Retreat Workshop

Yes! I do some type of workshop for every retreat. We've made clip boards, tag books, and layouts - lots of layouts! This one is my all-time favorites. I needed inspiration, just had no idea what I wanted to do for this page. So I started looking through websites. I mainly used scrapbook.com and scrapjazz.com. I found all sorts of layouts, and although none of them were like my final product, I used bits and pieces from several of them and inspiration from MANY of them! All that is to say, if you feel like you're running dry of ideas, review the layout posts here and visit some of the sites I mentioned. You're bound to be inspired in no time!

Above you'll see the layout that was closest to what I made originally. This is Chelsea's creation, but it is a lot like mine - which I DIDN'T take a picture of, go figure! When I taught this, I showed my layout and explained some of the techniques I used, then I simply passed out all of the elements. I had cut everything, both free-hand and using my Cricut. I used the Veranda paper and made a large ring with my Cricut. I used the ring on the left and cut the center of the ring in half (well, slightly off-center) and used it on the right page to sort of frame the photo at the top. I cut the 3 straight strips and the mattes on my personal trimmer and free-handed the curvy strips. The flourishes were also cut on my Cricut - yes, I had a blast!

The only real trick with this layout involved the ring and the picture beside it. Once I matted the picture, I adhered the whole thing to the ring and then trimmed what was hanging over on the inside. It wasn't very hard, and, since it was covered by the ring, it didn't have to look pretty. While Chelsea followed my design, she added the ribbon at the top of the right page (LOVE that idea!) and the elegant scripted words to it. She also used cocoa ink and an edge distresser (also known as scissor-distressing) on the edges of her mattes and strips.

I have to say, this was one of my most FAVORITE layouts! I will use it again! Watch for the next post, where I'll show you what some of my other retreaters did with the elements. It's amazing! No two layouts were alike.

Workshops on the GO!

This is an example from the Caboodle workshop set on Friday, February 5th beginning at 6PM. I have 2 seats left to this workshop, so give me a holler if you are interested in joining us. We'll make 3 double layouts and a 4th layout is in a full color brochure that comes with the kit.

Also in February, we're doing the Home Sweet Home workshop. That will be on Sunday night, February 21, at 5 PM. I have 4 open seats for that workshop. This is a sample from that workshop. Contact me for supply fees and further information!

Boom-di-ada Layout

Linda made this layout using the Boom-di-ada Level 1 Kit. The level 1 kits are available for ALL of the Close to My Heart "My Reflections" design themes. The beauty of these kits is that the pages are already laid out and ready for photos! When I used the Level 1 kits a few years ago, I created 112 pages in only 9 days. They make things so simple and fast! Each kit includes 4 pre-made pages, 2 extra card stocks, 2 extra background and texture (B&T) design pages, and 2 sheets of Stickease.

It's sort of hard to see how these pages started out, but you can see them at this link. Linda gave the left hand one a quarter turn from what you see at the link, but other than that, it's easy to see the additions she made to the pages.

Anniversary - Carmela

Carmela shared another letters layout. This one is different as she celebrates seven years with her sweet hubby. Instead of the letters being made by her pictures, she let the letters have equal weight with her pictures, telling her story together.

What and AWESOME Retreat!

This retreat was extraordinary. I think my favorite part was how the crop room just rippled with chatter and laughter. I know you all got a lot done, because I have the pictures to prove it, but you also had a LOT of fun! I'll be posting the artwork I collected in the next few weeks.

Letter Layouts

Carmela made this set of layouts. I made one like it years ago, so while I'm not sure how she did it, I can tell you how I did.

First I cut out my letters on white cardstock. I made sure they could fit on my pages the way I wanted them to before I attached any pictures to them.

Then I got out all of my pictures. I chose the ones I wanted to highlight and put them on the top and in the middle of the layout. I filled in the pictures on the cardstock letters, making sure the parts of the pictures that were the most important were completely ON the cardstock letters. Once I filled up the letters with my pictures, completely covering all the cardstock, I cut off all of the excess photo pieces. (That's why it's important to make sure the the parts of the pictures you want the most are COMPLETELY on the cardstock.) After cutting out the letters just the way I wanted them, I matted the letters on another piece of cardstock, a LITTLE bigger than the photo letters. To do this, I adhered the photo letters to a piece of cardstock, then trimmed around the letters about an 8th of an inch from the photo letters, to make a border.

