Gettin' By

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!

 

Scenes from Winter | A modified grid

I've gotten questions about using a grid framework for a layout when your photos are different sizes or orientations - and YES it's totally possible to create a grid with a mix of photos! The layout I'm sharing today is a great example of a "modified grid" that's not necessarily a symmetrical series of squares or rectangles - and it's great for adding a mish mash of pictures!

S U P P L I E S :
Echo Park Papers  & Stickers  |  Gingham Paper  |  Enamel Dots  |  Date Stamp  |  Typewriter Style Font
 Paper Trimmer  |   Foam Adhesive

The first step in creating a modified grid is to select the photos you want to incorporate. Once I have an idea of which photos I want to use, I create a mock-up of each photo using scrap paper to represent each photo size & orientation. (You can also do this in a word processing program - just create boxes to mimic your photos!) Then you can start to arrange the photos and trim them down until you find an arrangement that looks balanced. It's easiest to start with the largest photos first, and then fill in the gaps with smaller pictures.

 

Of course, you'll want to leave space for your title and/or journaling. Just treat it like another block in the grid! And these elements don't have to be square - in fact, some curves thrown into the grid help break up all the straight lines. 

 

And if the grid starts to look unbalanced or off-kilter, try adding subtle background "filler" like I did with the grid stitching (which could easily be drawn with pen if you're not a seamstress!)  These subtle elements fill up space but don't detract from the focal points.

 

Honestly, these are some of my favorite layouts to create because they're a bit funky and unexpected and you can bend them to fit your needs. Probably because I, like the modified grid, am also a little wonky and unexpected!

BSD Cut Files | Tradition

Is it too early for Christmas-themed posts?! I don't plan on doing any holiday decorating, shopping or baking until well after Thanksgiving, but my stack of Christmas layouts is sitting here begging to be shared. And I always listen to my layouts, especially when they beg. They usually steer me right....unlike those voices in my head.

So here's the first holiday layout of the season, complete with a new BSD cut file that's perfect for incorporating lots of merry and bright patterns!

S U P P L I E S:
Bazzill White  |  Simple Stories Say Cheese Christmas Papers  |  Red Polka Dot Paper  |  Striped Paper
Black Polka Dot Paper  |  Candy Cane Paper  |  Peppermint Paper  |  Poinsettia Paper  |  Chipboard
Epoxy/Wood Accents  |  Red Thickers  |  Enamel Dots  |  BSD Circle Cluster Cut File
Silhouette Cameo  |  Scallop Punch  |  Traveling Typewriter Font

 

The Circle Cluster cut file I used on the page is a great way to incorporate lots of various patterns and colors, both of which are a necessity on festive holiday pages! The white outline helps keep all the patterns organized so the page doesn't get too visually overwhelming. The cut files include both the outline border and the interior circles, so they make creating a background like this super easy!

 

I finished the page with lots of circular embellishments and simple sticker/chipboard title. The scallop border around the page edge is a fun way to finish things off - who says all layouts need straight edges?!?

I'd love to see your creations with this circle cut file - if you make a layout using it, please share with me!  Enjoy!

Make It Monday | DIY Eye Makeup Remover

Happy Presidents' Day to all my U.S. readers (and a Happy Monday to those who aren't!) We are all still in pjs, enjoying a lazy snowy day in Colorado. And in an effort to kick-off a more semi-regular appearance of my Make-It-Monday series, I thought I'd share an easy one today!

Since I'm a die-hard waterproof mascara fan, I go through a lot of eye makeup remover...and it's not cheap! I'd much rather spend my money on the actual mascara than the stuff to take it off, so I experimented with a few recipes until I found one that works (and it's really inexpensive to make!) Another bonus? It's not filled with all the unpronounceable chemicals and crap that the drugstore remover has.  Here's all you need:

Witch Hazel astringent
Satsuma Beautifying Oil (I love the Brazil Nut variety too!)
plastic bottle

Then just mix equal parts of witch hazel and oil. For an even more economical version, you can use olive oil or coconut oil in place of the Body Shop oil. Shake before using, as the oil will separate a bit when it sits. I apply with cotton pads and it works wonderfully without drying out your eye area.

