Meet the Teacher

Here's this week's Nuts About Sketches Layout.  I really wanted to capture the Kindergarten/Teacher stereotype in this layout so I found a way to incorporate "Apples for the Teacher" and Rheagan's handwriting.

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I made some scrap candy out of k.i.memories apple dashing lace cardstock.  I cut it out and strategically determined where I wanted it on the layout.  Once I knew where I wanted to place them, I made the candy.  Check out last Friday's Funky, Fresh post to see how I made the candy out of Liquid Glass and crushed velvet flock.

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The 2nd thing I did was make a file folder out of paper that looked like it was lined for handwriting (Imaginisce "(No) Passing Notes" and Paper Studio "Rulers"). As I was looking for the perfect alphas to make the title I realized it would be great to feature my daughter's actual handwriting. In addition to giving journaling a more personal touch, we always talk about preserving our handwriting for future generations to see. I think this is a great way to preserve our kids' handwriting. I LOVE how this turned out - so imperfectly perfect! Not only does it make THE perfect font for this page but now I have her handwriting preserved on a layout (in addition to all her school papers we've been collecting).

For the journalling I used CTMH Comments acrylic stamp set to have it look like ruled paper. I folded and stitched the ribbon on the layout (DCWV Adhesive Ribbon). I do have to say that stiching on adhesive ribbon is very difficult because it makes the needle gooey and my thread broke several times.  I advise against it.

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Liquid Glass/Velvet Flock - Funky Fresh Friday

Today's Funky Fresh post is going to feature a couple of ideas I'm using on next Monday's Nuts About Sketches layout. It's all about making items on your layout standout. There are a lot of ways to do this but today I'll focus on 2 types of what I am calling scrap candy.

First, I used CTMH Liquid Glass to give a few of the elements a raised, shiny, epoxy-like look and feel. Here's how I did it.

     Step 1. I cut the apples from k.i. memories Lace Cardstock called apples dashing. I applied them to my layout first since they were so dainty.  I just didn't want then to curl while the Liquid Glass was drying. Be careful not to get the LG on the cardstock though.

     Step 2. Apply LG as thin or thick as you'd like.  Although LG takes a while to dry, it will gel up pretty fast so make sure to apply it evenly all at once. It's very difficult to go back in to fill in spots once it starts to gel.

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Step 3. The LG may appear cloudy as you apply it (see below) but rest assured it will dry clear. Set it aside to dry. Drying time will vary according to the amount of LG you applied, ranging from 15 minutes to one hour.

Secondly, I wanted to make the stems and leaves for the apples I didn't apply LG to stand out. For this I used Doodlebug Design's Crushed Velvet Flock.

     Step 1. You can use any adhesive as the base to glue the flock to.  The white leaf below is the glue waiting to get flocked with green.

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Step 2. Apply Flock by pouring it over the glue.  If you are flocking multiple colors make sure to let the other flocking dry before you apply the 2nd color.

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     Step 3. Set aside to dry. Tap off excess flock.

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And here's one I applied both Liquid Glass and Flock.  Check back Monday when I post the Nuts About Sketches DT layout to see how I used them in my layout.

If you try this yourself, please post a link so I can see what you did!

Masking - Funky Fresh Friday Fun!

I know it's Tuesday but I wanted to announce that I am starting a weekly series of tips, tricks, techniques, projects and anything that might fit into the Funky Fresh Friday theme!  To give you a taste of what you might expect to see on Funky Fresh Fridays, I'm going to show you the Masking Technique.  I was working on my Nuts About Sketches DT layout and none of my papers were doing it for me.  I walked away for a bit and then it hit me, what I needed to do.  I wanted to emulate the horses from my daughter's shirt and tights but I didn't want to use matchy matchy paper, which I'm sure I never would have found anyway.  I went to the Internet and found the Gymboree line of clothes she was wearing and was able to find an image of the horse.  I'm sure I could have just copied it from her shirt, too. 

Step 1. I made it the size I wanted and then cut out several copies.

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Step 2. I adhered them to the paper with just enough adhesive so it would stick down but not rip my paper when I pulled it off.  This is important.  Otherwise, the paper will curl up when it gets moist and it may smear. This is not as critical if you are using chipboard or something that isn't likely to curl. Another tip is to make sure you have any areas you want masked off all masked off before you spray; otherwise you WILL get mist in that area.  You'll notice below I cut out enough horses to line across the top of one page. Don't try to cover an area with something other than the mask design because it WILL show (I know first hand). For instance, if you cover that area with a sheet of paper, you  will see a line when you attempt to spray in that area.

