Layouts: October 2009

The inspiration for this page was a patterned paper I saw that had flowers and vines on the left side of the page. So I started from scratch and made at first the trellis using the Martha Stewart deep edge border punch. Then I cut the flourishes using a Sizzix Bigz die and then I was ready to use another Sizzix die for the flowers, but then I decided to try to make the flowers myself by distressing the edges of plain circles and putting one on top of the other. I also used tons of distress inks and added random strokes with markers on each circle and then crumbled them a little. When I assembled the flowers they needed something more for the centre, so I used clear buttons and twine. To be honest, I really love the result but didn't enjoy that much the process, I used a craft knife to distress the edges and it took me ages!
For the title I adhered the patterned paper (all the patterned papers are from the "Bailey" K & Company paper pack) on plain chipboard and run it through my Cuttlebug with the "You're not the boss of me" alphabet, I also accented the edges with a dark brown marker.
I think that the final result is lovely, even more so because almost everything came from my hands!

Baby Layout: September 2009

Pink and green once more with a sprinkle of yellow here and there. The background paper is K & Company and I used green cardstock in order to make the details: for the thin scallop lines I used the scallop blade in my Fiskars paper trimmer and the frame for the main photo was made with the Fiskars "Threading Water" border punch and then I made the little bows with an American Crafts ribbon.
Then I stamped the little faces on a piece of white photo paper (Inkadinkado asian themed clear stamps set) but I made a mask because I only wanted to use the heads (I know it sounds weird, LOL!), I also masked the inside of the hair because I wanted to color them and then I adhered them with 3d foam on the dark pink scallop circles.
Finally I added the journaling (I just realized I mispelled the month, LOL!) and the title, it was made with American Crafts "Giggle" white foam alphas that I colored with my copics.
I really like the little faces!

Baby Layout: August 2009

Once more I used my favorite color combo, pink and green. The backround paper is K & Company and used cardstock mats in order to enhance the focus on the large photos. The creative element that I like the most in this layout is the journaling spot I made: after positioning the photos, I took a piece of patterned paper and a ruler and drew the shape and rounded the corners with a corner punch. Then I used a Tim Holtz mini mask and distress inks and last step I added the white faux stitch around it.Then I added the date using the Cuttlebug "Harmony" alphabet and the green flower (Prima from the "Whispers" collection). The little button on the flower was clear and I colored it with a Copic marker.

Baby Layout: May 2009

Another layout with flowers!
I used a K & Company patterned paper, added my photos, made some doodling in the two corners using Sakura Soufle in green, then added the journaling spots and the flowers.
The flowers were cut with the Sizzix "Build a flower" die, before assembling them I used distress in on the edges.
The tiny flowers are Prima, I used some Sakura Stardust pen on them (I love Sakura Stardust pens!).
For the title I used the Cuttlebug "You're not the Boss of Me" alphabet.
Fresh and in full bloom!

Project: my first mini album!

I had accidentally printed the photos of my niece's first vacation on BW and I didn't want to throw them, so I used them to make my first mini album!
I used K & Company papers from the "Sea Glass" paper pack and 1,5 mm chipboard for the covers.
I adhered the photos on opposite sides but then I thought that I didn't want them to touch each other (when the album is closed) so I made covering flaps. Then I realized that I didn't want to cover them completely so I used my CB and nestabillities to make the round "windows". I really liked the result.
Then, I saw that the flaps would not stay in place when I held the album vertically, so I made the little "I dont' know how to call them!" and fastened them on top with brads. In order to make them I used a chipboard piece of this shape as a template and traced it on plain chipboard where I had glued patterned paper and cut the shape, then I used "Broken China" distress ink on the edges, then stamped the tiny sea horse, then added some stickles and finally embossed them with UTEE. Really cute!
For the last two pages I made some pockets and put in them white cardstock so that her parents will add a little something, some journaling or another photo, etc.
Finally I used the Cuttlebug "Baby Face" alphabet for the titiles, and afted adhering the letters on each page I covered them with "Glossy Accents", it gave them a nice 3d effect.

In this project I used for the first time my brand new Bind it All, I really like it for the following reasons:

- it is sturdy and well manufactured
- it can be used to make from tiny miny albums up to 12 inches albums
- the punching procedure is really easy and I got accurate results with no fuss even though it was the first time I used it (of course I practised beforehands on some scrap paper)
- it punched the 1,5 mm chipboard like butter
- it can come handy in many projects, not only mini albums
- it is pink!

The only thing that didn't go so well in this first project is the binding because I didn't pay too much attention, but after repeating the "squeeze" two times, it was almost ok. They don't say "practise makes better" for nothing!

So my first impression is that it is a good and reliable tool and I 'm really pleased I bought it.

