Inspiration Elevator - Using a BIG photo on a layout

Several of my friends from Practical Scrappers participate in a monthly inspiration challenge called Inspiration Elevator.  They asked me to play along this month as a guest designer!

A little about Inspiration Elevator:

Our main purpose here at IE is to challenge ourselves, each other and 

YOU to take the creative process to the next level;  to inspire growth 

and change in our scrapbooking beyond the mundane.

You can see all of Inspiration Elevator's previous challenges at our blog and catch us on Facebook .

This month's challenge is issued by the creative Christa Uttley. Here is her challenge for us, in her own words:

 GO BIG OR GO HOME: Scrapbookers as a rule use what photos they have on 

hand or if you are designing, whatever pictures allow you to best 

showcase your lines or express your paper lines. This month's challenge 

is to be very deliberate about your photo choice because we are going 

BIG! Bigger than 8x10 if you can do it. Recently, I saw a friend using a 

12x12 she had printed at the local 

Costco and was stunned at the power this GIANT image had on her story 

telling. (If you'd rather not spend any extra on your photo then scrap 

those large baby pictures or a wedding shot you have lying around.)  

Think scenic vistas or think about all the details that go missing in 

your world and blow them up. Be brave!

 Here are the MUST DO's: Must be at least 8x10 in size. We want this 

GIANT photo to take centre stage and tell the story in a big way.

Here's the lineup for today's inspiration:

Christa Uttley

Wendi Robinson

Katherine Sutton

Lisa Moen

Lisa Speigel

Ann Jobes

Jayne Morgan 

Guest Designer: Christine Meyer

And without further adieu here is my interpretation!

One thing I almost always do when using a big picture is find a way to incorporate the title into it - I love the look of a title on a picture.  My family is big - 6 of us - so we by default require a larger than average picture if we're all squeezing in!  This one from our summer vacation was perfect to fit the challenge!  Using a big photograph requires even more creative placement of embellishments and such.  I just used border strips (which are looking a little wonky because my layout kept bowing because of the borders) and a few embellishment clusters.  Thanks to the ladies for letting me play along this month!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Bella Blvd

Stickers: Bella Blvd