Art Girlz Scrapbook Nook

{Random}

Being {RANDOM}...it seems that the word RANDOM is one of the most common words in my daughter's vocabulary. "That was so random" is definitely one of the most common sentences out of their mouths!

I discovered another definition of RANDOM (according to my girls) ... it was the first day of school and like every year before, I was taking photos as they were leaving to go to the bus stop.

As it is my older daughter's Senior year, I also took photos of them walking to the bus stop. But then I made the big parent mistake ... I actually walked up to the bus stop and took a few photos. That's when I heard ... "Mom, you have to leave" ... "you're a RANDOM STRANGER TAKING OUR PICTURES". Random Stranger? Okay, I'm going to journal this event and put it in a hidden pocket!

How I made the pages:

I LOVE the Scenic Route papers. I just really liked the bird and wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but when I took these photos I knew.

I lined the photos up across the two pages, added 3 large silk flowers with large brad centers, the numbers for the date are die cut, but the "7" was cut from ribbon. Since the number 7 is so angular, it was quite easy to put two pieces of ribbon together to form the number (it helped that this was VERY stiff ribbon). I also used this ribbon on two photos (far left and far right). I wrapped it around the corner of the photo to tie in the number 7.

My favorite part of the page is the title: RANDOM. I used several different chipboard letters. These were already printed / colored. I used Queen & Company (small letters) and Making Memories (larger letters). The mixing of different colors and patterns, although not an exact match for the Scenic Route papers, works well as they are irregular, and well, random.

The silk flowers are Primas. A variety of brads are used for the centers. Just LOVE these large brads.

The ribbon is from one of the BasicGrey collections (Romani, I think).

The Scenic Route papers are double-sided, so with just a few sheets of paper, you can have a variety of prints (the die-cut numbers, for example).

The two flowers on the right-side page hide some bushes that were brown and dying. The drought has really made our yard and garden look terrible. SO, the silk flowers hid a part of the photo that I didn't like, but also did not want to cut off. I was trying to keep the photos the same size -- 2 horizontal and 2 vertical.

Previously, I would spend hours trying to match colors or prints and would not venture out of the manufacturer's collection. If I was using BasicGrey ... I stayed with BG papers, ribbons & more.

This page is the start of being more free in my scrapbooking art!

How to Make Your Own Glitter Alphabet Letters

Had these photos from a Christmas a number of years ago (like 10 years ago!). Decided I really needed to do something FUN with the title and the pages.

Used BasicGrey holiday papers, mixing and matching stripes with poinsettias and even a special hand-made paper with white embossed design. When looking for embellishments for these pages, I wanted to keep them simple since the papers and photos were really busy and I wanted them to be the main focus. I had stamped about a dozen of the Santa images (Stampin'Up! image) for cards and tags and thought that one of them would make a cute embellishment to the page. Used markers to color in the Santa image.

I was looking for a really BOLD and FUN title. I looked at my box of chipboard letters and the collection of glitter letters was really limited. I did have a V and an M. While at my local scrapbook store, I took the opportunity to die-cut the other letters for the "Very Merry" title. I used red cardstock. If you want the letters thicker you can also die-cut some chipboard and glue the cardstock onto the chipboard. However, I was just using the cardstock. After cutting out the letters, I ran them through my Xyron X-150. It's small, convenient and invaluable!

The adhesive will need to be on the FRONT of the letter (instead of the back). So when inserting the letters into the Xyron, check to make sure that the adhesive will be going ontothe FRONT. Peel the backing off the letter to reveal the adhesive. Using a shallow dish and a small amount of glitter, press the cardstock letter (sticky adhesive side DOWN) into the glitter. We used an ULTRA FINE clear glitter. Red glitter probably would show up better, but it's just what YOU decide.

Keep pressing the cardstock letter into the glitter until the whole front is covered with glitter. Attach to your scrapbook page. For added dimension, you might use foam dots or dimensional glue dots.

Remember that I cautioned about making sure the adhesive would go onto the FRONT of the letter? Well, see the Y in MERRY? Yes, it was put in the wrong way and the adhesive was put onto the back of the letter. So the Y is backwards, but since it's a Y, it's not really such a problem. My daughter thought it was done on purpose. It's got a little bit of kid charm to it now.

