Echo Park "Take Note" Projects

Hi there!

I thought I would pop in today to share some projects I did using one of Echo Park's newest lines "Take Note" designed by Lori Whitlock that we did for the Craft Warehouse design team this month.

For my first project we had the choice of decorating a journal or a little box so I chose the journal. 


















I created my chevron pattern by cutting each of the patterned papers into 5/8" strips and then adhering them to a piece of 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" printer paper on the diagonal. I did two pieces--one with the stripes facing one way and a second with the stripes facing the opposite way. After they were all adhered, I cut my finished sheets into 1-1/2" strips and set to work finding the strips that best related to each other. I think in a couple of the instances I had to cheat towards the end and cut a couple of my chevron stripe sections out of the remaining leftover pieces, looking for pieces that didn't have snips out of the peaks of the V's.

We were also challenged to create a layout using the viewmaster patterned paper as a focal point, as well as using the number stencil and vinyl rub-on in some way.

For my stencil I had the idea that I wanted to try some old fashioned dry embossing with it, but as I pulled out my lightbox, I quickly realized the clear stencil could not be seen through the dark patterned paper.  At this point I tried using my die cutting machine to see if I could emboss it quickly this way, but I discovered as I originally suspected that the stencil (which is designed mostly for spritzing and masking) was too thin for this application.  Finally, I remembered something I had done in the early days before home die cutting machines even existed--I colored in my stencil with a black sharpie and it worked like a charm.  This made it dark enough to see through when using the lightbox and I was able to set to work with my stylist.  Afterwards I swiped it with an ink pad to make the embossing pop.  :)

I lucked out and my vinyl clock just happened to fit into my title right where there was a red polka-dot in the patterned paper below. Tried to tie in the number 5 in the patterned paper to my journaling. Love when it all works out. ;)

For my second layout, I used the spellbinder Pennants die to create the banner.  It was a little too big to fit the number of banners I wanted going across so I made them smaller by cutting off the tops.

I was able to cut out the tickets and postage stamp from two different patterned papers in the set. I then took small 1/8" and 1/4" hole punches to give them a more realistic look...

Well that wraps up my assignments for this month.  Make sure to head over to the Craft Warehouse gallery here to see all the other gorgeous creations my fellow designers created this month (you can see their individual galleries by clicking on their names) or hop over at the Craft Warehouse blog here for a peek at other inspiring projects going on.

Thanks for stopping by. :)

Supplies Used:
Echo Park's "Take Note" Papers and Cardstock Stickers
Studio Calico Wood Veneer Embellishments
Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher
American Crafts Thickers
American Crafts Ribbon
American Crafts Ivory Twine
American Crafts Silver Glitter Brads
Queen & Co. Red Dot Washi Tape
Queen & Co. Red Rhinestone
Spellbinders Pennant Dies
EK Success 3/4" Circle Punch
Colorbox Chalk Inks
Black Pen

A "Carefree" Authentique Layout...

I had the pleasure of getting to play with Authentique's latest "Carefree" line a bit early!  Earlier in the month I had so much fun attending a crop to meet all the Craft Warehouse design team members from present and past.  During that time Elizabeth Wiederspohn brought us all some goodies that Authentique had generously shared with us!

Here is what I created...

The butterflies were handcut from a piece of patterned paper and then dressed up with Ranger's black enamel at the antenna and some diamond stickels on the wings.  I also used some glossy accents on my diecut "34" to tie it in with the glossy thickers in the title.  :)

Make sure to check over at Authentique's blog to see more of this collection here and thanks for stopping by!  :)

Supply List
Patterned Paper- Authentique "Carefree"
Cardstock Stickers (photo corner)- Authentique "Carefree"
Lined Paper (for journaling)- Basic Grey's Basics
Script Alphas- American Crafts Thickers
Date Stamps- Making Memories
Circle & Border Punches- EK Success
Rhinestones- Doodlebug
Rhinestone Brad- Making Memories
Number dies- Papertrey Ink
Ink- Colorbox chalk ink, Versafine
Flower- Prima
Ranger Black Enamel Accents
Ranger Glossy Accents
Ranger "Diamond" Stickels
Other: Thread for stitching

A Fab{u}lous layout by Simple Stories

Hey there! 

This week I had the pleasure of playing with one of Simple Stories newest collections appropriately named Fabulous!  As soon as I saw this set it was love at first sight.  They combined some of my favorite colors and girly motifs for this adorable line and it's so fun to mix and match with endless combinations.

For the title, the lovely bracket shape that this cardstock piece was printed on didn't squeeze well onto my layout so using one of my favorite Papertrey Ink Mat Stack dies as a template, I traced it on and lengthened it to frame to sentiment and reduce it's size.  I then inked and stitched around to give it a finished look and topped it off with one of the Tim Holtz butterflies layered with a simple stories sticker and a little glossy accents on the antenna for added depth...

