Tuesday, March 26, 2013

BOAF March Sketch

   Even though I scrapped these photos before in a 2 pager, I decided to use them again for the March Sketch Challenge at Birds Of A Feather.  I  used Bo Bunny "Serenade" papers. I cut up an old burlap rice bag that my Mom picked up for me at either a thrift shop or garage sale, and used it behind the striped paper. Thanks Mom!

   Here's the beautiful sketch that I worked with.

    I made the small yellow flowers using my Mini Wildflowers Tutorial. The large yellow flower was made from leftover scrap flowers that I had, and the red one was an old  hand made leftover. I stamped the black swirls and ivy, the date, and the title. Here's a close up.


Thanks for your visit!
Drea

Saturday, March 23, 2013

More with the March Kit ~ BOAF

   I just want to share some more projects from me working with the March Kit from Birds of a Feather. The first one is this layout I made with photos of my sister and her boyfriend. I used more of the Little Yellow Bicycle "Just because" collection.
I love these chipboard frames!!

For my next project I made a thank you card for my Mother-in-law also using LYB.

   Then I wanted to do something more masculine, so I made a birthday card for my Dad using Teresa Collins "Stationary noted" collection. I stamped the candles, greeting and date. The paper clips came from my own stash. I also stitched a pocket which could be used for cash or a money card.
   This kit really is so versatile, and you could go really feminine or masculine with it, as I just showed with these 2 cards. I've also done LO's from Thanksgiving,The 4th of July, and a birthday celebration.Thanks for looking!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Le Cirque

   I finally dove into these Graphic 45 "Le Cirque" papers that I've had for awhile now. Originally I was going to print all of my photos in black and white, but realized the colors in the photos matched the papers pretty well, so I left them alone, with one exception. The family photo on the right of me, my husband, and son, was altered in Photoshop to make the sign behind us sepia, instead of white, like it was originally.

   I doodled the black lines around the banner after distressing the edges. 


   This was based on the sketch for the 2 Page Sketch Challenge at Scrapbook.Com. Thanks for stopping by!


Saturday, March 16, 2013

March Kit Reveal ~ Birds Of A Feather

   It was SO exciting receiving my first kit from Birds of a Feather! What better way to express that, than with this layout I created using the Little Yellow Bicycle "Just Because" Collection.
   I used Distress Inks around the border with my blending tool, and added some splashes of water along the edges.Then I stamped the banner using a stamp of an upside down party hat. I LOVE the banner on top which comes in the canvas stickers with extra embellishment 1,along with the blue chipboard frame! I mimicked the stitching on the paper with real machine stitching in red along the left.
   I also stamped the cupcake.

   For this next page I used Teresa Collins "Stationary Noted" Collection using this photo of my parents from last 4th of July. The grey cardstock with the punching was part of my own stash, and I added silver embossing powder to the edges.
   These little birds from Maya Road are so cute! I used the dark grey cardstock that comes with the extra cardstock to make the branch which I cut with my Cricut "Home Decor" cartridge.
   All of the patterned papers on here came with the extra Patterned Papers.I applied Gesso and Silver Glimmer Mist to the "Poppies" paper from Teresa Collins. I loved the back so much, which is I why I did some heavy water distressing, so you could see it! The silver heart comes with the chipboard  with extra embellishment 1.
   I also added some lacing and beads. The red flowers were my own,  but I added some of the different brads that come with the kit to them.
   Thanks so much for taking a peek!
Drea

Friday, March 15, 2013

March Recipe for the Paper Mixing Bowl

For those of you who don't know we've moved our reveal day to the 15th of every month, instead of the 1st, at the Paper Mixing Bowl. The March recipe is now posted for some Corned Beef and Cabbage, just in time for St. Patrick's Day. Here's my untitled take using photos of my sister and her boyfriend in Ireland, which I've put in a shadow box for them.
Here's a look at the recipe and how I used it.
Utensils:
*Small photos
*Irish lace-I used a lace pp from Basic Grey.
*The Emerald Isle (Predominately green, which is my favorite color)
*Pot o' gold-I just used a few touches and painted the outside of the lace paper, and used a gold button.
*I stamped the brown flowers

Directions:
I chose to keep this untitled and didn't use any journaling. I just love that this is now optional!

I used Photoshop to edit my photos making everything except for the cliffs, black and white. I wanted to keep everything as green as possible, and didn't want the blue sky or sea showing. Then I recycled some cardboard which I painted in black, brown, and various greens.

I stamped the brown flowers and made the dark green ones using my Wild Fire Flower Tutorial. I hand-stitched the black flourish on the bottom. I also used some cheesecloth sprayed with Glimmer Mists to add to the whole background.

Thanks for looking!
Drea


Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Clear Jar/Vase Tutorial for BOAF using the March Kit

   I'm so happy to share my first page and tutorial for Technique Tuesday at  Birds of a Feather using the March kit. I was inspired by the jar in the Little Yellow Bicycle (Just Because Collection)  and wanted to make my own to use as a vase for the chipboard flowers, which came in the extra embellishment 1, along with  the bird on the tag, the silver heart, and so very special banner.
I edited this great photo of my Grandma in Photoshop to make the background black and white, instead of brown and beige,which worked much better with these colors. I wove some on the LYB papers and hand-stitched along the borders. The white scallop border is a canvas sticker, also part of the extra embellishment 1.
I just love this lace which comes in the kit!

To make the jar with water you'll need the following supplies:
*Clear transparency or any clear packaging.
*Black extra-fine Sharpie
*Scissors
*Glue Gun
*Glossy Accents
*Distress Ink (broken china) or alcohol ink in light blue.I'm sure you could also use paint or mists.
*Alcohol Blending Solution
*Make-up sponge

I started by drawing this basic photo of a jar using  my Sharpie onto the clear transparency . Feel free to copy mine if you want.

Cut out your jar trying to keep your scissors on the inside of the jar, so you don't see any black lines around the edges.

Now make 3 lines going across the top of the jar using the glue gun. I have a low-temp mini one which worked well with this. I had to do this a few times and actually cut up a few more jars just to get it looking straight.

Use Glossy Accents by Ranger and apply all over the jar and in between the glue gun lines.Wait a few hours or overnight for the glue to completely dry. I actually messed this one up by not waiting long enough and smudging it with my glue bottle. Once it's completely dry turn it over and apply the ink and blending solution using the make-up sponge to create water. You could also try a light blue paint, mist, or vellum.

I used this white doily from my own stash to put my jar on, gluing it down with some dabs of Glossy Accents. But first I drew the flower stems, and hand-stitched them using silver thread.Don't forget to add these cute chipboard flowers to your stems!
If you don't want a jar with water, you could keep it clear and fill it with marbles, ladybugs, or candy instead. Play with the size and make it really big. The possibilities are endless!
Drea