Julie's Craft Haven

1. To create the base cut a two and a half inch strip from the left and right sides of the Feathers 12x12 paper.
2. Tear a strip from each side of the Dreamer 12x12 paper. Adhere to the two strips to form the layout base.
3. Distress the edges of the photo with a sanding block. The photo size used is 6"x4" portrait.
4. Mat the photo onto some coloured cardstock of choice leaving a 1/8 inch border around the photo. I've used a denim blue colour to match my dress in the photo.
5. Adhere the photo and mat onto a piece of Blooms 12x12 paper, again leaving a 1/8 inch border.
6. Colour one of the leftover frames from the chipboard titles with Stormy Sky Distress Oxide Ink (or similar). Adhere to the layout underneath the photo mat before adhering the photo mat as shown.
   
7. Adhere the photo cluster to the middle of the layout. Only glue or tape down the middle, not around the whole piece as you need to leave room to add elements underneath. 
8. Cut a small banner from some of the Dreamer 12x12 paper, cut in half and adhere underneath the photo mat above and below as shown.
   
9. Cut a strip of the coloured cardstock, punch one side with a border punch or border die. Add this under the right side of the photo cluster.
10. Fussy cut the top arrow from the Arrow 12x12 paper. Add the feathers as shown.
11. Fussy cut the camera, the succulent/horns and "Happy Day" from the Cactus 12x12 paper.
12. Colour one of the borders from the Tribal Borders chipboard set with Abandoned Coral Distress Oxide Ink (or similar). Coat with a shimmer pen or similar embossing powder, cut in half and set aside.
    
13. Adhere all of the remaining elements as shown on the final layout.
14. To finish, randomly add some pearls or gems in coordinating colours.
    

Here are some close up photos so you can see how I've created and embellished the layout. 

1. To create the base you will need the Blooms 12x12 paper and the Wreath 12x12 paper.
2. Fussy cut out the wreath leaving the white centre. This is to allow some contrast with the orange base. Adhere to the base.
3. Cut out the Succulent Frame chipboard from the frame. Ink with a coral coloured ink. I've used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink in Abandoned Coral. Slip the photo through the frame as shown. You will need to trim your photo down. My photo was 6"x4" trimmed to fit. Adhere to the base with foam tape.
   
4. Fussy cut the cacti from the Cactus 12x12 paper, adhere either side of the photo as shown.
5. Cut the Wild & Free chipboard from it's frame. Trim off the three feathers and ink with a teal coloured ink. I've used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink in Salvaged Patina. Adhere underneath the photo at the bottom.
   
6. Cut the 'diamond' border from the Tribal Borders chipboard set. Ink with teal ink (Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide). Cut the border between the second and third diamond. Adhere to the layout as shown. This gives the impression that the border is longer than it is and continues on underneath the photo.
   
7. Ink the Wild & Free chipboard title with black ink. I've used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink in Black Soot. The Distress Oxides work great with this type of chipboard. Colour over with shimmer pen or glitter glue. 
8. On the reverse side of the Cactus 12x12 paper, cut out the "Wild & Free" panel then fussy cut the arrow/floral cluster.
9. Adhere the title to the bottom of your photo on top of the arrow/floral cluster piece.
10. Add a few gems around the page, on the chipboard border and the centre of the succulent as shown to finish the layout.
    

Here are some close up photos so you can see how I've created and embellished the layout.