I'm back today with a new layout to share, that I created for the Paige Evans Design Team.
A few weeks ago, my boyfriend was feeling generous and got me some presents! One of them was the We R Memory Keepers Button Press, which I've been wanting since I first saw a demo with it. Obviously, I had to try it right away! So, as soon as it arrived, Maxim and I unpacked it, and tested it out. So much fun! I decided to make a layout primarily with buttons. I saw Angi use a photo to create a button with her Button Press, which inspired me. I based my idea on a layout I made some years ago, where I cut up a whole 12x12 patterned paper that was a big image, into circles and kind of pieced it all back together like a puzzle. Except here I did it on a smaller scale, I used a smaller photo (slightly smaller than 4x6") with the same technique. It would have been cool to use a 12x12 photo and cover the whole layout with buttons but I didn't have so many large buttons, plus it would be a pretty expensive layout, if you know what I mean. Maybe one day!
I chose a recent photo of Maxim, that I took when he came out of the orthodontist's practice, showing off his braces! I was not allowed to go in with him, due to Covid-19 regulations, so this was the first time I saw it! I went with a blue-yellow color scheme, since he is wearing these colors in the photo. This color combo is not my favorite when it comes to arts - I like it on kids, yellow jacket with blue jeans etc. But not in crafting or arts. Weird huh? Anyway, I thought it would be easy since Paige's collections always have these colors. I ended up using a mixture of the Go the Scenic Route, Horizon, Truly Grateful and Pick Me Up collections.
I first selected my patterned papers, then created my buttons. At the end of this post you'll find a process video - if you're interested in how I made the buttons! It's pretty simple, once you figure it out! Oh, I also used that smiley button with the braces, that Maxim got at the orthodontist's - I thought it would be fun to add this keepsake to the layout! Otherwise it would have ended up in the trash at some point, I'm sure.
I also created a button with the journaling - for this I wrote my text onto a ledger patterned paper, then I turned it into a button. I arranged everything on my layout and added a few embellishments: chipboard hearts and circles, enamel and puffy sticker shapes, a few card stock stickers. I also used a die cut tag at the top and created two more from patterned papers. I made a label for my date, as well. For my title, I mixed and matched some alphas from various collections, and I love how that looks! It's great that I managed to find the right shade of yellow embellies for this project, it's not always an easy task!
To finish off my layout, I added two strips of patterned paper at the bottom, in coordinating colors. That's it! Super simple and quick, but I hope I could inspire you in some small way! As promised, here's the process video too:
These photos weren't technically taken at Christmas but Sinterklaas (the Dutch version of St. Nick). The Dutch traditionally give presents at Sinterklaas not at Christmas. It's a pretty big thing in Holland and I love it! My kid is so lucky, he gets presents from Sinterklaas and the Hungarian Mikulas (also St. Nick but he only brings candy and small things like that), then Christmas too because in Hungary Christmas is the bigger holiday. Crazy I know! On top of this, in Germany (where we live) again another person brings the presents at Christmas haha. Poor kid must be confused! All the lies I have been telling him since he was little :).
Anywho, back to the layout! I picked a cut file with a bunch of presents from the Silhouette Design Store and cut it twice (I flipped the second cut file so they don't look all the same) from textured white card stock. Then as usual, I backed the openings with different patterned papers from the collection.
To add some interest, I hand cut a few of the bows for the presents from patterned papers. I glued the cut file on the left onto my background and the one on the right I popped up using some foam adhesive. I tucked my photos behind the cut files. I also tucked some die cut Christmas trees behind the cut file on the right side. I thought they looked fun!
I added a few buttons here and there - I love them so much! I also scattered a couple of die cut pieces from the ephemera pack around my page.
The title gave me a bit of a headache because I originally wanted to have something else. However none of the red alpha thickers I have in my stash fit for one reason or another. And these die cut alphas fit perfectly. So I just went with these in the end!
Today I am sharing a Christmas gift idea that you can create in little time if you have a die cutting machine.
I wanted to create some gift boxes for friends and family that I can fill with little things. I found this cut file at the Silhouette Design Store and instantly fell in love with it!
I used the wonderful Holiday Hustle collection from Fancy Pants Designs - I mean have you seen the red foiling in this line?! So unbelievably gorgeous! You'd better believe me because red is my least favorite color and even I find this one amazing! Perfect for all your Christmas projects!
First I sized the cut file to the biggest size that fit on a 12x12 paper, then cut the tray from a black polka dot paper and all 3 boxes from different patterned papers. I also chose papers for the little plaques that read JOY. I did change the font to the Back this Font from Paige Evans, however I only used the outlines of it for my letters.
The tray was very flimsy for my taste so I cut the same size again from white heavyweight card stock, cut apart the black one and adhered the pieces to all 4 sides but not the bottom.
