Tu- Tu Tulle

I have a new obsession.......tulle! Like I needed another obsession...right? I have found myself grabbing this light airy fabric a lot lately. I have been using it on my LO's as well as my cards. What do you need to attach tulle? Colored floss, fabric glue, or thread. Sometimes a combo of the three. For this first LO, I threaded my button and snowflake with floss, then tied it around the center of my tulle/tinsel combo. Using fabric glue, I glued the snowflake/tulle combo to my page. When it was dry I twisted the tulle a bit and tied buttons threaded with floss to it. Use fabric glue to tack down your ends.

This next LO is quick and easy! Just tie a length of tulle around the page. Cut excess ends off and add a drop of glue to underside of bow. I added some pretty stick pins to center.

For this LO, I tied my flower threaded with floss to center of tulle. (Tulle is a pale yellow here) Again, I twisted tulle and used fabric glue to tack it down. (Just an FYI, the current kit, Nightingale includes this pretty yellow tulle! This LO was created using this awesome kit!)

You can also create "faux" skirts with tulle! For this card I took a rectangular piece of tulle and folded it over several times. (Otherwise tulle it is very transparent). Take a needle and thread, use a straight stitch to go across the "waistband." When done, pull thread to gather the waistband. Knot thread. Again, use fabric glue to position "skirt" where you want it.

I did the same thing for this skirt, but added rhinestones to her waistband.

How about tying a bow with tulle? That's what I did here for this card. I wanted the cherub to look like she was holding it up! Easy right? : ) (Again, used the Nightingale kit for this card!)

Used lot of the black tulle for this one!

I hope I've inspired you to look at tulle a whole new way! It is a fun, light, easily manipulated fabric! : )

Time Saver

I know we all wish we could have plenty of time to scrap -- but usually that is not the case. Here is a tip that can save you a bit of time.

When I started scrapping I picked up this tip and it is one that is super helpful. With cardstock cut the most popular size photos that you tend to use. Cutting more that one of each size is helpful as well. These can help you when you are putting a page together and are not quite sure how big or small you may want the pictures. And even if you don't print at home this can also help you figure out what size photos you may want to order.

I keep these within reach so that if I want to add more photos I can easily decide which size. Hope this was helpful!

Using Brushes in Photoshop (and making your own digi stuff!)

Are you intimidated by digital stuff? Me too, don't worry- I'm right there with you!

I've been picking up things here and there, but I'm definitely not "there" yet... but I wanted to share one of my favorite tricks and give you a little Valentine's treat today!

Below are some journaling cards/embellishments that you can save and print out and use. Just click on the images (it'll open them up big) and then right click and save image.

I don't have a great printer at home, so when I make these, I size them at 4x6", so that whenever I'm printing off photos, I just add them to the cart and presto- a set of printed digital elements the next time I get pics!



These next two I designed specifically to go with the new Nightingale kit- now on sale!



I'm going to teach you today how you can make some of these yourself- or at least, begin experimenting! It's super easy and fast... I made these over the course of a few minutes each!

In order to do this project, you're going to need to open photoshop- I use CS for this tutorial.

Then you need to go to one of these sites and download some brushes; save them and extract them somewhere where you can find them easily.

My Photoshop Brushes

BrushEezy

Next, open a new document in photoshop. You can do these on top of a photo or just on a 4x6 white document.
Click on this little paintbrush tool.
Then click up there on the tool bar on the little "down" arrow and a window will open with your default brushes. Your program will come with a couple loaded. If it looks weird or hard to see them, we can change that in a sec.
Click on the little right hand arrow and a new menu will pop up. Click on the "large thumbnails" thing so that a checkmark shows up next to it- that will make it easier to see your brushes. Then click on "Load Brushes" and you'll be able to go load those brushes you downloaded earlier. It's as easy as clicking on the icon and clicking "load!"
You can then click on the little thumbnail of whatever brush you want to play with, and start clicking away on your document. Think of it as "stamping" digitally. A few tips I've learned:

Change up the colors and layer brushes using different shades. Just click on those double squares I've got circled and select your colors!


Sometimes you'll click on your brush and nothing will show up. It's 'cause it's too big. You can change the size by lowering those numbers I have circled, OR you can use the [ keystroke to make it smaller.

They're fun added to photos too, like this!
Have fun experimenting- you can layer lots of different kinds of brushes and add text to make really unique journaling blocks or pre-made accents for your pages- custom made for you!

Here's a list of direct links to some of the brushes I used on the journaling blocks above:

Fancy Frames

Lace

Hearts

Vintage Hands

Photocorners

You're almost finished with your page . . . but it still feels like it's missing something. A little color? A little detail? But you don't want to go overboard. Hmmmm. Why not try a photocorner? :D

There are lots of fun photocorners on the market, but you can also make your own. The fun part is that you can make it out of anything to perfectly compliment your layout. Try using paper, fabric, transparencies, journal spots, stickers, etc.

Here's one technique for making your own photocorner:

Step 1: Choose your paper or material that you are going to work with. In this case I am using a Jenni Bowlin Mini Bingo Card.

Step 2: Cut it into a square.

Step 3: Cut the square from corner to corner. You will now have two triangle shapes. You can use them like this or continue with the steps to make it a little more like the traditional photocorner shape.

Step 4: Fold your triangle in half.

Step 5: Snip off the bottom corner.

Step 6: Open it up. Now you have your finished custom photocorner!

You can also create your own photocorners, by cutting off the corners of new or used envelopes. Measure in from the corner equally on each of the sides and cut! You can make them as small or as large as you would like.

Try using decorative scissors to cut your photocorner. Or decorate your custom photocorners with stamps, paint, doodling, brads, buttons, flowers, etc. The options are endless! Have fun with it!

Supplies Used: (Most everything here came from previous Noel Mignon Kits: Tree House & Picnic Basket)Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee, 7 Gypsies, Scenic Route; Transparency: Hambly; Letter Stickers: Scrapworks (black), Pink Paislee (red); Flowers: We R Memory Keepers (red), Pink Paislee (polka dot); Label Stickers: Scenic Route; Calendar Sticker: Melissa Frances; Chipboard bird: Scrapworks; Journal Spot: Anna Griffin; Rubons & Buttons: SEI; Other: Thread, Letter Stamps from my stash.