I decided to focus on two techniques…one a supply technique and the other one…well, it’s more of a layout technique.  The supply technique that my layout is highlighting is inking.  I used ink several ways.  One way I used it was to sponge it along the edges of my pattern paper.  I also applied the stamp pad directly to the paper…no sponge.  On some papers, I did both.  I used ink another way by sponging Buttercup ink onto the large flower.  It was originally the same color as the smaller flower.  A third way I used ink was to sponge it onto my chipboard letters.  I love these letters!  They have embossed patterns that resist the ink.  Once they are completely inked, you simply use a soft tissue to “buff” the ink off the embossed areas.  A fourth way that I used ink was by sponging ink on one of CTMH’s newest products, Kraft Color-ready Borders.  See the little scallop strip on the bottom right?  It was originally a kraft color.  The final way that I used the ink was by stamping a pattern onto another one of CTMH’s newest products…Canvas Badge Butons.   Of course, you could ink the entire button to custom coordinate it with any project or you could simply leave it untouched.

The second technique I focused on, was visual triangles.  I created two visual triangles using color.  Of course, you can create visual triangles with anything really…ribbon, flowers, journaling, pattern paper, etc.  One of the visual triangles is in the yellow and the other is in blue.  If you were to draw a line between the flower, the title, the little strip of yellow cardstock, and back to the flower, you would have a triangle.  Same thing with the blue…imagine a line drawn from the photo mat to the journal strips, to the circular piece and back to the photo mat, you would have a triangle.  Visual triangles help to draw the viewers eye through the entire layout, helping to give the layout balance.  A really simple, but effective way to create balanced, attractive layouts.

If you have time, take a moment or two to check out the rest of my blog.  If you enjoy your visit, then please consider “Following Me” and/or leave a comment (we all love comments…the nice ones anyway), then be sure to continue along on the hop by heading over to  Haley D.’s blog, “The Inky Scrapper” and check out her beautiful creation….

If for some reason you get lost along the way, you can always find a list of all this month’s CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop participants on Wendy Kessler’s blog.

Happy hopping

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper:  Emporium Level 2 B+T (retired); Colonial White CS, Crystal Blue CS

Stamps:  Backgrounds & Borders

Inks:  Twilight, Buttercup, Sweet Leaf

Embellishments:  Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Canvas Badge Buttons, Kraft Color-Ready Borders, Irresistible Eclectic Chipboard Letters, Just Blooms Paper Flowers

Other items:  Sponge, Mono Adhesive, Glue Dots, 3 x 3 Acrylic Block, Finishing Files, Micro-tip Scissors, Foam Tape, Black Pen