Take Flight Layout

One of the biggest challenges I get are the kits we get for the scrapbook challenge at the Salem, OR Craft Warehouse scrapbook club.  Why you might ask?  Well, you are given a handful of product to create a layout with.  You must use a portion of each item somehow on the layout.  For me the challenge isn't so much using a piece of everything, but more of how to make the most of the little bit we've been given. 

For August's challenge my kit contained a 12 x 12 piece of lime green cardstock, a 6 x 12, 4 x 6 & a thin strip of patterened paper from Echo Park's Eclectic line, some bakers twine and a paper clip with a bow on it. 

Fortunately a portion of the paper had hot air balloons on it and I imediately knew I wanted to create a layout using a photo of a hot air balloon that I had taken from my backyard. 

Here's what I came up with.

I added the pink and orange & white cardstock, the transparency, the thickers, and two additional colors of baker's twine.  The paper clip is holding the white piece of cardstock that has the journaling tucked in the pocket. And I used the baker's twine on a few of the balloons that I fussy cut from the paper.

 

 

 
Thanks for looking ~ Michelle ~

Sweet Baby Layout

 

Just got back from a short vacation and wanted to share a layout.  This is another layout created for the scrapclub challenge at Craft Warehouse. 

 

 

I fussy cut the butterflies and flowers from a piece of the paper we were provided.  I make it a point to try different techniques on these layouts. For this one I used pliers to cut the large brad in half and cut the flower in half so I was able to use it in two spots for the title.   The brad did not cut as easily as I was hoping but I do like the look I got with using the halves.

 

Thanks for looking, Michelle

Die Cut Heart Mobile

I got a cricut not too long ago and wanted to share one of the projects I created with it.  I had seen a cute mobile at a Saturday Market and had been wanting to make one of my own for awhile so that was one of my first projects.

I used the inside of a hoop ring for the top and white thread is criss crossed across the ring to allow me to hang strands around the inside and outside.  For the hearts I used my cricut to cut the shapes and I love that with a press of a button you can flip and cut the mirror image.  Then I cut lengths of thread and attached two hearts back to back at several points on the thread.  Attach each strand to the hoop or a piece of thread in the middle until you get the desired look.  Then I covered the hoop with ribbon. 

This is one of my favorite projects and will definately be making another one soon.

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle ~

Dada's Girl Layout

Here's a layout I made using Graphic 45's Little Darling line.  I received the cardstock and paper as part of a scrapbook challange from the Salem, OR Craft Warehouse scrap club.  The only requirement is that you have to use a portion of each piece of paper or embellishment provided.

I added ribbon, flowers, brads and the foam and chipboard alphabet stickers to complete this layout of my oldest and my husband.

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle ~

Blissful Day Card

Today I wanted to share a card that I made awhile back using Authentique's Carefree line.  I fussy cut the butterfies and flower from the patterned paper.  I used staples on the butterflies bodies.  To create the paper coils, cut thin strips of paper and wrap around something thin and round. 

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle ~

Craft Warehouse Announces 2012 - 2013 Guest Design Team

Craft Warehouse announced their 2012 - 2013 guest design team this week.  I'm excited to be able to continue working with Craft Warehouse this year.

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle ~

Craft Warehouse DT Assignment 6

Well with this post I'm sharing the last 3 projects for the 2011 Craft Warehouse Design Team.  What a great experience this has been, I'm so glad that I got to be a part of it. 

We were given three very different assignments, the first was to create an altered canvas featuring a set of 4" alphabet stamps provided.  Here's what I came up with.

We were asked to use the a canvas flower and shapes, the burlap ribbon and shapes, a clothes pin, Tim Holtz distress stain and restist paper.  My first step was using the distress stain on the resist paper, I chose one with butterflies and dragonflies on it.  Once it was dry I fussy cut the ones I wanted to use.  The distress stain I received was aged mahogany, a brick red color.  I used this for my inspiration for color for the project.  I stamped the word hope with the stamps and a combination of red, white and black paint to create a marbled look with the letters.  I then used the same paint combo and distressed the edges of the black canvas flower to create a little pop.  The shapes I received were pennants which I used as accents under the flower.  I wanted to do something different with the clothes pin so I decided to take it apart and just use it as an accent. 

