October Kit Sneak Peak

Well its another fabulous kit from the Paper Niche.  These kits never cease to amaze me.  I did a couple of layouts with "white space" well not exactly white they do have color.  Im havent gone crazy after all.  But still, I did leave more space than I normally do.  I know I've said this before, but really these kits are so easy to use.  The papers just seemed to merge together by themselves and voila I did two layouts in half an hour.  You will love all the goodies in this months kits and the papers are soooo inspiring. 

Dont forget to come over to the new location and check out what the rest of the design team has created.

The Art of Paper Piecing

My favorite things to create are mini albums, but once in awhile I get in the mood to make a cutesy page. I also have a grown daughter but I still have some “catching up” to do on her childhood photos.So what better way to make a cutesy (child themed) layout than to use some paper piecings.

I get my ideas for paper piecings in several ways.I buy coloring books, I go card browsing at my local card shop and I also get ideas from cartoons.There are also websites that will sell you a paper piecing pattern in an svg file to load onto your computer for your cutting machine. You can also get a light box, especially if you are using a cute image from a coloring book. I personally prefer to make my own paper piecings - so I draw them.

All you have to remember when making paper piecings is to“pull apart” your image.For instance when I drew this bear (got the idea from a card I saw), I first drew my bear, then I copied the image on the Xerox several times. Then I cut the image apart by first cutting out the head, then I cut out the muzzle, then the nose, then arms, etc. I did the same thing with the bunny head.

Here are some other paper piecings that I have drawn.All my drawings are very simple, but that is all it takes.Remember It’s all in the details, by layering, inking and embellishing your paper pieces - you can give them character.

With this owl, I “textured” its head and wings by running them through a cuttlebug embossing folder. Then I made the feathers by punching out several rows of a fiskars border punch and “layering” them one on top of the other.

My next paper piecing is this mermaid I originally made for an underwater layout class I taught.My thought was that it would be cute for a little girl’s pool party or for a Halloween “little mermaid” costume layout.

With this mermaid, I “layered” her hair, and then I made her scales by layering circles in rows.

Then to give the mermaid that "wow", I added lots of bling.

So next time you are stuck for an idea for a layout - go buy a coloring book and get some ideas for a paper piecing layout.  Enjoy.

Once Upon a Springtime Album

The last date to sign up for the Paper Niche Fairy weekend is Wednesday Sept. 28th.  I will be teaching my fairy album at the new location!!

8970 W. State Road 84
Davie, FL  33324
(954) 577-0997

FAIRY GARDEN GATE

using Graphic 45 "Once Upon A Springtime"

Saturday, October  1st 10a-3:30p $55

Paper Niche, Plantation, Florida

Scrapbook Class FAIRY GARDEN GATE Album with Veronica

Join Veronica in creating a magical fairy gated album.  You will create your way through the shabby gate and through each page embellished with lots of flowers, Graphic 45 once upon a springtime, ribbons, tags and yes lots of glitter!! 

Please bring:  basic kit plus brown chalk, liquid glue, pop dots or mounting tape, crop-a-dile, and 3D glue dots.  Also a heat gun if you have it

Remember to take advantage of the perks at the Niche

Take Something Old and Refresh It

The Holidays are just around the corner, so why not get an early start?  You can begin by making some embellishments for Halloween since there are only a couple of days left in September.   I started rummaging through my box of Halloween embellishments (I organize by theme) and saw these two “VERY OLD” die cuts.  I don’t even remember where I got them, that’s how old they are.  But, I love a challenge, so I went from this:

To this by “refreshing” my old die cuts by inking, adding cutesy brads and ribbon. 

My next challenge was what to do with this plain non-descript sack die cut?

What to do?  I could have inked it and added some ribbon, but still it would have looked pretty plain.  So I decided to revamp the old shaker box idea, remember that?  Shaker boxes were more popular several years ago, so why not kill two birds with one candy sack?

