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Sunday, September 23, 2012

Off to School (#39)

This layout was based on a sketch... emphasis on WAS!  I ended up combining a few different sketches and ideas I found and it morphed into something that didn't really resemble what I started with, so I'm not even going to link it.  I'll save it for later :) and maybe I'll make a page that resembles the original sketch.
Supplies; patterned paper (Fancy Pants, Prima); brads, washi tape (My Mind's Eye); twine (LilyBelle's Paperie on Etsy); bag (Whisker Inc.); paper clips, manilla tag (office supply); ink (Ranger); button (Fancy Pants)

Kiwi Lane Templates: Large Brackets, Paisley Place, Tiny Tags, Tiny Brackets

I love adding actual office supplies to school-themed layouts.  This one had the manilla tag and paper clips.  I added washi tape to the yellow paper clip on the little bag and it made it look like a little flag.  I loved all the school elements in this paper from Fancy Pants- they have one sheet that is just flash cards and I cut one out for the perfect little accent.  My little brown paper bag (reminiscent of brown bag lunches) also has another smaller accent- a journaling card that looks like a page from a teacher's grade book.  Great collection of papers and I loved how it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!

What a Lovely Meltdown (#38)

This page ended up being the companion page to the layout here and has hidden journaling that tells the story of what REALLY happens when we take the kids out for a photo shoot (and explains why I didn't attempt it last year):
Supplies: patterned paper, stickers, die cuts (Authentique); twine (LilyBelles on Etsy); brads, manilla tags (craft supply); ink (Ranger)

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!

Monday, September 17, 2012

September's Sincerely for Kiwi Lane (#35, 36, 37)

Hello Kiwi Fans!  and all others who may stumble upon this blog :)  Today I have a few cards for Kiwi Lane's Sincerely.  I was given the assignment of "Back to School" and immediately I thought of crayons, pencils, notebook paper and chalkboards and that's what ended up on these cards!

A+
Supplies: patterned paper, stamp (Imaginisce); card stock (Provo Craft, Bazzill); ink (Ranger, Tsukinedo); alphabet stickers (DCWV); ribbon (Offray); circle punch (EK Success)
Kiwi Lane Templates: Thoughtful 2B, Tiny Wacky 3T, Tiny Accents 4T, Tiny Tags 3T, Adorn 2A

For this card, I stamped the notebook paper on white card stock, cut it out and added letter stickers.  I also made a pencil using layers of the same template shape.  Here's how:

First, cut a full tag shape out of cream colored paper (this serves as the base for all your layering and ends up only showing the tip of the pencil) like this:
 Then cut another full tag out of yellow paper (I used a pattern for a bit more interest) and cut the tip off with those zig zag scissors that I know you have ;)  like this:
 Turn the yellow paper so the back side is showing and score every 1/4".  This makes raised lines and adds some texture to your pencil.  You can use a scoring board or the groove in your paper trimmer:
 Now use sandpaper or a sanding block to gently sand off the surface of the scored lines, exposing the white core (if you used a solid core card stock, use a bit of ink on a dauber to add some ink to the scored lines instead) like this:
 Next, trace just part of the tag onto pink cardstock for the eraser like this:
 Layer your yellow paper and eraser on the pencil base and add the "metal" part of your pencil just below the eraser using a silver metallic ribbon (I used 1/8", but 1/4 would also work) like this:
 As the final touch to your pencil, punch a 1/2" circle out of black cardstock and adhere it to the point of the pencil like this:
Now all you have to do is trim off the extra black card stock and silver ribbon and you have a pencil!

#1 Teacher
Supplies: patterned paper (Imaginisce, Prima); card stock (Provo Craft); ribbon (Pebbles); crayon (Crayola); ink (Ranger)
Kiwi Lane Templates: Tiny Tags 3T, Tiny Wacky 1T, Tiny Strips, Tiny Shapes 8T

This card has a crayon, also made out of the tiny tags! I'll show you how in just a bit...  But, I wanted to point out that I used crayon to write the sentiment (I also tried writing it with my left hand to make it look like a child wrote it, but it was unreadable!).  Remember that in your card making, you can use things that you normally would never use for your scrapbook layouts, like writing with crayons and pencils.  You don't have to worry about your card materials being archival quality and acid free, which opens up a whole world of options.

So here's the step by step for the crayon:

Trace the tag on card stock like this:
 Then make a dotted line across the tag, separating the tip from the rest.  Move the tip down a bit and trace again, only going to the dotted line.  Make another line at the top to mark where you will cut the point off the tip to make the flat crayon top.  Like this:
 Now erase the outside line where you have doubles, and the pointy part of the tip.  This is what you should have left:
Cut along the solid lines (NOT the dotted line) and you have your crayon base.  Just flip it over (or erase all the lines), add a "wrapper" and whatever you want to use to embellish it and you're done!

Back 2 School
Supplies: patterned paper (Imaginisce, Prima); card stock (Provo Craft); twine (SupplyOwl on Etsy); "school" sticker (DCWV); glitter letter stickers (Making Memories); ribbon (Offray); ink (Ranger)
Kiwi Lane Templates: Tiny Holiday 4T, Tiny Accents 4T, Adorn 3A & B

While Kiwi Lane does not currently have an apple template, you can think outside the box a little and use a pumpkin with a bit of modification.  I trimmed the bottom so it looked more like an apple, and I made the stem more rounded. 