So do you have any home recipes for beauty products? I'd love to hear them!

Make It Monday | White Chicken Chili

We had a weekend full of festive events, including a Christmas party, girl's afternoon at the Nutcracker and a neighborhood chili cook-off!  I'd been working on a white chili recipe for awhile now, and this is the version I ended up taking to the competition. Though it didn't win (the bison chili that took top accolades was dee-lish), it is pretty darn good for a cold winter's night.

This is a simple recipe that doesn't require a lot of prep, and it can easily be made up the day before and reheated in a slow cooker. In fact, it's even better on day two, after the flavors have a chance to meld together. Using a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store cuts down on prep time without sacrificing flavor. And keep reading - there might be beer involved, too!

I start by sautéing onion, garlic, chile pequin, and jalapeños in canola oil in a large stock pot. The recipe calls for two jalapeños, and I leave the seeds and veins in one for extra heat. Once the onions start to get translucent, I add two cans of diced green chiles (I buy the hot variety) along with cumin, coriander, ancho chile powder, and smoked paprika. Once the spices have toasted a bit, I add six cups of chicken stock and three cans of white beans - two of which I add whole, and one I mash up to add a nice thickness to the chili base.

Once the pot is simmering away, I sneak in a few cups of kale for some bonus nutritional value. Because I chop it pretty finely, it ends up cooking down and is barely noticable by picky eaters who would normally turn their noses up at greens (which includes both my kids and husband). Yes, it's a little devious, but sometimes mamas have to be sneaky!

Then it's time to add in the shredded rotisserie chicken, over which I squeeze the juice of two limes. The citrus adds such a great layer of flavor and a nice contrast to the spice of the chili.

Since I love to eat my chili with corn chips, it can't be too thin or it's not "scoopable!"  So to thicken up the base, I make a slurry of milk and corn flour that I whisk together before adding to the pot. This really adds a nice texture to the chili and makes it the perfect consistency for tortilla and chip accompaniments.

Finally, I have to add my secret ingredient....BEER!  (You didn't think a recipe of mine would be without alcohol, did you?!?)  You can use any old lager you happen to have, but I'm partial to Colorado brews. And since the recipe only calls for about half a can, you'll just have to drink the rest while you finish up!

Click here to download a printable pdf of the complete recipe with ingredients and instructions. I'll be enjoying a bowl tonight (with a beer, natch!) Hope your Monday is marvelous!

 

Make It Monday | Lots-o-Layers

Happy Monday my friends! Today kicks off a week of vacation for the kiddos so as soon as I can get the Thanksgiving menu finalized and pack the car with all the essentials - turkey, wine, and warm ski clothes -  we are headed to the mountains to enjoy the holiday.  But before we hit the road, I wanted to share a page that's super easy to pull together if you have a few minutes this week!

S U P P L I E S :

Whenever I plan to do a one-photo layout, I love to go a bit crazy with all the details, especially when my photo isn't too large. It's fun to incorporate lots of supplies to fill up that 12x12 canvas and balance it with that all-important white space! Here I began with a 4x5 photo that I wanted to matte with lots of color, so I chose the BasicGrey Highline collection. The pinks, oranges, greens, and yellows are delightfully vibrant - plus the pink happened to perfectly match the sweater I was wearing in the photo. Love it when that happens!

Using a neutral wood grain pattern as my background, I started with a yellow paper cut to approximately 6.5 x 9.25. Then I layered smaller paper pieces over the yellow, as well as journal cards and small die cuts. Foam squares are perfect for adhering the layers and add so much dimension, without resulting in a bulky page. 

My photo is centered on top and accented with a few die cuts and chipboard. The flowers at each corner (a die cut shape and a sticker) are accented with small brads and buttons, and help further frame the photo. They also create a strong diagonal line that leads the eye through the page. My journaling is split into two lines, which I typed above and below the arrangement.

 

I'll be taking a break from the blog for the rest of the week off to spend time with family and friends, but will probably be posting occasionally on Twitter and Instagram.  Wishing you all a wonderful week and blessed Thanksgiving!