On Trend - Ruffles

Nothing says girly like a few well placed ruffles, but the following techniques involving washi tape, ribbon and paper could just as easily be applied to masculine layouts and cards.  Just like ruffles on clothing, ruffles on projects can add a special detail, texture and interest.

Check out how our On Trend designers used ruffles:

 

Practical Scrapper Cathryn Hanson used washi tape and overlapped paper circles to add a sweet spring ruffle under her photos.

Practical Scrapper Kylie Symons says:

"I love crepe paper which is easy to ruffle up and adhere to your layout and always looks great."

 This layout is based on a sketch by Sara N at STUCK.

Practical Scrapper Malika Kelly used ribbon and her sewing machine to make a ruffle.

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson

used paper ruffles to create an ultra girlie page of her daughter and sewed over them for extra texture

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix created a ruffle with paper to tuck under her photo. To make paper more pliable, mist with water first, then gently fold.

Practical Scrapper Erin created a ruffled look by placing flowers under her stamped Sweet Stamp Shop  image.

No need to purchase anything new for this trend, use what you've already got on hand. Paper, flowers, washi tape, ribbons,trim, border punched papers, all make great ruffles. If you're feeling really adventurous, we have past posts showing how to use masking tape, coffee filters, candy wrappers and cupcake liners to create great ruffled looks.

Happy Monday!

On Trend- Polaroids

There's no doubting that scrapbookers and paper crafters are nostalgic people, if you needed more proof, just look at the immense popularity of polaroid picture formats on projects these days. With our instant technology of digital and phone photography, I believe we are simply holding on to the essence of the polaroid so it's novelty isn't lost forever. 

 Check out how our designers used polaroids and preserved a bit of history on their projects:

Practical Scrapper Malika Kelly

Polaroids are very trendy right now, but hard to come by these days!  Make your own by using white cardstock and a frame cut file.

 

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat Siehl 

also created her own Polaroid frames using her Silhouette.

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix created a Polaroid Frame and used it for her card base.

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink created Polaroid frames with her Silhouette and used them behind her photos and as embellishments in the top left corner.

Practical Scrapper Audrey Yeager used a Polaroid stamp and some white embossing powder to create frames on her background.  She then layered some die cut frames around her page for her photo and journaling.

 Practical Scrapper Cathryn Hanson chose these unique brown Polaroid

frames that also created her title.

 

 Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson

 created her own by cutting out square photos and then mounting them onto white cardstock and doodling a black outline.

 Practical Scrapper Erin Morehouse
also chose a Polaroid stamp, and cropped her photos to fit.

So if you haven't yet tried this trend, you can find plenty of pre-cut Polaroid type frames, chipboard, wood, stamps and stickers. There are also dies and electronic cut files widely available, but making your own is also simple and practical.

Happy Monday,

**Designer projects are not always linked in our posts, but you can always find their blogs in our sidebar or in the staff tab**

On Trend- Arrows

If you want to get right to the point, arrows are a hot scrapbook staple. Although they aren't new to the scrapbooking scene, it seems they are more popular than ever, and are popping up in many collections as stickers, chipboard, resist chipboard, felt, wood and paper diecuts. If that's not enough, you can get many styles of arrow stencils, as well as digital and metal diecuts.
With such variety available, arrows can be used with almost any scrapbooking style, and any theme. Just proceed with caution, as arrows create instant movement on a page and often determine the focal point. Just make sure they're pointing you in the right direction!
Take a cue from our designers if you want some pointers:

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson  

used photo corners and then added wood arrows on top to give them extra dimension

Practical Scrapper Audrey Yeager 

uses arrows of varying visual weight to help keep the eye moving around her page.

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink

  went big and bold with her arrows in a starburst pattern, really playing with the arrow theme. Look how the colors of the striped Sn@p papers match the colors of the hat in her picture.

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix

draws attention to the action in her photo by adding arrows that follow the already established direction of her background starburst paper.

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat Siehl 

cut  squares in half to create her arrows, and then sewed them onto the page.

Practical Scrapper Cathryn Hanson

decided to use a stitched chevron arrow to highlight the first layout of her second beautiful granddaughter; Taylor Winter Grace, born November 28.

Practical Scrapper Nicole Laha

used an arrow stamp to create her page border and added an arrow die cut to join the title and pictures.

Practical Scrapper Malika Kelly 

  loves using arrows on her layouts.  They make great backgrounds and fantastic embellishments! 

Practical Scrapper Kylie Symons

uses a cork arrow, as well as a paper one. Notice how the hearts around her frame even act like little arrows?

So if you're looking for some direction on your next project, arrows might just be the accent you need.

( I'm all out of puns...)

Have a great Monday!

**Designer projects are not always linked in our posts, but you can always find their blogs in our sidebar or in the staff tab**