make it HAPPEN - The Crafter's Workshop January

Hi there everyone!  Last week on The Crafter's Workshop I shared a fun & different way to use your stencils.  It was definitely a labor of love, but therapeutic and I love the end result!

*The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own.*

Using the ‘Wagon Wheel’ stencil and white cardstock , I traced the negative spaces, taping my stencil and paper to my board.  I didn’t trace every part of it, leaving some areas that would just be white space.  I think doing this makes it unique and the graphic more dynamic!

Then using my X-acto blade, I cut out the lines I traced.  I used a metal ruler for the straight lines and just cut the curves free hand.

This technique is a great way to use scraps and 6×6 paper pads.  I chose a variety of patterns and colors,  knowing that my photo would pop on a piece of black patterned paper.

I used a couple of the cut out pieces for a loose template and washi tape on the back side to hold the papers in place.  I left a few of the small spaces blank, since I put another black cardstock behind my pieced background.  The additional cardstock secured all the paper pieces and I stitched some of it with my sewing machine.

I added my photo with dimensional adhesive and clustered a few embellishments and tags around my photo.  Actually, all the embellishments I used were out on my desk, but found a home on this layout!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Enjoy your afternoon.  

You can follow the link below to the stencils I used:

STENCIL Used:

TCW571 – 12×12 Doodling Template – Wagon Wheel

2015 - Scrapbook Circle January Product Challenge

Hi there!  Happy weekend to everyone!
Just wanted to share quickly this LO I did for the Scrapbook Circle trend challenge inspired by the "Sweet Life" calendar paper by Maggie Holmes.  Perfect opportunity for a birthday page!  I used the January "Fresh Start" main kit and the "Shine Bright" Add-on.

I decided to use almost the entire paper, adding a border at the right side of red patterned paper.  I knew I wanted to add some photos from my son's birthday and since they are all candid or action photos, they could be small.  I used several of the Fancy Pants ephemera die cuts pack to layer underneath each picture.

I added these large vellum numbers from Studio Calico across the center of the background.  I love the vellum and chose colors to contrast the red and greys.  Finally, I stitched thru several strips of the vellum and other framed bits, mostly to secure everything in place.

Since it is still January, I think months and the "year in review" pages are still very much appropriate!

Thanks for stopping by today!

The Crafter's Workshop - One Stencil, Big Impact

Hi there!  I made this page several weeks ago for my post at The Crafter's Workshop.  It was done before our Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S. and with the feeling of gratitude in the air, I made this quick page using only one large stencil.  I love using lots of layers, different media and over embellishing, but wanted this page to be about the story.

I used the stencil below in 12×12, but there is also a 6×6 one.  I thought this stencil would be great to bring focus to the photo in the middle and to be able to use the lines as a loose guide for my journaling.

I started with just a plain piece of white cardstock and some gold mist.

I chose the gold because it looked great with the photo and also to symbolize my children being the treasure in my life.  Cheesy, maybe…but true!

After the mist dried I trimmed my photo.  I had actually created it in the shape of a circle using Photoshop which helped me trim it more carefully.

I also added this glitter word phrase sticker, stitching it down to secure it in alignment of the curve of the stencil.

I loosely planned out the length of my journaling, so I would know how small to write, adjusting at the end of each line.  It worked out pretty perfectly.

I added some lime green thread that was sitting on my desk in a messy ball under the photo before adhering it down.  The color matched the sea oats in the photo and I can’t help using something that is just sitting around waiting for the ideal place to be used!

Sometimes one stencil can make a big impact and help give an important story an awesome background!  Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

You can follow the links below to the stencils I used.

STENCILS Used:

TCW553 – 12×12 Stone Rings

One Little Word 2016

Happy New Year to all of you!  I wanted to share my latest art journal page, documenting my ‘One Little Word’ for 2016 and using 5 different 6×6 stencils from The Crafter's Workshop.

These are the stencils I used below, after starting my background spread with several layers of watered down ink and Distress Ink.

Grey acrylic paint and dark teal circles applied with my fingers made a place for highlighting other stencils.

I used white modeling paste with this Mini Receipt stencil, but since the paint was still a little damp, it blended into more of the background. 

 Next, I added a dark contrasting mist and the 6×6 Repeating Pods.

 I added 2 different shades of light blue/turquoise acrylic around the edges and other areas in between the other stenciled areas. 

 Using similar colors of watercolors crayons, I added more depth to the existing background colors and over patterns in the stencils.

Finally, I added the number ‘1’ and the word ‘ONE’ with white StazOn Opaque ink. 

 I also used another modeling paste in ivory opalescent with some of the small circular stencils on top of the acrylic paint circles.

 Adding journaling phrases, a stamp and lots of white pen and ink doodling finished off my spread.

I wish you all an amazing day and thanks for stopping by the Blog today!

You can follow the links below to the stencils I used:

STENCILS Used:

TCW587s – 6×6 Doodling Template – Mini Receipt

TCW547s – 6×6 Doodling Template – Mini Repeating Pods

TCW502s – 6×6 Doodling Template – Mini Impressions

TCW555s – 6×6 Doodling Template – Art Deco Alphabet

TCW556s – 6×6 Doodling Template – Mini Art Deco Numbers and More

& ALWAYS shine - Scrapbook Circle January DT Choice

Happy New Year!  This is my Designer's Choice LO using the Scrapbook Circle January kit perfectly named 'Fresh Start' and the 'Shine Bright' Add-on

I love starting a New Year, making resolutions and committing myself to new goals and setting standards for a new ambition!  Although this photo is a general, albeit sweet, photo of my brown eyed girls, it makes me think about the 5 years that Lola has been with us.  Time seems to fly by and I want to make sure I get as many moments documented as possible.

I took the Scrapbook Circle exclusive acrylic word die and rubbed several different inks on it…I wanted to tone it down just a touch from the bright yellow.  I wanted to use it on this page and would be using the more muted reds, almost pinks, so I rubbed it with a couple darker coral and teal chalk inks.  It was a perfect way to mute the color and still tie in the die cuts.

I used several different colors of Distress Ink to add some color to the background, in a loose watercolor wash.

I love the origami bird die cuts and although I wanted to use them all, I just used this one, next to my title…

Thanks for stopping by the Blog today!