TIPsy Tuesday - Squint!

Yes, that's right,  Squint!  Quilters do it.  Window Treatment professionals do it - or at least this one does.  Why?  When you are working on a card or particularly a scrapbook layout, sometimes it is hard to figure out what else you need to complete the look.  Is your page balanced?  Will more embellishments be too much?  Should you move a photo to the other side of the page?  We all run into these quandries when we are papercrafting. 

The solution:
Stand up, step back, and squint.  The page will blur a little allowing the main colors to stand out.  It is much easier to see what you have too much of and what is missing.

Quilters do this and there is even a special tool you can use - a reducing glass.  It is the opposite of a magnifying glass in that it makes objects appear farther away so you can see an entire wall quilt in one view.  I have one and have used it on quilts and even on large window valances when I just can't stand back far enough in my workroom to see how it will look in the client's room. 

Here is a view of the double page spread above part of the way along.  I knew I needed some designer paper in the lower left but wasn't sure what color.  I stepped back, squinted and could see how it was all coming together. Then it was obvious I needed some more of the turquoise color.  I also needed another heavy element to balance the chipboard on the right hand page.

The finished ower left corner

balanced with the right side of the page.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Ingredients:  Stamps:  Sanded by SU! for background
Ink:  So saffron, Dusty Durango, soft Suede for distressing
DSP and brad:  The Daily Grind by Fancy Pants
Ribbon:  Stampin' Up!
Chipboard:  Stampin' Up! and Oriental Trading
Font:  Pea Jack and Jane from kevinandamanda.com