Time to Re-Org!

We have been thinking for some time now about combining the LO and Tips blog, and now that the New Year is upon us we thought this would be the perfect time to make the change!

So you can now find all Tips and Techniques from the fabulous Design Team OVER HERE!! Please just change your sub to that blog so you get updates when they are made.

Thank you all so much for the comments...we love comments!! :) :)

Sweater Posies

See this sweater? I love it, but it has definitely seen it's day. The color has faded a bit and there are three holes in it where I caught it on something. Time to throw it out . . . or is it?! :D



Cut several graduating circles out of a thinner sweater (something with an open weave or too bumpy of a texture will get caught in your sewing machine during the next step).



Load your sewing machine up with a similar colored thread and zig zag around the edges of the circle. As you sew, stretch and pull at the sweater fabric . . . don't worry, you can't mess this up. Don't worry about being too perfect about it because you won't really see your stitches with the same colored thread.



The sweater circle's edges will curl up naturally as you work with it, but you can also use your fingers to twist and bend the edges into place if you would like. :)


Now layer the circles together, add a button and you have a darling Sweater Posie to add to your page.



Check out this one where I layered two different colors together. Fun, right?! :D :D :D



And this is how it will look on your page.





Page created with The Merry Days of Christmas collection by My Mind's Eye.

Have fun!
Jana

Make a unique shabby chic background

I got the idea for this technique after making a canvas decoration for my bedroom.

Start off with a piece of cardstock. I chose to use the tan piece out of the "Dear Santa" kit. Keep in mind that whatever color you choose will be "peeking out" from behind the treatment we do on it. This could be so cool with so many different color choices out there!

I keep a old book of catechism and liturgy to use for different projects. It doesn't really matter what you use, though- most of the text will end up being covered up.

Tear out random sheets and adhere them to the page. I like to tear my sheets up a little to make interesting shapes. I used my ATG gun to attach them to the layout. Some of my pages are sideways and upside down.

Continue to layer until you are satisfied with how much cardstock/text ratio you have.
Brush white acrylic paint randomly over the paper. I like to mostly cover the layout- but not entirely. The paint is brushed pretty thinly so you can still see what's underneath. Start with a little paint and add more until you are happy with it.
Add some Shimmerz spritz to it. (I used this one from the "Dear Santa" kit!) It adds a lovely shimmer (duh!) to the paper.
I think this makes such a cool background and could be used so many different ways: obviously, as the background for a layout, but you could also punch it, die cut it, apply this technique to chipboard or even letters... lots of fun ideas!

Bookpaper Leaf Rubbings

Looking for a new way to add leaf accents to your pages? Try this technique! :)

First, you will need to collect various leaves from your yard/neighborhood. Collect small, medium and large ones so you have a variety of sizes to work with on your pages later on.



Then you will need some kind of bookpaper and several colors of crayons with the wrappers removed.



Next, place your leaf vein-side up underneath the bookpaper. Use the side of the crayon and rub over the top to create a leaf rubbing. The darker colors show up better. Try layering a few colors for variation!




Look how many different kinds you can make! :D



Cut out your leaves and now you are ready to accent your pages!





Clam Chowder by Jana Eubank



Have fun!
Jana

Vintage Snowflakes

I love anything vintage or shabby and many people have asked me how I create my "vintage" snowflakes. So today, I am going to show you! They are simple to make and something you can make ahead of time.

Here are a few examples of past projects I've made using these glittery snowflakes.

Here is what you need to make 'em! Some type of glue......in my example I used Paper Glaze, walnut ink, Diamond Dust, and of course some type of snowflake die cut. (Mine are by Sizzix!)

First cut out your die cut shapes.

Then spread your glue on the snowflake......I use my finger to spread it evenly.

Sprinkle the Diamond Dust on top of it. Coat it generously! Let the snowflake dry. Sometimes it takes an hour or so.....depending on how heavily you applied your glue.

Once the snowflakes are dry put them in a pizza box or an old tray, in my case I used an old plastic tray that is gunky and icky! (Perfect for this messy project!) Spray the walnut ink on the snowflakes. Spray a few times for darker snowflakes, only once or twice for lighter ones.

You can dab a bit at the snowflakes with a tissue if it gets a bit too dark in one area.

