More titles to share...

Found some more examples of titles. Just pictures of different ways to use your fonts.

This title was cut using a Sizzix machine. It was one of those "happy accidents." I only had a small scrap of the cranberry CS to cut my letters. Anyway, while cutting the letters, my inexperience with the machine, I guess produced some cuts that didn't produce a clean cut. Trying to salvage my paper, I had to use my scissors to cut the letters. But to cut the letters out, I needed to be able to get into some tight areas, so I trimmed the letters that didn't cut so well into odd shapes. When I finally got the letters out, I liked the negative even better, so I went with that. This is actually the left page of a 2-page layout. The pictures were taken by holding the camera up and grabbing each daughter to capture a close up. Some of my favorite pictures.

This title was cut with my Cricut. I mixed upper and lowercase letters for a "random" look. I also cut out the shadow layer using solid pink cardstock and off-set the base letter, cut in Metallic pink paper. When you use the shadow layer, don't always line it up in the center, off-set it for a 3-D look.

This title was cut using the Coluzzle system. I used a light blue CS as the base, tore a strip of med. blue CS and adhered that to the lt. blue. Finally, tore a dk. blue CS and adhered that to the med. blue on the bottom third of the letter. I wanted an "ocean" feel to the title, since I was journaling about my in-laws reaching the other side of the country on their first cross-country trip.

Ruth, I wished I had taken a picture of the title you created on Saturday's New Year crop! She ran her die cut letters through her Cuttlebug embossing folder and then inked them!! Another fun way to get a new look out of your fonts!

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara

Christmas Thank you cards

Tonight's project was to get those Christmas Thank You cards completed....well, started AND completed :)

Simple card design--standard card size, tent-fold. Patterned paper is from 8x8 CK Scrap Pad (purchased from Big Lots for $2!!) and white CS. The green border strip was edged with my perforator tool on my Cutterpede trimmer. WRMK Corner Chomper at 1/2" for the bottom corners. I used my Cricut to cut out the snowflakes. The red shiny bling are some flat-backed buttons from Walmart. Thank you stamp and SU Basic Black ink.

Now to get them written and mailed. Have you sent your thank you cards yet? Within 2 weeks after Christmas is considered proper etiquette--that's this Friday!!

Tryscrapbooking,
Lara

What's in a name?

What to do when you only have one or two fonts for your favorite die-cut machine? Alter them!!
When I first started out, I used the Coluzzle system-plastic templates used to handcut your paper using a special swivel blade. A time-consuming process, but it was cheaper than a Sizzix. (**You can use these tips on any title you create, using any method to cut out your titles.)

This first sample is just a simple title that is using the base letter (yellow) and shadowed or matted (white).

2nd example uses the same font as the first one, I just emphasized the bubble theme by first punching a strip of blue CS with the CM bubble punch, then cutting out my letters. I tried to place bubbles near the natural letter openings so you could still read the letter, finally shadowed in white CS.

3rd example-again using the exact same font as the first two. This time, I took a cue from the photos. I wanted the title to look like what I was photographing. I used various colors of CS as the base letter, shadowed in yellow CS. Each letter was then "sprinkled" with the confetti from several small punches.

(Sorry for the rotated pictures, can't figure out why?)

4th example-once again, using the same font--I handcut a drippy icicle shape out of strip of white CS and ran it through my X-sticker maker. Then I layered the sticky white icicle strip on strips of CS (orange, green and pink) and cut out each letter, so that I got some of the colored CS and the wavy white. I wanted it to look snow-tipped on the top.

All simple techniques to alter a font. Using these suggestions, you can use the same font over and over in your scrapbooks and no one will be the wiser.

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara

Snowflake Card Trio

I know I wanted this blog to be about scrapbooking, but we're in the Christmas season and I've been inspired to make Christmas cards!! My inspiration for this card was found on Jan Tink's blog. I loved her card so much, I just had to break out of my rut and make one...I mean three!!

This is the first card I created using Jan's as inspiration. I used kraft CS as the base. I stamped the background with SU's Paisley background in Ranger's Distress Ink-Frayed Burlap, then sprayed with Gold Maya Mist to give it some shimmer. I matted that layer with CM's gold metallic paper. The layers are notched at the corner with SU's corner ticket punch (a favorite of mine!) For the snowflake, I cut that out with my favorite scrapbooking tool, my Cricut Expression-Winter Woodland cart, snowflake 4 (I used real dial size/layers option).

Next, the center design was created using:
SU's scallop circle punch-gold paper,
SU's 1 3/8 in circle punch-cream CS,
CM 1 1/4 in circle punch-gold paper,
CM 1 in-cream CS(stamped image is from SU Party Punch, same ink as above)

The bottom trim was cut 1 in wide, then punch with Fiskars Threading Water punch, wrapped with cream ribbon. I pop dotted both the snowflake and the center scallop.