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Step 3. I like to use a Mister with a CTMH re-inker / water mix or Glimmer Mist but you could also use ink, paint, glue/glitter, all sorts of things. The re-inker combo is cool (and fun) because you can mix it to whatever shade of color you desire and you can even add some gimmer powder to it to give it added shine.  I hold it approximately 4 - 5 inches above the area and spray until I feel it's covered. I do not attempt to even the color out. Thinner paper tends to wrinkle a little so I try to keep it from getting too wet. Sorry, no picture.

Step 4. Let dry and remove the masked image. Use a adhesive remover if necessary. Voila! Here is the final result.

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Here is the Nuts About Sketches sketch and the layout. If you look close you will notice that I used the masked images in the layout. They were already misted so it just made sense to incorporate them in the layout. I also included a larger horse as part of the title.

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Not only did I achieve the look I wanted of the pink horse on brown background but I added a really cool texture to the paper with all the residual spray. 

Let me know if you have any additional masking tips and if you try this at home, I want to see how it turns out for you.

Check back Friday for more Funky Fresh ideas!

So Much To Do ...

and so little time!  I have all these projects and photos to scrap and all these ideas in my head that I just can't wait to get out.  Sure, work and family keep me busy but I always reserve time every night to sit down at my scrappin' desk.  Now that I have it all organized I'm itching to whip up all these projects.  The problem is time because I need more than 24 hours in a day but since I can't change that I have to figure out how to whittle down my project list.  I seem to do better when I have a deadline and someone else is counting on me so I'm thinking about venturing out and submitting for another Design Team (if they'll have me).  I am specifically going to search out one that offers a monthly kit or goodies to play with.  I am thoroughly enjoying using up the hundreds of papers and embellies I have in my stash but I just ordered a kit from Noel Mignon (see kit below) and it was like Christmas when I opened it.  I loved the feeling of uncertainty and all the oohs and ahhs I was saying.  I would love to have that every month!  So I guess I'm off to find a new DT call.  And tonight I'll be finishing up some layouts I have in progress because I am dying to play with this new kit.

Noel Mignon Playdate Kit

What in the World

have I been up to?  I haven't posted in over a month but that doesn't mean I haven't been scrappin'.  Let's see, since my last post I headed to the West Coast for a business trip, then to the East Coast for a mini vacation to Disney World, I went on a scrapbooking weekend getawat, then I've dealt with the added stress of trying to sell our house, launch 3 huge projects at work and a very sick grandma and last but NEVER, ever least is quality time with my family.  So now that I've explained my posting absence, here's a couple of projects I've been working on.  I have more that I will post soon (once I take pictures of them).

Nuts About Sketches - Week 105 Sketch & Layout

The picture does not do this layout justice.  I handstamped the butterflies to look like the one painted on Rheagan's face.  First I stamped it in Bubblegum Pink, then I inked the outer edge of the stamp in Amethyst Purple and then I went back and added White Daisy in to the middle.  After that was dry I added bling on the body of the butterflies to represent the glitter on the butterflies.  Lastly, I hand drew and hand embroidered the antennaes and flying path.  I am confident that I will go back and sew along the edges of the tilted paper and when I do I will post the results.

Sweet Cheeks 

This is based on a PageMaps sketch from January 2010.  This was a random "moment" photo I took of Daddy & Reese.  I ripped the edges of the black paper.  I handcut the felt strip (as you can tell).  I made a small flower that I used as a guide to cut out each of the flowers, by hand.  I then needed to find a frame for the bottom photo.  Nothing I found fit or looked right so what did I do?  If you read one of my posts below, then you should know what I did ... I made one myself.  I drew the frame, cut it, stamped it, inked it and popped it up above the photo.  I really like how this one turned out.  

 

As I said above, I have a couple more layouts to post so check back later this week.  And come back again next Monday to see the next Nuts About Sketches sketch.  Here's a teaser for it.

New Picture Perfect Page

Here's this week's Nuts About Sketches sketch. 

And here's my take on it.  This was taken at night inside so I will take another one as well as some close-ups outside later this week.

I found the filmstrip image online and using Adobe Illustrator I was able to turn it into a SVG cutting file, which I cut on my Craft ROBO.  I have to admit, I was pretty proud of myself!  I then handstamped the tickets using Close To My Heart "Just the Ticket" Acrylic stamp, handcut the scallop-like border using a small part of an embellishment I had and then added a tiny bit of bling to each scallop. I distressed the edges of everything in "blush" or "black ink to make it all pop. The pink ticket and flowers are popped for added dimension.