The next part of the assignment was a Disney themed layout.  Each DT member received 1 of 3 possible themes, Mickey/Disney, Winnie the Pooh or Princess.  I was so excited to receive the princess line as I have two little girls who are very into princess's right now. 

I actually had the girls dress up and have a tea party to get these photos.  I wanted to show a way to use the actually princess's that were printed on the paper I received.  There are often times I see cute papers like these and think how would you use that?  So I fussy cut around the two princess, leaving some of the background to use as part of the embellishements. 

We were given washi tape to use in someway on the layout, I covered squares of patterned paper with the washi tape and create the little rosettes to add dimension to the rosettes on the paper by Sleeping Beauty. 

We were also given baker's twine to use.   For this I took a pop dot and coiled teh baker's twine around it to create a one of a kind embellishment.  It's a fun way to use baker's twine and would make for a great candy or lollypop too.

The final part of the assignment was to create anything we wanted with the mini Echo Park kit we received.  I got the 4th of July kit and thought it would be fun to create a wreath.

I really loved how this turned out.  I cut strips of the patterned paper and die cut them with the Tim Holtz rosette dies, large, medium and small.  Then I just layered them on a base that I cut from chipboard.  The stars and banner were all stickers that came with the kit.  I love the look and will definately be making another one of these soon. 

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle ~

Tutorials for Craft Warehouse

I haven't posted any tutorials on my personal blog yet but I've done several for Craft Warehouse.  Today I wanted to share a few so you can check them out if you'd like.

 First up is my tutorial for a shadow box card, this fun card is simple to make and uses transparencies. 

Next up is a spring banner I made using chipboard shapes and Echo Park's This & That 6 x 6 paper pad.  I love this paper and a banner with small shapes is a great way to use the 6 x 6 paper.

 For my most recent tutorial we were given Basic Gray flags to use in someway.  I ended up making these corner bookmarks and creating a pinwheel with some of the flags.  I hope you enjoy checking out my tutorials.  I'll try to post some here on my personal blog soon.

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle ~

Craft Warehouse DT Assignment 5 (continued)

For the third part of our assignment we were asked to alter either a journal or a box with note paper.  I ended up altering the box.  for this assignment I used the stencil required and the wood vaneer embellishments. 

I placed the stencil on the front of the box and applied black ink over the portion I was using with a sponge.  I then used the sponge to distress all the edges with the black ink as well.  Then I simply layered some paper and a sentiment.  I fussy cut the scallop & view finder from the pattern paper.  I added a couple stickers from the collection and a few wood vaneer stars that I covered with black ink.

Next I covered the sides and back with the red and white polka dot paper to add a little color.

I finished the inside of the box lid with more red and white paper and the fun paper that the alphabet listed several times including sign language.  I thought this was a nice fit for a box that holds note paper.  The arrows are different color stickers from the set that I covered with black ink.

My final step was embellishing the top sheet of paper.  I added a small strip of patterned paper, and a house shaped wood vaneer piece, again covered with black ink. 

That's it for now.  Thanks for looking ~ Michelle ~

Craft Warehouse DT Assignment 5

Our 5th design team assigment for Craft Warehouse was using Echo Parks Note To Self line.  Now, this is not a line that I would likely buy, but I loved playing with this paper. 

The first layout we were required to use the view finder paper in some way, a vinyl rub on and the wood vaneer shapes.  I originally thought to make a flower out of the view finders but ended up in a different direction and just layered them with other papers.  I chose the blue card stock for the base because it added some color and made everything else stand out.  The key is the vinyl rub on that I placed on a sticker and attached with a pop up adhesive.  I also used pop up adhesive on part of the journaling, I actually messed up on one of the words and tada a happy accident.  

I had some pictures from a trip to the coast that I would work nicely with this line.  So for the second layout I really wanted to create the look of waves and the beach with the paper.  One of the patterns was a corkboard so I used that for the sand and layered the blue waves above it.  I traced a small plate on a scratch piece of paper to get the pattern for the wave.  I created a fringed sun using one of the view finder pieces and spraying with glimmer mist.  The flowers are stickers but I adhered with pop up adhesive.  For the title area I tried to include a variety of pieces so I took the sticker that said "together time" and cut it in half so I could rearange the words.  And I wanted to incorporate the piece that listed the month and date on it so I placed it right below the title. 

The center photo is a pocket with a sentiment tucked in it. 

Be sure to check back soon for the third part of this assignment.

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle ~