Young Love

As part of the BasicGrey Fresh Cut class I'm teaching we decided to include a couple of layout samples/instruction sheets for class participants. It gives me a way to highlight a different style using the same paper and makes sure that I put it all to good use. 

I do love me some crumpled and sewn paper, throw in some fussy cutting and I am a happy lady! Probably what I love most about this style of layout is that it looks soooo intense but crumpling and tearing are such fast techniques that I did this layout in under an hour - including that fussy cutting!

Supplies:

BasicGrey FreshCut paper and waterfall packs

Stash buttons and feathers

Sewing machine, thread

Worn Lipstick Distress Ink

WRMK pink/white twine

Love them so Much

Today’s How To'sday project at ScrapbookSteals is probably one of my favorite ways to use those leftover sticker sheets hiding out in my stash. You know you have them too, the ones where you have used so many letters that you can’t spell much of anything. Anyway, it's a really good way to stretch my stash a little farther.

I start by picking a random scrap of paper and randomly place letters on it. Try to resist the urge to put all the letters within the edges of the scrap, let some of them hang off those edges. Apply some at odd angles. You really want them to be random. Once you’re satisfied, trim letters that are handing over the edge.

Paint over the letters and allow to dry. For this project I used Tim Holtz DistressPaint Daubers but virtually any thin coat of paint will do.

While the scrap was drying I painted the sticker sheet as well, keeping the color uneven and away from the very edges. You should probably let those dry also.

The next step will vary a bit, I used my Silhouette Cameo to die cut a couple of hearts. You could free hand a shape or use some other die cutting system. I cut my hearts in three sizes.

I just love the texture that the letters bring to this sort of die cutting. 

 And a few more close-ups for your viewing pleasure.

The layout itself was based on the Melodee's Iolite 3 sketch. 

Most of the products came from my scrap bin, but MME Kraft Funday is the majority of it. The letter sheet is from BasicGrey Origins. 

Scrap Your Story - mixed alphas

Why is it that when someone wants you to use a technique suddenly coming up with it is rough? I use mixed alphas is titles on a regular basis, but when I sat down to work on this week's Scrap Your Story challenge all I could come up with was one word titles? Yeah, I'm a mess. But I made it work after checking out a friend's challenge blog - more on that in a minute. 

So for Scrap Your Story this week we want to see at least two fonts used on your layout - titles, journaling, random words as embellishments, it doesn't matter as long as they're there. 

Remember I said I got outside inspiration? I went to the Scrappy Friends challenge and Rochelle had posted some word art to use on a page somehow. I picked one tiny section of the text but I think it sort of sums up the point of the word art!

For the other Scrappy Friends:

Kerys: recipe using stars, layering and stamping (the doily/flourishy thing on the star)

Brenda: sketch

Kristi B.: use logo from packaging (didn't manage to include that one but thought I'd include it in case you wanted to play!)

And here's a close up of that title. Isn't it fun? I just love how the boys are holding hands - Vance wanted to help Rylan on our walk home from the park. So cute. 

Most of the papers are BasicGrey PB&J, but there's also AC Amy Tangerine, Carta Bella Beautiful Moments, Cosmo Cricket Joy Ride, and EP This & That yellow cardstock. 

Sticky alphas come from American Crafts Thickers, BasicGrey PB&J, MME Lime Twist, and Jenni Bowlin. 

The word banners are Glitz Designs, then there are WRMK eyelets, MME washi, Ranger Distress Faded Jeans, MME twine with a WRMK Sew Easy sewing head, and 7Gypsies brads. 

I also used black thread for machine stitching. 

The arrow and heart are from the Kiwi Lane Sweetheart mini design templates, the flower, bracket, star, and tags are templates too. 

Some "me" me-time

Given, it's totally my own fault, but I haven't been doing any just for fun scrapping. I was just plain feeling down most of last week and spent what little time I did scrap trying to get ahead on my design team work. 

Monday I changed that! I scrapped just for me and managed to tie it into my two favorite challenges - The Paper Girls Challenge Blog and Scrapbooksteals MWM - Peridot 3 sketch.

The Paper Girls challenge was based on a color scheme - coral, navy, cream with yellows and greens. 

The green and floral papers are from Graphic 45's Fashionista.

The cream cardstock is American Crafts Classics.

Eyelets are WRMK.

Twine is from MME All is Bright and WRMK.

Black sewing machine thread.

The background was one big messy experiment on a piece of loose paper I'd been given at a local crop. I used one of my Studio Calico banner masks and finger applied modeling paste over the mask. Once dry I rubbed my Ranger Distress Faded Denim pad right over the top of it. The banners are most visible near the bottom though you can get some good hints of the original paper's print along the sides.

Sew not easy

Pillowcase dresses. You see them all the time in Pinterest with labels like so easy. So I decided to make one for myself. Not so easy.

In the end I decided that part of my problem was the fabric - to bulky to drape well over my bulky. imagine a mumu. but I did manage to cut it down to a shirt and it looks much cuter. For the $3 I spent on the fabric even if I just wear it once we can count it successful in my adventures in sewing on something other than paper!

Sunday, after attending the baby shower where I delivered my Rockin' Baby Book, a coworker and I went pattern shopping and she talked me through how to pick the fabric and such so here's hoping that project two comes out a tad better! Stay tuned. ;)