Remix

Have you ever done a layout that just wasn't "right"? That you didn't want to look at because it irritated you? Such was the case with one of my layouts with the Travel Journal kit.
It felt so blah and unfinished ...
So I tore it apart and came up with this ...

I misted the background cardstock with green, blue and brown Glimmer Mist and then did some stamping in two of the corners. Added a bit of decorative tape and some crocheted trim. But most importantly, I cut it down to 8.5 x 11. I think the different size is a huge improvement.

I like it much better now :)

More Travel Journal

Only a few days left until the September reveal, but I'm still not done with the August kits :)

I'm playing Catch Up with some photos from last summer and Travel Journal kit is perfect for documenting a fishing trip. These two layouts are single-page layouts, but because they will located side-by-side in the album, and are about the same event, it's nice to use co-ordinating papers to tie them together.

A simple grid is a great way to use a lot of photos on a page without the page looking too busy. Trim your photos down so that you can have a thin border of cardstock showing around each one once they're mounted.

I love the Elle's Studio vintage flashcards for titles.

A scrap of paper from the October Afternoon 8x8 Fly a Kite Paper Pad and a few bits left over from the Summer Daydream kit finish this layout.

This was Bob's first fishing trip with Dave and was thrilled when he could finally "drive" the boat.

All of the supplies used on this layout are from the Travel Journal kit.

More from Greta

You can do so much with the August kits.
Greta has a way of using the kit to give a completely different feel.
One of the things I love about the We R Memory Keepers papers that are included in the kit, is that the backside is divided into 4 small scale patterned papers measuring 6x6. Perfect for cards or mini albums, but Greta uses one as a side border for her photo (the multi-coloured houndstooth pictured below).
Another way to customize your embellishments is spray ink. Greta spritzed the white felt scalloped trim pink for her layout.
This one is such a fun gathering of pretty bits. I also spy the canvas tag from the March kit peeking out from behind her photo :) I hadn't even thought of mixing in the March kit, but now that I see the way the tag works, a lot of the turquoise items could be carried through to mix with this August kit.

Thanks Greta!

Birthday Card

Today seems to be Birthday Party Day. We've got two parties to attend this afternoon and evening ... with meals at both. Summer BBQ food is the best. I hate showing up empty handed, so I'm making a German-style potato salad with bacon and hardboiled eggs that I made once this summer already. My stomach is growling just thinking about it :) I'm also going to try my hand at Devilled Egss. I think I've only made them two or three times before, but as I recall, they're not rocket science.
I've gotten one card out of the way and one left to do. This one uses the Lotza Paper Boyz kit and although it's a little on the masculine side, I think it's general enough to suit just about age.
I recently purchased a Big Shot for when I get the crop area set up in my store front, and am finding myself using it all of the time. I wish I'd gotten one years ago. I've had a Silhouette for several years, but I love that you can cut shapes from Grungeboard, wood veneer, felt or fabric with the Big Shot.The "Happy" and kraft label are both Sizzix dies and I used a Martha Stewart border punch for that fun double loop border.
Off to finish my edibles! Have a great weekend and stay cool :)

More from Leslie

Leslie mixed the main kit from August "Snowcones" with the "Lotza Paper Girlz" kit to create these beautiful summery layouts ...

I love the different groupings of photos and embellishments against the white background ...

To create customized letters for her layout, she simply coloured the Basic Grey Micro Mini Monos from the main kit with a marker ...To make the most of the Girls Paperie die-cuts included in the Lotza Paper kit, trace them onto patterned paper and cut out as Leslie has done with the dress form die-cut ...

Layers and layers of distressed papers ...

Again, ink or colour your chipboard letters for a different look. Accent with a bit of glitter glue on the edges ...

Journaling tucked in behind that can be pulled out easily ...

Create your own floral embellishment with a diecutting machine ...

It's almost too hot to scrapbook, but looking at the cool beautiful colours in Leslie's layouts, I'm tempted to hit my scrap table right now. Maybe after a swim ;)

Heather's "Travel Journal" Mini Album

Heather has already made this little mini album of their summer vacation. She's just too on the ball. She's used the August Project Kit, but has also included some of the embellishments from the Main Kit.
Rather than use the book rings to bind her album, she has left it "flashcard" style and holds it together with the vintage clothespin included in the kit.

