Happy Fall, Y'all!

Hi! I'm Practical Scrapper Wendy Coffman from Stamping Rules!, here with a fun Fall project for y'all.  When I found this chevron print burlap canvas I knew it would be perfect for a pretty scrappy door "wreath", which is ready to start hanging around on my front door now that Fall is really here. I had originally planned to make it more Halloween themed, but then I saw the Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World and I was immediately inspired to change my whole game plan. We still have a lot of green around in fall up here in the PacNW...plus if you've seen my work before, you know I don't need much encouragement to add glitter and flowers to any project! 

So I hit my stash pretty hard for this project, using up bits and bobs of all kinds of materials to build my flowers. I've got a bit of chocolate felt border that I rolled up into a sweet rose. Layers of garden green and cream cardstock that I cut on my Cricut to layer into the biggest flowers, topped off with bling. I also cut the beige linen patterned paper and yellow cardstock for the 3-D rolled flowers on my Cricut. The leaves and vines are felt. I filled the rolled flowers with glitter and rhinestones, and tucked a little felt acorn in amongst the flowers and bling. I backed the wreath with a few layers of black tulle. 

I cut my sentiment on the Cricut as well, using a deep brown glitter paper. The upper letters are layered onto a cork diecut frame.  Most of the materials to build my wreath came from Close To My Heart. I found the burlap canvas at Joann's.  The sequins are from American Crafts. I attached everything using my hot glue gun so it'll be good and sturdy hanging on my sheltered front door. 

Now it's time to head off for another week of apple picking, sweater wearing, pumpkin spice everything fun. Happy Fall, Y'all!

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.

Getting Artsy Craftsy with Gesso!

Today, the Practical Scrappers On Trend team is here to show you that Gesso isn't used only on canvases anymore.  What is Gesso (correctly pronounced "jesso")?  Well, it is traditionally used by artists to prime their canvases before painting.  It brushes on like acrylic paint and dries to a hard, slightly textured consistency, which prevents paints from soaking into the canvas.  Gesso can also be used to create a modelling (also called molding) paste, which is exactly what it sounds like - a paste that can be molded or modelled into shapes and textures.  Scrapbookers have discovered and love it because it allows us to use painting and mixed media techniques directly on our layouts.  Want some examples for inspiration? You are in luck - just keep scrolling down...

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson used a mask with her gesso to create the brick look on the blue papers on this layout.  She also used gesso on the chevron to create an ombre look to it.

Practical Scrapper Julie used a mask and modeling paste to add dimension to her layout. She then used Faber-Castell gelatos to add color to her background.

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink used a Heidi Swapp mask and thick layers of modeling paste. After the modeling paste dried, she added PanPastel to the hearts to give them touches of color.

 

Practical Scrapper Lisa Peeples used gesso to create a painted background frame for her photo. She lightly pressed embossing folders into the gesso to give a slight pattern to it.

 

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix used modeling paste and a brick stencil to create dimension on this vintage layout of her grandparents. Gesso was also used around the photo and over this kraft clock to suit the color scheme better.

Practical Scrapper Cathy used a Heidi Swapp mask and modeling paste to create dimension and  more interest on her layout. Modeling paste is above the hearts and on the little black layer of paper behind the tag!

Practical Scrapper Charissa used gesso to paint a photo mat for her photos, softening the bright yellow Glitz Designs patterned paper. She also painted in the stamped arrows above her title with gesso, again to soften the yellow of the patterned paper.

Trendy Trees

It is only fitting that after hopping all weekend and showing off our wood products, we would start the week off heading back to the source, getting back to our roots in a manner of speaking.  Don't "leave" just yet - come see what our On Trend has created with this week's assignment - trees!

 

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson used tree stickers on her page along with the word "planted" in her title work.

Practical Scrapper Nicole Laha gathered BoBunny's Trail Mix collection to document her nephew's first fishing trip, using the 12x12 tree-themed paper as her background.

Practical Scrapper Cathy used Echo Park's Happy Camper collection for a fun layout with popped up trees for some log crawling adventures!

Practical Scrapper Lanette created an Art Journal Page using Dylusions Mists.

Documenting You

Hello and happy Friday!    How many of you scrapbook about yourself? I know I am guilty of not documenting about myself enough.  So, I created a layout telling random facts about myself.  I used My Mind's Eye's new collection Cut and Paste.

 

 

 

 

I used my typewriter for my journaling then added small embellishments such as paint splatter, enamel dots, brads, and wooden veneer shapes.

