More Travel Memories with Mintay Papers

I am back to show off a few more ways to use the Mintay Papers, Places We Go collection in your travel layouts. I received this collection via happy mail from Scrap Shotz and I cannot stop creating layouts – the patterns are so fun, and the die cuts and chippies are dreamy to play with. 

If you missed my first couple of layouts, you can pop back to the blog here. 

Embrace the Pattern 

For this layout, the pattern paper did all the work! I had some travel memories of staying in the most haunted hotel In Aberdeen, Scotland which resembled the look of the building on the pattern paper. So I added some white splatters (white acrylic paint with a few spritz of water) to bring my usual grunge touch and then added my photos. They are 2x3 photos all backed with a couple of coordinating pattern papers from the collection and slightly overlapping for a layered look. I added a piece of vellum paper behind each to soften the pattern paper around the photo strip.

Once the photos were in place, I added a cluster of the die cuts on the bottom right. The chippies from the collection provided the title “travel” which I balanced with the matching “geo tag” on top of the photos to finish off the layout.

Designate a Spot for Embellishments

When the die cuts and chippies are as good as those in the Places We Go collection, you want to show them all off - so I did just that. I used my go to grid design but instead of using 4 photos, I designated one of the 4 grid spots for a collection cut apart journal card and loads of embellishments.

First, I prepped my layout background with some white acrylic paint spread almost edge to edge but in a really thin layer. This is a great way to soften a busy pattern. Then I cut a couple of 9x8 rectangles of pattern paper which I adhered centre stage a little of centre/titled from each to make sure the patterns were both showing. From there, I printed my 2x3 photos and backed each with a few pattern papers each – again with a little title behind each photo to show off the layers. 

I adhered the photos down in a grid pattern centre stage. For the fourth spot I used one of the collection cut apart cards and this is where I focused the majority of my embellishments. I started with that amazing “globe” chippie and layered a bunch of embellishments on top. For balance, I added some embellishments to the photo on the opposite corner.

Half Page Design 

When I cannot decide which pattern paper is my favourite – I use both! I ripped that great floral pattern in half and layered it over the green marbled pattern. I added another dark pattern between to create some contrast between the floral and green. A few white splatters finished off the background prep.

I printed a couple of 2x3 photos and again backed them with a few pattern papers and a layer of vellum. I made a messy photo strip with my two photos and one of the cut apart cards on top of the ripped portion of the page. From there I added a number of the die cuts behind the photos and to the side of the cut apart card. I also made a little tear at the bottom of the page to show off the contrasting pattern, and placed a small cluster of die cuts on the rip.

Before I added the chippies to the page as a final touch, I covered each with some Nuvo Crystal Drops in snow white. I also backed the little backpacks with the fun floral patterns. So cute!

Thanks again for swinging by … pop over to the Mintay Papers section of the shop for your goodies.

 

Travel Memories with Mintay Papers

Have you had the chance to get your scrappy hands on a Mintay Papers collections lately? Wow, they are amazing! I am playing with the Mintay Papers, Places We Go collection Scrap Shotz sent me and loving it! 

Let’s show off the Mintay Papers goodness here a little and see how long it takes you to pop over to the Scrap Shotz shop for some Mintay of your own.

Use Circles to Create Focus

Right out of the package, I was drawn to this fantastic brick wall background first – does it have anything to do with my father being a bricklayer? Maybe. I knew with such a bold background I would have to create a design that helped bring focus to my photos. This is where circles can do the work for you.

I cut 4 large circle outlines about 10 inches wide, 2 in white to pop a little and 2 in another pattern from the collection. I placed these centre stage on the page, then used the circles not only to bring focus to the centre where my photos would be but also as an anchor. Any other embellishments, photos, etc. could all be placed along the circle.

I focused on a large photo with a smaller to compliment. I backed both in white to match the white circle, added a few layers of coordinator pattern paper behind and popped them up on foam dots. From there I add a few die cuts to the left and the right of the photos. Inspired by the circles, I tucked in that fantastic chippies globe on the left. For balance I added a couple of chippies words on the right as my title. 

Finally for the ‘design rule of three’ I added a small die cut with chippies cluster at the top right. 

To finish it off I added made some “enamel dots” using Nuvo Crystal Drops. HOW TO: a tiny little drop from the bottle on the page. When it looks like a soft ice cream cone shape do not worry. Gently pick up the page and flick the underside where the dot is with your finger – it will flatten out. The bigger the dot you drop then flick, the larger your “enamel dot” will be. Do I have Nuvo Crystal Drops in EVERY colour for this reason, oh yes I do.

Use Triangles to Create Focus

Another design I go for quite often to create focus is a triangle.

HOW TO: Simply take a background paper and cut it into a large triangle. Then you either put it on the top of the page to point down to your photos OR on the bottom to point up to your photos. Often I will use the ‘from the top’ look when it’s a picture of people, but the ‘from the bottom’ when its landscape, hiking, mountains, etc. I also usually cover the point of the triangle, sometimes make it a little off centre and use a multi layered triangle to show off more patterns. Also, if you have a really busy background paper a plainer patterned triangle can calm down the page (like I did here) OR if you have a really plain background and busy pattern triangle can add some pizazz!

For my background, I reached for that amazing floral pattern which is a little busy so I created my triangles use the simpler patterns in the collection. The point is a little off centre and I used 2 layers – seems I was looking for anyway to use that brick wall paper again. 

Once the triangle was on the page, I added my photo first backed with white paper then some patterns from the collection and popped up on foam dots. Then it was just a matter of tucking and layering the die cuts from the collection to the left and right of the photo, and I dropped in a few of the chipboards as well. Similar to the page above, I added some Nuvo Crystal Drop “enamel dots”. Voila.

I will be back to share a few more pages from this collection! If you want to see these and the additional pages I am finishing off on my scrappy desk come to life, we will be featuring some Reels on the Scrap Shotz Instagram.

Thanks for popping by … see you over in the Mintay Papers section of the shop ;)