3-Picture Layout

Ahhhh! The More to Adore package! I can't say I've used it a lot in my photo album, but I've used it almost every year since it came out to make Valentines for my girls.

Linda has used the striped B&T (stands for Background and Texture paper, but is also known as design paper) and the brown paisley-patterned paper to create this double, along with blush cardstock that she sponged with chocolate ink. She also used Chocolate cardstock as her title band and blush cardstock as her photo mats. Both of these she distressed with an edge distresser from Close to My Heart. If you don't have an edge distresser, I highly recommend one; it is so simple to use. But you can achieve the same appearance by scraping the edge of white-core cardstock with the inside corner of an open pair of scissors.

I plan to upload some of my Valentine cards in the next several days. We'll be using the same paper pack.

Document layouts

This is easily one of my favorite paper sets. I used it a couple of years ago when I scrap-booked the anniversary trip I enjoyed with my dear hubby.

Floral Tapestry is the perfect set for SO MANY situations. In this case, Linda used it to highlight the invitation and award that her daughter received through her drill team. While it is a little "girly" it is country enough to work for picnics, but would be as perfect for a little girls tea party as it would for anyone's (even a young man's) prom pictures. (Yes, I did that, too!)

One of the coolest things about the My Reflections packages at Close to My Heart is that they are so versatile.

Worth the Wait

I absolutely love this layout. Lisa used the Paper Garden print to finish it out. It is a perfect example of how just one leftover B&T (background and texture paper, also known as design paper) can pull a double layout together.

She only had one piece of the floral print to use, but it perfectly matched the amethyst and buttercup cardstock that she used for the layouts.

It Takes 2

Highschool pictures can be a little tricky. While the designer papers can be so easy to use, they will seldom run in school colors, or should I say ONLY school colors.

I like the way Linda got around that problem with these school pictures of her twins. She found some card stock that was perfect for the color match (in this case, Holiday Red and Moonstruck) and used a gray and white distressed papper as the bases for this double.

You can achieve the same end using the "Game On" paper pack from Close to My Heart. The color scheme for it is gray wool, black, bamboo, and desert sand. It works perfectly with an accent color or two to bring in the school colors. In fact I did that very thing in the layout that I did for a retreat last year. You can see it HERE.

Avaopoly

I've been doing some major surfing today. I particularly was looking for some inspiration for the scrapping workshop that I'll be doing during my retreat next weekend. I definitely found some GREAT ideas a several different sites, but I was really shocked by what I found.

Most of the layouts submitted to these sites were nice, some were amazing. What was lacking for the most part were pictures! Of all things! Seriously, 9 out of every 10 layouts I saw had only 1 picture on them. The rest of the page was either blank (huh?) or was an art project.

I don't have anything against artistic pages - boy, these definitely were, with all sorts of junk draped all over them - and I appreciate the way they help me look at my pages from a different viewpoint, but so many? Don't people take more than 1 picture for an event? Shoot, with my family
alone, I would need at least 3 pics and that's with doubling up and no friends included.

So I particularly LOVE this layout from Carmela! She used all sorts of little pics, mostly silhouettes, to create a first year double-page for her daughter. I included some close-ups so you could see the detail.

I particularly liked the sentiment at the "Go" box!

When last I saw Carmela's work, she was working on a version of Candyland for her son - can't wait to check out the finished project on that one! What a CLEVER idea!

Retreat Workshop Art

At all of my retreats, I do a workshop of one type or other. In November, Christmas was my theme and we created a double layout using the Jingle paper. Here is my basic layout. Most of the paper was a regular cut, but since I was using the curvey lined paper, I cut it along the curve and used it that way. I used cranberry polka dot paper and juniper snowflake paper to accent the rest of the page.

The 4 x 12 pieces went on the inside, aligned with the top and bottom and the inside edge of the pages. The left curvey page was roughly 9 inches wide and was fully 12 inches across. Another 2-inch accent paper covered the left side of the curvey paper. The final accent is a 4 x 4 square of cranberry cardstock when I tore in a curve from one corner to the other.



The right-hand curvey pages was also 9 inches wide and this time 8 inches across. The red cardstock in the bottom right corner was a 6 x 6 torn from 1 corner to the other. I also mounted all of the pictures on red cardstock. Each piece was only a tiny bit bigger than the picture I used with it. I edge-distressed all the pictures and the mats.




