What a Difference!

Hello, Karen here with a quick 'show and tell' of the class I taught last weekend at the retreat.  It was made from just two pieces of paper and a set of stickers plus various office supplies.  I also took a couple of typewriters into the class so that the ladies could type their journaling. 

The class focused on using normal stationery products such as post it notes, labels, staples and page reinforcers on your layouts.  My two pages also illustrated the big difference between how boy's like to play and how girl's like to play!

A gentle girl version

 

about the companionship of baking.

 

A frantic boy version

 about competitiveness of boys playing sport.




p.s.  If you like my class enough to want to make one yourself I believe that ATDML may have some spare kits.

My Retreat Classes

As promised sharing some retreat inspiration with you this week in the form of my first class using Simple Stories Harvest Lane papers, which are so perfect for your autumn/fall photos. Notice the banner style pieces in the layout which are a popular sight on pages these days and featured on Katherine's technique Tuesday post last week.

I created two layouts from one of the Simple Basic kits that Simple Stories do which contains 5 double sided patterned papers, one of which is the suite of bingo cards. I also used a Sizzix die available from Stamping Up and a matching set of stamps for the leaves and acorns on the pages and supplied a template to create the owl from the left over papers. Titles using  a set of Thickers in my favourite font Jewellery box completed the pages.

Retreat news and What's new...

Evening bloggers, and a very tired Ann saying a quick hello to you all having safely returned from another successful retreat in Stoke-by-Nayland. Surrounded by a bunch of lovely ladies, hosts with never ending patience and enough inspiration to sink  the Titanic all over again we have once again stunned a hotel full with our wonderful hobby.  With classes taught by Mel Hand, Debbie Jewell, Jane Hewitt , Karen Moss, myself and a debut class by Katherine Sutton, the general vibe I picked up was one of very satisfied customers.  We will have plenty to share over the coming week and will be telling you all about what we got up to. In the meantime why not take a look at the some of the newest items we have in store and scrap up a storm yourself.
Graphic 45 Place in Time - a great calendar range.
7 Gypsies Epicurean - Double sided papers where one side is filled with vintage graphics,  the others are simple restaurant inspired backgrounds or their Santa's Journey range which as you would expect has a festive feel.
If Christmas preparation is on the agenda take a look also at Royal Christmas from Websters Pages or Joyeux Noel from Glitz.

Happy Shopping!

Trends on Tuesday - The Beauty of Banners

I thought I would have a little look at banners today - which often appear on my pages.  You can buy them ready made on stickers or in embellishment packs or cut them out of your papers, which is what I did for my page.  I made straight banners, just cutting a little triangle out the bottom of the rectangle - you could also use a square punch to make the triangular shape if you are worried about your cutting.  If you want to vary your banner you could try making more of a rhombus shape and then cutting out the triangle (so the two long edges of the rectangle go at an angle inwards).  Don't only use paper for your banners...material and ribbons work too and add a bit more texture to your page.

I have used this style of banner for a page before where you make a nice fringe of different sized banners under the photo, I used the gorgeous Midway Collection that is in from October Afternoon - it is one of my favourite packs of papers at the moment as it is packed with colour and beautiful designs.  I also used some Firefly cosmic shimmer mist and some of the stickers that come in the Midway pack too.  

Some more banner filled pages :)

This is the one that is very similar in style that I made with another fringe of banners

Make your own washing line of banners

Beautiful MME banners

Some christmas banners under the photo but with a different look

and what about this beautiful Snap Mini from Simple Stories

I hope that inspires you to make some.

Upcycling

Have you ever use a product and then thought that the packaging is just too gorgeous to throw away? I often do and no more so than when I got some Prima 'Say it in Crystal' swirls recently.  I used the gems immediately on a layout but could not bring myself to throw away the packaging as it was so pretty.

Later that week, I was making a layout with Prima Rondelle and the flowers on the Prima packaging matched perfectly with the papers I was using.  I needed a journaling block and so cut the bottom from the card that the gems had been adhered to the layout and used that.

I than decided that the remainder of the card would be perfect to mat a photo, for another layout. 

So there you have it, in each pack you can have three gem swirls and if you are a frugal scrapper, like me, you also have a photo mat and a journaling block too.  Do you upcycle with embellishment packaging.

Paper Pumpkins

I am always in awe when I see paper engineered products appearing on the internet, made from the products you and I use for layouts, cards and maybe the occasional mini book. With Halloween just round the corner I  almost burst with excitement when I saw these cute paper pumpkins made from simple strips of patterned paper, perfect to adorn your table at the spookiest time of year. I decided to follow the instructions and have a go at making some myself using the MLS Farmers Market papers.

They are so easy to make too. 

• Start by cutting 10 strips of patterned paper 1" x 6". 
• Punch a small hole at the top and bottom of each piece.
• Then take two brads and wrap some string thread or wire around them so they are 4" apart.
• Then thread the top of your pieces onto one of the brads and affix, then thread the bottom of each strip on the other brad and affix. You will be bending your paper strips to enable the brad to reach the second set of holes.
• Then the slightly fiddly part where you fan each piece of paper round to make your pumpkin. You can fiddle and fix as you like manoeuvring the paper into the correct shape
• Add a rolled strip of brown card for a stalk (adhered with a glue dot or heat gun), a couple of leaves and some curled paper swirls to complete. 

You can always run your strips through an embossing plate first for some embossed texture to your pumpkin and of course add a scary face too if you like! Vary the width and length of your strips to make your pumpkins different sizes. You will need more strips the longer and narrower you make them. Enjoy!

New to ATDML - Studio Calico

I was overjoyed when I saw that the shop was now stocking some Studio Calico products, especially the new Yearbook range of papers. I taught a couple of layouts for the crop run by fellow design team member Karen using these papers which, being double sided, are super versatile.

The first layout uses a simply repeating diamond pattern (cut from card and used as a template to trace on the papers). Adding a stitch effect to the page with a white pen gives a patchwork feel with a difference and allows for journalling blocks to be created from the background card. I sanded the edges of my photo slightly and then completed the page with a thickers title and some days of the week words strips from October Afternoon 9-5 washi tape.

My second layout contained not faux stitching but the real deal to tie together wonky strips of 12x12 papers and some bubble wrap stamped background card.  Another great way to see both sides of the double-sided papers from this range.

My little burst of contrasting colour came from a photo mount and a dimensional heart cut from three pieces of paper folded in half the stuck together as shown.

Hope you enjoy browsing the new Studio Calico products in the store and are inspired to go create with them.