Check out the Nuts About Sketches blog at http://nutsaboutsketches.blogspot.com/ and join the message board at http://nutsaboutsketches.ning.com/.

When I Can't Find It ...

I make it!  I think I am discovering why it sometimes takes me a while to complete a layout.  I am obsessed with perfection.  You would think it's a strength but I think it may be a curse.  I have incomplete layouts from a year ago (at least) because I can't find the perfect elements for the title or I need a specific embellishment or some other excuse.  I don't think I'm exagerating.  Well when it comes to the perfect paper, that is not an issue.  I love making my own patterned paper. 

Need paper with a particular theme and the stores are closed or what they have in the stores is the wrong color or not my style?  No problem, I pull out my acrylic stamps and inks and make it myself.   This one sample looks a little busy in this pic but it looks great IRL.  I stamped the "ZOO" background paper and journaling cover.  This is an old sample from probably 2 years ago.  My style has changed but it's one of my more detailed samples. Also,check out the pink and green cardstock in my "3 weeks" page. I wanted a tone on tone effect so I handstamped a similar color on the papers.

Need paper with stripes?  No problem, I'll score some colored with white core cardstock, sand the ridges and voila, I have stripes. 

Need to add slight dimension to plain background cardstock?  I'll distress the edges with ink.  See the "Cutie Patootie" layout in an earlier post.  Or I'll give it some texture with my rubber brayer and a little ink.  See the green cardstock in the "Everything Grows Better With Love" layout posted in February. I handstamped the blue cardstock too. 

I could go on and on and on but I'll spare you the details. 

Of course I do this with my embellies as well by adding liquid glass to boring embellies, stamping on ribbon, applying rub-ons to buttons, stamping Staz-on on just about anything, painting metal embellies, etc.  Again, I could go on and on. Here's a button I stamped a date on and another button I added a white rub-on flower to.

My point is ... when I can't find it I usually attempt to make it, which leads to longer time it takes to finish a layout.  I think I am okay with that.  Then again, I look at all the photos I have on file and wonder when I will ever get it all done.  I'm out to prove I can do it with this blog and the online challenges I have joined.

I read a great line the other day. It said "Anything worth doing is worth OVERDOING." Sounds like a good motto for me.

It's Sketchy Thursday

time!!!  It's been a 2 weeks since I've submitted a Sketchy Thursday layout but I still have the sketches and will be doing them on my weekend crop in April.  Anywho, here's this week's sketch and my take on it. 

This sketch was so fun.  I hand cut the little colored bears to match the ones in Reese's shirt and then used eyelets for eyes and brads for the nose.  I haven't used eyelets in years I think.  Can you tell that the pink nose is not a brad?  I didn't have one so I cut a circle in the right shade of pink and applied liquid glass to it to get it a slight shine.  I'll replace it if I ever get another pink brad.  I also highlighted the lemon wedge journal by outlining it with buttons.  Lastly, I sewed green felt and handcut/sewed the lemon wedges to the layout.  Oh and I found "Lemon" font that I cut out with my Craft ROBO for the title.  I really love how this one turned out.

My First Design Team sketch layout is posted on

Nuts About Sketches.  Here's the sketch and my take on it.  I'm never one to take a sketch and do an exact, literal layout of it.  Instead I consider it a recipe guide.  When I cook at home using a recipe I inevitably add a little more of this and that or substitute one thing for another, either because I don't have it or because it fits my tastebuds better.  On my layout I substituted paper strips for the torn paper effect and the flow of my photos didn't work with the way the sketch had them laid out so I flipped the sketch.  Then I added an assortment of buttons, metals, brads and clear shapes to tie it all together.  I created my title in Illustrator and cut it with my Craft ROBO, which I have a renewed love for again.  My favorite parts are the 4 clear stars I stapled to the layout, 2 of which highlight the stars that are the same color as the Astros star logo AND the clear buttons that I applied white rub-ons to.  I must say that I might change out the journal circle and make it look like a baseball.  That's the one thing that's driving me nuts.

Supplies:
Paper - from JoAnns, will get manufacturer names
CTMH Buttons
Heidi Swapp Corduroy Buttons
CTMH Clear Acrylic Shapes
CTMH Circle Metal Accents
k.i. memories baseball ribbon
CTMH Tulip Ink daubed on all paper pieces
Misc Embroidery Thread
Title - cut on my Craft ROBO

Check out the other DT layouts at the Nuts About Sketches blog AND Join the Message Board and tell them I sent ya!