These were quick and fun pages to make, especially making my own glittered alphabet die-cut title!

Try glittering your titles or other embellishments.

Fancy Pants "BOTANICALS" Papers -- Birthday Layout

Saw these Fancy Pants "BOTANICALS" collection papers and immediately thought -- BIRTHDAY! Two daughters and a niece all having birthdays in June. Get together each year and have a combined party (in addition to each separate birthday -- lots of pictures). This year's photos had a very humorous look. As the girls get older, they don't pose like they did when they were young, but instead they act silly! This is fine with me, and gives me a chance to have some more scrapbooking fun.

Most of my pages are linear and I prefer the simple approach. But then there are sometimes when I'm wide open ... I let my creativity really go and don't think about rules (are there rules in scrapbooking?).

Used a solid background (dark) to show off the prints and embellishments. I found a collection of printed chipboard embellishments just for a birthday, and the colors & prints complimented the Fancy Pants papers.

Blowing out the candle (it's a "?") was enlarged to 5x7 and showcased on the left-side page. Dottie Ann Magic Mesh, strips of Fancy Pants papers, chipboard embellishments, a quote strip cut from Scenic Route papers (I think?). Then I'm seeing one of the Fancy Pants papers has a nice pattern that could make photo corners or page corners. See the blue print cut into a wavy pattern and place in bottom left corner and top right corner of 2nd page. I don't usually add something like this on a page, and was afraid I might not like it after it was on there, but it's grown on me and I like it. Perhaps it "grounds" the two pages? The chipboard arrow pointing to the photo says "who's birthday is it?" I thought this was funny when I saw it in the package, coupled with the "?" candle -- it fits with the silliness of the day.

The right-hand side page continues that corner piece and turns the strips of paper vertical. The girls were having so much fun and just laughing and giggling, I didn't get too many photos that came out well -- they were blurry. I've learned my lesson now. When taking photos of these happy girls, I need to use the SPORT setting. This stops quick movement like when you'd photograph sports events.

This side of the layout has ALOT of embellishments from different companies: used printed acetate overlay for bottom left photo. I find that it's easiest to attach these with brads or eyelets and cut the holes with my Crop-A-Dile. This acetate overlay is for 4x6 photos, it's made by "My Mind's Eye". The photo on the bottom right uses a chipboard frame from the birthday kit, there were quite a number of great embellishments in this set and I used many of them on these pages. Layered the small square chipboard piece on top of paisley frame. "You said what" tag is also from "My Mind's Eye". Just some of the funny things that the girls are saying now. A fabric flower from Bazzill with a clear rhinestone brad for the center. When you strip off all the embellishments, it's a very easy layout!

Here are the two pages side by side. A little more journaling might go on the left-side page across bottom. My DD's love it -- they each claim it as "theirs". Wish I had bought TWO of those chipboard sets!

We'll be posting the line sketch / layout in our sketch gallery too!

Bazzill BLING Papers -- A Scrapbooking Girl's Best Friend!

And you thought DIAMONDS were a girl's best friend? If you're a paper crafter, scrapbooker or card maker ... BAZZILL BLING PAPERS are it!

Bazzill is a maker of cardstock that is very high quality. Many people will go into a store and ask for it by name. Many crafters know Bazzill by their "linen look" paper, "orange peel" finish paper, etc. They make papers with various dimensional finishes.

Add a beautiful silky sheen finish to their linen-look paper and you have BAZZILL BLING Papers.

They come in a variety of colors, but since I had chosen to use Basic Grey's Romani (Gypsy) papers, I chose bright colors: magenta, orange & turquoise blue. Using beach theme photos, the finish on these BLING papers really adds alot of fun. Also adding glitter to the page (always need some glitter) helps with the playful attitude of the pages.

The beautiful finish on these papers is difficult to see in the photos, but they really "pop" in person.

Usually my style is more linear and simple, but I was having fun with the die-cut letters, rub-ons, chipboard and glitter. Alot going on, but the smile in the photo just made me do it!

The chipboard was painted with Ranger's Paint Dabbers (light blue). These are almost completely mess-free and the coverage is great.

