Up Up & Away!

When you think you have seen every type of "super hero" imaginable, I hope my layout brings you a pleasant surprise. My little nephew had the most adorable hick ups (regularly) when he was a newborn and I made this page to honor his cuteness.

Directions:
1. Select two sheets of cloudy sky paper for the background. Matte the central photo on blue cardstock and then arrange the photos on yellow cardstock.

2. Cut frames for three small photos using red and blue cardstock. Next, fussy cut three comic style exclamations from the hero paper and arrange around the layout.

3. Create a city skyline by making a row of sky scrapers along the lower edge. Adhere clouds and sun to the upper portion of the layout. Incorporate the journaling into the layout by adding it to one of the clouds. When adhering the buildings and clouds, mount some of them on foam tape to create depth.

4. Finally, embellish the layout with an eye-catching scattering of arrows and stars across the two pages. Use a star shaped paper punch to make star embellishments from coordinating paper. Lastly, embellish the layout with additional items like puffy stickers, die cut shapes, and rub on transfers.

Supplies: ColorWays Celestial 12" scrapbook paper (Paper House), Happy Birthday Boy 12" scrapbook paper (Paper House), Baked With Love 12" scrapbook paper (Paper House), Sapphire Accent Pack (Paper House), Be Happy Rub On Transfers (Paper House), Explore Puffy Stickers (Paper House), city buildings paper (Fido #1739 - GCD Studios), chipboard star, mini star paper punch, charm, black permanent pen

A Closer Look:

TIP: I especially enjoy using arrows as embellishments as they add a sense of movement and direction to the layout. Having an embellishment extend through both pages helps to link them and systematically lead the viewer's eye around the layout.

Visit Paper House to see their whole range of coordinating papers & embellishments.

Tutorial- tissue impression

Instructions: How to make a tissue impression embellishment

Supplies: spray bottle  cutting matte  Napkin Podge   rubber stamp
                     tissue             wire rack       acrylic paint     mounting block

1. Fold:  Fold 1 tissue in half and place it on your work surface. (You have 2 layers)
2. Moisten: Mist the tissue with water until completely moistened (2-3 sprays) Add another folded tissue on top of the wet one and spray it. (You now have 4 layers)

 

3. Assemble the Stack: Fold the tissue stack in half. (You have 8 layers)  If you need a bigger stamping surface, don't fold the tissues. Alternate layering and spraying 8 tissues.

4. Compress: Use a clear mounting block to gently press the wet tissue together until they become bonded. If you don't have a clear mounting block, use a plastic box lid or CD case for pressing. The tissue should lay flat with only small creases visible and resemble handmade paper with a subtle texture. Be careful not to over-flatten the wet tissue as it needs to remain spongy so that you can press the stamped image into it. Carefully remove the pressing tool from the wet tissue. (Don't worry! if the top layer tears. If it becomes too damaged you can remove it and still have plenty of layers left.)

5. Stamp: The surface is now ready for the image. Select a stamp design with a simple shape. It should be something solid with few tiny details. Next, press your stamp into the moistened tissue stack. Firm pressure is needed to get a deep crisp image. Stamp repeatedly until you fill the moistened tissue with as many impressions as you need.

 

6. Apply Product: While the impression is damp, cover the tissue impression with Napkin Podge. I found the best tool to spread the Napkin Podge was to simply use my finger. It will take about 24 hours to dry completely but I helped mine dry faster by placing it above the radiator on a baker's wire rack.

 

7. Cut & Color: Tissue is easily trimmed with scissors so that simple shapes can be cut out instead of framed. Acrylic paint can be applied to color your impression to match your project.

TIP: If the rubber stamped image is not deep enough to be visible you may have...
1.) chosen a stamp with too much detail or
2.) not pressed firmly enough into the wet tissue with the stamp or
3.) compressed the wet tissue too firmly in step 4 so simply start again and
      build a new wet tissue stack.

Embossing on Felt

I experimented with embossing on felt and was quite pleased with the fun texture that was created. I stamped the bird directly on the teal felt with Ranger Perfect Medium and used black rainbow glitter embossing powder. After heated, it created a textured felt that was not completely coated with melted powder leaving a webbed impression. If you want to give this a try, I recommend using bold designs with a large solid area in the stamp. Simple shapes or solid letters would work best. Those stamps with fine detail do not emboss clearly because of the fuzzy felt.  Visit the ladies at Practical Scrappers to see more “Fun With Felt”

 Both butterflies were stamped on hot pink felt.  One was embossed with clear powder and the other silver.

Rosette Tutorial

Directions for making a rosette:
1. Stick a strip of washi tape onto copy paper 8 in long and then cut out.(not cardstock)
2. Fold concertina style in the smallest folds possible 1/2 cm.
3. Attach ends of the strip together.
4. Cut a circle from scrap card smaller than the rosette to be used as the base.
5. Flatten the rosette and use a hot glue gun to attach it to the circle base.
6. Add a button, brad, pearl, or rhinestone to decorate the center.

TIP: Put 2 strips of different washi tapes next to each other for a larger rosette.

Cupcake Paper Liner Roses

Directions:

1. Cut the cupcake liner into a spiral leaving a 1 inch circle when you get to the center.

Cut a scallop or wavy edge since these will be your petals.

2. Insert the end into a quilling tool and begin rotating it.  Roll the patterned side into the center so the plain side of the liner is on the outside.

3. When you’ve rolled it completely remove the quilling tool and let the flower unwind a bit to loosen the flower until you are happy with the fullness. 

4. Apply a sticky dot to the circle at the center of the liner and press the bottom of the flower petals to it.

5. Don’t be afraid to fluff and bend the petals to give it a more natural look. Tah Dahhhh! 

TIP: Look out for fun patterned cupcake paper liners like polka dots and animal prints.