I folded the boxes and started decorating. I went through the embellishments and picked out ones that matched my chosen colors. I ended up with several tags for each box because I just couldn't choose one! I used gold eyelets to attach all tags for each box, then added some twine. I also went through my ribbon stash which I never actually use, so this was the perfect moment to bust them out! Of course I would normally only do these last steps once I filled my boxes, but I am not sure yet what I will put in each. One will surely be filled with Lindor balls!
I glued some die cut pieces to the front as well just to add a bit of interest. And of course the buttons! I just had to! They are my most favorite pieces in the last 3 collections! They are cute as a button - see what I just did there?! :)
And that's pretty much all I've done! Easy peasy but I find them so adorable!
I'm back today with a project I created for Fancy Pants. Our focus this time was the wonderful new collection Take Note, designed by the lovely Amber LaBau.
This collection, as its name suggests, is all about planning, notebooks, school, books - especially the embellishments. The papers are mostly generic, so you could use them for any project really. And I'm in love with them! Gorgeous colors and patterns, you can come up with many different color combinations! Looking at the die cut pack I thought it would be a good idea to create some teacher appreciation cards.
I've had this cut file for years but every time I opened it, I got overwhelmed. There's a lot of small pieces! But now I took the time to search for a tutorial on the internet, had a look, and all of a sudden it didn't seem that complicated anymore! If you're interested, you find the tutorial here.
It took a while to cut all the pieces, especially the small ones, even with the Cameo. I'm not big on planning ahead, and here I had to. So I planned out in the Studio program what piece I want to cut from which paper and colored the pieces so I don't forget. Especially because I wanted to create 3 cards with 3 different color combinations. I didn't use all pieces available in the cut file because I wanted to use some pieces from the ephemera pack of this collection.
While cutting the files I started to assemble the cards. I used white textured cardstock as base for all of them to achieve a coherent look. Then I started working on the small pieces like the pencils and apples. I actually didn't end up using up all the pieces I cut!
First I attached the patterned paper panels, the Thank You banners and the teacher labels - here I sewed on different cute buttons from the series.
Once done, I checked what die cuts from the ephemera pack I could use to decorate my cards. I started gluing these to the base, making sure everything is in the right place and is visible. For this I folded the cards at each step.
I love how they turned out! I'm glad I gave it another try because it was really fun working on these!
Today I'm popping in to share my latest project I created for Fancy Pants Designs.
This time I made three Halloween cards with the super awesome Spellbound collection. Here they are:
I picked three cut files from the Silhouette Design Store and cut all of them from black card stock.
This one below originally had Halloween written in the middle, but I removed that and instead I welded the remaining spider web with the Boo cut file that is a Halloween font, also from the Silhouette Design Store. I backed the pumpkins with orange paper to give them more definition. What I didn't notice until my kiddo pointed it out is that the pumpkins look like eyes. Even better! I adhered the cut file to a purple patterned paper, to which I added a black patterned paper and all this I glued to the white card base. To decorate the card and add some dimension, I stitched some cute buttons on and added some die cut pieces as well.
For my second card I used a circle cut file with lots of bats. I backed this with a polka dot patterned paper, added foam adhesive to its back and adhered it on my card base. This consists of 4 layers: the white card base, a black ghost patterned paper, orange and mint papers. To embellish it I picked out some die cut pieces from the ephemera pack. Isn't that owl the cutest?!
For the third card, which I actually made first, I used the negative cut file. This one took a while to piece back together as I backed it with different patterned papers! All the small pieces had to be glued down one by one. For the sentiment I used my favorite striped paper from this collection and for the rest I used some mint, orange and purple papers. Then I glued all this down on top of an orange patterned paper and a white card base.
I love how these turned out and since we don't celebrate Halloween, I'll be sure to send these to American friends! They won't be wasted :).
I hope you are inspired to create your own Halloween cards and surprise some friends with them!
As soon as I saw it, it reminded me of the first ever scrapbook collection I purchased: Grand Bazaar from Kelly Purkey for Basic Grey. I love this collection to this day and I actually bought more of it last year when I found it hidden in some online store!
What I love most about these mood board layouts is that I can go through my stash (or at least a part of it, ha!) and use up things I've been hoarding for a long time!
I chose loads of patterned papers in the colors of the mood board from different manufacturers: Basic Grey, Fancy Pants, Simple Stories, My Mind's Eye - just to name a few.
Then I busted out my Cuttlebug and started die cutting all those leaves! This took a while, I'll admit :). Once I thought I had enough, I played around a little with the arrangement. I decided for a wreath. I added some machine stitching to some of the leaves for texture. Then I started layering and gluing them down in a circle.
I used some foam adhesive behind my photo and adhered it in the middle. Then all I had to do was embellishing. I pulled out lots and lots of embellies, I was so surprised how many I found! I arranged them in a tone on tone way. As a last step I added many many enamel dots! Those things are just my favorite embellishment, can't help it!
Since I wanted to try a few new dies I bought, I created some cards too! I just love love love these colors!
I hope you find something here today to inspire you to create!