 

Supply List

Patterned Paper, Cardstock Stickers- Simple Stories Fabulous

Cardstock- DCWAV

Butterfly Dies- Sizzix Stampin' Up Exclusive (large) and Sizzix Tim Holtz Mover and Shaper (small)

Twine- Twinery
Chalk Ink- Colorbox
Zig-zag Heart Border- EK Success
Other: Machine Stitching, Glossy Accents

Be sure to check out my new projects I made for Craft Warehouse using this wonderful line at my gallery found HERE plus more of my fellow designer's wonderful creations found HERE

Thanks for stopping by!  :)

Craft Warehouse Design Team Assignment #3

I was so excited to learn that the design team would be working with Crate Paper's new "Farmhouse" collection this month. The colors completely were calling my name--So yummy!

For this assignment we were asked to make a layout using the collection along with American Crafts Thickers and Tim Holtz Resist Kraft Paper (see on the typewriter print leaves paired with distress inks and again using one of the backsides for the layout base)...

For our second assignment we were asked to create a sign using this wood plaque and the vinyl phrase. Unfortunately this sign is a bit busy in print and sort of an oxymoron given what it says, but I wanted to try and achieve the look of a random homemade quilt with blocks of space to house the adorable cutouts.

To create the pattern I taped two pieces of printer paper together and then traced around the oval shape of the plaque and then got my ruler out and began to trace rectangles onto the shape like a puzzle. I used the ruler so I could plan everything to the nearest 1/8" or 1/4" to make my life easier. After that I just set to work laying out the patterns so that they felt balanced. I did my best to keep the busiest patterns on the outside so that it didn't interfere with the vinyl phrase's readability.

For more detailed photos make sure to visit my gallery at Craft Warehouse's website HERE and check out the rest of the team's fabulous work HERE

Thanks for stopping by! :)

My 2nd Craft Warehouse Design Team Assignment

I'm finally getting around to sharing my second assignment for the Craft Warehouse Design Team. You can see more of my past projects I've made for them here and more descriptions here

This month we had the pleasure of working with some of Jillibean Soup's new lines and their fun 6x6 paper pads!

We were asked to create a layout and card with Apple Cheddar Soup...

... And Christmas Cards with Christmas Eve Chowder

A Photo Card...




















A Gift Card Holder...

A Designer's Choice Card... 

And for our last card we were asked to design a simple card that would be quick and easy to mass produce for all the friends and family on your mailing list.  :)

Make sure to visit the other design team members gallery pages to see other great ideas using these fun products found at your local Craft Warehouse!

Thanks for peeking. :)

July's Craft Warehouse Design Team Projects

This month for the Craft Warehouse Design Team assignment we had the pleasure of working with the brand new company's Authentique debut paper lines.  Only 4 of us received the yellow Blissful line and I was escatic to be one of them as it is definitely my favorite!  So fun to play with.  :)

Our assignment was to create one layout with an altered paper technique so I made my focal point flower using only various scalloped circle dies by Spellbinders and the wonderful paper.

...One layout featuring Bazzill's awesome new resist chipboard (so in love) and glimmer mist,

From Craftwarehouse Scrapbook Design Team

...And one card featuring a Unity stamp we were given to work with.

Make sure to check out more detailed photos and all of the other team member's beautiful work using these papers at Craft Warehouse's website here and here.

A "White Out" Layout Challenge

I have a final challenge today for Craft Warehouse's Weekend Blog Party. If you are interested in joining in the fun it's not over yet--You have until midnight PST on Tuesday to still enter for a chance to win some awesome prize packages. Make sure to check it out HERE.

For this last layout I was challenged by Rayette HERE to create a white layout with only the use of one additional color (sparingly). This was definitely scary as I'm all about mixing things up with bright colors and never just one, but I gave it my best shot. I'm guessing I used a bit more of my one color than I probably should have, but I realized this was also one of my first tries at a monochromatic layout so it was all around a good and difficult exercise for me.

For my background I used 9 different scalloped border punches from every brand on the market. I've always wanted to do this so I was excited to find the perfect pictures of my daughter in her white scalloped dress when we went to see the cherry blossoms last year.


Patterned papers are by Jillibean Soup. Layered butterfly diecuts are a combination of Sizzix (Large), Papertrey Ink (Medium) and Martha Stewart Punch (Small). After using the silk flower, regular cardstock butterflies looked too stark and unbalanced so after fidgeting with a dozen different combinations I settled on adding vellum to the top to give them the same soft look.


Thanks for stopping by and THANK YOU Craft Warehouse for such a fun event! I never would have completed 3 layouts and a card this weekend without your inspiration and motivation! :)