So I have this insanely cute photo of my daughter getting ready for Christmas, but all the layouts I've tried just aren't fitting. Any thoughts would be helpful!
or, maybe I should add, what type of kit should I use.
I've tried black and white and minimal types of layouts, but as I am thinking about this, maybe I just don't have the right kit, with the right colors. I've been sifting through my Christmas kits, but maybe I should be looking at something else?
Did you try a layout with yellow? Did you try cropping only the top half of the picture? Did you try making a cluster on the top right of the picture and two linked smaller clusters on the bottom? Did you try any of Janet babies kits, specially the ones with a vintage feel?
I wouldn´t use a Christmas kit for this picture...
I haven't I've tried some vintage-y frames, like the ones Janet used with her Nutcracker kit. I didn't try yellow, but I will, and clusters and cropping. I kept the photo intact, but I think that is part of my issue. Hopefully I will have time tonight to try some of this out! I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks Lorien!
To me, what actually stands out with this photo is the quilt she is laying on. I always try to pull something from the photo as inspiration. I would play around with maybe some of the christmasy colored quilts from this kit: https://www.digitalscrapbook.com/janet-scott/kits/quilted-with-love-vintage-paper-kit-quilt-quilting-sew-sewing-fabric-textile-cotton
Here's my latest attempt...I'm not sure how I feel about it. I was playing with The Nutcracker Bundle from Janet.
hey, i just follwed this munchkin around ( the gallery, the forum and now i see it here) - you've already finish your page, ok, i'm too late
but i remember a paper by Sharon Dewi (in WinterWonderland) that might also work - black with gold stars. something festive, with heavy contrast. plus there's a label saying "special delivery" - how cool would that be! 
but seriously, a pic as cute as this really doesn't need much adding, nice that you kept it minimalistic!
I would try an oval vignette or frame around the photo. I'd keep her little feet visible, that's an adorable part, her tiny toes in those tights.
The top corners are distracting from the photo so that's why I say they oval shape, but you could do a couple small clusters like Lorien mentions, too...
I also agree with Hilary, using something "quilted" on the layout to mimic and carry that in the theme of the layout.
I personally (like Lorien) wouldn't necessarily go "Christmas"y with the layout, I'd just include that part of the story in the journaling.
I like the title you chose "Sparkle" but the font doesn't seem right it blends in too much to the background.
I like the idea Paddy mentioned, a black paper with white or gold stars... but as a portion, not a whole. maybe on top of a quilted white paper? that's some ideas I've had so far. can't wait to see your final layout.
I like the solution of an offset paper. But I´d try either bright papers or very soft/baby colors. I´m not sure if the colors you picked offer enough contrast. Like shawna, I like your title but think it could stand out more
I also like the glitter splatter 
Thoughts? I kept going back to Janet's kit as she offer bright, contrasting papers and elements, but it just wasn't coming together. I don't usually use a lot of vintage-y items, but I tried. I also ended up editing the photo a little. The shadow at the top was distracting, and there isn't enough padding between the shadow and her head to get all of it, henceforth the bow. I need elements that I could put on top of the photo, and close enough to her head where it doesn't distract or add too much weight to the top of the photo. I do like the combination of papers, though I'm not sold on the colors.
I like this one better. I would add a faint drop shadow where the papers overlap. And a very light drop shadow behind the sequins. I would also move the Sparkle and Shine over about 5 pixels so you can see it more, but not so far that it is separated from the picture. The bow is perfect.
looks gorgeous! you really brought the focus to the pic with such clever positioning.
and hey, if you're having difficulty choosing the colors - you can always go gray! it works for me.
just turn any of the papers/ elements whos color is too much for you, into grayscale (maybe tweek them a bit with the "curves" tool if they get too dark/ bright)
* wait, i just had an idea- what if you only turned the striped paper gray, leaving the dotted one colorful - and then just "transfer" those dots in the top corner by keeping the sequences there (and removing those laying on the dotted paper) - that might look even cleaner, what do you think?!
btw, i really like the dotts as background pattern here, makes sense
plus, that bow + poststamp suggest she's a gift, which is kind of a nice symbolism
I love the way it is now. Way better!
