Happy Together + Cut File Tutorial

Hello everyone.  Heather Leopard is here today with a layout using the new Graphic Chevron Background 2.  I love a great background cut file and this one did not disappoint.

I modified this file just slightly by removing 5 of the graphic chevrons - 2 were completely removed and 3 were replaced with a cut out for the photos.

 To get the perfect fit, I printed my photos so that the parts I wanted would show through.  Then I placed them under the cardstock and moved them around until I liked where they were.  Then I placed the piece that was cut out over the photo.  Then...

I pulled the photo with the cut out piece and cut around it, leaving ~1/4" border to add my liquid adhesive. That allowed me to get the perfect placement.

I added pattern paper to the back side of the cardstock in a very random order, filling some diamond chevron shapes completely while leaving so many others blank. I added my photos as well before adhering it all to a 2nd white cardstock background. I added my title and just a few embellishments to complete the layout.

Get this cut file here - Graphic Chevron Background 2

Recipe for a Scrapbooking Layout

Hello, my friends.  The Pebbles team is documenting favorite recipes on the blog and since I like to be a bit "different", I thought I'd do a bit of a twist on the recipe projects.  All of my family recipes are tucked away in my recipe box so instead of scrapbooking a favorite recipe, I decided to create a recipe to share with you.  A recipe you can use in your every day scrapbooking...

Recipe for a Scrapbooking Layout

This recipe contains all the ingredients I use most often when creating a layout.  Feel free to right click the recipe image below to save a copy to your PC.  This recipe contains:

• Select the perfect cut of photos. I usually use 1 photo but today I mixed 4 photos layered together to make one.
• Blend together 5 coordinating pattern papers
• Add a dash of machine or hand stitching
• Garnish with embellishments (die cuts, wood veneer, cardstock/acetate shapes, chipboard, etc.) to create lots of layers
• Add a dollop of alphas for a title
• Complete the layout with journaling

I used the recipe above to create this scrapbooking layout today. I hope you enjoy it and use it as a guide for your scrapbooking needs.

Select the perfect cut of photos

I usually only use 1 - 2 photos on a page but because I know many Pebbles fans love to use multiple photos on a page, I thought I'd mix the two styles so that I could include multiple photos but only taking up the space of one.  To do this, I used my Fuse tool to create a waterfall photo flip.  I simply printed photos in different sizes and used the fuse tool to make protectors sized to the photo.

  I layered the photos over each other so that each of my children's faces and their word would show, with the last photo only revealing a photo of my husband and I and the last word of the sentence, which also serves as the main title.

 

Blend together 5 coordinating pattern papers

Next, I wanted to create a background of leaves but I also wanted to add some contrasting color so I trimmed my first pattern paper to 10"x12" and added a small border using my 2nd pattern paper to the left side. For the right side, I combined those two patterns used on the left with 2 additional pattern papers, overlapping them together to make a larger border on that side.

Add a dash of machine or hand stitching

No layout of mine would be complete without stitching.  For this layout, I stitched the seams of each border, leaving room to lift the paper just a bit.

Garnish with embellishments to create lots of layers

I used a combination of hand cut and die cuts leaves as well as wood veneer to add layers around my photo as well as to create the triangle visual design pattern around the page.

Add a dollop of alphas for a title and complete the layout with journaling

I'll admit, I almost never have a title in mind when I start creating.  I wouldn't recommend this but it's what I do and almost always work out.  Journaling is a key component to a layout that you really shouldn't go without.  Although you may remember the story as you are creating it, you probably won't remember those details years or decades from now and those who are looking at the pages in your album certainly won't remember it or may not have even been a part of the story so please, please add an ounce or two of journling, even if it's just the who, when and where. You can add journaling directly to the layout in various ways or you can add hidden journaling on the front or back of the page.  You don't always see it on the layouts I show online but I always add it. Sometimes I like to keep those details private and add them to the layout after photos are taken. So, while this recipe for a scrapbooking layout is not an official Pebbles challenge, I'd love to see your take on it. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram (@heatherleopard)

Supplies: Warm & Cozy Tweed Pattern Paper Warm & Cozy Afternoon Naps Pattern Paper Warm & Cozy Fall Day Pattern Paper Warm & Cozy Breezy Pattern Paper Warm & Cozy Fall Botanical Pattern Paper Warm & Cozy Ephemera Die-cuts Warm & Cozy Leaves Chipboard

DIY Fall Candle Wrap Decor

Hello everyone. Fall is upon us and I'm enjoying decorating my house with all the gorgeous autumn colors.  This project was recently featured on the Pebbles blog. The Pebbles Woodland Forest collection is the right mix of everything you need for a little fall ambiance, like this Fall Candle Wrap home decor.

