Thursday, June 30, 2011

Making Fancy Templates :)

Awhile back on the Fancy Pants blog I shared a technique of making your own templates. You may have seen it there, but if not...here it is:

Have you noticed how many super cute designs are on Fancy Pants’ papers? There are so many images that totally inspire me! Like this one:



This is one of the many awesome and adorable die-cuts that comes in the It’s The Little Things: Design Embellishments. See how cute that rainbow is? And how about the whole stamp design? I love them. I let this one die cut inspire my whole layout that I am sharing with you today. And along the way I am going to share some easy ways of making your own templates for paper-piecing or making your own die cut paper.
Fancy Pants Supplies:
It’s The Little Things: Four Birds patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Honeysuckle patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Cards patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Headed South patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Strips patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Humming Bird patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Pecking Order patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Bird Cage patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Spring Fever patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Design Embellishments

Other supplies:
adhesive
pen for journaling and outlining
floss for added stitches
printer/scanner for template technique
scissors


Instructions:
First I created my base for my layout using three pieces of patterned paper and my own template based off the die cut I shared with you above.

Here’s how I created my template for my own die cut paper. I took a picture of my die cut. You could also scan it. Then in my photo-editing program, I enlarge it to a size of 12 x 12. You don’t need to worry about the quality of the image because you are simply using it for a template. I made mine black and white to save my color ink. Most printers also have an option to print at a lesser quality. Now, if you have a 12 x 12 printer then you are one lucky gal and can just print it. I had to print it on 4 sheets of paper and then quickly piece it together to make mine 12 x 12.



Then I cut my template out and picked the paper I was going to use with it.


I laid my template over a sheet of It’s The Little Things: Honeysuckle patterned paper and drew with a pencil and then cut. If you are brave then you can just hold the two together and cut, skipping the pencil.

So I now had this:


I layered my handmade die cut paper on top of a 12 x 12 piece of It’s The Little Things: Four Birds patterned paper. **tip: when layering a piece of 12 x 12 paper behind everything, knowing all of the center will be covered, why not save your paper and cut the center out first.** Then I added a 9.75 x 9.5 piece of It’s The Little Things: Cards patterned paper.


Next I wanted to do some paper piecing on my layout. I loved the rainbow on die cut, so I again created a template with my earlier image. Take your scanned or photographed image and enlarge it to the size you want. Again, don’t worry about quality of time image because you are just going to use it as a template. I suggest printing a couple of your image, because you may cut into parts and it’s nice to have a back up.


I simply held my printed template over my paper and cut with scissors through both. My top was cut out of the It’s The Little Things: Humming Bird patterned paper. The next level was cut out of It’s The Little Things: Pecking Order patterned paper. And the bottom level was cut out of It’s The Little Things: Bird Cage patterned paper. The cloud was cut out of It’s The Little Things: Spring Fever patterned paper.


I then layered a 5 x 9 piece of It’s The Little Things: Headed South patterned paper and my assembled rainbow along with my photos.


I added a 9 x 2.5 piece of It’s The Little Things: Strips patterned paper and several different die cuts from It’s The Little Things: Design Embellishments. I also decided to outline the rainbow to make it stand out more and added a little bit of hand-stitching.

Here are close up's of my layout:





I hope I have inspired you to get a little creative today! I have done this technique with birds and owls and other things as well. You can see one project I did using the "This Girl" Kraft Kuts collection on my blog here. And Fancy Pants has so many cute designs to inspire you.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Big Book: Day 5


We are on the final day (day 5) of me sharing my layouts with you that made it into Memory Maker's "The Big Book of Scrapbook Pages". Today we celebrate Easter. :)

The Big Book, Layout #5: "The Eggs"

Awww...it uses papers from Rusty Pickle, who is sadly no longer around. :( I miss them, and I miss my RP gals.

Man, this layout is so simple! I really love how the photos are the focal point and they aren't overpowered by embellishments.

Here are some close up's:

To make sure the letter stickers stayed on, on top of the lace, I just stitched through them with my sewing machine.


Thanks for stopping by today!!! Hope you have enjoyed all my layouts that made it into The Big Book! I have had time now to look through the whole thing, and it really is packed with ideas and inspiration! You can buy the book on amazon here.

