Rustic Layout - Using March Journal Pages

So you guys know how much I adore Marion's designs. Today I want to share a tip with you for making layouts using the Monthly Challenge downloads. When I started putting my journal together I began thinking that these images were so beautiful, I would love to make a layout. But my layouts are always 12 x12 and these pages are around 5x7. Sooo this is what I did.

First - decide which designs to use. I used Days 1, Day 1 Insert, Day 2, Day 10, and Day 22. Photos of these days are below.

So Day 2 was the day I decided would make the prettiest paper for a layout. I openned the file in Acrobat. Then chose Document > Crop Pages or (Shft + Ctrl + T or Shft + Cmd + T on a Mac). This dialog box appears.

I adjusted the settings in the circled area until I acheived the crop that I liked. Chose to return to the document.

Then in the Printer Panel I chose "Fit to Printable Area" My pages printed 8x8. (Well maybe 8.25 x 9 depending on how you cropped the file, and how much margin your printer will allow for.) but you get the idea.

My final printed document looked like the preview in the above panel.

Then I began assembling my layout using Coordinating cardstock, punches, lace, twine, antique book pages, and flowers as accents. I spritzed the entire layout with wheat fields, hola hoop, and antique brass Glimmer Mists. I used a Prima resin bird that I painted black with the Folk art Metalic Black & yellow - I love how he matches the bird in the artwork.

The rustic look and warm colors of this layout is going to make it a fav for a long time. I hope this has given you options for reusing your Journal downloads once your journals are finished.

Are you making other projects with your downloads? If so, please post them in Artsy Addicts, and make sure you tag me so that I can see what your projects look like.

Thanks for stopping in today,

Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Sources:
Marion Smith Printables - March 2012 Pages 1, Page 1 insert, Page 2, Page 10, and Page 22.
Tim Holtz: Picket Fence Distress Stain, Gathering Twigs Distress marker.
Tatterd Angels Glimmer Mists: Hola Hoop, Antique Brass, Wheat Fields
Prima: Resin Bird, Mini Roses (white) I painted them yellow to match the paper.
Twine, Lace
Paint: Yellow, White, light blue, Black Magic
Vintage Book Pages.
Cardstock: Mustard, Light Blue
Zutter: Donna Salzer Corrugated Cardboard.