Also, for one of the pictures, I cut it into 3 pieces, avoiding faces, and edge-distressed those as well. I liked the effect. I had seen it on one of the doubles in the Imagine book and was just waiting for the right time to try it. I was pleased with the effect.









Below are some of the layouts made by my retreaters.

Twitterpated Workshop Cutting Instructions for Layouts #1 - #3

First let me tell you how I work. I'll give you the first cut of the 12 x 12 paper and from there, we'll turn the paper 1/4 turn - "like a hamburger" (flat and wide, like it would be when you take a bite out of it) - or we'll leave it as it is - "like a hot dog" (long and skinny across your trimmer blade, like it would be when you take a bite out of it!) Yeah, I know. Just go with it - it really does help to get the bearings!

So, lets get this started. We'll also be labeling every piece of paper with the layout number and an L or R for the left or right sides of the layout.

Start with the green print paper. Make a 4-inch cut across the length of the paper and discard that piece. Take the larger piece that is left and turn it like a hamburger. Make an 8-inch cut, creating an 8 x 8 square and label it 1L. Label the other piece (4 x 8) 1R.

Take your other green print paper. Make a 3-inch cut. Turn the 3-inch piece like a hamburger and make a 9 inch cut, creating a 3 x 9 piece. Label it 3L. Take the 3 x 3 square that is leftover and cut off 1/2 inch off of one side, making a 3 x 2 1/2 piece. Label it 3R. Take the large sheet that is left and turn it like a hamburger. Make an 8 inch cut. Discard the 4-inch leftover. Turn the 8 inch piece like a hamburger and make a 6 inch cut, creating an 8 x 6 piece. Label it 3L. Take the 3 inch piece that is left and turn it like a hamburger. Cut off 1 inch, creating a 7 x 3 piece. Label it 3R.

Take out 1 piece of brown cardstock. Make a 5 inch cut. Turn the 5 inches like a hamburger and make another 5 inch cut. Label the 5-inch square 2L. Label the 5 x 7 piece 2R. Turn the leftover cardstock like a hamburger. Make a 1-inch cut. Make another 1-inch cut. Discard the rest. Take the first 1-inch cut and turn it like a hamburger. Cut it to 5 1/2 inches and label it 2R. Cut the other strip (like a hamburger) to 3 1/2 inches and label it 2L.

Take 1 piece of the plaid paper and cut it down the middle making 2 pieces that are 6 x 12. Label 1 of these 2L and the other 2R.

Take 1 piece of the polka dot paper and make a 2 inch cut. Label it 2L. Keeping it like a hotdog, make a 1-inch cut (1 x 12) and label it 2R. Turn the leftover like a hamburger. In order to make your final layout (the one from the brochure) we have to use this paper sparingly. So this time we're going to cut a specific piece rather than just cutting all the way across. With your paper sitting like a hamburger, you're going to make a 2 inch cut, but only cut it 4 inches long. We're creating a 2 x 4 piece, so once you've made the 2 inch cut, turn your paper so that you can finish it off with the 4 inch cut. If you can't figure out how to do this (and believe me, I KNOW how complicated this can be!) just measure a 2 x 4 inch piece with a ruler and cut it with scissors. Label it 2R.

Get out your stripe paper. You can make your own choices with this paper. I used 4 1-inch strips for these layouts. Two of the strips went across the lines (where the lines make a short design across the 1-inch width of the strip) and two of them were long lines going the 12-inch length of the strip. The ones that were long-ways were necessary to give a ribbon effect, but if you want to save paper and like the look it gives, you can make them all like that. I'll give you the directions on how I did it, though. First, you're going to make a 1-inch cut, going with the stripe (so that they run the length of your trimmer) on the side of the paper that DOESN'T have the blue edge to it. Label it 1R. Turn your paper 1/2 way around so that the lines still run the length of your trimmer, but your cut WILL have the blue edge to it. First, cut the blue edge off! (About a 1/4 inch cut) Now make another 1-inch cut the length of your paper. The two cuts should be VERY similar! Label the second one 1L. At this point you can make two more 1-inch cuts (with your paper like a hotdog) down the length of the stripes for our 3rd layout. OR you can change to the other striped paper. I like the look of the short stripes running the 1-inch width of the paper better than the long ones, so I switched to the other paper. Make a 1-inch cut ACROSS the lines (with lines of "latitude" going from left to right on your paper cutter) and then do it again, the same way. The strips should be almost identical. Label the first 3R and the second 3L.

