When you sit down to create a layout

[HeatherPrins]

do you see it first or wing it and start placing it? Do you have a specific process? I tend to wing it but i would love to start playing with templates (can you believe I am still struggling with them nearly a year later?!) Love to know how you create!

[MIDA78466]

I almost always start with photos. I get them arranged in a design I am happy with. Then add paper, embellies, and journaling. I LOVE templates and use them quite often--give me a jump start on the design phase.

[anxela]

Sometimes I start with words, sometimes with a photo. I never have a clear design in mind when I start, though. It's trial and error...

[ValerieP]

I always start with photos, unless it is a challenge, and thenI start with the challenge-and then go to the photos! I love templates too, but even more I think I love the photo clusters! I have used them in many, many of my pages. I cant seem to scrap just one photo very often, because I take too many photos. Just recently during a trip to the American History Museum I took over 700 photos-now it took 8 hours, but at least I can go back through the museum anytime I want via my photos!

[Erika in TX]

I start with a memory. Then I find pics that tell the story and go from there. Usually I choose paper and embellies that will go with the pictures and wing it. Sometimes, though, I get stuck and will then go on the hunt for a template to help me out.

Great thread!

[maureenreynolds]

Yes.

I do a layout in all the ways you suggest except for laying it out. I never paper scrapped so that isn't a way that occurs to me usually. I started out using templates with a day's worth of photos/an event kind of thing. Unless it's a challenge or a special one, I rarely think of making a one photo page. Most of my layouts are for documenting vacations or events and templates really helped me out...Ali Edwards became my digi teacher.