Monday 30 March 2009

Basic Grey Marrakech Layout 2

So after completing my first layout using these papers, I decided to have a go at making another quick layout using the paper I had left.

I cut some assorted rectangles out of the various papers-

Using a white pen I edged all the pieces; I sanded the edges of my photo, and then drew a frame around the photo using the same white pen.

I then assembled the pieces to create a very layered layout-

The photo I stuck in the middle of the layers, and I added journalling strips under that.

For the title I used American Crafts Thickers in Prancer White.

This was a very quick and simple layout to out together- I managed it in just under an hour- I think that is a record for me!

Wednesday 25 March 2009

Basic Grey Marrakech Layout 1

Whilst I am normally quite a fan of BG, when I saw this line I wasn't too keen.
Of course then when my package arrived from Vanessa, to have a play with, guess what was inside?
Yep- you guessed right!

This is what I was sent...

4 sheets of assorted Marakesh papers, and 3 co-ordinating sheets of Bazzill cardstock.
Firstly I took the Darjeelings paper, and cut a pice 9 1/4 inches deep.
I also cut two strips of the Cardamon paper each 1 1/4 inches wide.

The photo I used was a 5"x7" size, but I trimmed it down to 6"x5" as this would work better for the layout I had planned.
I stuck it down onto the Darjeelings piece, about an inch and a half in from the left of the page, and quite centrally between the top and the bottom of the piece of paper.

Next I scalloped one edge of each of the Cardamon strips using my large size EKSuccess corner/scallop punch.

I then used a Cats Eye chalk inkpad in dark brown to ink the edges of all the pieces I had cut so far, and the blue base cardstock.

Using a circle template, I pierced several rings of holes around the photo to stitch through.

Then using a needle and embroidery thread I added my stitching to the page.

On the back I used small pieces of tape to secure the loose ends.

After adding a some doodled dots around the scalloped edges, I then attached my title- for this I used American Crafts Glitter Thickers, Lax White.

My journalling I wrote on thin strips of card, then I stuck them on with 3-D foam pads for extra dimension.
Lastly I also stitched all around the outer edges of the entire layout.

And here is the completed layout-

I was pleasantly surprised by how easily I managed to work with these papers considering my initial reaction to them- I Iwill now go and buy some of the other papers in the range!

Saturday 21 March 2009

Mothers Day Card - LYB Love Letters

Here is a quick and easy Mothers Day card I made using the Love Letters range by Little Yellow Bicycle.

I didn't have any card ready to use to decorate, so the first thing I did was cut some Bazzill cardstock to size using an envelope as a guide.

Taking the Kiss with Border paper, I cut a piece to size to fit within the front of the folded card.
To cut, I used my Woodware paper trimmer.

Into the patterned paper I punched three flowers, using the EK Success Retro Flower Whale of a Punch.


Next I cut a small rectangle of the Kiss Lace paper, big enough to go behind the punched flowers.


For the wording I used a small piece of the reverse of the Grey Damask paper. The letters used are American Crafts Lax White Thickers; and Making Memories Tiny Alpha stickers.

Now I had a problem.
I just couldn't get the card to look right- the wording block ended up a little too big as I had intended- so I turned the whole card around 90 degrees.
I cut a strip to fir across the width of the card; and decorated using one of the Clear Border stickers.

I stuck the With Love card on top....

... and lastly added a few gems to add a little sparkle. I used Kaisercraft Silver Rhinestones.
You could carry on adding as much or little decoration as you like to this, and of course you could use all manner of papers and colours to suit your Mothers taste!

Happy Mothers Day!

Wednesday 18 March 2009

Novelty Pottery

The Dream Street Remember the Moments range isn't just suitable for the quieter and more reflective subject matter of my other layout. I wanted to create a whimsical layout with the range about the novelty pottery money box in the shape of a cat which currently sits in pride of place on the windowsill!





For this layout, I started with a base of orange Bazzill cardstock, and layered up strips of the papers, some with torn edges. By adding some of the papers at an angle, it gives the layout a less formal look. I then cut some strips of the orange paper with scallop edged scissors, inked them and stuck them down horizontally at intervals. The photos were added slightly overlapping each other, and I stapled some lace and ribbons across the bottom of the photos to ground them on the layout.





I created a title using American Crafts Platform thickers and Making Memories Tiny Alpha stickers. I adhered a row of buttons threaded with orange thread underneath the title, above each scallop of the cardstock. I added some journalling on offcuts of the green-blue paper, cut into strips, in the bottom right corner of the layout. These were raised on foam pads.





Finally, I added a small collection of Scenic Route label stickers in the corner of the layout and added a date and some other information.


Monday 16 March 2009

The super-sized mini

I love the shape of this Basic Grey Key Plate Album. It really lends itself to several smaller photos on each page - ideal for this collection of holiday snaps.

I'd normally scale everything down to match the smaller album size but this time, I've chosen to go the opposite way and use larger embellishments spilling off the pages for a more intriguing overall look.

The first step was to paint all the pages. To achieve a slightly textured look, I used small circular strokes with the dabber and used only just enough paint to cover the board.

While the paint was drying, I cropped and sanded all of my photos and arranged them into themes.