After talking with some fellow crafters (Beck and Suzie), I just had to experiment with some different colors of metallic paper. I thought a pink snowflake card would be pretty and I'm pretty happy with the results. This card was made with the same basic design, with a few changes. The pink metallic paper came from a paper pack I bought at Walmart and white CS. The dotted background is actually CS from the Co'oredinations Whitewash collection, embossed using the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, sanded slightly to bring out the pink color. (Co'oredinations CS is fun to use. I really liked the results on this card.) The center was created the same as the above card, but using CTMH Blush ink to stamp the image. The snowflake was sprayed with Elmer's Spray Adhesive, then sprinkled with Crystal Coarse (MS Frosty Gingerbread Glitter pack). OMG!! It's so sparkly IRL!! The picture just doesn't do it justice. Finished off with white satin ribbon.

I think the blue snowflake card is my favorite, although I think that whenever I look at each card! Same basic design as the first two, but this time the background was created using SU glossy CS and an alcohol ink technique. I have a few alcohol inks, but not a large variety of colors, so I borrowed a neat trick I learned from Juli P. and soaked my felt in rubbing alcohol and added a few drops of SU reinkers-Bashful Blue, Soft Sky and Night of Navy, mixed with a drop of TH Metallic Silver mixative. Randomly stamped on the glossy CS, the "alcohol inks" slowly bled together creating a marbled stone look. This time, the snowflake was stamped with Versamark ink and embossed with glittery, embossing powder!! Looovvve it!! Center image was stamped with Night of Navy. Finished with silver ribbon.

So, that's it. There are the 3 Christmas cards I've made. Guess I have some work ahead of me because I don't want to give these away! I've told you my favorite, now tell me which one you like!

Till next time!

TryScrapbooking,

Lara

SNOW time like the PRESENT!!

For those of you who have been patiently waiting for the next blog entry....I've decided to post 2 projects today! My computer is now up and running top speed!!-thanks to the tech-y husband.

SNOW TIME.....

I created this layout for a swap. It was a simple design  meant to use your 4x6 photos, no cropping required! I cut strips from a DCWV paper pack (can't remember exactly which one). The main technique I want to focus on for this page is the title. I cut the letters out in vellum using my Cricut- Mickey Font. I used Liquid Applique on each letter. **If you've never used this before, you should try it. It has a tip so you can really place it where you'd like and then get that heat gun out!! The Liquid Applique PUFFS up!! So cool. I've gotten more compliments on this layout just for that technique. When I was adding the photos to the layout, I thought it still needed something, so I used a white marker to draw a stitched outline on each of the letters. I thought it made them pop more. Be careful when heating....vellum is VERY easy to burn and it will turn brown. The pink rectangle is supposed to be the journaling box (notice the "blankness"). Hope you like it!

...THE PRESENT!!!

I signed up for a Christmas Thank You card swap in Dec. 2007. I had to create a card using "The 3 Wise Men" as my inspiration. So I thought a little pull-out insert would be cute. It was pretty simple to make. I used Basic Grey's Blitzen paper. A little stamped sentiment and Voila!! (BTW, tooting my own horn here....I was voted the best card! A total shock to me since there were some beautiful entries. Thanks, MW!)

Have fun, tell your friends!

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara

Apples!

I created this layout on my first scrapbook weekend retreat. Again, another hand-drawn tree that I just inked. I also used some Creative Memories pieces-the apple-filled crates. I used apple die cuts for the left side border accents and just red cardstock to mat a few key pictures. Pretty simple layout, but that's the direction I tend to lean. I chose the title, "Apple Pickin' Up" because all the apples had dropped from the trees about a week before we made it. Still perfectly good apples on the good and easier for the kids to get. Beautiful day, and although there aren't pictures to prove it, Salina and her kids were there too.

We rake, we pile, we JUMP!!

This was the layout I designed and created for the Fall Swap (same one as the previous post). I drew the tree shape by hand (using my arm as a guide), cut it out and embossed a wood grain texture, then inked it up. Next the 2 big leaves--I traced a leaf shape and handcut them all out, folded "veins" into the paper and inked the lines, then I swiped several Colorbox inks over it to give it a more realistic coloring. Next, I used a Chatterbox template and dotted lines for movement. The leaf border at the bottom is a patterned paper by DCWV that I hand cut. There is a small tag hidden under the leaf pile for my journaling, with a cute fall-themed ribbon scrap from Doodlebug Design. Basic photo mats, nothing special. The Mickey font alphabet stamp set from CTMH (one of my fav alpha sets) made the title SUPER fast and easy to do. The main thing I want to point out in this layout is all the HAND cutting--keep in mind, that I had to make 17 of these. It was fun (I can say that now because it's over) and I was hoping to create a layout that was useful and fun!

Hope this inspires you to take some fun Fall leaf photos!

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara