Episode Three - Choose Your Own Adventure

"Love Is In The Air" by Meredith Cardall

Okay, does anyone remember those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books? Classic. Today's episode is a CYOA layout lift. If you're still feeling pretty sore from yesterday, you can go the easy(ier) route and lift the first one - it's just a two *grunt* kind of page. If you are feeling especially buff, I have detailed instructions for the second one - it's a level 3 *grunt*er. I made this LO as a two-page spread for my daughter's 2-month page.

CYOA #1 - Light Liftin' Double *Grunt*

Steps #1-5 - If you've browsed your MMS Templates recently, it's probably a good bet that you noticed this one and have even used it a time or two. These are GREAT when you have a bunch of photos you want to get all on a single LO. In this case, all I did was: (1) add a background layer of paper, (2) fill each photo box with a paper from the kit and then zoom in on it a few times to highlight the pattern, (3) add smaller photo boxes in each square and drag-n-drop photos, (4) put a frame over those photos, (5) add middle frame, word art and embellishments! Easy peasy. Barely broke a sweat there. 

**Trainer's Tip** Sometimes when having this many photo boxes on a page, my MMS gets a little slower. Just remember to save often (which you should do anyway every 5 moves).

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CYOA #2 - Bigger Load, Bigger Reward - The Triple *Grunt*

It's not as bad as it looks. It's helpful for this lift if you find a kit with a banner-like element or something else good as a connector piece. If you don't have anything in your collection that suits this lift then GET TO THE MMS STORE AND BUY THIS KIT ALREADY!!! (every Trainer has to break down and yell *some* time...right? Hahaa!)

 

Step #1 - You know the drill. It's background time! I have three layers of backgrounds here - the big and medium box were papers and the third white box was just a shape. Don't forget to shadow them! 

**Trainer's Tip** See that squiggly lined square? I've also used a page border as small embellishment. Don't be afraid to use a box... to think outside the box! Da dum dum ssss.

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Step #2  - Now, let's add-on (if you've ever done step aerobics, you know what I mean! Mmmmhmmm). Add your photo boxes and frames. Put a big vertical element behind the frame and photo. Don't have one? Try making one from a background paper. Or go freebie hunting online. Or, do your own thing and forget my idea entirely! It's YOUR page!

**Trainer's Tip** Freebies are great...for awhile. Eventually you will start craving the amazingness that is a full, well-designed kit. If you compare it to what you would spend on paper scrapping, digiscrapping is a huge savings! (Tell that to your hubby when he looks at your PayPal account and freaks out...). Our MMS Store is always open! : )

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Step #3 - Here you can add a couple circle frames or shapes off to the bottom left-hand corner and some long swirlies out the bottom and top. I am going to copy this idea for the mini-frame on the left which you will see later.

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Step #4  - Here is a couple views of what is going on. The second is a "behind the scenes" kind of look. Here you can add fat ribbons or other similar elements vertically. I have one coming out horizontally from the left to support the mini photo and anchor the banner going across. The banner really brings the little frame on to scene!

**Trainer's Tip** To spice up a ribbon, add some stitching!

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Step #5  - Don't quit on me now! Only three more sets! (yeah, right... they *never* mean it when they say that!). Add your photos to the boxes and do you base embellishments. I've chosen mostly flowers here and varying size. 

**Trainer's Tip** You want balance on your page - so if something looks off, try resizing or moving them around a bit. If it looks wrong, you're probably on to something and need to fiddle around a bit.

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Step # 6 - Layering in more embellishments. I added some ribbon bows and buttons!

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Step #7 - It's text time! Fill the white space with journalling. I haven't used any monograms or word art here - but don't let that stop you! If you have something that fits, go for it!! 

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The End

Thanks for "CYOA" with me today! I hope you found a work-out that suited your needs. If you have the gift of insight and intuition you will probably be thinking: "Does that mean tomorrow is a FOUR GRUNT LO?!?!". Yes. Yes is does. So eat your Wheaties tomorrow mornin' soldiers - it's gonna be all-out, scrap-til-you-puke layout liftin'. Don't forget to post your lifts on our FB page!

Your challenge for today: Spend some extra time on your journalling. Is there a poem or quote out there that might suit your needs? What's on your heart? What were you thinking when this/these photo(s) were taken? What's the back story? Use what you've learned from the other Suite Peep's awesome challenges earlier this week!!

Jen Scraps

PS I will give a gold star and some undying gratitude to anyone who can telling me how to spell "journalling"... Two Ls or one?!?! I think I do it differently every time. It's not actually a word according to my spell check!