Gettin' By

BSD Cut Files | Diamond Grid

Hello there! I'm excited to share a new cut file in my etsy shop today....but not quite as excited as I am to see the AC repairman so I can quit sweating profusely while sitting at my computer. Ah, summer!

 

This interlocked background file is perfect for displaying tons of colors and patterns in your page design. The thin borders of the cut file help organize the design and provide the perfect spots for small scraps of paper. Here's a page I created to showcase it!

 

S U P P L I E S:

Bazzill White  |  Jen Hadfield Papers  |   Stickers  |  Die Cut  |  Square Punch
BSD Cut File  |  Silhouette Cameo | Foam Adhesive

 

 

 

 

To fill in the squares of this background, I used a square paper punch (but you could also use a paper trimmer to cut out squares as well!) I applied a liquid adhesive along the borders of the cut file and adhered each square to the backside.

 

 

With all the colorful patterns in the background, this pages didn’t need much embellishment. A few simple stickers and strips of journaling complete the page!

 

 

So are you inspired by the this patchwork technique? If so, I’d love to see what you create!

Spring Fever | SCT Delivered Spring 2021

I'm back today with another layout using the  SCT delivered kit, Beautiful Blooms! I've incorporated one of my favorite techniques - a circle frame - using the exclusive floral cut files that come with the kit. They make it easy to create a wreath-like design that's perfect for spring layouts!

 

S U P P L I E S :
Bazzill White  |  Bazzill Sparkle |  Blue Floral Paper  |  Aqua Floral Paper  |  Pink Dot Paper  |  Pink Stripe Paper
Lilac Floral Paper |  Ephemera  |  Thickers |  Gold Puffy Stickers  |  SCT Tags & Cut Files
Gold Charm  |  Twine  |  Silhouette Cameo  | Foam Adhesive  

 

After cutting the floral shapes from the kit cut files, I inked the edges of each cut piece with pink or aqua ink to create a bit of bolder edge. Then I  layered the pieces together with foam adhesive to create each individual flower. 

 

 

I arranged all the flowers in a circle on the page - I traced a 9" circle in pencil on the cardstock to help me align the florals in a perfect shape.  In between the flowers, i added puffy gold stickers that I cut from larger pieces in the sticker sheet. I love the sparkle they add!

 

Inside the circle I arranged my photos and title, as well as a journaling tag that slips behind the photos.  If you've purchased this kit from SCT, you'll have access to the full video tutorial that I created to show the process of this layout being made!  You can get more information right here.

Hope you are enjoying spring - both outside and on your scrap table!

Spring Fashion | SCT Delivered Spring 2021

The newest SCT delivered kit, Beautiful Blooms, was a welcome sight in my mailbox, with it's happy spring palette and abundance of florals! And I continue to find inspiration in it (since Colorado has decided to make May one of it's snowiest months - argh!) Here's one of the layouts I created with this gorgeous kit!

S U P P L I E S :
Bazzill White  |  Bazzill Peacock |  Rose Floral Paper  |  Yellow Dot Paper |  Floral Puffy Stickers | Ephemera
Thickers |  SCT Tags & Cut Files  |  Enamel Dots  |  Twine  |  Silhouette Cameo  |  Metallic Pen

 

A simple grid of photos from my IG Stories needed to be dressed up, so I filled the left side of the page with a bold floral, stacked tags (a printable pdf from the kit!) and a border of puffy flower stickers. 

 

 

On the opposite side, I repeated the floral and tag theme with my title, using a cut file from the kit ("Spring") and Thickers. Making the connection between the two sides of the page helps lead the eye through the design!

 

So if your yard doesn't have any flowers yet (or is covered in snow like mine) be sure to grab the Beautiful Blooms and at least your scrap table will look seasonally festive! Happy Scrapping!

BSD Cut Files | Triangle Quilt

Since my past few posts here have been all about the circles, I figured it was time to give other shapes some equal time! So today I'm taking a different angle...the triangle that is!

 

S U P P L I E S :
Bazzill White  |  Bazzill Admiral  |  BasicGrey Papers (similar)  |  Blue Buttons |  Yellow Buttons  |  Red Buttons
Enamel Dots  |  Silhouette Cameo  |  BSD Triangle Cut File

I'm such a fan of handmade quilts and while I have absolutely no talent for anything involving sewing, I can create a pretty good quilt with paper (and bonus - I don't have to swear at my sewing machine to create it!)  This technique is super easy with a cut file (available in my etsy shop) and is perfect for mixing & matching lots patterns.

 

Since I only had one photo to use on this page, I opted to fill a majority of the space with the triangle quilt. But this background would work just as well with multiple photos layered over the top of it. You could even add stitching in the seams to make it more like an actual quilt!

 

And because I can't resist a little dimension, I sprinkled some embellishments atop my triangles. It's a relatively simple page, but it looks much more detailed and complex thanks to the variety of colors, patterns and textures!

 

So are you inspired to create your own "quilt"? I'd love to see what you make!