After painting the chipboard, we used a "crystal laquer"-type of clear glue that keeps it's shape rather well and sprinkled glitter on top. On this project we used Inkssentials Clear Accent medium. Usually we would use STICKLES glitter glue, but this was a new set of supplies to use. At the bottom of the page is a journaling circle -- acrylic paint (paint dabbers again) on a stamp and then image stamped onto acetate. Amazingly, the paint leaves a very nice clean imprint on the acetate (or paper). Just have to be careful not to load the paint too thick on the stamp.

This is the right-hand side of the two-page spread. Very simple sketch. Take a 12" x 5" strip of Basic Grey printed paper and attach down one side. The orange BAZZILL BLING was added to the side. Rub-on "faux zig zag stitching" was added along the border.

Left over chipboard photo corners were added to the top photo, even though the print is different, the color matches. More chipboard swirls and some stamped swirls (red on the pink background) were heat embossed. A nice and easy layout to repeat over and over with different embellishments, different combinations of pattern and solid papers. It's very versatile. Had to add some ribbon sticking out from under the bottom picture (top right side of photo). Great way to use up 2" or smaller pieces of ribbon!

Do you want to make the chipboard really special? LIke an embellishment you would purchase? But you can make your own color?

The flower on the first page (bottom center) started out as plain chipboard. Here's how we transformed it to go with our BLING papers!

1) paint chipboard OR cover with paper OR stamp design.

2) rub some glue (white glue or the clear medium will work) on chipboard and sprinkle with glitter. Make sure glitter covers chipboard evenly and completely.

3) Using Inkssentials Clear Accent medium, cover chipboard with thin coat. Cover completely. Let dry.

4) if first coat did give the 3-d look you wanted, add another thin coat of the dimensional medium. Continue with about 3-4 coats if necessary. This may appear cloudy coming out of the bottle, but dries completely clear.

5) before last coat is completely dry, press in some small rhinestones for added BLING!!

Fun project that can be used with printed papers as the base (no glitter). Many possibilities.

Have some fun with the Bazzill BLING papers and enjoy making some fun 3-d chipboard accessories.

Slide Mounts -- A Fancy Scrapbook Embellishment

For many young people, the term "slide mount" is foreign. Many don't even know what "slide film" is ... and some have never seen "film" cameras! With the advent of digital cameras, no one really shoots "slides" anymore. For those who are old enough to remember: you had to mark "up" on the slides and then set them in the carousel, set up the screen, turn off the lights, and sit and watch the photos from the slides come alive! This was mostly a family affair, dragging out the projector and screen at holidays. As the "kids" got older, we'd sit and watch the slides when we were "young" and laugh, eat popcorn like at the movies and have a good time.

Slide mounts have been a scrapbook and stamping embellishment for a while. Many people pass these up because they are plain, not the right color, etc. But these lowly slide mounts can turn into the belle of the ball with just a little embellishing.

We'll show you one way to dress up your slide mounts (you may use the plastic or cardboard type):

1) Gather your slide mount & embellishments: magic mesh (dottie ann style used here), ribbon, buttons and stamped sentiment.                                        

2) Cover the white plastic slide mount with the dottie ann. Peel backing off and it is self-stick. Very easy to use, and it is the same size as the slide mount! Just make sure to cut the piece slightly longer than the slide mount to overlap the top & bottom.

3) After sticking the mesh to the front of the slide, flip it over and fold over excess. To make the center area clean, cut an X shape in the mesh. Start from the middle and cut diagonally across to each corner. (see photo). Fold back excess.

4) Embellish front of covered slide mount as desired. You may also cover the slide mounts with paper, tissue paper, napkins, aluminum foil & so much more!

5) Insert stamped sentiment into opening, a photo, or make this into a 3-d "Shaker Box" (Shaker Box directions coming soon).

Another Birthday Scrapbook Page

Our family has many birthdays in June. Seems like we are eating cake & celebrating all month long. There comes a time when no one wants their pictures taken. They grumble when the camera comes out (probably because they are teenagers), and they give you "that look". "That look" usually means that if you take their picture you better be prepared for some silliness!

Okay, so this birthday we had less than perfect pictures. Inside with poor lighting, using flash, subjects of photos moving (giggling) and more.

