Photo frame

In this photo frame I used a standard 4x6 photo, so I can change the photo anytime with a new one.
In order to make this photo frame I cut a cardstock paper at 6x8 and drew with a pencil a frame on the cardstock leaving 1 inch on each side.
Then I cut a patterned paper in 8 pieces, the 4 of them at 1x1, the 2 of them at 1x4 and the other two at 1x6 inches. Next step, I covered theese strips with Versamark and heat embossed them 3 times with UTEE. When they were cool, I folded them in random because I wanted to have a crackled result. Next time I'll use Ranger's Crackle Accents because the result is prettier, but with UTEE the process is much much faster. Last step, I adhered the strips on my cardstock mat.
Then I cut a strip of green cardstock with the Fiskars Threading Water border punch and cut them in four pieces, 2 pieces at 1x4 inches and the other 2 at 1x6 inches. I sanded the edges a bit an covered the lot with a Sakura Stardust pen and finally adhered them on the frame.
Then I stamped the butterflies, they are from the Hero Arts Antique Engravings clear stamp set and colored them with my copics and before adhering them with foam pads on the frame I sprinkled them with the water and Perfect Pearls mix for some shine.
Last step, I used DMC pearlescent thread that I colored red with my copics around the frame and for the tiny bow, added the tiny Prima flowers and... ready!

 

Layouts: January 2010

In this layout I used a patterned paper from Creative Imaginations (if I'm not mistaken), I really liked the muted tones of red green an brown because they complemented the color tones of the big photo which I mounted on red Coredinations cardstock and then adhered on the page with foam squares. Then I adhered the rest of the photos on a green Coredinations piece of cardstock, I like this cardstock a lot because the core color is a lighter shade of the main color, so it is ideal for distressing, tearing, sanding etc. Then I stamped on ivory smooth cardstock and colored with my copics the Sarah Kays and mounted them on dark brown cardstock after cuting it with scallop nestabillities and sanding it a lot in order to reveal the beige inner color. After that I added the title and the date using Basic Grey sticker alphas after changing the color with my copics. I also colored the tiny bows I made, that's another reason I love my copics, you can color on (almost) everything!
Next step was the little embellishment on the lower left corner, it is a Dover publications sample image that I colored with my copics, also used some Sakura Stardust pens and I coverd it with Ranger's Glossy Accents before adhering it on the page with foam pads.
Last thing I made is the flower on the left, I used the Slice and cut two pieces of pattered paper, same size and design, and then used a lot of distress inks in red and pink shades. After that I adhered the one on top the other with foam pads and covered the top one with Ranger's Crackle Accents. After it was dry, I cut two circles from pp, one slightly larger than the other and used the scissors to cut the fringes around them. Then I added the large flower underneath and finally secured the whole together with a velvet brad. Last step I lifted the fringes and pushed them closely around the brad  and..ready!

Layouts: December 2009

In this layout (background paper from the Cosmo Cricket "Jolly by Golly" collection) I used cardstock mats in green and ivory in order to create two different zones for two different events. Then I adhered the rest of the photos as well as some embellishments: on the left I added photos of two christmas cards I made and on the top left I made an embellished journalig spot buy using two circles and a tiny bow. On the top right I added a stamped image, this time I did it a little differently: I stamped the image on paper, colored it, then adhered on top a piece of clear acetate and then on top a second piece of clear acetate where I had already stamped the same image with stazon. It gave it a kind of 3d look, but couldn't take a decent close up, so you can't realy see it from the photo. Then I stamped the "Merry Christmas" on American Crafts ribbon (I had already colored it red with a Copic marker) and adhered the little banner with foam dots. The last embellishment I added is the one in the middle, they're Dover publications free sample images that I printed in different sizes and colored with my copics, I also used Sakura Stardust pens for some details and then covered them with Ranger's Glossy Accents.I used some gold thread (I used the Bow-Easy for the multiple tiny bow) but also adhered them on foam dots in order to keep them in place and...ready!

Layouts: November 2009

This layout is about the first greek crop that took place in November. I wanted to create a colorful and vibrant page and I think I accomplished it! After adhering the photos and the cards that I made that day as well as some memorabilia, there was no room left, so I folded a piece of paper in two and used the inside for my journaling. I embellished the front of the card with distress inks, the Hero Arts "Old Letter" stamp and then I used a strip of a patterned paper where I added some Flower Soft. Then I added the label, I cut it using a Label One die (Nestabillities) and finally adhered the date and...ready!

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: January 2010

In this layout I used two papers from the My Mind's Eye "Wonderful Winter" paper pack, I absolutely love this paper pack, gorgeous colours, all glittered, beautiful designs, and 54 pages, stunning collection. I used the Cuttlebug "You're not the boss of me" alphabet dies for the title, then I stamped the images (using Dovecraft victorian christmas stamps) and colored them with my copics, then I punched them with a round punch and adhered them on my page using foam dots, and finally I covered them with Ranger's Glossy Accents. For the journaling I just cut pieces of white paper and colored them with distress inks. I didn't feel like adding anything else, so...ready!

Baby Layout:: December 2009

It seems to me that lately I 've lost my mojo :-( , but that's ok, I just keep going and hopefully it will come back!
In this layout my favorite element is the little envelope, I cut it in my CraftRobo using a template that Vicky created and generously shared, you can get it too HERE and you know what, she also shared a PDF template so you don't have to have a digital die cutting machine, you can just cut it by hand! Isn't that cool?
Then I used distress inks and also sprayed it with a water and Perfect Pearls mix and after it was dry I stamped on top with my latest favorite toy, the Hero Arts "Old Letter Writing" stamp, using green distress ink. Inside I put a copy of my niece's first "letter from Santa"!
I also used Ranger's "Crackle Accents" on the small printed embellishments, I didn't like it because it ruined the colors of the image, I think I'll only use it on cardstock, pp etc. The papers and the stiker are from the Cosmo Cricket "Jolly by Golly" collection. The "Twinkle Little Star" is a stamped paper piece that I coated with UTEE, I really like UTEE because it gives an epoxy finish very easily and quickly.

Baby Layout: November 2009

In this layout I used once more a Martha Stewart deep edge punch, this time the "Flower Bed" and then used on the other side the scalloped blade in my Fiskars trimmer and finally I accented the edges with pink/red distress inks.

The papers are actually the two sides of the same sheet, from K & Company.

For the title I used American Crafts "Giggle" white foam alphas that I colored with my copics, and I added in the middle the embellishments, I used a stamped flower in the bottom, then added a bow and on top a clear button after adhering some paper at the bottom with stickles.

The "drink" in the lower left corner occured to me when I positioned the two photos with a little inclination and the gap between them seemed like a glass to me (LOL!) so I cut a white paper, adhered it under the photos and colored it in the quick with my copics, the result is childish but it matches the theme of the two photos.

The little gingerbread figure in the top right corner is a Slice design, the date was made with Basic Grey alphabet stickers that I covered with Sakura Stardust pens and....ready!

Baby Layout: October 2009

For this layout I wanted something with a dash of purple, so I used this K & Company patterned paper and combined it with brown cardstock that I cut with the Martha Stewart Trellis deep edge punch. I used my Slice to cut the title and a white pen for the faux stitch.
After adhering the journaling, I noticed that I needed some embellishments, so I cut the petals of a Prima "Whispers" yellow flower and colored brown a few clear buttons with my copics. Last step, I added the big clear button after stamping on it with stazon and coloring it with my copics. It smeared a lot, so I tried to keep clear of the black ink, not so easy!!!
Althought the color combination is unusual to me, I think the final result is ok.