Once I had all my supplies, I was able to complete this project in under an hour.

Using your favorite die cut machine, cut leaves in various shapes and sizes using your favorite colors. Select the leaves you want to use on your candles and set them aside. Select a few cardstock shapes for additional candle decor.

Spread the remaining leaves on the plate. You may adhere the leaves together to prevent them from moving around.

Cut a strip of burlap approximately 2" high. Make sure to cut it long enough to wrap around the candle. Adhere to the back of your candle using Sticky Thumb sticky dots.

Add the leaves and cardstock shapes you set aside to the front of the candles. I used sticky dots to adhere these. Repeat for all your candles.

Display in your home or office and enjoy a little bit of the outdoors wherever you are.

Supplies:
Woodland Forest Stitched Floral pattern paper (733429)
Woodland Forest Apple Cider pattern paper (733430)
Woodland Forest Leaf Toss pattern paper (733426)
Woodland Forest Fall Florals pattern paper (733434)
Woodland Forest Pears pattern paper (733428)
Woodland Forest Printed Cardstock Shapes (733437)
Sticky Thumb sticky dots (340274)

Hello, You!

Hi everyone.  I have a new Pattern Play that's being featured on the Gossamer Blue blog today and it's one of my recent favorites.

For this Pattern Play, I'm revisiting the concept of repetition.

I absolutely love the Pink Paislee / Paige Evans bows in this month's kit.  I was trying to think of how I could use them on a page and was desperately wishing I had 27 of them.  I wasn't sure how I'd use them yet so I starting looking through the pattern papers and noticed the gorgeous ombre one and of course since it was from the same collection, it had all the colors of the bows. After a little thought, I decided I align the bows on the layout and fill in the remaining area with hand stitched bows, coordinating my embroidery floss with the pattern paper.

I knew hand stitching in great detail would take longer than I wanted so chose to use full bow length stitching, which saved lots of time and I think it helps match the bows a little better.

Next I added my photo, backing it with frames and flowers and a small tag title.  Then I tucked a little journaling tag under the photo.

Normally I would add additional embellishments on the opposite side of the page somewhere and maybe even a large title but I think these bows deserve to stand on their own.  As my daughter said to me when she saw it, "I don't like it. I LOVE IT!" and I hope you do too.

Hello Sweet Girl

Hello, my friends. I am sooo in love with the new Crate Paper Cute Girl collection.

I have this photo of my precious littlest girl playing dress up with a bouquet of flowers, mostly white dress and a veil so I was quite inspired to keep a lot of white for this particular layout.


I used white cardstock to cut a white wreath of flowers using the JustNick Studio Floral Wreath cut file and a white doily, from the Nana's Doily Background cut file.


I added a pop of color with the embellishments around the wreath. I used a mix of cut file alphas and an embellishment to create my title, cutting the word "sweet" out white cardstock, using the Simple Set Alphabet cut file from JustNick Studio.

2nd Day of 2nd Grade + Free Cut File

I take a first day of school as well as a ____ day of ___ grade photo each year.  Just a little something I do that's totally unnecessary but I think it will be fun to look back on when they are older.


I wanted to create something that totally and completely makes you think of school and apples for the teacher is one of those things.  I decided to create an apple background.  At first I was thinking of cutting hearts to make the apples but I wanted a more quilt-like look so I drew circles in my Silhouette software and then cut them in half. Now the circles  come together to make 4 apples as a background.

You can download the cut file HERE.

Cut all the shapes out and adhere with light adhesive, then stitch away. Although it may look like I stitched each individual piece down, I stitched straight across all patterns. This helped speed things WAY up!


Once stitching was complete, I added my photo, embellishments and journaling around the apples.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Don't forget, you can download the Silhouette cut file HERE.