Tuesdays with Michelle - Photo Montage Layout

Hello and Happy Tuesday Everyone! A few weeks ago I had mentioned that I had completed a 19 (yes, nineteen) photo montage, double page layout. This is something I had never done before but I challenged myself to stretch my creative muscles. So how did I accomplish this layout? Read on…

Something new for me that I learned was how to effectively crop my photos. Now I am no scrapbooking guru. I have no set of rules per say. You may notice the following…

1) Different sized photos.
2) Photos cropped at the same height despite different lengths.
3) Some photos are butted together while others are separated.

So how did this make sense for me? Well I guess I do have a ‘rule’ (I personally call it a mantra, my new mantra albeit)… Start with your photos first, then place your title next and make room for journaling (if applicable)!

Pick and choose all the photos you want to have on your layout. These photos may not be the ‘best’ ones. 
You know the ones that are slightly blurry or cut-off; pick any set of photos that have meaning to you and tell your story.

Look at the focal point of each photograph and then determine how you will crop. Can’t figure out your focal point? Close your eyes for a few seconds then open them and what do you see first? That is your focal point.

Crop away then organize your photos together in an arrangement that makes sense to you. Perhaps arranging them on your craft table is best or a piece of cardstock (or two if a double layout) just to make sure everything fits.

Starting out on a blank ‘canvas’ really helps you focus on the photo placement before choosing your patterned papers, colors, and embellishments.

Once I was able to do steps 1 through 3 above, I made sure there was an adequate amount of space for my title then my journaling spot. And because I was placing a huge amount of emphasis on the photographs; I kept my patterned papers to a minimum but tried to inject in a lot of color through my title, journaling mat and photo mats.

The die cut lettering was created from 2 machines:

• ‘Two-iffic’ was cut using the Cricut and the Pooh Font cartridge, sized at 1-1/2” using both the standard font image and its shadow creative feature.
• ‘birthday’ was cut using the Slice and the Words and Expressions Calendar design card cut at 3”.
• ‘BOY’ was cut using the Slice and the Big Kids design card cut at 2”. (Note: I had to do some playing around to get the proportions right between the 2 different design cards)

Well I hope I have inspired you to look at photo montage layouts in a whole different perspective. These types of layouts can be fun to do as long as you can stay focused on the photo, title and journaling placement.

Just a reminder

...that's there's about 30 hours left to submit your entry for PDSS Sketch Challenge #7 :) Hurry and don't miss out for a chance to win some Unity! We're looking forward to seeing your creations! Our random winner for this challenge will be posted on Wednesday so be sure to tune in! Who knows it might be you! :)

Weight Loss Journal

What better way to start off the New Year than with a New Year's Resolution!! So, I decided to begin my journey back to size 12 and chart my progress along the way!

To make this handy little book, you will need 6 brown coin envelopes, 2 pieces of chipboard (4x6) ink, and any other embellishments you choose.

First, remove the flap from each envelope and ink the front, back and edges of each one. Use a small punch to punch out a semi-circle at the opened end of each envelope (this will make it easier to remove the contents!). Next cut six 3x4.5 pieces of patterned paper and adhere one piece to the front of each envelope. Be sure not to adhere it directly in the middle as it may interfere with the binding. Add a tag on to keep track of your measurements and I used three rimmed circle stickers to record my monthly weigh-ins! Be creative with you embellieshements keeping in mind what information you want to record each month.

Once your pages are finished, adhere patterened paper to the front and back of both of you pieces of chipboard. Don't forget to think of a cute title :) I used a Zutter Bind-It-All to bind, my book, but you can use ribbon, jump rings or any other method you choose!

So here I go on my journey....wish me luck :)

P.S. I plan to put a photo in each envelope every month so that I can see my progress.

Hope you've enjoyed today's project!

Racquel

Thursdays with Kim - Flip Flop Card Tutorial

Hi girls! Happy Thursday! Today I've got a fun tutorial based on a card I've seen online!
First start with a piece of cardstock measuring 5 1/2" x 6 3/4". Place your cardstock at landscape. Score 2 lines one at 2 3/4" and the other at 4". Don't score them all the way, just an 1 1/4".


Turn your cardstock other side and repeat the same thing. Now you`ll have to cut a line measuring 1 3/8" and the end of the cut must join with the score line. Repeat the cut on each score line. (The second line will start off to 4" and end at 5 3/8").


You need now to connect your 2 cut lines, as shown below. (Each side)


Don't forget that your greeting must be to the verso side. (So your written message will be on the front. Now take a 2 3/4" x 3 3/4" cardstock and affix it onto the cut rectangle. (I used 2 cardstock because the first one was too dark). Write your message. (I used a stamp, my handwriting is not great!)


Turn your paper the other side and embelish the rectangle. (I used more stamps and some Kaisercraft Rhinestone)

Fold the card like this. (Use a bonefolder to make neat score.)


Now embelish your finish card! Here's what the card should look like closed. Mine was done in a pinch just to give you an idea of this type of card fold!


...And now when you open it!



Cute isn't? Hope you like this quick tut! Enjoy! Hugs and kisses...