So, I would love to see what you come up with from looking at these school-inspired cards!  Leave a link in the comments so I can take a peek!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

I {heart} Games (#34)

Supplies: cardstock (Provo Craft); patterned paper, journaling spot, stickers (Echo Park); brads (My Mind's Eye); ink (Ranger); twine (craft supply)
Kiwi Lane Designs Templates: Tiny Tags, Tiny Brackets

This layout is based on the Pearl #1 sketch for Scrapbooksteals.com.  I must say, this is not anywhere close to my usual style, but I had a lot of fun creating this layout!  And because it used smaller pieces of paper, I could use scraps from a line that I wouldn't usually be able to use on anything but cards.  This would also be easy to create using a 6x6 pad of paper.  It really is one of my favorite layouts lately!  And a big THANKS to my friend Susan.  She sent me the twine that I used on the banner.  It originally had a green strand in there, too, but it didn't quite go together so I took it out and it was perfect!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!

??? (#33)

Hmm... I just realized that I didn't ever title this page.  I should find it and fix that!
Supplies: patterned paper, stickers (Echo Park); card stock (craft supply); journaling stamp (Autumn Leaves); twine, brads (craft supply)
Kiwi Lane Design Template: Tags

Simple 4th of July page (tired of seeing those yet? ;)  )  The wavy edge was done with a wavy edge ruler- you just press it onto your paper and tear.  There are a few manufacturers that make them, but I use the Fiskars brand.  And they come in a few different patterns.  It just adds a bit more dimension to an edge without a lot of work.

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!

I Love this Time of Year (#32)

 Supplies: patterned paper, die cuts (Authentique); fabric flowers (Bazzill); paper flowers (Prima); brads (My Mind's Eye); paper flower chain (Doodlebug); butterflies (Momenta); ink (Ranger)
Kiwi Lane Design Templates: Paisley Place, Strips

I love fall leaves, and these were some of my favorite photos from a few years ago.  My mom took them and I think they are beautiful!  I found these transparent layered butterfly stickers at Big Lots for $1.  I used two of them for this project and there are still six or so left for a few more projects.  Here's a close up of the group of flowers and butterfly:
Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!

4th of July Luau (#31)

 Supplies: cardstock, patterned paper, letter stickers (Echo Park); brads (My Mind's Eye); twine (The Twinery); buttons, jewel stickers (Doodlebug); punches (EK Success, Martha Stewart Crafts); ink (Ranger)
Kiwi Lane Designs Templates: Scallops, Spooky, Tags

This layout was based on the Scrapbooksteals.com Pearl #3 sketch.  I added more photos and have to admit, I think it's a little cluttered.  I should have stuck to the original sketch a little better and not squished everything in.  Other than that, I like it- the colors in the paper are bright and fun and fit the feeling of the photos perfectly!  Here's a closer look at the tiny photo in the bottom right corner along with the embellishments.
Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!

Jonathan (#30)

Supplies: patterned paper, alphabet stickers, die cuts (Authentique); brads (Doodlebug); ink (Ranger)
Kiwi Lane Design Templates: Happy Trails, Tags, Strips

I'm pretty sure this was based on the Scrapbooksteals.com Pearl #7 when I started it... then I veered away from the sketch.  I guess there's still a slight resemblance :)  

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!

Let's Go Fly a Kite (#29)

If you're a frequent visitor of this blog, you may have noticed the recent lack of posts that contain pictures of projects.  Well, that is about to be rectified.

Let's Go Fly a Kite
 (I don't know what is up with the color in this pic... I tried to fix it, but to no avail.)

Supplies: cardstock (DCWV, Core'dinations); patterned paper, stickers, journaling card ( Echo Park); twine, buttons, brads (craft supply); ink (Ranger)

So no sketch for this layout.  Just wanted to use up a bunch of scraps.  So I punched squares for around the perimeter of the page, added a block in the middle for the photo, title and journaling and made a cute little paper pieced kite, some buttons, stickers and brads and... Ta da!  All done!  Super easy page that took a total of 30 minutes to do (but, of course, I didn't get to to it in one sitting.  This was 30 minutes of working here and there over the course of three days).  And a big THANKS to my friend Susan who sent me the twine to play with.  It actually had a strand of green on it, too, but it wasn't the right color.  I took that off and the blue and white that remained was perfect!  I just noticed that I didn't use a  KLD template for this LO... weird.... I didn't think it was possible for my creativity to work without them!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

I Think I Just Might Be A Chicken...

I know, I know.  I haven't had any scrap happy fun on here for a few weeks, but it's been crazy with school starting (both the daughter's new school and the hubby's Master's program), getting another cold (really?!?) and just trying to get in a new groove with a new schedule.  I haven't done anything besides layouts for the shop and a few (dozen) cards for special orders.  And it's driving me crazy!!  I have sketches printed and taped to the wall around my creative place that are calling my name... Anyway, no layouts on this post either.  Yep, boring.

So why do I think I'm a chicken?  I keep seeing calls for design teams.  And I keep going to those websites that tell the requirements for each design team member.  I have read each requirement carefully and thought to myself, "I could do that!" I have discussed with hubby what the requirements for each call have been, I have pulled out layouts that show my style/s of scrapping, and I have started to write the short essays that most calls ask you to do.  And then, after I've looked at my work and my words, I've talked myself out of submitting anything for any design team calls.  Why?  I think it's part fear of failure, part fear of filling my plate too full and ignoring more important things like the family, and part a feeling of inadequacy.  Silly?  Maybe.  But I just can't seem to get over that bump and commit to trying for something that I might not get.  True, I'm already on a design team, which means I've done it before, right?  Nope.  The ladies at Kiwi Lane asked me to be on their design team.  They have been my friends for a few years and gave me the option of participating or not.  I love using their product so much that the decision was simple.  And there was no scary application process.

So here's my question(s) for you, my readers: Have you ever applied for a design team?  Do you have any tips for me to get over my chicken-ness?

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!