 

 

I used one of the coordinating Cut and Paste cardstock stickers to place my title.  I wanted to use a variety of letters, as well.

 

 

 

So, this weekend I challenge you to create a layout all about yourself!

Thanks for stopping by!

-Jennifer

www.livethemoment-jen.blogspot.com

 

Products used: patterned paper, cardstock sticker, arrow stamp, enamel dots, brads: My Mind's Eye, wood veneers, random stamp: Studio Calico; chipboard letters, journaling pen: American Crafts; letter stickers: Basic Grey; flair: {a flair for buttons}; misting ink:  October Afternoon, Tattered Angels; ink: Ranger



 

 

 

 

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.

Let Your Banners and Flags Fly

Happy, happy Monday!  Today, the members of our On Trend team are showing their love for all things crafty and trendy by proudly displaying their layouts that have banners and flags.  Whether they are big or small, handmade or found on a sticker sheet, trinagular or pennant shaped - banners and flags are the perfect embellishment for just about any kind of layout.  Don't believe me?  Well then, take a look at these:

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson added a banner she cut from the circle pie paper.  She also created flags with her patterned paper and toothpicks.

 

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat used chipboard pieces to create this festive banner.

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink used the Basic Grey Hipster collection, which comes with this fun banner that she placed vertically on her page.

Practical Scrapper Malika Kelly used a little Bella Blvd banner for a subtitle and flag as an embellishment.

Practical Scrapper Julie made a big banner below her picture using the collection "Yes Please" from American Crafts.

Practical Scrapper Lanette layered her banners and popped them up with foam dots to add depth to her Bo Bunny Alora layout.

Practical Scrapper Charissa created circle banners from patterned paper and twine.  She placed her banners along the top of her page as well as near the photo for a central embellishment.

Practical Scrapper Cathy was super inspired by Kimberly Neddo's long banners that she created for a layout in the May issue of Scrapbook Trends!

 

Practical Scrapper Ruth used simple layered banner embellishments made from cardstock as a balance for the busy bright and energetic background paper.

 

Practical Scrapper Krissy Clark McKee cut out her "today" banner with her Silhouette Cameo.  She added solid pink eyelet behind each cutout word to help them stand out more.

 

Fussy Cutting

Fussy cutting - can I get a show of hands for those of you who wondered just what the heck the term "fussy cutting" meant when you first heard it?  If it makes you fussy, why in the world would you want to do it?!  Well, for those of you who are still just a little unsure what fussy cutting is - it's not something that makes you mad, it is taking a piece of scrapbook paper - or any paper - and cutting specific images out of it, following very closely to the outline of the image.  Think of it as creating a die cut without the machine.  And today, we have lots of wonderful examples of fussy cutting from our On Trend team - everything from the sweet and simple "just right" embellishment to the intricately detailed...take a look:

 

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson fussy cut out scallops and added pop dots to make a layered effect, she also fussy cut the heart and lil elephants.

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat stamped several elements, fussy cut them, and turned them into embellishments (banner, just be you, love).

Practical Scrapper Lanette fussy cut lots and lots of Bo Bunny flowers and clustered them together to create this romantic card.

Practical Scrapper Audrey Yeager fussy cut the flowers and doilies on her page to create embellishment clusters.

Practical Scrappers Claude used letter stickers on a piece of cardstock and then fussy cut around the title. She then pop-dotted it to make it stand out.

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix fussy cut the victorian lady and rose from patterned paper in this A Ladies Diary Collection by Graphic 45. Then she adhered them with foam tape to give her layout dimension.

 

Practical Scrapper Krissy Clark McKee fussy cut her arrows along the top and bottom of her layout.  She then fussy cut additional matching pieces that she sewed on top in several places to create extra dimension.

Nautical Layouts

Ahoy Mateys!  This morning, we are setting sail with the Practical Scrappers to see what kind of nautical-themed inspiration they have for us.  No dramamine needed - whether you like your fun on the water to come with a pirate's hat or a pretty sunset, we've got something for you!

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat used a nautical theme for her summertime beach layout.

So did Practical Scrapper Charissa...

and Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson.

Practical Scrapper Cathy showed us you can use a nautical theme for backyard summer fun.

Practical Scrapper Nicole Laha chose a nautical theme for this sweet baby layout.

Practical Scrapper Caz Hancock used it to showcase this "fearsome" pirate picture.

Practical Scrapper Malika Kelly used a wood veneer anchor on the cover of her beach holiday mini album to give it a nautical feel.

And Practical Scrapper Krissy Clark McKee chose a nautical theme for this layout of her family members sailing on the lake.