My Scrapbooking Blog » 2009 » January

Swingin’ Fun!

Wendy — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:28:05 +0000

The focus of this layout is “The swing that Grandpa built.” My dad made one of these for us when we were kids. We moved and so this is a second generation model so the grandkids can have fun too. *Everyone* takes turns! Supplies used: CTMH Friendship stamp set and cranberry ink, CTMH “Let’s Get Together” paper and cardstock, and (unknown) flower eyelets. My crop-a-dile has given me a new love for eyelets!

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Sales Alert

Wendy — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:03:57 +0000

Check out my website for Discounted Close to My Heart Products!

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Going Green

Wendy — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 07:07:35 +0000

I think this is a great idea that Queen & Co. has come up with. In a Go Green effort they are reducing wasteful and costly packaging with the release of a full line of bulk embellishments that are “packaged” in adorable little buckets that you can use for organizing your supplies or altering or giving as a gift…they are just plain cute! Check them out for yourself here: Queen & Co.

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Keep It Simple

Wendy — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 05:19:13 +0000

Here is a simple page that draws your eye directly to the photo. Supplies: paper, ribbon, flower with brad, and quote.

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Overlays = Quick, Easy Layouts

Wendy — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:51:01 +0000

Overylays may be expensive but they can make for a quick layout and the cost can average out for your page by not adding so many more embellishments. This ballet page is the perfect example. Supplies include pink paper, dance overlay, handmade paperclip, and my photo. The overlay is overtop of the entire page. I cut a slit in it to add the paper clip.

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White Background

Wendy — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:27:48 +0000

Now that I have discovered the beauty of patterned paper I rarely use a solid-colored background. However, the white background for this layout seemed to be perfect. I traced the circle onto my paper using a plate (any circular item will work). Then I simply added all the prima flowers with brad centers. You may want to add an additional page to the back to cover all the brads so they don’t catch on the opposite page when you put it in your scrapbook. Based on a sketch by Becky Fleck.

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Working with dark photos

Wendy — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:36:15 +0000

Dark photos can be difficult to scrapbook. I have learned the best way to scrap these types of pictures is to start with a dark background and then highlight the photos throughout the layout. This will give it a dramatic look and your pictures will stand out as opposed to disappearing on the page. It’s best to keep the matting at 1/16 or 1/8 of an inch. Mulberry paper added a great touch to the layout below. I tore an opening in the mulberry paper (use a wet paintbrush or waterbrush to make this easier) creating a frame which I then stitched to my layout. The dark background works with the darker photo instead of against it, drawing your attention directly to the photo.

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Monogram Titles

Wendy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:01:14 +0000

For a standout title, try using large monogram letters for your entire title. I used Basic Grey undressed chipboard monograms for these layouts. (Note: chipboard that is plain and unfinished is often called undressed, bare, or naked.) For extra letters, you can trace on chipboard and cut them out. Next, I traced the letters on cardstock, cut out, embellished, and glued to the chipboard. Be sure to embellish the letters before adhering to the chipboard. The ways to embellish these monograms are endless. You can use buttons, brads, eyelets, snaps, rivets, charms, ribbon, fiber, clips, staples, tags, diecuts, etc. You can also use techniques such as stamping, stitching, inking, distressing, doodling, etc. My favorite adhesive when using chipboard is Liquid Glass by CTMH. There is a bit of drying time involved but it will hold forever!

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MY Ribbon Purse

Wendy — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:39:39 +0000

It’s called a ribbon purse. I saw something like this while browsing online and decided I could easily make my own. Of course, I wanted to try it RIGHT NOW. Luckily for me I found this plastic purse in my daughter’s room and was able to borrow the Big Bite from a friend. I almost forgot to take a before picture so you can see here that I have already prepped the purse by using a permanent marker to mark where I wanted to punch my holes.

It was a bit tricky to punch near the bottom of the purse but with a little twisting I got the job accomplished. If you try this I would suggest planning a break because my hand was sore when I was finished from holding the Big Bite (not because it’s hard to punch but because I was holding it upright with the purse wrapped around and underneath it). Next was the really fun part of stringing all my ribbons through the holes. I used the 1/8 size hole punch and I like that size. Most of my ribbons are 3/8 inch wide and they are snug so they won’t fall out but it’s still easy enough to pull them through. if the majority of your ribbon is over 1/2 inch I would suggest using the 3/16 hole. I would recommend to start stringing them in the bottom of the purse first and let them hang out until you are finished filling all the holes. Like this:

Next stuff all the ribbons in the purse and zip it up. Here is the finished product:

This tiny purse holds A LOT of ribbon! I emptied a large jar and a drawer. It’s great because it will hang on a doorknob, like my closet so now I have my ribbons out in the open where I can see them and they are more likely to get used rather than forgotten.

