Using Punches On Your Pages

I'm a big fan of "white space" (aka space with nothing on it- doesn't necessarily have to be "white") on layouts, although most of the time I tend to forget that I'm a fan of white space when I'm creating and I end up putting stuff everywhere on a layout and before I know it- no white space!

I went in with purpose on this layout to show restraint in my design and to leave some empty space, and I really love the results. It helps keep the focus purely on these pics of my two oldest kiddos.



To make this tree below, I punched a large scalloped circle and matted it behind a tree cut from one of the papers. An overlay, a chipboard sticker, and a button help add more dimension.
I've seen this a few times and I think it looks cool- just punchng one section on a layout. I backed it with a little scrap of patterned paper to make it pop.
To make the title really pop, I first inked a piece of the Maya Road chipboard, then went over it with the distress stickles in the kit. The look ends up seeming like you could just eat it!
(all made with the Object of My Affection kit!)

Shimmerz Paints Tips

Have you ever bought a new product and you weren't quite sure what to do with it?! I know I have! One of the things that confused me when I first started playing with it was PAINT. :)

Included in the January PAPER DOLL kit was a little pot of Pink Shimmerz paint. Have you played with it yet?! :) Or maybe you're feeling a little afraid of it? ;) Well, I want you to pull out your supplies, roll up your sleeves and try some of these ideas on your next page. :)

Paint on Chipboard



Page created with the Noel Mignon OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION kit







Create a Shimmering Background





Paint Portions of the Pattern on Patterned Paper




Paint on Letter Stickers





Paint on Stamped Letters



Emboss Chipboard Letters and Paint Inside the Recessed Design




Paint in Portions of a Die Cut Image




Or Paint the Entire Die Cut




Paint a Shimmer-y Wash Over Paper Flowers





Or Paint a Polka Dot Pattern on Handmade Paper Flowers




Make your Patterned Paper of Your Paper Piecing Shine




Change the Color of a Pearl Embellishment




Make Your Flocked Brads Shimmer




Add a Shimmer-y Ruffle to Your Page
(This is fun to do with bookpaper, too! And LOOK! More shimmery painted flocked brads!)




Paint a Stamped Image







Apply a Paint Wash to the inside of an Embossing Folder and Emboss Cardstock

I used spray ink on this embossing folder, but I think you could easily attain the same effect with a paint wash . . . Try it! :)


Page created with the Noel Mignon OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION kit




I hope this has given you some fun ideas to get you experimenting! Have fun! The possibilities are endless!

Using Your Stash for Gifts!

Hello and happy Saturday!  I just wanted to hop on and share a fun little tutorial on how to turn those extra peices of pattern paper into cute wrapping paper.

I started with 2 pieces of 12x12 pattern paper.  This pattern paper is by Dream Street and it is a little havier in weight so I suggest the heavier cardstock and not thin pieces.

I simply overlapped the pieces and used a zigzag stitch.  You will do this on all three sides to creat a sort of "pocket"

After I placed the gift inside (I usually put it in tissue paper) I folded it like you would if you were wrapping a present and stitched it up.  I could have also just cut enough excess to create a "pillow" but that is up to you.

After I stitched it closed it looked like this.

I used some wrapping ribbon that can be found at any craft store.  It is a bit thicker and more coarse than regular ribbon so it keeps its shape really well.

That's it - and it is pretty strong.  It wont tear easily and it is super cute!  Just another way to use up your stash.

I bet you could even "quilt some together to make it larger or to just have a differnt look.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Michelle

 

Technique: Dreamy Fairy Lights

Today I wanted to bring you a little tutorial on how to make a pretty strand of "fairy lights." Our house is so gloomy now without our Christmas decorations, and with the days being so short (and cloudy right now, for us!), I needed something to brighten up our home!

Fairy Lights Tutorial:

I picked up some of these white lights on clearance at Walmart after Christmas. I knew I could use them for something. ;)


Gather some white coffee filters. You can also use the natural colored ones. I'll have some tips at the end of some other things to use, but this is for the basic idea...

For each "bloom" on the lights, you'll need three filters.

Crumple them up. There is no particular science to this.
Open them up and gently flatten them out. Layer them on top of each other.
Use a small scalloped circle punch on some pink paper from the Paper Doll kit. Put it in the center of the "bloom."
Pinch up all the layers from the bottom of the pile. This helps to form the bloom.
Open it back up and use a craft knife or paper piercer to poke a hole through all the layers.


Remove the pink scalloped circle for a moment, and push one of the white lights through the coffee filters. (I did one "bloom" for every 4 or 5 lights.)
Put a bit of hot glue on the bottom of the pink scalloped circle and push it down onto the light/coffee filters. MAKE SURE TO NOT HAVE THE LIGHTS ON when you are gluing! I imagine it's probably not a safe thing to do. ;)
Quickly squish up the coffee filters onto the pink scalloped circle & hot glue.
You may want to do a few dots of glue between the filters. Then, add a bit dollop of glue on the bottom side of all the filters, and twist the filters around on top of the glue to help hold the bloom tightly in place. Once you get all the blooms on the lights, brush some of the Shimmerz Blingz onto the coffee filters with a foam brush. It makes them so pretty and sparkly, and gives them the lightest of pink blushes.



*Note: do not leave these lights on unattended, just like with your Christmas tree. :)
Let me know if you have any questions!

Here's some other ideas I had:

-use layers of text paper cut out with a large scalloped circle die cutting machine or punch
-use layers of tissue paper
-spritz the filters with different glimmer mists
-insert one large piece of scalloped circle die cut patterned paper
-add "leaves" behind each bloom
-dangle Valentine's heart ornaments from the lights