Take 2 : Measuring Up

This is my first time trying a 'Take 2'. I guess I'm not so much in the habit of revisiting what I have already done.  However, as it turns out, this will be my third layout based off of this design concept.  I originally took it from an art piece I saw on Pinterest that I fell in love with.

The first layout you see is one I did using Scrapbook Circle's February kit Story Time and the add-on for that month.  You can see that it is strips and lots of sewing along with a bit of embellishment.  However, I didn't get any journaling onto this particular page..

This month, I wanted to try that design again, however, I'm not one to repeat something precisely so I had to think about how I wanted to keep the same idea but change the final look of the page.

So I decided to use the strips as sort of a 'slash' across the page to 'point' to the photo.  I also wanted to inlcude a lot of journaling as I talked about some feelings I've been having regarding measuring up.  The large space below the photo was the perfect place for me to include my story.

This is actually fairly simple to accomplish with the only real tricky part being getting the right cut angle on things that you desire. I used a large square see-through ruler that had 45 degree angles marked on it to get it right.  Other than that, simply cut your strips and sew them down to a base cardstock and then go from there.

I feel like the final page has a similar feel, but is enough different that I don't feel like I just did the same thing over again.  Have you done a Take 2 from your gallery?  Show us on our Facebook Page, you never know we may use your layout in a future blog post.

Use Those Instagrams

Today's layout showcases the use of Instagrams for a 'month in review' style layout.  I did something a little different in the printing.  I created a document that was 12x8 with two inch photos.  Then, I chose some portions to print blank.  When I printed it out, I cut the blank ones out with my Exacto knife and backed them with pretty papers.

One strip of the photos was cut off and added to the bottom of the page.

I added a feather behind the Dear Lizzy card to create a bit of extra texture.

I couldn't leave those little squares and rectangles naked so I added punches, words and some die cuts to keep true to form.

 
The arrow is stitched using Amy Tangerine's stitching templates from the March kits at Scrapbook Circle.  All the supplies are from the Charmed Life and Lucky girl kits over at Scrapbook Circle.

Thanks for stopping in.  Have a happy Thursday.  And if you're of a mind to, our family could use prayer right now. Thanks in advance.

Altering Printables

I really like it when I can use a particular product in a variety of ways.  I don't like to be limited to a single usage.  The reason is that I am likely to get tired of using a thing the same way over and over, or even twice, if the truth is told.

This is one of the things I really enjoy about Scrapbook Circle's printable products.   Each month, Scrapbook Circle offers a new printable in the Main Kit.   This month, there was a fantastic rainbow stripe card and a fun black and white triangle border piece.

While they were great as they were, I really wanted them to be a little different.  Soooo, I altered them to suit my needs.

Since they come as a png, you can select and duplicate portions of the printable and change it as you desire. I wanted the rainbow card to be closer to a full sheet of paper, or at least to have it longer than it was.  All I had to do was duplicate that section and drag it until it matched the existing pattern but created a larger version. In my case, I duplicated it three times and then printed.  

I did the same with the black and white border to give ma a longer boarder piece.

You can see that I used the rainbow to back the Dear Lizzy cards from the kit.  I also used the Lucky Girl add-on for the Amy Tan templates to sew that fun camera onto my page.

You may also notice that the kit contained pink feathers.  However, I could only use so many pink feather on my projects.  No problem, I altered my feathers too!  For the one on this page, I sprayed it with several colors of mist, including a metallic gold mist from Heidi Swap to give it a unique Ombre effect. Then, when it had dried, I gave it a haircut to tone down on the fluff.

Happy altering!

Hello Thursday -- Big Pictures

Hello friends!  I'm glad to see you today!  Just so you know.  Especially at this time of year when all of us are stinkin' busy, the fact that you'd take a moment to stop by and see what I have to do is such a blessing to me.

I got to do a family photo session with a very dear friend and her family a few weeks ago and I've chosen my favorite shot from the bunch to create the layout I'm sharing today.

I've found that when it comes to family photos, I often want to do a really BIG photo so that it gets properly showcased. So many good looking faces deserve lots of space, don't you agree?

I can't recall whether I've shared how I typically do this so I thought I'd give you a wee tip on how I accomplish big photos right in my home.

I have a box of 11x14 Matte Heavy photo paper on my shelf.  I pull a sheet, cut it down to 8.5 by 14 and run it through my printer.  I'll have sized the photo iteself in Photoshop to 8.5 x 12 or 8x12.  I then change the paper setting to legal sized and print it right out of my standard office ink jet printer.  Works like a charm.

There was a sort of distracting element in the lower right of the photo.  But no problem, I used the red striped bag from this months Scrapbook Circle kit, All is Bright, to cover up those elements.  Then I added some other goodies from Stars were Gleaming and All is Bright to complete the look. That's one of the things I like about large photos, you can add embellishments right on top of them.

I also wanted to have the Maya Road trim layer over the top edge of the photo but it needed something to finish the look.  So I scooted it down slightly and added a strip of the Crate Vellum underneath it to give it an edge and a bit of gleam.  I pretty much always sew trims down as it's the best way to get them to stick in my mind.

Do you scrap with extra large photos?  How do you come by them?  Print at home or send out for printing?

Hello Friday -- Triangle Time

Hello friends!  I have two layouts to share with you today, both inspired by the triangle shape.

Scrapbook Circle put out a challenge to try to use this shape in a layout and I couldn't seem to stop at just one layout.  Had to keep going so here are the two I came up from this months amazing kits, New's Flash, Bulletin,  and Happening Now (Happening Now is sold out, but the other two are still available)

I think these have been my favorite kits to date.  I just love the mix of colors, patterns and embellishments. There was NO shortage of inspiration for October!

Without further ado.....

This first one is my son rock hopping in the Salt River.  We were driving home from the White Mountains of Arizona and took a little break at the bottom of the Salt River Canyon.  It was the perfect place for a young man to let off some nervous energy.

I always have a favorite little bit from a layout and in this case, I think it's the stitched triangles at the end of the row.  Just a simple detail but it makes me happy.

Roughed up the edges of some of my layers this time.  Haven't intentionally done that in a while.

I also layered the hand cut triangle with some vellum for dimension.

This page takes a different approach.  I actually stamped on the backs of all of the triangles using a triangle stamp and then cut them by hand.  I then placed them on my page, glued them down and then stitched for good measure.

Overall the theme is neutral and yellow but I did throw in a few hints of pink and blue for interest.

I got pretty excited about leaving the excess thread on the front of the page in an artfully arranged tangle.

Have you used the trusty triangle lately???

Thanks for stopping by, I'll see you next time.