But I was determined to get this birthday event in the scrapbook because years from now I'll hear that I missed a year. Deciding to take these pictures to an all day crop, I thought carefully about the papers & embellishments I wanted to use and packed them up with the photos. I have found that I can be MUCH more productive at crops if I pre-plan the pages & pictures at home. I package photos, papers, embellishments and anything else I THINK I might want for that page and put it into a paper holder.

I had some CHATTERBOX PAPERS (double-sided!) just waiting to be used, brads (and old standby), gold braided cording, jelly-rubber type 3-d embellishments, Basic Grey large metal frame (rectangular) and FELT FUSION by Queen & Company.

I could have gone with a page that had alot of elements on it and you might not notice the photos? But my style leans toward the cleaner lines and more simple pages.

LOVE double-sided papers! I was able to use just a few sheets of the CHATTERBOX PAPERS, mixing & matching front & back patterns, some solid scrap papers and a die-cut machine for the word "BIRTHDAY".

After carefully looking at the background of the 12x12 paper, I realized it really looked alot like the white floral FELT FUSION. I decided to use this as a border across both pages. I thought about adding gems, brads, etc. for the centers of the flowers, but for now ... I like that. I'm not too happy with the title, and that will probably change. Doesn't seem to stand out as much as I'd like. But the silly face pictures (especially the one in the Basic Grey frame) came out better than I thought. After measuring the rectangular frame, I cut the other 2 pictures the same size.

And there you have it ... a VERY QUICK birthday page ... SIMPLE SKETCH with clean lines. Just need to add a little journaling about the silly face pictures!

Just for fun!

I went to a crop last weekend and made almost 8 pages! Yipee! Of course, I still have 20+ years of photos, but I HAD to crop this Christmas and Thanksgiving!

Just some fun & humor for mid-week:

The Recipe For Tish

3 parts Sweetness 2 parts Pizzazz 1 part Allure Splash of Uniqueness Limit yourself to one serving. This cocktail is strong!

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

ENJOY.

Use those beautiful Handmade Cards in Scrapbooks

Happy New Year! It's time to start packing away the holiday decorations, and I've got a bunch of beautiful handmade cards from some very talented stampers & scrappers. Do I put them in a box, never to see the light of day again? Some of these are beautiful, watercoloring with Copic markers. In my opinion, the artwork rivals that of so-called "real artists".

But I just can not put these into a box. I have to display them, somehow. I have found that I can use the cards (cut them up and re-configure the elements) in scrapbook pages. For example, someone sends a beautiful stamped & watercolored winter scene -- you can add this to a scrapbook page for a special winter event ... or what you dream your winter looked like! (I'm still holdi ng out for some snow here in NC).

One of my Secret Sisters sent me a beautiful card. I know how much time and effort she must have put into this card ... and I was working on a scrapbook page of my garden ... and guess what? The colors she made the card were the same that I used for the scrapbook page, and the dragonfly image really fit. It couldn't have been more perfect! Now, when I open my scrapbook and look at that page, I remember this special secret sister. You may want to write their name and other info on the back of your page so you can keep in touch with the cardmaker.

Here is the first page of my 2-page garden spread, and then the second page has the beautiful sparkling dragonfly image from my secret sister's card.

  It's amazing that we used the SAME cardstock color (Stampin'Up! paper). These scrapbook pages were published in an issue of "Scrap & Stamp Arts Magazine". I have a whole article about using photos from your scrapbook pages, and then instead of discarding leftovers -- use them on cards. In this case I used flower images.

I have some very cute birthday cards that would be great additions to scrapbook pages. How about special Valentine cards? One of my daughters bought me a carnation at their Valentine school fundraiser, and it came with a heart tag and she wrote me a cute message. I know this is not acid-free because it's just plain old construction paper. But you can use it in your scrapbooks if you laminate it, or encase it in a page protector. I like to cut these up and use for "questionable" items -- items that probably aren't archival quality.

Another idea that I have used: POST CARDS on scrapbook pages. Seems I can NEVER get that perfect picture when I go somewhere, so I don't stress. I find a postcard and put it on the page. Many times people don't even know it's a post card. My daughters and I visited Washington, DC and the they were working on the Capitol building and there was scaffolding all around the dome ... not the picture I wanted. So, yea, I bought a postcard!

Try using some of those beautiful handmade cards, post cards, or even special cards sent to you by loved ones in your scrapbooks.