Bubble Border Technique

Looking for a simple way to use up some paper scraps and create a super cute layout? How about a bubble border! This easy technique is a great way to draw attention to a photo and I love the fun energy all the little circles add to a page. Here's the scoop on how to do it!

S U P P L I E S :
Bazzill White | Bazzill Vellum | Hey Hello Papers | Multi Stripe Paper | Journal Card | Alphabet | File Tab
Enamel Dots | Circle Punch | Date Stamp | Buttons | Foam Adhesive

 

The first step is to cut a large heart from white cardstock - mine is 10.5" at its widest point. I adhered the heart to my page base with foam adhesive, which allows you to tuck some of the circles underneath the edge. Once the heart is in place, you just need lots of colorful circles to layer around the outer edge!

 

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut circles ranging from 1/4 to 3/4 inch out of scraps of patterned paper, but you could also use punches or die cuts. I cut a lot more circles than I actually needed, but it's nice to have a large assortment of sizes and colors when you're building the border!

 

Be sure to overlap your circles and completely cover the edge of the white cardstock. Don't worry about keeping things in a straight line - the fun of a bubble border is it's a little bit wonky!  

You can also add small buttons, brads, or enamel dots to give your border some extra texture. Sequins or eyelets would also work well too!  And you aren't limited to the heart shape, either. Your base shape could be a circle, square or hexagon. The bubbles will make just about any shape a little more whimsical!

Happy Scrapping!

 

Snapshots | Inspired by SCT

It’s always a fantastic mail day when SCT magazine arrives in my mailbox and I was so excited to curl up with a big cup of coffee to peruse through the gorgeous pages of the winter issue. There's just something about flipping through an actual paper magazine that no digital content will ever replace. And naturally, the inspiration I found in the issue led me to my scrap table to create!

 

I was especially inspired by Erica Thomson’s Inspiration Challenge layout on page 49 with the layered circles in a simple grid formation. I am a sucker for a good grid, and I immediately wanted to create a page using that same foundation!

 

S U P P L I E S :

Bazzill Kraft  |  Bazzill White  |  Crate Paper Magical Forest  |  Chipboard  |  Alphabet  |  Puffy Stickers
Coffee Ring Stamp  |  Scallop Punch  |  Circle Cutter  |  Ink  |  Gems  |  Date Stamp  |  Foam Adhesive

 

 

I wanted to highlight some everyday photos together on the page, and this grid framework gave me nine different spots to incorporate pictures. I chose five photos, leaving the other spots open for featuring fun embellishments and a title.

 

 

After cutting patterned paper circles from the Crate Paper Magical Forest collection (but before adhering them!) I decided to add an additional layer of texture to my grid with stamps. I used a few circle-shaped images as well as an ink splatter stamp to to frame some of the circles in the grid. This is a subtle way to add another layer of detail so don't forget about your stamps!

 

 

A bit of stitching adds additional texture to my circles, and layering up embellishments is also a great way to add tactile dimension to a page. And don’t be afraid to let elements hang off the edge of the circles! It visually connects the circles by breaking up the white space in between them.

 

 

I saved the lower right corner for my title, which combines chipboard letters with a die-cut word (cut on the Silhouette from the font Love Mama). 

 

 

So are you inspired to create a circle-based grid? Other shapes like stars, hexagons and the traditional squares would work too! I’d love to see what you create!

Family | Scrapbook & Cards Winter 2020

While I typically work with 4x6 (and smaller) photos on my scrapbook pages, there are some photos that just need to be enlarged! Our annual family photo shoot usually yields some great shots from a professional photographer, and I always want to showcase these captures in a special way. And I did just that on a recent assignment for SCT!

 

S U P P L I E S :
Bazzill Admiral  |  Bazzill Lava  |  Simple Stories "Cozy Days" Papers  |  Blue Dot Paper  |  Gray Plaid Paper
Large Floral Paper  |  Blessed Paper  | Small Floral Paper  |  Pink Plaid Paper  |  Gray Text Paper
Chipboard  |  Die Cuts  | Twine  |  Enamel Brads  |  Scallop Circle Punch
Scallop Border  | Silhouette Cameo  |  Foam Adhesive

 

If you have a great photo, give it center stage by enlarging it to fill a big portion of your page. Here, I've printed my photo 9.75 x 5.5 to roughly occupy the top half of the page. Then I filled the lower space with a repeating squares to keep the design organized. You know I love a grid!

 

 

The Cozy Days paper collection has so many lovely patterns that are meant to play well together, so I mixed florals, plaids, dots and text in layered squares. Don't be afraid to embellish the embellishments - adding stickers, brads, gems os stitching for added interest and fun!

 

 

 

My title takes up the space of two of the grid blogs and was printed on a tag, along with a die cut "family" from the font Jenthill. Don't feel constricted by a grid format - you can alter it to fit your elements as needed!

 

Have you created a large photo layout lately? If so, I'd love to see it!