Take one piece of the acorn paper. Turn it in your trimmer so that you'll be cutting ACROSS the lines (with lines of "latitude" going from left to right on your paper cutter) and make a 4-inch cut. Turn this piece like a hamburger and make another 4-inch cut. Discard the 4 x 4 square and label the 4 x 3 piece 1L. Take the large piece you have left and turn it like a hamburger, making another 4-inch cut. (This time the lines should go the length of the paper) Label that 4 x 8 piece 1R and discard the rest.

Take the tree trunk paper. The first cut will be across the bottom of the tree trunks, so again the paper needs to go into your trimmer with lines of latitude, the tree trunks running across the cutter from left to right. Make a 1-inch cut and lable it 2R. Make another 1-inch cut. Turn this piece like a hamburger and cut it to 9 inches, making a 1 x 9 strip. Label it 2L. Take the left over and turn it like a hamburger. Make a 4-inch cut and turn that like a hamburger again. Make another 4-inch cut and label that 4 x 4 square 2R. Make another 4-inch cut. With that piece, we want to make a 4 x 3 piece, but it is mildly important that the tree trunks run from left to right across the shorter way instead of the longer way. You will need to cut 1-inch off of 1 side, but you'll have to figure out which way to do that, getting the trees sideways across the 3 inch width. Label that piece 2L and discard the rest.

Take out the other piece of the tree paper. This time, with the trunks going longways, parallel to the blade of your trimmer, make an 8 inch cut. Turn the cut portion like a hamburger and make a 10 1/2 inch cut, creating a large piece that is 10 1/2 x 8 with the tree trunks running longways across the cut. Label that paper 3R. Discard the 1 1/2 inch piece. Turn the leftover piece (4 x 12) like a hamburger and make a 4 1/2 cut, creating a 4 x 4 1/2 piece. Label it 3L. Still with the leftover like a hamburger, make a 3 inch cut. Turn it like a hamburger and cut it to 3 inches again, creating a 3 x 3 square. Label it 3L and discard all the rest.

You'll use some of the leftover paper on the layout in your brochure along with 2 of the pieces of Colonial White as base pages, so don't throw anything away. For my extra layouts, you'll use the 2 Sweet Leaf card stocks for the base of #1, the other 2 Colonial White card stocks for the bases of #2 and the Sorbet card stocks for the bases of #3.

Twitterpated Workshop - Layout #3

This is the third and final layout from my workshop - well, except for the one included in the instruction booklet. By the way, didn't you LOVE what they did with the ribbon in that layout??? But I digress. For this one, as for the others, don't adhere your pieces until you've completed your distressing. At first, just lay them on the bases. Use Sorbet card stock for these bases and your pieces should all be labeled #3L for the left page or #3R for the right page.

For the left page, lay the 9 x 3 green print at the bottom left edge of the paper. Add the 3 x 3 square of the tree trunk paper above that 9 x 3 piece. Lay the 1-inch striped strip next to these two pieces. My stripes go up and down, but yours, if you cut them according to my instructions, should go short ways across the paper. (I regreted the way mine looked, and used less paper this way!) Next to the striped strip, add the 4 1/2 x 4 inch tree trunk piece to the bottom edge of the page. Put the 6 x 8 green print directly above that, making an open space that measures 4 x 4 along the bottom right corner.

On the right hand page, lay the 10 1/2 x 8 inch tree trunk sheet flush against the bottom edge and 1/2 inch from the left edge. The striped strip lays across that about 1 1/2 inches from the bottom edge. **Note! Even when you're ready to adhere all the pieces down, only adhere the outside edges of this strip so you can slip your picture underneath it later!** The 7 x 3 inch green piece lays evenly between the tree trunk paper and the right edge and equi-distance from the top edge. The final green print piece (measuring 3 x 2 1/2) goes flush against the top edge of the base and about 1/2 inch from the left edge of the tree trunk paper.

This double carries a LOT of embellishments and techniques. First, I used a sponge dauber on all of the paper pieces of this layout with Sorbet ink. It gives a soft edge to the paper as you can see on the tree trunk and green print paper to the left. Also to the left, you can see the branch "button" (actually a chipboard accent from the Dimensional Elements Organic collection) that I added at the end of a ribbon border I used across the left page, from the right edge (Actually, I wrapped it around the edge and secured it at the back.) to the tree trunk paper. I used about 10 inches in all. I also added some Colonial White brads from the Basic Brad collection to this "button" to give a different look.


