Sandi's June kit Creations ~ Life's Muse ~

"Friends"

Hello, scrappers! Sandi Clarkson posting here today for the Scrap That! blog and re-posting here on my personal blog. I wanted to share again my projects from the June kit "Life's Muse."  You've seen these but they got lost a bit in the blog hop detail.This was such a gorgeous kit and it was truly a pleasure to work with it.

The layout above above was actually the first page I worked on  .. after carefully going through my kit to get some idea what elements to put with which papers.  But here you can see some of the Webster's Pages Everyday Poetry papers paired with the ivory card stock. I have fussy cut my blue patterned paper using a template from an older favorite die cut paper.  Next, I did a ton of fussy cutting to get the dark rose blossoms to embellish with, as well as the birdcage. I've added flowers from the Embellishment add-on, as well as some from the main kit. Then from one of the papers, I've cut an exotic butterfly with my Cheery Lynn die. The leaves were cut using my Sizzix branches die.  There was some lovely Zva bling is in the main kit but I've used some Red Alcohol Ink to darken it somewhat. And don't you love that Prima gem I've dangled from the birdcage? I'd love to have more of those! I computer-generated my journaling. Everything here was from the main kit and the embellishment add-on except for the aqua and pink pearls which are from my stash.

"Elias"

Isn't he a dumpling? This is my new ggs Elias and I really wanted to make him the focus of the page. So I did some misting and stamping (Donna Salazar) as well as more fussy cutting to make an adorable page using nothing but product from the main  kit. You may think I've added in a store-bought doily but it was cut from one of the papers using my Cheery Lynn french pastry doily die. The white leaves are again Sizzix. Of course, there is more fussy cutting of some birdcages which are popped on foam squares. 

"Home"

This is my submission using the awesome sketch provided by team member Amarilys Doria.  You may remember this layout from my tutorial earlier this month.  Check out that gorgeous Green Tara lace and the Zva flowers, especially the tulle one .. be still my heart! A little more fussy cutting, distressing and inking finish off the page. I have only added my own paper doily and a few pearls from my stash. Otherwise, everything is from the main kit except the smallest pink Prima from the embellishment add-on. I worked really hard on using very little of my own product just so  you can see how far the kit really does go! 

"Tell Me Your Thoughts"

Here is one last page that I've done. For this one, I have added a large Webster's Pages Die Cut (split in two) from my own stash. But the remainder of the paper, as well as the lace and flowers are from the main kit and embellishment add-on. I've also used a couple of Dusty Attic pieces, the ornate corner #6 and the birdcage #5 from my stash. They were painted a warm winter color. Then I added a bit of pink to the birdcage along with some pearls.  Here you'll also see my first experimentation with molding paste in the swirls in the middle of the page. Love the effect and I'll be doing more of that soon! I am still in love with the Martha Stewart Wild Flowers punch that I got for Christmas. It was perfect for this girly page! This layout is based on a sketch by Leah Schaeffer from Stuck on U Sketches. Here is that sketch: 

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these again. Thanks for coming by! 

All About Fathers ~ SOUS ~

This week at Stuck on U Sketches we are posting our new Die Cut challenge. The challenge this time around is to post a project using Die Cuts that relates to the theme "All About Fathers."  This can be a card, layout or altered item. It must be a new project as of today and you must use a Die or Die Cutting tool of some kind. 

I hope you will visit us and see what the DT has done this time around! There is some great stuff! 

Have a fun and safe weekend! 

June 8th Sketch challenge ~ SOUS ~

Hi, everybody! I am back today with my DT post for Stuck on U Sketches. We have another fun sketch for you today ... designed by yours truly! And I must say that I really love the design although I sure did deviate from it once I got started. LOL

This is dgd Marianne who thinks that one needs to dress for going to town in your nightgown covered up a bit with a fun T-shirt and sweater; then just add the necklace and bracelet of your choosing along with some strappy sandals. Get your princess wave going and you're all done. Isn't she a hoot? Or alternatively, wear your ski cap with a favorite little diva outfit. I'm telling you: this girl is funny!

I had trouble photographing this one to my liking and photo-editing didn't seem to do the trick. (Maybe it is just the paper as it has a bit of a faded look.) So, I will just have to report that it looks so much better in person. Maybe not my most favorite page ... but that's how it goes sometimes.