Count the Ways | Scrapbook & Cards Winter 2020

I'm a self-proclaimed font geek, so when my assignment for the winter issue of SCT involved incorporating numbers in a layout, I may have spent an entire day browsing font libraries to find the perfect bold, curvy type to showcase those numbers! Dafont.com is one of my favorite free font sites to get lost on and with more than 50,000 fonts available for download, it's easy to do. 

This is the page that resulted, and I absolutely love the stacked numbers for a list-centered layout. And the cut file I created of the numbers is a free download as part of the Bonus Content in the winter issue!

S U P P L I E S :
Bazzill White  |  Maggie Holmes Marigold Papers  |  Woodgrain Paper  |  Striped Paper  |  Yellow Dot Paper 
Pink Grid Paper  |  Aqua Diamond Paper  |  Teal Green Paper | Blue Floral Paper  |  Stickers |  Alphabet
Silhouette Cameo  |  SCT Cut File  |  Foam Adhesive

 

I loved the colorful stripe paper in the Maggie Holmes Marigold collection and thought it would be a great way to break up my list-style journaling, which is chronicling the many ways I love my hubby! After cutting the numbers from various patterned papers and adhering them to the white cardstock frame (also cut on the Silhouette) I was able to determine the placement of the typed lines.

 

I selected the woodgrain paper for the left edge of the layout since it gave a nice solid background for my photos. I also added some texture to the stripes by machine stitching a zig-zag between each color.

 

The small stickers in the collection were a perfect accent to each of the numbers, and I selected them to color coordinate with the papers. Because the stickers were slightly translucent, I adhered them first to white cardstock and then trimmed them out before applying them as accents to the numbers. This helps them to pop more and makes it easy to adhere them much like die-cuts!

A simple title block that's a mix of chipboard letters and stickers fit perfectly in the lower right corner and completes the page. Hope it inspires you to try a numbered list on your next page - and if you do, I'd love to see it!  Happy Scrapping!

BSD Cut Files | Crazy Daisies

It's no secret I can't scrapbook without my trusty die cutter, the Silhouette Cameo, and I rarely create a page without it! When I first started scrapbooking, I used to hand-cut pieces from patterned paper, or trace stencils to cut out with scissors, (oftentimes with less-than-perfect results and more than a few swear words muttered!) The Cameo truly revolutionized my cutting process and love the crisp, clean pieces it yields to perfectly accent my pages.

On this recent layout, I used my Crazy Daisy cut files to create layered florals to surround my photos. It's the perfect way to incorporate lots of different patterned papers in a neat, organized way!

S U P P L I E S:
Bazzill Vanilla  |  SCT July 2020 Sampler  |  BSD Crazy Daisies Cut File  |  Picnic in the Park papers
Blue Skies papers  |  Enamel Dots  |  Vine Stamps  |  Alphabet Stamps  |  Puffy Stickers  |  Bird Shape
Pink & Blue Ink  | Silhouette Cameo |  Foam Adhesive

 

After selecting an assortment of pink and blue papers, I cut four layers of petals in various sizes to create my daisies. This is a great way to use up smaller scraps or put those 6x6 papers pads to work! Each flower was layered from largest to smallest and topped with an enamel dot center. If you want extra dimension, use foam adhesive between every layer.

 

The stamped vines on the background cardstock help connect the flowers without adding any bulk. I love subtle stamping in the background to bring a design together!

 

Below my photos, I grouped an acrylic title with additional stamping and a typed journaling block, giving everything a solid base upon which to rest. 

 

I'm thinking these floral cut files will be perfect for upcoming pages about spring and easter...which seems like a distant dream as I look to my window to endless snow, ice and subzero temps. Until spring, stay warm, my friends!

BSD Cut Files | Floral Wreath

One of my favorite techniques for framing one or two photos is a large circle, and I've created these frames from stickers, die cuts, punched patterned papers and more. But since a circle frame is a lot like a wreath, I decided I needed to create a cut file incorporating leaves and florals - just like something I'd hang on my front door!

 

S U P P L I E S :
Bazzill Cardstock: Kraft, Yellow, Coastal, Ivy, Lava, Dusk   |  Jillbean Soup Patterned Paper  & Die Cuts
BSD Floral Wreath Cut File  |  Pearls

 

To begin this design, I first lightly traced a 9-inch circle with pencil in the center of my cardstock. I determined the size and number of my photos and where the small block of journaling would go, which I printed directly on the cardstock. Then I set to cutting out the components of the wreath, using a mix of patterned papers and cardstock.

 

For this wreath, I cut 18 of the 3-leaf pieces, 12 of the large leaves, and 6 of the berry sprigs. I laid them out along the penciled circle, curving them slightly along the arc. To form a visual triangle around the center of the wreath, I selected three floral die cuts to position within the leaf cuts.

 

 

A few pearl accents and butterfly stickers embellish the wreath, along with a simple tab & washi tape accent in the upper left corner!

 

 

You can find the wreath cut files in my Etsy shop, along with many other designs I use regularly on my pages. If you create something with it, I'd love to see it, so please share a link!