Kim @ KLDezign

Valentine Themed Mini Book

This ia a little something that I cooked up for my hubby for Valentines Day! Is is very easy to make and makes a great personalized gift for that special someone!

First think of 5 (or more) things that you love about your special someone. For me, I thought of little things that my husband may not know that I notice :) For example (shown below), Thank you for....driving me to work - eventhough it makes you late!

Another page reads, Thank you for letting me sleep in the middle of the bed - eventhough you have to squish to one side.

To create the book, I used five pieces of chipboard that are 3'' x 3''. I covered each piece with a Valentine's Day themed paper and used stamps, brads, and sticker to embellish. For a more personalized touch, I chose to hand write my sentiments on each page. I punched a hole in the top left hand corner of each pae and used a metal ring to keep the pages together. Adding an eyelet to each hole makes the project look more polished :)

Lastly, I tied some coordinating ribbon to the metal ring and my project was complete! Give it a try...I would love to see your interpretations of this project!!! Thanks for looking!!!

Racquel

Thursdays with Kim - Another fun card!

Hi girls! I made you another fun little tutorial for card making.

First start with a basic card. I made mine 7" by 5". Embelish as you want but keep a free space on the side of your card. (Material Used: Basic Grey Bittersweet line paper, Kaisercraft Rhinestones, Magenta Stamp.)

Now with a circle punch I punched out 2 circles on the side.

Now open your card, you'll start to work on the other side for now. With an invisible wire (I used a fishing line) pass it on to the center of each circle and fix it with tape. (fishing line requires some Really Tacky Tape)

I then punched 4 littles hearts. Assure yourself that the hearts are smaller than the circle!

Fix the heart with glue on each sides of the cards and your card is finally done! Look how it pretty it looks!

Here's a close-up!

I hope you've enjoyed today's little tutorial! Hugs and kisses!

Kim @ KLDezign

PDSS 100th Follower Candy Winner Announced

Happy Thursday!

First off, we would like to thank everyone that has participated in our yummy candy, we have received lots of luv from you guys and it really warms our hearts, THANK YOU for supporting our challenges and for leaving us such sweet comments on our blog posts! To our new followers thank you for joining and we sure hope to get to know you and vice versa! Welcome to the crew mwaaaahhhh ;)

Ok, now let's get rollin' you must be itching to know who won! Here goes our lucky winner is......
Drum roll please.......

125. Anonymous said...

Great candy everything looks so delish! I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Thank you for your offerings. I don't have a blog but I will send an email about your contest to all my scrapping friends!

Cynthia

JANUARY 21, 2010 7:34 PM 

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Please email Nini and she will get that prize to you as soon as possible. You need to make sure you get in touch with her by the Sunday. Or you will forfeit the prize and another winner will be chosen. So do hurry!

♥Valentine's Day Cards♥

The papers used in these projects are from Fancy Pants Vintage Valentine kit. But you can use any kind of papers you want. The first card I used a template from Maya Road for the shape. I also used a Martha Stewart Border Punch, Maya Road Chipboard Snowflake, twine, American Crafts Thickers, misc chipboard heart and red glitter glue (Stickles). Card is a 5 by 7 in size.

Second card & pillow box, I used a misc chipboard heart, ribbon, Martha Stewart Border Punch, template of a pillow box, twine, red stickles, scalloped circle punch and mini alpha stickers. I used Stickles to border both my pillow box and card. Card is a 5 by 7 in size.

For the the third card I used Paper Studio Pearls, twine, and a paper distresser. This card is a 5 by 7 in size.

Hope you've enjoyed today's projects! Happy Crafting! Dawn

Winner of PDSS Sketch Challenge #6

And the winner of PDSS Sketch Challenge #6 using Random.org is...


#5 SHARON


Congratulations! Please email Nini and she will get that prize to you as soon as possible. You need to make sure you get in touch with her by the Saturday. Or you will forfeit the prize and another winner will be chosen. So do hurry!

PDSS Design Team Call

It's that time again! YAY!!! We're having a call!!! 
Click on the post title to be re-directed to our DT call application! OR here!

PDSS Sketch Challenge #7

Hey, and welcome to challenge #7!

Thank you everyone for spreading the word out about our challenges and wanting us to continue hosting them! It really means a lot to us, knowing that the work we put into each challenge is worth it all!

For those who are a new to our challenges, please read this post and you will understand it all! Thanks again for leaving us such sweet comments but most importantly, thank you for your love & support!

Now onto our challenge this will be your sketch for the next two weeks:

Sketch #7

Now here's what's being offered to one random winner:

Girl of the Moment Rubber Stamp Set 
by Unity Stamp

All you have to do is participate by creating anything with the sketch in mind. Post in Mr. Linky below by typing your name and leaving a direct link to your creations. Below are some inspiration for you from the Posh Designs Scrapbook Store Design Team. Remember to have fun. Happy Crafting!

Michelle

Michelle

Nini

Mara

Deadline: February 8th @ 11:59 pm EST. Please type in your name and place a direct to your creations in Mr. Linky below. Thanks!

**ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PLEASE**

"Thursdays" with Kim - J't'aime

Hi girls! I know It's not Thursday but I couldn't wait to show you my sweet card! I made this card for my hubby for Valentine's Day but I couldn't wait so I gave it to him this afternoon!

And off course I'll show you how to make this type of card! I'm not a tease! :) First let's start with a piece of cardstock measuring 5 1/2" by 12" (I used Basic Grey Designer Cardstock) score it at 2", 4", 8",  and 10".


Now turn the cardstock of 90 degrees. Along the long edge, measure in 1 ½". Now make a cut between the score marks at 2” and 10”. Repeat for the other long side and you should end up with something that looks like the following:

Now fold your card like this:

Here's a close up so you can see better better.

Cut your papers into the right size and of your favorite patterns. (I used Bittersweet from Basic Grey)

I inked and distressed the edges of my card and papers. Don't forget to ink the folds!

Add glue or tape, embelish as you want and voila it's done!

This is how your card should look like once opened:

and now closed:

Hope you'll like this quick tri-fold card tutorial! Hugs and kisses...

Kim @ KLDezign

Family Mini Album

I really love mini albums. I don't make them often enough, but when I do...it's always fun and I wish I made them more often! Posh Designs has 12x12 chipboard sheets that make awesome mini albums. I used my paper trimmer to cut 1 12x12 piece into 6 4x6 pieces. Those 4x6 pieces became the base for my mini album.

I also love all the prima flowers that Posh Designs carries!! Here is a big Fiesta Flower that I used on the cover.


I used a 6x6 paper pad by Nikki Sivils called My Sweet Cherry Pie. The colors were perfect for what I wanted to make. I also like to keep a theme going throughout my mini albums. They are much easier to put together for me that way. I decided the left side of the album I was going to use the Tree Paper from the paper pad and would contain a photo of a family member. The other right side of the album would be journaling about that person and some of the other fun patterned paper in the My Sweet Cherry Pie collection. Here are a few pages from the album.





I kept the design the same on both sides of the album. This made it very easy to put together! I used mod podge to adhere the paper to the chipboard pages, and then it all came together very quickly. So...if you are afraid or intimidated by mini albums...don't be! By following a simple design plan, you can put together a wonderful mini album in a short amount of time.

Happy Crafting!!!

Mara

New Valentine's Day Products in Store

Hi everyone!

We've got great new Valentine's Day themed products in store (and a few more on their way *wink, wink*), this card was made using gorgeous mixed flowers from Making Memories's Love Struck line, some yummy Shimmerz Spritz and Tattered Angels new Timeless Romance Glimmer Screens!

Be sure to check out the store regularly for great new and upcoming products!

Just a quick reminder that you have less than 3 days to enter PDSS Sketch Challenge #6, hurry don't miss out on winning yourself a lovely new stamp set from Pink Paislee's Cupid line!

Enjoy the weekend! ~ *hugs* Nini :)

Valentine's Day Lollipop Treats

I always try to do something a little different and scrappy for my girl's Valentine's Day cards for their classmates. So when I found this idea in the current issue of Scrapbook etc., I had to give it a try and it turned out great. All you need is a lollipop, a scalloped punch and a circle punch, ribbon, some adhesive and a marker.

Simply layer your circle on the scalloped circle and attach with adhesive. Use a journalling pen to add the names onto the inner circle. Attach another scalloped circle to the back and tie a small piece of ribbon on the stick. It is as easy as it sounds!!! Give it a try.

OPTIONAL: Get a vase and put some florist foam in the bottom. Add some "sizzle" or tissue paper to hide the foam and then stick your lollipops inside. Now you have a cute little flower-pop display!!!

Hope you've enjoyed today's project! Enjoy the weekend!

Racquel

Thursdays with Kim - Fun with Prima

Hi girls! How are you? I'm really proud to show you my last 2 layouts. Firstly because I had a lot of great comments on them. Secondly, because it's one of my first layouts in english and thirdly because I like Prima Marketing's paper lines SO much!

So here's my first layout: Cultiver le rêve ~ "Cultivate the Dream".

  

I love these papers, they are so sweet! I also used a transparent overlay from My Mind's Eyes. In my drawers I have a lot of Bazzill Templates for sewing. I'm not a fan of sewing on layouts so I use them like a regular template for adhering bling. You may notice that I used some Shimmerz paint on my flowers and chipboards. I finished out my layout with delicate lace, ribbons, and embellishments!

My second layout is called "A Day in a Fairytale".

It's my first in English page and I'm really happy. (and I hope they're are no mistakes!) Again, I used Prima patterned papers and doilies for the background. I've altered it with the distress refill ink from Ranger, with water and perfect pearls. All into a mini-mister and sprayed my mixture onto the doilies. It give a great soft look and a a wonderful shining effect. I also uses some Prima Pebbles!

The green flower on the right was in fact white. I used my re-inker again and added some ink drops on my flower and sprayed it with some water. It look a little bit distressed. I also placed some Rock Candy Stickles on my flowers to give it a shinier look!

I'm really glad about how theses layouts ended out and I hope you'll like them too! Have a nice week girls!

Hugs and kisses, Kim @KLDezign