Side note: I saw the actual ribbon purse in my local scrapbooking store yesterday by Your Pictured Memories. I didn’t look at the price but it came empty so I’m sure that it was much more reasonable than the one I saw online. It is bigger than I thought and if my little homemade one holds all that it does I can’t imagine the amount you could put in this one. I am tempted to go back and check the price and get it!

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Creative Titles

Wendy — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:16:51 +0000

A great way to add creativity to your layout is by mixing and matching elements within your title as you can see on my layout below. “The” = alphabet buttons, “Thrill” = sizzlits alphabet diecuts, “of the” = stamping, “HUNT” = stencils. For the letters of the word “hunt” I used a package of stencils by tracing them onto my patterned paper, cut out, matted on cardstock, and embellished. Paper is by DCWV. Machine stitching adds great detail to the layout.

(click on the picture for a closer look at the layout)

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Glitter Galore!

Wendy — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:01:56 +0000

I just love adding glitter and sparkle embellishing to my scrapbook pages. This page includes some store-bought items as well as handmade embellishments. The glitter paper is DCWV. The glitter alphabet is Miss Elizabeth. I made all the flowers by stamping, adding liquid glass (CTMH), and sprinkling with prisma glitter (CTMH). Once dry, I cut them out and added the different centers. The stamps are an unknown set that I purchased off QVC.

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Bare Elements on Sale!

Wendy — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:38:05 +0000

Since I just showed you my frames I had to share this: Joann’s online has Creative Imagination Bare Elements on sale at great prices. Use code SAD011 for free shipping over $35 (good through 1/11/09). I was browsing around yesterday to see what other products CI had and I just couldn’t pass up this deal. The only thing they didn’t have that I wanted was the crown album. I would have bought one for each of my girls. They would have loved them! I did find some girl scout things on sale too so that made up for it.

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Altered Frames

Wendy — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:45:52 +0000

I absolutely love how these frames turned out and they are just what I wanted to display in my scrapbook room. I made one for each of my daughter’s with some of my favorite pictures of them. They each helped choose the paper for their frame. The frames have an easel on the back and a hook for hanging. I have mine hung because I need all the extra desk space I can get in my scrapbook room. They do hang out a bit from the wall because of the easel. The frames are Bare Elements by Creative Imagination and I can’t wait to try more of their products.

For Christine’s frame, I used Making Memories acrylic paint (chocolate) and painted the edges of the frame (under the paper is white, no need to waste). Next I cut the patterned paper to fit the frame, marked the center square on the back and used an exacto knife to cut out the center. This takes a bit of measuring. The paper is Die Cuts With a View from the Glitter Stack. It adds a lot of sparkle and dimension on it’s own, which was perfect for this project. Next, I adhered the paper and her name. I used Mod Podge (I prefer matte) as my adhesive and also added a coat to the top to protect it. Note: When using Mod Podge, apply in thin coats and be sure to let the bottom coat (under your paper) dry before applying a coat overtop. The letters are Silver Glitter Alphabet Chipboard by K&Co. The glitter was coming off some of the letters so I sealed them with a layer of Mod Podge and it worked like magic. I painted the chipboard flourish with MM paint (capri) and added a couple coats of MM Specialty Glaze – Glitter. It’s hard to see from the photo but it adds a nice extra touch. I finished it off with the flowers using silver brads in the center and adhering with glue dots.

For Steph’s frame I left the outside white, which is how it comes. This eliminated the first step of painting. The paper again is DCWV and I painted the flourish using MM (sky) paint and the glitter glaze. I wish I knew what these chipboard letters are because the glitter on them is sealed very well and I really like them. If you recognize them please let me know. The brad in the center of the flower is a Bazzill Really Big Brad. I rubbed it on a glue pad and then sprinkled glitter over it. After that was dry I added a coat of Mod Podge overtop to seal it.

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Me & My Sister

Wendy — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:46:19 +0000

Dance pictures are some of my favorite to scrapbook. This page uses Close to My Heart papers and ink, Bo Bunny cardstock stickers, ribbon (unknown), flower (probably from a bunch on a rummage sale), and the decorative brad in the center is from the Target dollar spot.

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My Scrapbooking Blog » 2009 » January

Swingin’ Fun!

Sales Alert

Going Green

Keep It Simple

Overlays = Quick, Easy Layouts

White Background

Working with dark photos

Monogram Titles

*MY* Ribbon Purse

Creative Titles

Glitter Galore!

Bare Elements on Sale!

Altered Frames

Me & My Sister

MY Ribbon Purse