I did the same with the other branch "button" on the right hand side of the page, but in this photo, my distressing of the base page shows up really well! While I used a sponge dauber on the paper pieces, I used the direct method on my base pages. I scrap the corner edge of the stamp pad directly across the edge of the paper, leaving it with little points and lines. Usually the corners get a thicker layer of it. I used this method on the two sides of each paper, but at the tops and bottoms, I ran the stamp pad along the edge long ways so that the texture wouldn't cross and the lines would all go the same direction. It took a while for me to perfect this technique (well, perfect is a very LOOSE translation for what I do) but I kept playing with it on scrap cardstock (it doesn't work as well on paper) until I got the effect I was looking for.

Twitterpated Workshop - Layout #2

This is Layout #2 of my workshop. As with the previous post, set out your design first. That gives you a chance to distress your papers as you choose. Then adhere them to the bases. In this case, the bases are Colonial White cardstock sheets. As in the last case, your cut pieces are labeled. This time they will say #2L or R for the left or right sides of the layout.

First, set your 2-inch polka dot strip along the bottom edge of the left base. Directly about that is one of the plaid 6 x 12 sheets and the 5 x 5 chocolate card stock square goes on the left side of that, about 1/2 inch from the left edge. Above the plaid is the 4 x 3 tree trunk piece. The 1 x 9 tree trunk strip lays across the top open space from the right edge. Above that, I kept with the square theme and placed the back side of a 3 x 3 square from the tree trunk paper at the end of that strip. I think I'm going to exchange it for a square of polka dot paper, though. Finally, the 3 1/2 x 1 inch cardstock strip goes near the bottom of the base, against the left edge.

On the right side, the 1-inch polka dot strip sits along the right edge. The 1-inch tree trunk strip lies next to it, followed by the other 6-inch plaid sheet. The last tree trunk piece, a 4 x 4 square, goes at the top left corner of the base. The 2 x 4 polka dot piece goes in the bottom left corner, and the final 5 1/2 x 1 inch brown cardstock strip lies about 1 1/2 inch from the top, flush on the right edge of the base.


Before I laid all these pieces down permanently, I distressed them with chocolate ink. This time I used a "direct" method, brushing the stamp pad directly across the edge of the paper. It made stronger definition to the distress instead of the softer edge applied by the sponge dauber.

Also, I designed the open spots of my bases. After laying out the pieces, I could see that there would be two large open areas and I chose to decorate them with inks that matched the set and one of the stamps that came with this set. I used the stipple brush from my distressing kit to apply first Chocolate, then Sorbet ink. The effect was very subtle, but it really popped when I added randomly stamped leaves using Sweet Leaf ink.




I added all the mushroom "buttons" (actually chipboard accents from the Dimensional Elements Organic collection) to this layout. As you can see, I sewed hemp through the two smaller ones, tying them in knots at the back, just to give them an accent. The larger one, I stitched with the ribbon that came with the Twitterpated workshop kit. As with my other bows, I added just a touch of Liquid Glass to the knot to make sure it holds. You can also see in this picture (if you look really close) that I dotted all the dots with Liquid Glass, too. It makes a raised texture that shows easily when your looking at the page (rather than a digital image).

Twitterpated Workshop - Layout #1

Some of the gals who got this kit were unable to actually attend my workshop this evening, so I'm posting many of the instructions in the next few posts. This post will give the directions for laying out my #1 double. In subsequent posts, you'll find the directions for my #2 and #3 doubles. Finally, in my last post, you'll find my cutting instructions for all 3 designs. The advertised layout (in the previous post) is part of the workshop kit from CTMH and there are step by step instructions for it (as well as tips and techniques) in the full-color pamphlet. If you don't have your Twitterpated Workshop on the Go kit, visit my website, click on the "Workshops on the Go" link and order yours!

I know I still need some titles on these babies, and I know exactly what I'm going to do with them, but I just haven't gotten to that point yet.

This is layout #1. If you already got your papers all cut, you labeled them #1L for #1 left and #1R for #1 right. I always have my attendees lay out their designs without sticking them down, so they can go back and distress as they see fit. Do that here, as there will be distressing techniques later in the post. Use the two pieces of Sweet Leaf card stock as the bases for these layouts.

For the left layout, the green 8 x 8 print goes in the bottom left corner. The other 1-inch striped strip lies along its top border. The final 4 x 8 acorn paper (with the lines going across the paper short ways) sits about 1 inch below the striped strip and flush with the right edge of the base.


