Special Guest Blogger: Ali Edwards

07/10/2009 at 2:00 pm | In guest blogger | 17 Comments
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ali[1]Hi. I’m Ali Edwards, CK contributing editor. I love color. I love that our lives are so full of colorful things from the deep red of the fresh strawberries we picked in the fields a few weeks ago to the vibrant green of the beans at our local farmers market. A lot of my personal color inspiration comes from nature, but it also comes from man-made bits of life that end up in my photos.

 

When uploading my photos to my computer I am often so delighted to see vibrant colors staring right back at me. Many times they are colors I live with everyday but don’t often really “see” until they appear on my computer screen.

 

Using the colors in my photos as a jumping off point for beginning to tell a story is a simple and easy way to begin the process. For the layout I created here the red of my front door was my starting point in going forward and choosing a patterned paper. This paper from Studio Calico was a great match in that it included a few other fun, bright colors (a nice change from the pink I have been using lately).

AE-page

Ready To Go by Ali Edwards Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper and fabric strip: Studio Calico; Foam letter stickers and button: American Crafts; Metal arrow: 7gypsies; Font: ITC Ozwald

Lately I am all about simple layouts that celebrate my new daughter’s life without taking too long to create. Quick steps for me include adding a title and journaling in Photoshop and printing on demand here at home. I also choose to add just a couple additional elements such as the button, the metal arrow, and the initial.

Here are a couple close-ups:

AE-button

I rounded the corners on the strip of patterned paper, used a small circle punch to create a home for the button, and added the metal arrow.

AE_close-up

Text was added to the photo in Photoshop. I love the ease of creating a title and adding my story directly onto the photo in the “white space” created by the color block of the door. Quick and easy. :)

AE-text

Initials have long been a favorite thing of mine to add to my layouts. I often add the first initial of the main subject and the year. In this case I trimmed the edge of the “a” to mimic the title on the photo.

As you sit down to create your next layout, I encourage you to take a look at the color found in your photographs and let that inspire the look and feel of your page. You might find yourself pleasently surprised by the outcome. While you’re at it, take time to enjoy all of the beautiful colors summer has to offer. I’d love to read your favorite ways of finding color inspiration if you feel inclined to share in the comments section of this post.

Happy summer!

Ali

For more from Ali, visit her on her blog and check out her “Studio A” column found in every issue of Creating Keepsakes.

17 Comments »

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  1. Love this layout by Ali- but then I love all her work:)

    Comment by Laura Bruynell — 07/10/2009 #

  2. Super Cute Ali~ Always a fan of your clean lines. Thanks for reminding us that not every page needs a TON of embellishments to remember the moment.

    Comment by Rachel — 07/10/2009 #

  3. Great layout, Ali! I love your work…beautiful every single time! I too am inspired by the colors in nature…the green grass & bright blue skies just make me SMILE!

    Comment by Stacy Milford — 07/10/2009 #

  4. I have to say, I am totally scraplifting you now … all the time. I do that cut out for the embellishement I think on every single layout. Oh, well, guess if I am scraplifting someone, it might as well be YOU! Great layout – Anna is just adorable … and I LOVE that red door!

    Comment by Melanie K. — 07/10/2009 #

  5. Hi Ali,

    Love the layout above. What a great title to use for all those carseat photos. I have many. I may borrow your title. Love the bright colored layout as well.

    I have noticed lately that everything is colored bright and beautiful. The last Wal-Mart flier I got in the mail had all the new back to school/college fashion and decor inside. Every page was filled with bright colored objects. Bright must definitely be in. It’s happy, and it’s fun. What could be better?

    Comment by Amy Bailey — 07/10/2009 #

  6. Thanks Ali for sharing. Whenever I create a l/o I Usually pull colors from my photos for use on my l/o

    Comment by {vicki} — 07/10/2009 #

  7. Too cute. Luv your layout

    Comment by Nicole — 07/10/2009 #

  8. I love it, Ali! I am always amazed by your bright and fresh ideas.

    Comment by Elizabeth — 07/10/2009 #

  9. I’ll echo the others – so fun and fresh. Can’t wait to try this for myself!

    Comment by katieleigh — 07/10/2009 #

  10. Cute layout!
    I pull my color theme from so many different things…photo…colors in an ad…colors in fashion magazines…favorite pattern paper I’m just dying to use…it’s always different!
    Heather

    Comment by Heather — 07/10/2009 #

  11. Lovely lovely lovely!!
    g.

    Comment by g. — 07/10/2009 #

  12. Ali,

    I adore how you use color, I never would have considered some as simple and everyday as my front door. I guess Im making things far too complicated. The article reigned me in somewhat. The LO with Anna is precious, and so is Anna. I also loved your Dad’s legacy in old photos. I have many of my mothers, grandmothers some dating back to the civil war. It’s incredible to see what their everyday was like. I’ll be waiting for your class.

    As always,
    Marilyn

    Comment by Marilyn Platt — 07/11/2009 #

  13. Dear Ali,
    You have a special way of helping us look at our every day a little bit diffrent. The layout made me smile and the color is full of life. Its great seeing your stuff outside of the blog its kinda like visiting you out for coffee…I cant wait for the class, It will be great…

    Comment by Gloria — 07/11/2009 #

  14. Aww. This is so cute. Also, I’m now headed out to download the ITC Oswald font — too perfect!

    Comment by Liz Ness — 07/12/2009 #

  15. Ali,

    I totally envy you for being able to do such a simple yet effective layout. I have struggled for years to just do a very simplistic layout and just can’t do it! They usually take days and sometimes weeks to finish. I am determined to do it and once I do I would love to show it to you. This layout is beautiful and I love the concept of finding color in your photos and will try it on my next layout. Thanks Ali!

    Comment by sharon — 07/13/2009 #

  16. I’m terribly sorry to bring this over here. I’ve left messages 3 different days on the blog of the “host.” Not a very good host if they aren’t responding. I use the name above with the same email and I can’t get onto the site. It told me I needed a new email on my last log-in attempt and the email it sent with the password was blank. I’ve tried 4 times since then with the forgot password link and it comes in blank each time.
    I would love to participate in the Summer Camp but I can’t log-in. Can someone please help me?

    Comment by Tashak — 07/16/2009 #

  17. I love your layout… thanks for sharing!

    Comment by veronicakoz — 07/27/2009 #


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