Using Stencils

We've come a long way since the days of using alphabet stencils on poster board to create school projects.  Today's stencils come in all shapes and sizes.  And if we can't find the stencil we want, we are making our own!  Let's see what crafty uses the Practical Scrappers On Trend Team has found for stencils:

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat created her own stencil from a Some Odd Girl cut file.  She then used her stencil to make the background of this card.

Practical Scrapper Malika used a Studio Calico stencil and two colors of Mister Huey ink to make her background on this layout.

Practical Scrapper Charissa used a Studio Calico stencil and her colored pencils to create part of her background before building the layout with Glitz Design's Finnley Collection.

Practical Scrapper Lisa Peeples used white gesso with a Studio Calico bubble stencil on the corners of her layout. She then inked over the gesso with a Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad after it dried to make the pattern stand out.

Practical Scrapper Krissy Clark McKee used a stencil and a black marker to doodle an additional pattern around her photo on this layout.

Back to School Layouts

It's that time again - in the U.S., children everywhere are starting school or counting down their last days of summer freedom.  And as they head off to school with their new backpacks and stories of "what I did this summer," we moms are rejoicing at the few hours of quiet and sanity that has returned to our homes.  Or maybe we are trying not to cry as our little one starts their very first day of school.  Either way - at Practical Scrappers, it means we are digging out our school-themed papers, printing out our Instagram photos, and showing off our Back-to-School layouts, like these:

 

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson used an older Crate Paper school line on this page of her son.

 

Practical Scrapper Becci used her crafty supplies to make these back-to-school gifts.

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat has a pocket layout to hold all the important papers from 2nd Grade.

Practical Scrapper Nicole Laha stamped these back to school images on patterned paper and layered them onto the front of her card.

Practical Scrapper Julie used an alphabetic letter mask from Kesi'Art and paper reinforcements to go with the theme.

Practical Scrapper Lanette used her scrappy scraps and old stickers from her stash to make this fun school days layout.

 

Practical Scrapper Malika used Chic Tags new Schoolhouse line to create this first day of school layout.

Practical Scrapper Lisa Peeples used an old Bo Bunny line and some cork board stickers to scrap her son's fifth grade photos.

 

 

Practical Scrapper Krissy Clark McKee used Crate Paper's Portrait Collection for this layout that has a hidden journaling card containing a quiz of her 8th Grader's current favorites.

Sunbursts

It's a fact - we love the sun.  We love spending time outside on a sunny day.  We love to take pictures when the sun's lighting is just right.  And, now, we love to add sunshine to our cards and scrapbook layouts!  Put on your sunglasses and come see how our On Trend Team has interpreted the popular trend of adding sunbursts to a project.

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson created a sunburst out of pattern paper and added stitching across the rays for texture

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat created a sunburst using the Silhouette and backed the negative space with pattern paper.

Practical Scrapper Cathy created a layered sunburst with the Bazzill Sweetwater Lucy's Crab Shack line!

Practical Scrapper Malika made a summery card with a Silhouette cut sunburst and an Epiphany Crafts epoxy.

Practical Scrapper Lanette covered her whole layout with a burst pattern.

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink made a sunburst pattern for the background and handstitched all the pieces together. She chose her photo for the dreamy effect created by the shining sun.  

Practical Scrapper Nicole Laha cut sun rays freehand from patterned paper and adhered them behind her summer photos.

Practical Scrapper Lisa Peeples used fun sunbursts to make a cover for her journal she created to record her crafty ideas and sketches.

Practical Scrapper Kerri created her sunburst with Crate Paper's Emma's Shoppe Collection.   She inked the edges of the pink/red sunbursts to highlight them.

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix used a Sunburst only on the top half of her layout and used stitching and sequins to accent it.

 Practical Scrapper Krissy Clark McKee used patterened paper from Pretty Little Studio's Nature Walk Collection to create her fall-themed sunburst that she accented with stitching, paper feathers, hearts, buttons, and sequins.