On the right page, the 4 x 8 acorn paper that has the lines running long ways on the paper sits about 2 inches from the right edge and flush with the bottom. The 4 x 8 green print butts against it, about 2 inches from the left edge and flush with the top. Then one of the 1-inch striped strips lies over the acorn paper about 2 inches from the bottom.

Now, before I stuck anything down, I distressed it all thoroughly. On this layout, I used Chocolate ink and a sponge dauber from my distressing kit to add a soft edge to every piece of this layout. I edge it all the way around both bases, too, as you can see in this close up view.

Once I edge all the paper, I went ahead and adhered it together. Then, again using Chocolate, I stamped the little branch image that came with the kit (Don't you LOVE getting a matching stamp set with these workshops!) so that it "sat" on top of the striped strip. I used glue dots to strongly adhere the acorn "buttons" (again part of the Dimensional Elements Organic collection) to the "tree." I used my paper piercing set to make holes and then sew the hemp through the button holes. In retrospect, I probably won't use the glue dots again for this. It made my paper piercing tool and my needle terribly sticky. Anyway, I tied a bow over the largest acorn button and tied knots in the back of the smaller ones, just to give them an accent without being overwhelming.


I have every intention of attaching a journaling tag under this brown button on the right side layout. By the way, I tied a hemp bow around this "button." (It is actually a chipboard accent from the Dimensional Elements Organic collection.) In order to assure that it wouldn't come undone, I put a tiny dot of Liquid glass right where the lines come together to form the knot in the center.

October Customer Update

Next Sunday (the 18th) is my Twitterpated workshop beginning at 5PM. Click the picture link for the flyer for this workshop and we will be making another 3 double layouts with lots of embellishments and techniques in addition to the one shown. This workshop comes with a stamp set and full embellishment package that you can keep! (See them both as well as optional embellishments at the link!) In fact, it is the ONLY way to get this stamp set and you get it all plus a full paper pack for $5 less than it would cost if you bought it all separately! There are only 2 places left for this workshop, so if you want to come, please contact me right away.

The following weekend, the 24th at 10 AM, is going to be one of my favorite workshops! We'll be working with the Jingle paper pack and creating a gift album complete with emblishments, using our new My Creations chipboard album. This workshop, for only $20 in supply fees, is going to be so much fun and you'll have a beautiful gift when you're done. There are only a few places left for this workshop, so reserve yours by contacting me!

Also on the 24th is my new Scrappin' Happy workshop. This is a free workshop, specifically to help you use those great papers you've been buying! It will begin at 4PM and we'll make 4 or 5 double layouts, ready for your pictures, in just a couple of hours. You will need a full "My Reflections" Level 2 paper pack of your choice, a 12 " paper trimmer, adhesive, a ruler, pencil, and scissors. Let me know if you want to come so I can make sure I have enough room.

Finally, directly following my Scrappin' Happy workshop, my As You Like It club night begins. This is the perfect time to finish off those layouts that were just made with pictures and embellishments. This 4 hour crop is exclusively for my club members and includes free use of my stamps and inks during the club night. If you would like to learn more about my club, give me a holler!

Last but not least - there are some great "picture opps" right now!

• My family just went to the State Fair and got a ton of great pics. Can't wait to design some pages for them!
• Traders Village is a local fair in Grand Prairie and is this weekend. Find out more about it at www.tradersvillage.com.
• Now is a GREAT time to take some "formal" pics with your family! I know the kids get school pictures taken, but they just aren't as personal as the group pictures that you can take yourself. There are some beautiful parks in the area - especially the Dallas Arboretum - to find just the right spot for your pictures. And don't ignore the area Pumpkin patches. Just like some of the other spots, they can be fun as well as a beautiful "frame" for your family.

Do me a favor! If you take some pics of your family, please send me a copy to post. I'd love to hear about where you went and what you loved about it! (Even if you're not in Dallas!).

Blessings on you this gorgeous autumn day!

Grace Workshop #4 - Completed

This last workshop has instructions on page 18 in Imagine. It's called, "Sideline Surprise". I gave both pages a quarter turn, which allowed me to use 4 x 6 pictures instead of doing the angled cuts.

You may have noticed that all the pages have the same pictures on them. Well, I've always done an album for each of my kids and for this event, my father-in-law's birthday, my 3 girls all came and needed the pages in their books. (Of course I needed a set, too!)