After you get the desired darkness, let the snowflakes dry. Then you can embellish them with ribbons, buttons, flowers, rhinestones.....whatever you like! : )

Fun right? : )

Here is one more card!

I hope you decide to give these a try! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tips for Transparency

I thought I'd jump on here and share a few tips for attaching the beautiful transparencies that Noel adds to ours kits!

Here is a layout that I have done using "The 31st" Noel Mignon kit and I will show you were I placed my adhesive and how to incorporate it into your next layout.

And then here is where I placed my adhesive:

I placed a small glue dot under each of the green chipboard dots, and then under the large photo and borders. I will usually lay my layout all out the way that I want it (papers, transparency, and photos... embellishments are last) and then strategically place my adhesive under things so that I know it won't show.

I also placed one photo on top of the transp. and another behind it letting the pattern frame the smaller photo.

There are parts of the transparency that are not attached to the cardstock underneath but I am not worried about it coming up once I put it into my page protector and it will stay in place that way.

I love being creative with transparencies... with a few pieces of patterned paper and embellishments this layout came together QUICKLY using the printed transparency.

Other ideas to attach transparencies:
brads

staples

stitching (machine of hand)

Eyelets

Thanks for stopping by!

-Kim
Circus Life

Dollar Store Find: Kitchen Towels

I admit it. I LOVE to browse dollar stores! :D I don't know if it's the thrifty side of me, or the creative side of me . . . but I like to find things that I can change up or alter in some way. Especially if I can use it in scrapbooking. :)

This time when I went to the dollar store the kitchen towels caught my eye with all their lovely colors and textures! I've been wanting to play with fabric a bit on my pages so I thought this would be an inexpensive way to try it out. :)



On these two pages I used sections of a towel as a layer on my page, the same way I would use a sheet of patterned paper. I used large stitches and machine sewing to keep the layers in place.

I also used a gold textured towel to create page accents by running it through my die cut machine. I made layered flowers and stars. LOVE the way these turned out and I can't wait to make a bazillion more.









Next time you are at the dollar store, try to see materials in a new light. It will get you thinking creatively and push you out of the box. Have fun!

Jana

Embellishment Storage

How do you store your embellishments?

I used to store them by the type of embellishment... you know brads with brads etc...
I have in the past couple of years decided to try the color sorting instead.
I. LOVE. IT!

Sometimes when I am working on a layout or card I realize that it needs just a bit of such and such color here or there and knowing that all my embellishments are sorted by color I can open up my color drawer and pull from an array of things, from old product to new product! I also find that by doing it this way that I use all kinds of products that I forget that I have! I used to just pull from my newest stuff and then would run across something later on and think "man that would have been perfect!"... now with them all mixed into one color drawer makes it easier to pull just the right embellishment for my project!

Here is a peek into one of my drawers... the blue drawer.. (duh! LOL) I just purchased several of the rubbermaid 7 drawer things and each drawer has a color assigned to them. The orange, yellow, and purple have the smaller drawers up top.

One year at Michael's (around Christmas.. but I have seen them for other holidays too) I found these tiny Muffin bakers for less than a $1 each and bought a TON of them... the cashier thought maybe I was channeling my inner Martha Stewart. hehe I place the smaller stuff in these little containers like brads, eyelets, and smaller embellishments... they then go into my larger color drawers. (small baskets could be used as well)
I use some of the smaller drawers up top for other things... one drawer is for "bling"... this includes lots of gems, glitter brads etc..I have another smaller drawer for my clear embellishments.

I still have a basket that gets some of my new product thrown in there, but having color drawers makes it easy to sort new product also. I just open packages and put them in the right color bin!

Other quick tips from my room:
-I have a rubbermaid box for rubons, stickers etc... that have sayings on them... stuff that is perfect for cards. I can reach right over and grab a sheet and use it quickly, much easier than looking through all my stickers/rubons to find just the right saying.

-I have all my letter stickers in a large box with cardboard between each color so they are easy to sort.

- I have a drawer for chipboard letters, one for naked chipboard letters, and naked chipboard shapes.

- I sort all my patterned paper by manufacturer in the Karen Foster 12x12 holders.

-My ribbon is in large glass jars sorted by color family, the same with my buttons.

I hope this helps ya'll just a bit.. if you have any questions feel free to contact me! :) This is no small undertaking but once you get it done it feels SO good! Let me know if you take the plunge!

-Kim