I did try my molding paste once again in the upper left corner and then colored it with Distress inks until I got a mix I liked. I've added a couple of pieces of Dusty Attic, the wire dress form as well as the chandelier. I love altering chipboard! They painted, then glimmer misted and have some glimmer glam on them as well. My doilies were cut with my Vagabond using my French Pastry doily die from Cheery Lynn. There is a gorgeous light blue Websters Pages lace running across the page but you can barely see after all the embellishments were added. Lots of pearls, buttons, flowers and ribbon finish the look.

My journaling was computer generated and reads "Divas are not made, they are born."

I think that is about it for today. I hope that you will check out what the other DT members have done. And moreover, that you will find time to play along. We have a  couple of new designers  introduced today and I hope that you will give them a warm welcome. Waving Hi to you, Tracey and Jane!

Thanks for coming by. Have a great weekend!

June Scrap That! tutorial .. getting your ribbon or lace straight

Hello, scrappers! Sandi Clarkson here today with a small tutorial on how I get my ribbon straight on a page. I've used the gorgeous Scrap That!'s June kit Life's Muse for my example page. (Let me apologize now for the poor lighting on the photos. We were having thunderstorms the day I needed to work on this!) 

In the first photo, you can see that I have already adhered several paper layers to my page and it was time to adhere my ribbon.

First, I have placed the ribbon on the page to get  a general idea where I want it to go.  I have placed the layout on my work mat and lined my paper up straight with the lines on the mat being sure that the top of both ends of the ribbon are on the same inch marker. 

Before reaching for the tape, I place some additions items on the page without securing them to ensure that I am happy with where the ribbon is going. 

I generally use Tacky Tape to adhere my ribbons but here I have used a Recollections brand.   A good quality double-sided tape is the key. And placing it discreetly so that it does not show. Alternatively, I will use a glue such as Beacon's Fabri-tac. 

Then I put a ruler across the page .. lining up with the markers on the side. 

I moved the ruler down according to the width of the tape, in this instance it was 1/4 of an inch. If you like, you can run a pencil line along the top of your ruler although I generally do not. Please excuse my very old ruler. My good clear Tim Holtz ruler was misplaced the day I was preparing this. I'm sure this happens to you as well, right? 

Now it is time to adhere the tape to the page being sure to go beyond each edge and actually taped to the mat at this point.  This will allow you to wrap that extra length around the page when you want to wrap the ribbon or lace around your page and eliminate any frayed edges. For my project, however, I cut my ribbon plumb with the paper and used Fray check on the ends. Ususally, however, I wrap the ends around to the back. 

This simply shows lifting up the red protective liner to reveal the sticky tape. 

Next I carefully start placing the top of my lace or ribbon along the upper edge of the tape. I needed an extra hand to really photograph "in progress." But trust me, I do this part slowly and carefully usually work from left to right as I am right handed. 

Here I have trimmed the sides. Now my lace is running straight across the page! 

You can use this same principle to align your photos if you wish. I always hate when I've gotten a photo on my paper just a bit crooked and then cannot correct my mistake because I have embellished over it. 

Here is the completed page. This one was based on team member Amarilys' awesome June sketch. 

I hope this tutorial will help you  the next time you are trying to get your ribbons and lace looking nice. Feel free to leave me any questions that you may have. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

"I love Summer" Die Cut challenge

Woo-hoo! Here comes Summer!  And it's time for those shades and a sun bonnet! Well, maybe not the bonnet unless you're at the beach! LOL It's also reveal day over at Stuck on U Sketches. 

But anyway, I've been dying to use this new rainbow striped ribbon that I had picked up at JoAnn's and this seemed the perfect opportunity! I paired it with some cloud paper and red checked paper that I printed on my Cricut Imagine using my Best Friends cartridge. My top note is printed from there as well but cut using my Spellbinders. 

My sweet little sun-loving gal has been printed and cut using the same cart and elevated using multiple layers of foam squares. I wish my photo were better but the weather has not co-operated. At least not in synch with days off. 

I am thinking I will add the word birthday below Summer Sizzlin' and give it to one of my June birthday people. I have a whole slew of them! The cherries and sunbonnet were from my stash but finished the card off nicely. 

Seems I am short on words today but do hope that you will find time to play along with us at SOUS. You will have 2 weeks to upload your project. It can be a card, tag, layout or altered item. It simply must be new as of today, have a Die Cut on it and must be consistent with the Summer theme. 

Just a little heads up that this will probably be my last Die Cut submission while I concentrate on getting our new SOUS Card Challenges up and running. Those will debut in July but you will be hearing more about them shortly. 

Have a safe and happy weekend. I am hoping to relax some this weekend as last weekend was busy, busy. Got my scrapping plans all made! 

Thanks for coming by!