Baby Layout: October 2008

It 's a fact: I 'm addicted to flowers! After positioning the photos on my page (the paper is K & Company) I used the nesties and distress inks to make the scalloped "petals" and the Sizzix "Build a flower" die for the flowers. The fun part is the buds, I used the same die but after adhering the three layers one on top of the other, I cut the flower in the middle and then folded this half in the middle with one end overlaping the other and glued them together. Then I added the tiny green "sepal" and the journaling spots. Finally I added the swirls with my Sakura Souffle, on some of them I added on top a layer of Glossy Accents, the result is very nice and almost 3d. Flowers flowers flowers EVERYWHERE!!!

Baby Layout: August 2008

For this layout I wanted a light and airy effect, so I used a low key yellow - ochre background paper (K & Co). When I positioned the photos on the page I came up with idea to incorporate arrows, so I used the leftovers from a paper (Earth Love collection by Cosmo Cricket) an cut the arrow shapes.
Then I made the flowers: I cut them with my sizzix "Build a flower" die but used cutouts of the same size, used yellow and orange distress ink and a Sakura Glaze orange pen. Then I added a clear button on top.
For the title, I glued green cardstock on plain chipboard and the used the "You're not the boss of me" cuttlebug alphabet.
Finally I added the journaling using a HOTP journaling template and the page was ready!

Baby Layout: July 2008

July 2008, first vacation for my niece, sea, sun and lots of fun!
I wanted a two page layout and at first I tried to use two different background papers, but then I thought to use this paper on both pages (from the K & Co "Sea glass" collection.
I positioned the photos and then I wanted something to accent the smaller ones, so I made some frames with mt nesties. Then they seemed too flat, so I added the yellow lines (Sakura Glaze) and then I covered them with Ranger's "Glossy Accents". It takes a while to dry but the results are shiny and it adds volume if you spread it in a thick layer.
For the rest of the photos I just used white Sakura Souffle and draw the faux stitches.
I used my American Crafts "Giggles" white thickers (I have a stash of them, bought them on ebay really cheap) and colored them with my copics, perfect results!
At this point the pages were almost complete, but I wanted to add something like a base, so I cut by hand white cardstock and used yellow distress ink (I'm a distress addict, it's a fact!).
For the finishing touches I stamped and colored the boat and the lighthouse (Inkadinkado) and then covered them with the Glossy Accents. Finally I used the Fiskars "Threading Water" border punch and added the blue string.

At this point I thought to leave it as it was, I liked it this way because it is not too loaded, I just added the date with the "Baby Face" cuttlebug alphabet.

They look like a summer breeze in my album!


 

Baby Layout: June 2008

For this layout I wanted to focus on the central picture. So I used two layers (one cardstock and the stripped paper is from the "Earth Love" Cosmo Cricket collection) and then adhered them on my paper (K & Co). Then I realized that there was not enough space for the other two photos and I didn't want to leave them out. So, I cut them and kept only what I wanted, this way they fitted exactly on my page!
I used the leftovers of the stripped paper to make some accents and then tried to copy the stripped pattern on the thickers (American Crafts "Giggle" white), but I faced this problem: I used my old markers, Tombow dual and at first the colors where perfect but when the ink dried the colors changed! Specifically the orange became pink and the green blue!!! I colored them again, the same thing happened! Finally I used distress ink in yellow and somehow the result was ok. Next time though I'll use my copics!
Now, the flowers were cut with my brand new sizzix die. I assembled the flower in the upper left corner in the traditional way, I just put them one on top of the other. For the two flowers in the right lower side of the page I stamped on plain paper and then inked them with distress inks in yellow and orange. Then I folded them in the middle, and added the little green paper piece.
They are really cute and because the paper is thin they are more flower-like than the other I did with patterned paper.

With this layout I completed my niece's first year "Baby Layouts":

July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008

Baby Layout: May 2008

For this layout I used K & Company paper because there was a lot of pink in the photos and I like the pink-green combination.
I positioned the pictures and I order to accent the central photo I used green cardstock to make a mat and embellished it this way: I used the Fiskars "Threading Water" border punch, then used pink string and finally I added the flowers.
Next step I colored with my copics the flower fairy (free coloring template from Dover Publications) and then used UTEE to make it like a shiny sticker. When I positioned it on the page, it was like floating on air, so I stamped the flowers and leaves (from a Gina K stamp set) right on the page, colored them and then positioned the fairy on top. Then I added the journaling using HOTP journaling template. The title and the date was foam sheet cut in my cuttlebug with the cuttlebug "Baby Face" alphabet set. The butterflies on the left is an Inkadinkado stamp. Finally, the flower on top is Prima, from the "Whispers" collection, I love them because they're semi-transparent, I also stamped underneath it leaves, I didn't color them after stamping becase I wanted only the outlines.

