I have used the beautiful Garden District range by Marion Smith Designs.  It's just gorgeous.  Now, I don't know about you, but I tend to pick out a photo I like, then choose the papers to match and start off that way...  It's totally different scrapping WITHOUT a photo to start you off!  I sat with the papers and had a bit of a rough play with layout design:

I have started by using two layers of Bazzill that tone in with the colours of the base paper, Manhattan - Java and Vintage Pink.I shortened the length of the pink chevron paper (this is the pattern on the 'off' side of Manhattan), and decided to sew it onto the layout using a zigzag stitch.  To make it fit nicely, I  used a craft knife to fussy cut around the rose in the bottom right hand corner of the page, so I could tuck the patterned paper underneath the edge of it.

Then I started shuffling around the four 3x4" 'pocket page' cards that I cut out of the Alterations paper.  In the end I decided to use only three of them.  I roughed up the edges with a paper distresser (you can use a piece of sandpaper or a nail file), then stitched around them using a straight stitch on my sewing machine.  To add another layer/more texture to the layout, I cut off a strip of darker patterned paper, and zig-zagged along the two long edges of it:

I then trimmed them down both sides of each zigzag until I had two fine strips of paper with stitching on.  And then I made a third strip, for good measure!  You may have noticed in my 'planning' photo, that there was a darker patterned paper (Picture Perfect) with a doily/rose pattern on the bottom corner.  I cut out that corner piece, roughed up the edges a bit by hand (so that the edges curled up, off the page), and tucked that in behind the pocket page cards.  And finally, I fussy cut a HEAP of roses out of the Blush paper, and then tucked them in around and under various parts of the layout.

And that takes me back to the finished product:

Now, as I said earlier, I am not actually putting a photo on this layout, but am donating it to a fundraiser.  I have put in the back of the page protector some scrabble tile alphas that I have had in my stash for ages, that tie in nicely with the Garment District colours.  That way, whoever ends up with the layout can add their own title and/or journalling.

Just out of interest, I have quickly photographed the layout with 4 different photos sitting in place.  To be honest, I don't think it matters WHAT photo you use, anything seems to go with it (excuse the photos, I took them quickly on my phone)

So as you can see, just about any photo from any era can tie in with your layout.  If the colours really clash, get your photo printed in black and white - that goes with EVERYTHING!

So, it turns out that I might have to rethink this scrapbooking method of mine.  Sometimes I get so hung up on picking the perfect papers to go with a photo, when perhaps I should just scrap first and add the pics later?  I am going to have to try this some more!

Righto, I'm signing off... I have domestic goddess duties like housework and grocery shopping to do (yuck!).  I hope that you all have a great weekend.  See you next month :)

Toodles, Beck x