@paddy I'll probably play with the colors some time this week as time allows...hopefully sooner than later! Thanks for the help everyone!
I love this one much better!!!
I agree with all of Hilary's suggestion and with paddy's of possibly turning the striped paper grayscale. If you do that though you might want to turn the title a glittery gold color (or another color) so it would sparkle and stand out more (and maybe add a light black tiny stroke to it)
PS I think you did a great job taking out and hiding the distractions in the photo! and I love that I can now see her tiny feet better.
So! I think it's getting closer...
I went through all of the suggestions...
I added subtle shadows...I have a tendency to over shadow, so I'm undershadowing, rather than over shadowing.
I first changed the paper to gray, then gold, and LOVE the gold. I tried to extra the dots, but I'm not that good in gimp, couldn't figure it out in an hour...something I will definitely go back to and try. Now I'm just trying to find the right font/font color, gold on gold doesn't work, so it has to be something darker. I do like that font, but I'd love to find an alpha to replace it.
SO, I'm looking through my files for alphas...and I've used this alpha for other layouts I've done for Miss Sparkleheart, and I know I've seen a vellum one I wanted to play with, I just can't locate it. Thoughts on any others?
Another take...thoughts? I'm thinking no.
In the one with the wood paper, I'd try an oval vintage frame. I like the layout after that one the best; it's more Christmas-y than this last one you posted. One thing I'd suggest is either remove the scatter from the upper right corner or add a small cluster to it (which is what I'd do): perhaps holly, pine branches, and a couple ornaments. You could even add the same cluster under the bow.
That is an adorable photo, and I think it should be the focus of your layout!
The variety of papers ... and the bow on the frame ... I feel, distract from the subject. If you wish to have more than one paper you could use an interesting (solid, or mostly solid, with a strong color) paper for the background and add the patterned papers as accents (stacked underneath your main paper ... or in shapes layered under/over the photo frame, for instance).
I also agree with Shawna's suggestion of an oval frame.
If you visit my blog you will find an example of a progressive scrap I did, using oval frames, stacked papers, etc.
Gaalmark's Scrapbook
I prefer the title as it was on post #15..
Have you thought about doing a bokeh overlay & erasing the parts that show up on her body? Thought that might look cute & festive. Then you could paste that onto a journal card, into a frame or what not...
I, too, like Lorien prefer the title in 15. As far as 15 though, the more I look at it I think. the striped paper should maybe be the color stripes the darker green and white, not the blueish tint that the original stripes had. Hope that makes sense.
You may start to feel like there's too many cooks in the kitchen soon. LoL
I love the redo on your layout in #15. If the title doesn't work with golg on golg, why not place a little gold glitter painty bit behind your title to make it sparkle? I love the font you chose, so I wouldn't change it, unless you dislike it yourself
Looks like the 'Special Delivery' label still needs a shadow? Other than that, I would leave it as it is. It is a lovely layout!
@Shawna...ha...I did ask though
As for the end result...I have a few more things I am going to try..I haven't found an oval frame that I have liked that fits with what I've got so far...I like the bohek idea, and will pull the one from the Dream Big kit, and play with that, and I like the font and the way it is in 15...I just think it needs a little more.
This frame is gorgeous by our very own, Janet Scott
I don't know if it's too fancy for this layout or not, but you could recolor it to a darker black and you'd still have the rectangle feel with the oval shape. 
I think you've got this under control. I like the direction your going with it. My only thought is that she is so very adorable I would make the picture just a bit bigger to show her off a little more.
Thanks Rachel! I've set this aside for now. It's a blend of the last two versions. I've tried some oval frames, but have stuck with the background kind of like it is. I'm hoping that I will get some mojo during the scapping madness this month to get it just the way I want it.
Setting it aside for awhile is a good idea, you can look at it with fresh eyes when you haven't seen it in a bit. Good luck and looking forward to seeing the final layout.
it's much better with all the color. when i initially read your post, that's exactly what i thought--add color. it's a perfect pic for that!
Light pink, rose, could work...