Have a wonderful day!!!!!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Big Book: Day 4


We are on day 4 of me sharing my layouts with you that made it into Memory Maker's "The Big Book of Scrapbook Pages". Today we stay at home for some games. :)

The Big Book, Layout #4: "Games"

If you can see the Uno cards in the pictures (or maybe you know well what they look like, like me) you will find the inspiration for my layout. The white shaped background on the cards is like the white shaped background on my layout.

I used the Away We Go line from My Little Shoebox for this layout. Here are some close up's:

Oh man...check out those missing teeth!


Ok...thanks for stopping by today!!! Come back tomorrow for the last layout from The Big Book!

Have a wonderful day!!!!!

Monday, June 27, 2011

The Big Book: Day 3


We are on day 3 of me sharing my layouts with you that made it into Memory Maker's "The Big Book of Scrapbook Pages". Today we head back to school. :)

The Big Book, Layout #3: "Back 2 School"

And apparently I only felt the need to take one close up (way back when) and I'm too lazy to pull the layout out of the box and take some more photos (I know...life is rough), so here is your close up:

I loved that little elephant and monkey so I made sure I cut them out and didn't cover them, and then just tucked everything behind them. :)

Thanks for stopping by today!!! Come back tomorrow for another layout from The Big Book!

Have a wonderful day!!!!!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

The Big Book: Day 2


We are on day 2 of me sharing my layouts with you that made it into Memory Maker's "The Big Book of Scrapbook Pages". Today we visit the Children's Museum. :)

BUT FIRST...

Do you remember these branches from yesterday's layout?

Or this bird?

Well they were cut out of this paper from Prima Marketing:

And because I don't like to waste, today's layout was built on that same piece of paper, even though it was missing the bird and the branch! :)


The Big Book, Layout #2: "Hanging Out at the Children's Museum"



Again, I used a bunch of goodies from Prima when creating this layout. I placed a piece of patterned paper behind it to fill in the spots I had cut out. Then I added some additional details including stitching, buttons and flowers.

Here are the close up's:




Hope I have inspired you to use those papers that you cut out of! They can force you to be creative and you just may love what you come up with! Come back Monday for another layout from The Big Book!

Have an AWESOME day!!!!!

Friday, June 24, 2011

The Big Book: Day 1

It's FINALLY here!!!!


It seems like FOREVER ago that I had 5 layouts picked up for Memory Maker's "The Big Book of Scrapbook Pages". And the book itself is finally in my hands!

And I can finally share my layouts with you that I made for this book. :) I'll share all 5 over the next 5 blog posts.

Here's a peek at the first one:


The Big Book, Layout #1: "So Cute"

First off...holy cow! Check out those photos of Eryn! She looks so different! She's grown so much! Seriously, check out my post from yesterday compared to this one, and you'll see why I keep saying "finally". I still love these photos...of my sweet little Eryn in her bright and fun crocs...that of course, don't fit her anymore. :) See...THIS is why we document such silly things as red shoes! Just looking at these photos bring back a flood of memories. :)

So this layout uses a bunch of my favorite papers from Prima Marketing. They may be older now but I would still say they are some of my favorites!

Here are a bunch of close up's of my layout:

The word "So" was printed directly on my photo when I printed it...I just left room to add the rest of the title.


I hand-cut the hearts and arranged them like a large banner.

I underlined my journaling with 3D paint. :)

Well I hope you have enjoyed my post today! Come back tomorrow for another layout! And the layout will have something to do with today's layout. :) You'll have to wait and see what I'm talking about.

Have an AWESOME day!!!!!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Trends and Tails

Sooo...you all know how much I love Webster's Pages. It's not a secret...if you've followed my blog for a while then you know that. I've raved about them many times. So this might be shocking....

but Webster's Pages has been sharing a new line with us (if you haven't seen it, check it out here) and that made me realize that I haven't TOUCHED the collections I bought from their LAST CHA release. Sorry WP! I do love them, I promise!

So I pulled it out and made a layout. :)


This layout uses the Trendsetter collection. I actually don't think my layout gives this collection justice. I might have to make another layout. :)

Here are some close up's:




I wonder whether Eryn will grow up calling them tails or whether it will be a short-lived thing.

I know one thing to be true.
She sure looks cute in braids...or tails, whatever you want to call them. :)

Have a wonderful day!!!!