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Today I will show you how I create all the double-page spreads for my ‘Happy Life’ album. After creating the first left page, the coordinating right page actually is a no-brainer. I like that! It is quick and easy.

Here is how to proceed.

First create the left page in a long process of arranging and re-arranging all the frames, placing and deleting embellishments and papers until you are satisfied.

Layout ‘Week 16′ by Caroline Kaiser. Ingredients used Document It Bis Maxi Kit, Document It Maxi Kit, and Color Me Different Maxi Kit.
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Save a copy of your layout for the right page. Then you will have to increase the canvas size. Go to Image>Canvas Size and double the width of your page, keeping the layers aligned to the left. In my case I increased from 12 inches to 24 inches wide.

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Using the rulers, set a new vertical guide at 12 inches (middle of the 2 pages) and at 0.5 inches from the right border.

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Now you need to choose which elements you want to flip and re-use on the right page. On my layout the diamond and red background papers can be flipped and aligned to the right. Select the layers, right-click on them in the layers palette and choose Duplicate Layers … . Keep the layer copies selected and go to Edit>Transform>Flip Horizontal.


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Align them to the right.

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Usually I make the background papers look similar but not the same by placing them a bit differently.

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Now you can choose all the other elements which you eventually will re-use on the right page. On my layout the paper with the rings needs to stay in place and will neither be flipped, nor moved. Again, select the layers and go to Edit>Transform>Flip Horizontal

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At this point you will probably think ‘Dang! Everything is flipped … that’s silly!’, but due to the fact that you need to place new numbers and photos on the page and write new journaling you are all fine.

Now let’s continue.

First delete all the layers with the photos, the numbers and keep only one journaling.

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You need to flip back the journaling and the word art like ‘week’ on my layout. Select the layers and go to Edit>Transform>Flip Horizontal.

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Now you can start placing pictures and maybe move the cluster with the week numbers. I like when it coordinates, but I don’t want it mirrored.

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Place numbers for the weekdays on your layout and move the embellishments to your liking.

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At this point you can reduce the canvas size. I reduced to 12 by 12 inches. Take care to align to the right this time.


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Add the journaling and you are done.

Layout ‘Week 16′ by Caroline Kaiser. Ingredients used Document It Bis Maxi Kit, Document It Maxi Kit, and Color Me Different Maxi Kit.

And here is the coordinating double page spread.

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Sometimes I vary the frames on both pages like here:

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And here are two other spreads:


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Other ingredients used Document It Love SNAP Kit, Pin it Up Maxi Kit.

I hope that you enjoyed this month’s blog post. Don’t forget to grab the ‘My Happy Life, The Real Story’ free gifts in every Saturday 2012 newsletter. If you are not signed up to our newsletter we invite you to sign up for free. See you next month!

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Last month I listed some subjects and topics for taking daily photos. This month I am telling you not to stress about it too much. Yes! Don’t stress about taking picture perfect every day.

Always keep in mind what you are trying to achieve with this project. You are documenting your daily life, these precious moments and details. Maybe the perfect picture is a blurry snapshot of your kids fooling around. At first you might want to dump this photo, but at a second glance you will realize that this is your ‘Real Story’ and that this special picture tells more than a portrait photo of your kids smiling ‘cheese’ at the camera. And there are ways to sharpen blurry photos. Like this Clarify action.

ScrapHappy Action Mini: Clarify HD01
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Another tip I can give you is to snap away with whatever you have at your hand. Your DSLR, your pocket point and shoot, your smartphone, … and not only yours but the whole family’s material. I collect all the images on one computer in iphoto and I can tell you that my kids’ pictures often surprise me. They have a gift for capturing the real life’s precious moments. The pictures you use on your layouts might not always be tack sharp. They might be noisy and have a small resolution. But they are still perfect for this project. You can apply the above mentioned clarify action to them. If the colors don’t feel right to you, try with applying some photo actions. They make real wonders!

ScrapHappy Action Midi: Altered Photos AW01
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ScrapHappy Action Mini: Lomo Effects AW01
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And what if you don’t have a photo at all? Don’t panic. This happens to me at least once a week. Not due to a lack of possibilities, events or great and memorable moments. But because I simply forget to take one while I am busy cherishing the moment. And that is totally ok! You could use one of those darling journal spots that are included in the digital scrapbooking kit that you are using for the project and insert it in place of the photo. Or simply mention the no-photo-day in your journaling on your layout like I did below.

I hope that I could help you to enjoy this project even more. Don’t forget to grab the ‘My Happy Life, The Real Story’ free gifts in every Saturday 2012 newsletter. If you are not signed up to our newsletter we invite you to sign up for free.
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Here is my latest weekly layout with what I considered to be THE perfect pictures.

Layout ‘Week 14′ by Caroline Kaiser. Ingredients used Document It Bis Maxi Kit, Document It Maxi Kit, and Color Me Different Maxi Kit.

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