For this last set, I used some clear buttons to highlight a few of the little flowers in the B&T. (That's short for Background and Texture paper - it's the design paper that you see) I stamped my titles using Colonial White on the Field Trip Alphabet. On each of the pages, I created part of the title using a picture of a sign that hangs outside the home of my father-in-law. On this one, I added matching Twilight Edge Anchors to either side. I also "sewed" some cross-stitches using my piercing tool to make the holes and Crystal Blue Waxy Flax.

The "ribbon" on the right side of this page, and it's matching line on the other page, is actually a strip of the B&T that is decorated with all sorts of ribbon designs.

One last word about all of these layouts. I make the layouts before I decide on the pictures. Using digital photography makes it easy to print out whatever sizes I choose. And having premade pages makes scrap-booking at my retreats so fast and easy. BTW, that's the beauty of the Level 1 "My Reflection" kits, too. The 4 layouts are already done and waiting for pictures and embellishments. The kits even include 2 extra cardstocks, 2 extra B&T design sheets, and 2 pages of matching "Stickease." (Stickease is cardstock-weight sticker sheets.)

Keep watching! I've got a "Scrappin' Happy" before and after workshop to share as well as the Twitterpated "Workshop on the Go" which is this month's workshop. You can bet I'll do the same with them that I did with these and the embellishments for that workshop are so stinkin' cute! You can see a sample of the workshop at my website, marji.mycmth.com, at the "Workshop on the Go" link. Mine is on the 18th of this month and I only have 3 more spots left so let me know that you want to come right away so I can save you your spot.

Grace Workshop #3 - Completed!

This double-page layout also comes from Imagine program. This one is called, "In the Groove" and instructions for it are on page 20. I changed the layout a bit by moving the 3 x 3 square on this top layout from the bottom left to the bottom right corner.

Sunflower Edge Anchors (the circles) are used to embellish this page, along with Crystal Blue Waxy Flax. I only sort-of sewed along the top of this picture. It was much easier than actual sewing, though. I just poked holes in the paper using the piercing tool and the Waxy Flax is so stiff, I could "sew" it without a needle! I also used the Waxy Flax to add color to the buttons on this page.

My buttons are from an old set that we no longer carry, but the Basic Button collection is just MADE for this project. They come in some of the same colors, too.

My favorite embellishments on this page are the two-toned, stamped swirlies on either side of the large picture. Because Close to My Heart carries clear, see-through stamps, this technique is simple! I inked up my stamp with Chocolate and with my thumb I wiped a little of the ink off in some areas before I applied the stamp to the paper. Then, using Twilight Ink, I inked up the areas I had wiped off the first time, lined up the stamp right over my initial image, and stamped it again. The colors sort of mold together making it look like part of the picture. I bet you could do a 3-tone image the same way.

Although I'm sure someone has done it before, I came up with it on my own, in keeping with the rustic appearance of this layout. If someone knows the name of this technique, please give me a holler!

Grace Workshop #2 - Completed!

This was an easy layout from the Imagine Scrap-booking program. It is called, "Supporting Role" and you can find the instructions on page 98.

I used three different edge anchors in the same color (barn red) for the small card stock strips at the top of the pages. I chose to use 3 different ones because I didn't want to do matching one on the longer strip and leave the short strip as an "odd man out." Doing them all differently add an extra level of embellishment.
I used some of the swirlies on the stamp set to set off the pictures. The strips at the top are also decorated with the stamp set. I used the 2 smallest swirls to make a curvy line, in Chocolate ink, across the plain Crystal Blue card stock strip.

BTW, I'm doing workshops like this every month, usually the last Sunday night of the month. If you want to join us, please let me know!

Grace Workshop #1 - Completed

I LOVE the new Grace papers. The rich colors just jump off the page and the designs are both lovely and general enough to work with a variety of themes. I'll be using this set over and over, that's for sure!

This double layout was the original project from the Grace "Workshop on the Go" set. I particularly LOVE the way this incredible stamp set added just the right touch to these pages.

I particularly like the way the "ribbon" paper is used to created continuity between the two pages of this layout. I really draws it all together.

Besides the stamp set, the pages use Edge Anchors - Rustic along with the brads that go with them for extra embellishments.

You can get all the materials and the instructions for this double layout at my website, marji.myctmh.com, at the Workshop on the Go link on the left menu. Tune in for the next few days and see the other layouts and techniques that I used in this workshop.