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!