanks so much for joining me today! I hope you’ll give this simple and subtle technique a try!

~ Laura Vegas

Did you miss our {inter}National Scrapbook Day celebration last Saturday? We had challenges, inspiration and prizes all day long!!! Giveaways are open until May 15th so be sure to start HERE! It was an amazing day celebrating our passion for being creative and preserving our memories! ~ Catherine

Comments

Great layout! And your daughter looks beautiful!

Posted by: Mo Jo | May 07, 2014 at 08:42 AM

Love this!! Such a cool idea!

Posted by: Sally Cranney | May 07, 2014 at 09:40 AM

Great technique with the layers, and a great background for the journaling. Not really a girly girl?..?...look again! Beautiful!

Posted by: Kay | May 07, 2014 at 10:12 AM

Stunning! Layout and kids!

Posted by: SusanDR | May 07, 2014 at 10:17 AM

Great LO and thanks for sharing your tips!

Posted by: Renee V. | May 07, 2014 at 10:55 AM

Love the idea and look! Great texture.

Posted by: Marie | May 07, 2014 at 10:57 AM

Beautiful layout! I love tone on tone projects and the misting is a great idea to add a little color! TFS!

Posted by: barbara macaskill | May 07, 2014 at 11:08 AM

Wonderful layout !

Posted by: Isbaha | May 07, 2014 at 11:22 AM

Man, I love this layout by Laura (and have pinned it, for sure)! There is just something about Laura's style that really attracts me - I've never seen a layout by her that I haven't said to myself, "gotta try it!!!". Thanks so much for the inspiration! Happy sunny Wednesday :)

Posted by: Amber M. | May 07, 2014 at 11:53 AM

It's gorgeous, Laura. You are amazing! Thank you for the inspiration. Take care. :)

Posted by: Kim Thomas | May 07, 2014 at 12:10 PM