I cut out a square in the middle of the die cut, and then I added a square piece of plastic I got from an embellishment package.  Next I added some beads to put into the square to make the beads look like candy.   It was that easy to make a shaker box!

I also “prepare” my embellishments by layering them to a piece of cardstock or pattern paper.  By doing this I create a sort of “border” so that I can glue down the ready-made embellishment to a layout or album.  Voila! I am ready for at least a two page layout, and I feel good about the fact that I used some of my old stash!

Featured on Paper Issues

Well, its been very busy for me lately and I havent kept up with all my blog reading so I totally missed this, but hey, better late than never :)

My school bus album was featured on Paper Issues!!






School time at Paper Issues

Fairy Garden Gate Mini Album

FAIRY GARDEN GATE

using Graphic 45 "Once Upon A Springtime" Paper Collection and Maya Road Gate Album

Saturday, October 1st 10a-3:30p $55

Paper Niche, Plantation, Florida

Scrapbook Class FAIRY GARDEN GATE Album with Veronica

Join Veronica in creating a magical fairy gated album. You will create your way through the shabby gate and through each page that is embellished with lots of flowers, Graphic 45 once upon a springtime, ribbons, tags and yes lots of glitter!!

Please bring: basic kit plus brown chalk, liquid glue, pop dots or mounting tape, crop-a-dile, and 3D glue dots. Also a heat gun if you have it

Remember that the Paper Niche gives you 20% discount on day of class

Scrapstreet is having their 6 year Anniversary!!

Scrapstreet has been around for 6 years and they have published over 10,000 scrappy entries.  Go on over to Strapstreet - they are giving away some blog candy to celebrate!!  Also take a look at their call list - your layout, card or altered item may be the 10,001 to be published!!

Featured Artist Today on Brave Girls

I sent in this mixed media canvas to Brave Girls Club

and it is the "birdie" of the day.  Yeah!!  This is very exciting for me because I read their emails everyday.  I recommend you subscribe to their "daily truth."  Melody Ross always sends out a message that makes you feel good and gives you encouragement.

Exciting News!!

I have been accepted as a ScrapStreet staff writer!! I am so excited about this new adventure, I get to scrap then write about, how cool is that?

Scrapstreet is a really cool e-zine that has been around for 5 years and publishes an issue every month.  The magazine is loaded with ideas and tips on scrapbooking layouts, altered projects and cards.  There is also a Digi magazine called GingerScrap Street if you are interested in digital scrapbooking. 

I have my first assignment and will be busy coming up with ideas for the October Issue.  You must check this magazine out - there are some really talented scrappers (and writers) on staff.  I also want to send a shout out to the other new staff writers.  Whoot Whoot!!

Memories Album

This was a fun kit to play with and I was able to make an album (my favorite pass time.) I titled  the album "memories" using the Tim Holtz alpha parts letters that I received in my Paper Niche Sept. Monthly Kit. 

So guess what?  I still have paper left over!!!  Ok, I dont have any embellies or ribbon left over but really - I use ALOT of embellies.  Any who here are the pictures of the rest of the projects that I made.

The album is not included in the kit, and I did die cut some of my own leaves  ... but all else is in the kit.  Enjoy!

The Reveal ...

Today the Paper Niche "reveals" their monthly kit.  I now can show you some pages I did with the september goodies I received.  As always this kit is so loaded, I've made 3 Layouts, 1 card and 1 album.  Can you believe it! That is alot of goodies all wrapped up in one kit.

Here is a double page layout I did using the My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found".  I still need a picture of the 3rd layout, so will have to reveal that later.

I also used some of the 7 gypsies tissue we received, along with some basic grey and echo park, prima and pink paisley.  Yes, I tend to always work with several lines at once.

I will take a picture of the 3rd layout and post it later along with my card and album.  Enjoy and dont forget to go to the Paper Niche to see what the other designers have done with the monthly kit!