Thursday, February 28, 2013

Lori Whitlock's February Blog Hop

Welcome to Lori's Fabulous February Blog Hop! Today the design team is featuring Lori's great page templates available in both digital and SVG cutting file formats.
 
For my layout I was immediately drawn to her Summer Season Layout available in her shop HERE (or in a digital version at Jessica Sprague's HERE).  Starburst designs can be tricky to calculate and I love that this file has it figured out for you! 
 
Another thing I love about this sketch is that it works great as just a one page layout if you prefer and the great thing about buying "layout" cutting files is it's like getting 5 shapes in one!  This one layout has a starburst pattern, a hot air balloon, 2 different clouds, a title and a wave border that could be used on lots of other projects! 
 
These templates have lots of flexibility too.   For my layout I wanted my photos to face towards the center so I removed the title and mirrored the rest of the design in order to flip it.   I also used a slightly different photo arrangement to match pictures I already had on hand.    
 


I used Lori's new "All About A Boy" collection that she designed for Echo Park and I have to say I'm smitten.  I don't actually have boys, but I was totally drawn to this collection.  I think it has tons of great basic colors and prints that will work for all types of projects (I must remember to stock up on the denim) and I am head over heals in love with the new washi tapes they are now making to go with their lines.  This blue chevron/arrow one is my new favorite--I love how the white stripe disappears on the background and takes on the look of arrows (it would have taken me forever to do this with diecuts and get them all lined up just right). 
 
The starburst cutting file is designed to be one piece and to be cut from a sheet of 12x12 piece of paper to make your life easy, but I knew I wanted to cut them out of lots of different patterns so I used the knife tool within my Silhouette software to cut them apart (sort of like spokes on a wheel so that I would know how to reassemble them).  I then separated them by numbering and counting out the rays by 6's and then separating all the #1's into a pile and all the #2's into a pile, etc. so I could cut each color out all at once and save a bit on paper (although as you can see from the awkward shapes some of them still used a fair share.  On a side note, for papers that had a stripe or grid pattern, I tried to only turn the shapes in 90 or 180 degree angles to keep them looking consistent on my layout.  To save even more paper you may consider using patterns where this doesn't matter.  Here's a screen shot of what the shapes looked like after I separated them out:
 
Hope this helped you understand my process a bit better.  I'm so happy you hopped by. Make sure to check out all the others girls wonderful layouts by clicking on the links below and then hop back to Lori's Blog telling her what project you loved or were inspired by for a chance to win a $20 Gift certificate to her store!  :)
                      
Lori Whitlock
Natalie Graham
Corri Garza
Joy Dickson
Lisa Bell

16 comments:

  1. OMW Mendi!!! This is a stunning layout! I love what you did with the stitching!

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  2. Mendi this is gorgeous! You always do the best work and I love this layout!!!

    Hugs,
    Jo

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  3. Mendi,
    Your layout is beautiful! I love all the detail. The colors and patterns work together beautifully. I love seeing what you create!
    Super Hugs,
    ~Joy~

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  4. BEAUTIFUL, as always! That is one of my favorite collections/layouts also and it looks SO GREAT for a summer layout! I LOVE what you have done! Way to go!

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  5. This is such a sunny, happy, eye catching page! :)

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  6. Love everything about this!! I pinned it!

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  7. What a great layout. Looks like a fun day.

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  8. You amaze me, this is incredible! Love it!

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  9. Your layout has just made me feel like summer. Love the colors and the sunshine on a gloomy winter day.

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  10. I absolutely love your LO! The colors and patterns you chose are wonderful and the pictures are tons of fun! The stitching adds so much lovely texture and detail - I just am in awe of this and how you did it with all the different patterns on the rays!!! Thanks so much for all you've shared here, especially the great tips on how useful the cutting files are beyond one scrapbook LO!

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  11. What a fantastic, bright, cheery page!

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  12. Love your layout and WOW....to all the detailed sticthing you did. It's great.

    Tracey J.

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  13. Love the starburst design and the hot air balloon.

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  14. Mendi, Great job on the layout as always. Love your work. I really love the sunshines. I have been meaning to try a layout with sun rays and this is a great example. Thank you for sharing your talents.

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  15. Amazing layout Mendi...cute photos too! And love the colors you chose!

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