Delivery Day: First video!

Baby Layout: April 2008

For this layout I wanted to combine spring and Easter, so I chose two simple K & Company papers (the green backround paper and the plaid pink) and another K & Company paper with flowers from the McKenna collection to make the letters and the button.

I used the scallop blade in my Fiskars trimmer to make the scallop around the page and also used the "negative" to make the green border around the central photo.

I made the basket with the eggs:
First I cut the shape of the basket, I used pink distress ink for the edges and then used the Fiskars "threading water" border punch for the top. I added the green string and the button (just a clear button, I glued patterned paper underneath). For the eggs I used the Fiskars "easter egg" squeeze punch, then adhered it on patterned paper, then on chipboard and then I covered it all up with UTEE, I currently love UTEE!

Next step, I wanted to add something on the right and left of the central photo (for which I made a mat with the plaid paper and used small Prima flowers in the four corners, now, these flowers were altered this way: I used my markers on the back of the flowers to achieve a sublte variance in color), so I used my Gina K flower stamp and colored it with Copic markers. Then I used a Sakura pen to make the green doodling and stamped on it the leaves with various shades of green. I used Copic markers to accent the leaves around the flowers.

Then I stamped the little butterflies (Inkadinkado) and also added the punched out ones (Fiskars mini punch).

Last step was to add the month and year on top:
I glued a patterned paper on some plain chipboard (it actually was a box of Kellog's) and then used my Cuttlebug alphabet "You're not the boss of me".

Layout ready, fresh from the garden!

Baby Layout: February 2008

For this layout I kept it simple because I wanted to put the rose fairy image which is large enough.
The rose fairy image is a sample from a Dover colorbook, and it works this way: I gave my email to Dover and each week they send me a link with samples from their various colorbooks. I pick the ones I like and download them for my personal use.
So, I printed this rose fairy in BW (the actual size was A4 but I wanted it smaller) and then I colored it with my Copics. I experienced minor smearing, but only when I kept coloring repeatedly over the black lines. The result was soft and delicate, the only part that I don't like is the face and the body because I used exactly the same colors that I used for the roses and the dress.

Once the image was colored, I adhered it on blue cardstock and put the photos on the page, the paper is K & Company.
I added the letters and then I had the idea to stamp over them. Don't try this at home :-) because I also stamped the paper!. If you want to stamp on your thickers, line them up on a scrap paper, stamp them and then position them on your page.

I added the flower (I made it myself and will share the details in another post), the arrow (HOTP journaling template) and the little heart on top (wrong year, I have to correct it somehow!) and that's it!

Baby Layout: January 2008

For this layout, I started with a K & Co dotted paper in pink. I wanted something simple so I could add lots of stuff!
Next, I made the trees using a Fiskars cutting template and light green cardstock. Then I used Ranger's green distress ink in green, embossed the trees with Cuttlebug's "Branches" folder an finally I sanded the surface a bit.
The snowman was made with three circles that I cut with my nesties on white cardstock, used Ranger's blue distress ink to make the shadows and empasize the shapes. I cut the little hat by hand, stamped some snowflakes in light grey and then used the same blue distress ink for the edges. I also cut a pop dot in tiny parts to make the buttons and the nose and colored them with markers. Finally, the scarf is an American Crafts ribbon, I used my blue Copic to mute down the colors, but, I couldn't adhere it on the snowman! I used glue, herma, nothing, the only thing that finally kept it in place is a couple of pop dots. So if you know any adhesive that holds ribbon in place, please enlighten me! :-)
Once I put the trees, the snowman and the photos in place, the image of a seesaw was created in my mind! So I cut pieces out of pink cardstock, used pink distress ink to make them seem less flat, and it was ready.
The letters are American Crafts "Giggle" white thickers, I used some light blue distress ink in the right side of each letter.
At this point, I needed something to put in the upper corners of the layout, so I used a Fiskars stamp set on white paper, colored them, cut them and then, for the embellishment in the upper left I used some stickles, while fot the little one on the upper right, I used UTEE, the result is really nice, lots of shine!
Finally I used some festive rubbons, actually that's the only set of rubbons I have (not a rubbons girl!).

I really liked the final result, BUT, next time I want to make a fastive layout I 'll make sure I have some festive papers first, it makes the project so much easier!