The cover simply the title and a couple of blossoms layered. The centre of the flower is two buttons layered together.



I've dotted around the edge of the journalling spot with a white pen. The flower centres are a button and some beads, both attached with Glossy Accents.



Using oversized embellishments does mean that the back of the embellishment shows on the next page. Some have been left as they are and others have been used as the base for something else. On this page, the centre of the back of the scalloped circle has been covered with a circle of patterned paper leaving the scalloped edge showing. Buttons, giant ric-rac and concentric circles of patterned paper have been added.



These chipboard shapes have first been painted and then glazed a couple of times to give them a shiny, 'wet' look.



I've traced around a chipboard bracket and cut out to get these felt brackets.



A coat of copper glaze has been applied to the back of these acrylic stars.



Another giant blossom with layered buttons in the centre and some rub-ons.



The sun is made by applying a rub-on to a transparency and then cutting out the shape. The & symbol is also created from transparency - I traced around a chipboard letter, cut out and then applied flourish rub-ons to the reverse.




Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants True; Rub-ons: Fancy Pants and American Crafts; Ribbons: Chatterbox, American Crafts, May Arts and Autumn Leaves; Chipboard: Fancy Pants; Acrylic: Heidi Swapp; Blossoms: Prima and others; Buttons: Autumn Leaves; Punch: Woodware; Stamps: 7gypsies and others; Paint: Ranger and Making Memories; Alphabet: Quickutz Sunshine

Wednesday 11 March 2009

Classes for April

Due to my work commitments i have been unable to do some workshops for March. But the new classes for April are done.

THe first one is a journaling workshop. It is a page workshop done with the New Minds Eye lines and the journaling on this page has been done so it is hidden. So if you fancy making a page with a difference then pop along and have a go. This is a wednesday class.



The second workshop is a handmade hanging frame. Again it is made using the new Minds Eye line. THis is the saturday workshop as it takes a while to make each frame and attach them together.

The dates for the classes will go up over the next week so keep an eye on the Papermaze website. If you have any questions about any of the workshops for April please email me at wendy@bbbweb.com and i will be pleased to help.

Sunday 8 March 2009

Waiting for Spring

The Dream Street Remember the Moments papers I was sent this month were a little more muted than the papers I had been working with more recently, and I set about the challenge of finding some suitable subjects to scrap.



What with all the wintery weather we had been suffering from, the first sign of the garden jumping back into life was a welcome sight, and I managed to grab this photo of one of the first bulbs shooting through the earth during a snow flurry. The green blue and earth tones of the papers were ideal for this subject.



I cut some of the papers at angles and arranged them on the blue grid background, layering brown over the floral design. I then created a journalling block by cutting a rectangle out of the beige paper and adhered this to the left hand side. I positioned my photo, then added some black scallop cardstock above and below the photo.



I stapled some ribbons across the centre of the page, and then went about creating my own embellishment with some of the scrap pieces of paper. I cut rough circles from the different papers, scrunched them up and inked them to distress them. I layered them up, adding a scallop punched piece of book paper. I sewed them together with a button on top. I then cut small strips of paper in a circle to create 'springs'. I adhered these around the edges of the embellishment with foam pads.



I added interest across the page with more buttons in toning colours.



I created my title using American Crafts thickers (the Jewellery Box range) and Making Memories tiny alpha stickers. I layered the title over another strip of torn book paper so it would stand out from the background.



A few stickers from Scenic Route and 7Gypsies completed the page:


Thursday 5 March 2009

making memories love note papers


When my box of goodies came with the making memories papers i couldn't wait to get stuck in
The colours on my first layout i felt would be perfect for my daughters cheer leading photos.

I started off by cutting my pattern papers into strips the making memories edge shaped paper i first cut it in half then cut it again to make my own join removing the point in the paper then glued it into place.
i then glued my photos into place overlapping my smaller photo tucking the certificates behind the larger photo.It was just a matter of choosing my chosen embellishments and adding my stitching.

My second layoutof my ddusband and me i cut my card stock and mounted it onto my black then using the brown card stock i cut and layered it at the top left hand side tearing the top right.
Using the other patterned papers again gutting them into strips overlapping each other i decided to hand cut the flowers out of the patterned paper to make my own flourish to overlap my photo the rest was adding my chosen embelishments to bring the layout together.

Sunday 1 March 2009

MY MINDS EYE PATTERNED PAPERS LO 2





Ooh when it comes to hearts and paper i just cant resist on using them on my daughters layouts as this pack was sent out to me i had used most of the paper on my other layout.I wanted a different look on this layout a softer touch to it as the photo I'm sure you will all agree needed it
so using the heart patterned paper i scanned the image into my photo shop then altered the colour black and white then printed it onto printable acetate this enabled me to get a different effect out of one piece of paper.
i started off by cutting the two strips of paper into two different sizes once this was done using a stamp i stamped the image then glued my papers on top then cutting two more strips of my scraps which was left over placing them on the bottom coming across the card stock using a purple mist spray i sprayed a little onto a piece of cotton wool and inked all around the photo
once dry i glued it into place i then added my chosen embellishments stitches and stamps to make the layout complete