A quick look at some of QuicKutz Founder and Creative Director, Natasha Hixon's page layouts (complete layouts can be seen on QuicKutz home page, www.quickutz.com) gives an idea of how something as simple as die-cut titles can enhance your scrapbook. Using titles, rather than elaborate decoration, as the main element of your layouts allows for simple but distinctive pages. Such pages closely match the mood of the photos because they capture it with words, allowing you to communicate what it is that you remember and love about certain moments. QuicKutz makes this even easier by offering several different fonts-something for everyone.
One of the simplest and best ways to get creative with die-cut letters is to shadow them. QuicKutz makes it easy by offering accompanying shadow sets for each of their six alphabets (except "Marisa" which, being a script alphabet, has a lower-case alphabet set rather than a shadow set). Here are a few ways that Natasha gets creative with the QuicKutz alphabet Pocket Dies.
Natasha uses simple shadowing, with a sophisticated twist in the double shadow, to create the title on this page. Each letter is cut in two colors and the shadow is cut in a single color. The two different colors of the letters are slightly off set over the shadow to give definition and distinction to the title. By keeping the page uncluttered and simple, Natasha gives herself the option of extensive journaling, making the page a treasure.
Items used: Khaki Upper Case and Khaki Upper Case Shadow, both by QuicKutz
The next two pages show how simple shadowed letters can be modified in order to enhance scrapbook pages. On each of these pages, Natasha cuts each letter in two colors and the shadow in a third color. The letters in the first color are attached to the shadow. The letters in the second color are then slightly modified and attached on top of the shadowed title.
For her Red Rock page, Natasha tore across each of the second set of letters in an uneven line to create a rock-like horizon across the title of the page. By tearing the letters, Natasha gives her page unique character while maintaining its simplicity. Natasha also tore her journaling blocks, keeping her page unified.
Items used: Upper Case Star and Upper Case Star Shadow, both by QuicKutz
On this page, Natasha uses a technique similar to the one she used on Red Rock. Again, she creates her title with basic shadowed letters. She then modifies the edge of the second set of letters before placing them on top of the shadowed title. On this page, Natasha used the Mini-Scallop Fiskar's scissor in order to cut away part of each of the top letters of her title. Rather than matching the subject of the photos (as in Red Rock), Natasha uses the bright colors and fun edging on the title to create a sense of laughter, which matches the mood of the photos.
Items used: Upper Case Honey and Upper Case Honey Shadow, both by QuicKutz
The shadowing techniques Natasha used in these examples can be used for entire titles or to draw attention to a single word in a title. You can also draw attention to single words by combining different sizes of die cuts or different fonts.
On her "Scuba Divers" layout, Natasha combines the Star Mini's alphabet with the Star Upper Case alphabet. Using two sizes allows her to include all the information she wants while placing the emphasis where she wants it. (QuicKutz makes this possible by offering Star Mini's and Marisa Mini's, which make 5/8" letters rather than their standard 1 1/4" letters.)
Items used: Star Upper Case, Star Upper Case Shadow, Star Mini's, Star Mini's Shadow, all by QuicKutz
Another technique for drawing attention to one word is to die-cut that word and then combine it with either handwritten or computer-generated words. On Pick a Perfect Pumpkin, Natasha uses a combination of handwritten and die cut words for her title, patterned paper, and geometric shapes to create a simple but striking page.
Items used: Khaki Upper Case and Khaki Upper Case Shadow, both by QuicKutz
Natasha's titles help create the striking simplicity of her pages. Using the QuicKutz Personal Die-Cutting System to create unique titles lets her create the mood of her pages, rather than building her pages to match someone else's style.
