Just One More Thing - the plot thickens - Chapter 4

Hi there, Lisa here for another chapter in the nail-biting, sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, layout mystery here known to one and all as the Just One More Thing Team Challenge!

If you've missed the previous episodes, you can read the "tv guide" synopsis of this series here and catch up with layouts which have already undergone the forensic analysis here.

Drawing by Peter Falk

I handed over the following layout to the team for their expert opinions on the crimes committed:

I'll start off by saying that this was actually a Counterfeit layout from March 2014 which was used for my contribution to the member blog hop. I know that I was "pleased" with it at the start but somehow found that something wasn't quite right and as time went on, I realised that I just didn't like it! Or at least a lot of it!

What I DO like:

• The photo. I seem to have "misplaced" a lot of photos over the last 12 months with various computer problems etc so I want to save this one if possible as I love that bright foreground with the incredible Marina Bay Sands Hotel in the background. 
• The story behind the photo - though the journalling was a little sparse
• The background papers which were all from my March 2014 kit full of neutrals and soft tones
• The little sparkly enamels
• The gold glitter title

What I really DON'T like:

• The gold brush strokes
• The contrasting back elements
• Those strange fussy cut shapes
• The mix of style, texture and dimension
• The bright colours mixing with those neutral shades
• The design

Not really much to work with.

My trusty colleagues offered me a plethora of advice including:

• Make the title pop by using some colour
• Use more colour 
• Go with black and white papers with some coloured embellishments
• Find a photo to match the mood of the product then redo this photo with papers and products that fit that better.
• Go for more contrast
• Ditch the veneers, the black arrow, the ribbon and make a stronger visual triangle
• Use more colour - again!
• Remove the photo but tip the whole thing one turn to the right then maybe make a heritage page
• Make this into two layouts - one for the photo and one for the background papers
• Add some spots of red
• USE MORE COLOUR! (ok, I hear you!!!)

I picked up their subtle loud hints about matching this photo up with more colour. Yes, it made me realised that was what I'd been feeling. But maybe also find a use for the background. I particularly liked the idea of turning it so that the papers were vertical - I make too many horizontal! I was also interested in the idea of using more black and white and trying to salvage the black diagonal here - a fabric frame. And I was determined to get rid of the background paper with the dodgy gold brush stripes. I also loved the idea of making one layout into two. 

And that is exactly what I did!

I started off by carefully removing the photo and trimming it a little to get rid of the rough edges my not so careful removing had caused. Then I ditched the tag, the veneers, the ribbon, the arrow and the odd fussy cut elements. I saved the enamels and the title and then tore the layered papers off the background.

From there it was easy. 

I added those to a new sheet of cardstock and using my November Remembrance kit, added a few more elements to bring it right up to date as well as a little more colour and three very recent (this week - go me!) photos. The same gold alphabet seemed perfect for this Advent inspired layout.

Then I got to work with my bright, modern, geometric kit from April, Vivid, and made up a whole new layout using the original photo, the black diagonal print frame and the alphabet. I made sure I went with strong contrast, pops of red and gold, plenty of colour and some strong black and white paper. I added a date and some journalling - still not much but more than before.

Now don't you think that the two layouts I've shared here are SO much better than the original, rather badly designed one?!?!?

I had great fun hearing what my fellow Forgers had to say and was laughing because everyone was so friendly and kind! But it's all good fun and I know that you will enjoy the next episode of Just One More Thing which will premiere in the new year - I've seen the original and am super curious to see how the suggestions we made are executed!