Negative Space Layouts

Have you ever said or heard someone say, "don't be so negative?"  Well, guess what?  With scrapbooking, you can be as negative as you want - and it's a good thing!  In fact, it's another hot trend.  Check out these negative space layouts by our On Trend team - I am positive they will put a smile on your face and give your creativity a jump start!

 

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat used a Some Odd Girl Circle with Arrows Cut File and had lots of negative space with the arrows.

Practical Scrapper Cathy created her negative space layout with a Fancy Pant's Silhouette File and Fancy Pant's Good Life collection (and photos of the cutest little fisherman ever!)

Practical Scrapper Charissa used a Silhouette Cameo cut file and backed the negative space with a variety of patterned papers from Carta Bella's Hello Again collection.

Practical Scrapper Malika used her Silhouette to make subtitles for her layout. Instead of gluing each little letter down she used the negative and backed the strip of patterned paper with black card stock.

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix created a negative space title and backed it with pattern paper.

Practical Scrapper Lisa Peeples fussy cut some of the arrows out of her paper and placed embellishments inside. She also used chipboard pieces and backed the negative space with paper to create her title piece and little heart at the top.

Here Comes the Sunshine

Are you loving all the sunshine diecuts and summery papers that are out but need a little inspiration to figure out how to use them?  Well, look no further!  Our On Trend team will have you walking on sunshine in no time at all.  No matter whether it is raining or dreary outside, you can always create a bright sunshiney day on your layouts - just like our Practical Scrappers have done!

 

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson used a sunshine paper and divided it up across the page.

Practical Scrapper Julie C. used a sun sticker from the collection "I heart Summer" from Fancy Pants.  She also chose a title with the word "Sunshine".

Practical Scrapper Cathy used Echo Park's Beautiful Life to create this layout with lots of layers, including a layer of the sun's rays peeking out above the top corner of her photo and embellishments.

 

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat used a Snag Em Sun stamp from Imaginisce on her summer layout.

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix used Quick Quotes Just Because to decorate this Dog House Mini from Want 2 Scrap.

 

Practical Scrapper Claude used a fun sunshine diecut for her layout.

Practical Scrapper Lanette used a sunshine-y title and other sun accents on this layout.

Practical Scrapper Malika Kelly cut a sun into the background of her layout and added some hand stitching on top.

I Mustache You A Question - Mustache Layouts

I "mustache" you a question.  How do you feel about facial hair - specifically, faux facial hair - on your layouts?  Mustaches are a hot trend right now on fabrics, art, home décor, and, yes, on cards and layouts.  Check out these layouts to see how our On Trend team tackled this hairy assignment.

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson

Practical Scrapper Malika Kelly made a mustache layout using Bella Blvd's Lovey Dovey line.

Practical Scrapper Julie made her layout using the Swagger collection from Fancy Pants.

 

Practical Scrapper Cathy also used Fancy Pant's Swagger to create her layout!

All That Glitters - Using Gold on Your Project

You've heard the saying "All that glitters is not gold."  Well, that's not true here at Practical Scrappers!  Today, our On Trend team is providing a few nuggets of inspiration using gold embellishments.  Take a look at how they have made these projects glitter and shine! 

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson used gold-accented embellishments on her card from the Dear Lizzy line

Practical Scrapper Nicole Laha used gold spray ink to color paper arrows and to add a few splatters to the white background of her layout. The frame from the Pier collection by Crate Paper was the perfect accent, adding more metallic gold to this layout.

Practical Scrapper Charissa used gold spray ink to paint a gold background behind the layers on her layout. She also used gold star tissue paper, along with glittery puffy star stickers and gold sequins, to create a monochromatic layout.

Practical Scrapper Lanette used gold embossing powder on her chipboard elements.

Practical Scrapper Malika used gold sequins, glitter tape, and washi tape to embellish her layout.

 

Practical Scrapper Lisa used sparkly gold letters and heat embossed one of her chipboard stars with gold embossing powder.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

See you tomorrow for Ten Terrific things!!