Baby Layout: November 2007

For this page I used a green pink color scheme (K & Company "small wonders girl" paper) because it matched the baby's outfits from the photos.
I wanted to give emphasis to one photo so I used my nestabilties to create a mat. I didn't waste the "negative" square, I used it to create a sort of frame for my journaling.
Then I added thickers (american crafts, I bought them white so I can color them to match any color scheme).
For the flower accents, I stamped them on white cardstock (Gina K's stamps and pure luxury cardstock), colored them with my copics and used pop dots to adhere them on the page.
Finally I added the little bow on the left to add some "weight" and finished it with some free hand doodles. Very cute and girly!

Baby Layout: October 2007

In this page two out of three photos were taken during a warm October evening, and they have a yellowish warm tint.
So I decided to mat them with a dark blue cardstock paper, I sanded it to decrease the contrast and to soften it down. The patterned paper is K&Co.
For the stamped image, first I stamped it (Crafty Secrets stamp) and colored it with my copics, then I used nestabilities to cut and emboss the outline and finally I used Pebbles chalk to color the backround.
I cut with my cuttlebug the letters, from the same sanded cardstock and then I added the faux stitch with a Sakura pen.
Then I added the journaling spot (HOTP) in the left.
For the punched out stars I used DCWV yellow glitter cardstock.
The page came out a little "heavy" at the bottom, but I didn't want to alter or add anything more.

Layouts: Dream

Two out of the three photos show my niece while she's asleep, and I wanted a serene and calm background paper, so I chose one from the "Bailey" K & Company collection.
I found a matching light beige-yellow cardstock and made the embellishments with my Cuttlebug, I wanted to keep it light and clutter free, so I didn't add a lot of stuff.
I discovered that I need some acetate for the journaling, in case I want the background to be visible, I put it in my shopping list! The little flowers are Prima and the month and year stamps are Inkadinkado.

I also sanded the edges of the photos, I liked the effect.

Delivery Day: Patterned Paper and Cardstock

I just received my goodies and I'm so excited, I love all of them!

K & Company Bailey 30x30 paper pad, 36 two-sided papers, classic flowers and paisley designs in rich colors, really beautifull.
Also K & Kompany Hopscotch Girl 30x30 paper pad, 36 two-sided papers, really yummie colors and designs, I adore this pad.
Finally I bought a cardstock pack, Core'dinations Elements Super Assortment, http://www.coredinations.com/index.php/products/super-assortments/ , I can't wait to try it and find out what I can do with the colored core, definitely a little sanding or even tearing, who knows!

Now, ordering 12x12 paper pads or cardstock packs does not come cheap if you live in Greece, since delivery costs quite a bit when you order them from abroad, even when I'm buying from ebay. So, that's what I do:

On ebay, I choose a european site, for example ebay.co.uk. Then, I search for the desired object and on the tab "Preferences" -> "Location" I choose "European Union", since these items are heavy and large in size and even if I find something at a good price at ebay.com, there is the risk to pass through the greek customs, and if it does, well, that's a sad story...
Choosing European Union in the preferences, there is not such danger.

Besides ebay, there are a few (that I at least know) online retailers, in Europe, that I use, and recently I discovered two french sites:

• la fourmi creative
• la boit' a scrap

The difference with these online retailers is that they charge a fixed sum for delivery to Greece, 12 and 10 euros respectively, and not accordingly to weight, value or volume, so if you want to buy heavy or large objects, it comes quite cheap. For example, I bought from la fourmi creative 2 paper pads (36 sheets each), a cardstock assortment (80 sheets) and an album, all 12x12 inches, and the delivery cost was 12 euros, delivered to my door (and not at the post office) 7 days after the day I ordered them.
Another aspect is that they have promotions and sales quite often, for example each K & Company paper pad cost me about 10 euros, I think it is a really good price.

If you happen to know and trust an online retailer in Europe that delivers to Greece, you're welcomed to share it with me!

Delivery Day

Delivery day today!

I received two little (ideal to carry in a purse or handbag) K&Company brag books, a pink and a light blue, both are for gifts to friends of mine who have newly born babies (boy and girl).
Each holds 24 photos 6,35 x 7,62 cm.

My mother totally loved them, so I'm definetely going to buy a couple more (for ourselves this time!).

http://www.kandcompany.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=6127





I also received some Prima flowers (Whispers-Pansy), really cute! It's the first time that I bought flowers and I'm really excited and looking forward to use them in a card or layout!

That's all for today, Delivery Day is always a happy day!

I'm in love with...K & Co Sea Glass Two-Sided Paper Pad

I just received the K & Co "Sea Glass" Two-Sided Paper Pad and I have to say, it is no less than AWESOME!

Subtle colours, great designs, each page is two sided and has perfectly matching colours/designs (limitless possibilities for mix and match), 36 pages totally, great value for money.

Absolutely perfect for breezy pages (can't wait for the summer)!

http://www.kandcompany.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=47&idproduct=5748