Just real simple pages that leave the focus on the photos and journaling ... the important stuff :)

Now I've got to get going on mine!

One left in the store ;)

Bringing Back Leslie Langdon

Our third guest designer for August is one that was with us for April ... Leslie Langdon. Leslie's work is filled with layers and dimension and shading.
The first two layouts from Leslie are created using the Lotza Paper Girlz kit and the American Crafts Regards Printed Chipboard Letter Stickers (Coral).

Leslie used a Silhouette file to create these beautiful layered flowers.

So many layers and beautiful details to look at on this one ...

And a few using the Main Kit, "Snowcones" ...

Love the white on white of the Basic Grey letter stickers against the white background ...

One more ...

I cut this paper with my Silhouette - it's actually a card template, but I just used the fancy side, enlarged it so that it was HUGE, and would make a nice backdrop to my page.

Every time I see something Leslie has made, I think I should be using my Silhouette more :)

I've got more to share from Leslie, but I'll save it for another post.

Have a great day!

Up next ...

... for August is Heather Derbecker. Heather is from up the road in London, Ontario. And although she only lives about 1/2 hour away, we've never met ... yet ;)

Heather used the main kit for August, "Snowcones", but also has incorporated bits from the project kit, "Travel Journal" on her layouts. This layout had me baffled when I first looked at it. I couldn't figure out what Heather had used for the teal and green accents. They looked like they were little wee crocheted doilies, but I still was lost. Then I realized that Heather had cut them out of the Websters trim included in the kit. Perfect.

She's also used a Studio Calico Ripstrip from the Project kit here to create the wound floral accent.

Taking the banner trend in hand, Heather has created her own banner here by using up small scraps of paper. What a great way to use up those little bits.

This is my favorite of Heather's projects. I love how she has trimmed the Prima accent to create this starburst effect with the Websters trim. So pretty.

Heather has just come back from holidays but was good enough to have done all of these layouts within a few days before she left. Thanks so much Heather!

Our first guest designer for August ...

... is my gal from the deep south ... Greta Adams :)

Greta is highly addicted to 80's hair bands and names her sewing machines. And I wish she lived next door :)

I met Greta on another message board and am currently serving on the design team for Scrap Your CRAP! with her. While Greta is now spendng more time sewing than scrapping, she agreed to work with the August kit and Project kit.Greta makes fabulous Off The Page projects, so it was no surprise at all that her first project was something her daughter could wear.

Since I have been sewing kids clothes a lot lately, I wanted to incorporate some of that with scrapbooking supplies. Most of these are from the kit except for that big yellow flower. It's from my stash.I took a piece of beige fabric I had left over and cut it to mimic the neckline of the tank. I then misted it with some Shimmerz in a light blue. When that dried (with the help of the heat gun) I put some left over batting (used when quilting) behind it and I picked a decorative stitch and sewed the 2 pieces together. Then I started using the hot glue gun to place all my embellishments on it. Now, I know you are wondering how will you wash that ... right? It is only safety pinned on to the tank. Take it off before washing. I really did this project because I thought I would make some cute pictures. I don't think it is quite practical for everyday wear but it is if you want to play in front of the camera a bit and Melana is in love with it. :)
I love how Greta has mixed the main kit and add-on kit in each of her projects.

And a little piece of home decor.

I hope Greta's given you some ideas on how to use your scrapbook supplies in new ways :)

I'll be back tomorrow with another of August's guest designers.

August Kits are Up

Just a real quick post tonight before I toddle off to bed ...

The August kits are up in the store and ready to roll. Lots to choose from this month.

The main kit, "Snowcones" ...

The project kit, "Travel Album" ...

Add-on #1, "Lotza Paper Girlz" ...

Add-on #2, "Lotza Paper Boyz" ...

You'll also find oodles of extra coordinating embellishments, alphabets and some Glimmer Mists if you feel like beefing up any of the kits.

Visit the Gallery to see what this month's designers have already done, but expect much more as the month goes on. I'll be sharing a bit more about August's designers in a future post.

Any kits ordered early tomorrow will go out tomorrow afternoon. I'll be off baking pies most of the day on Friday, so anything ordered after tomorrow won't go out until next Tuesday due to the holiday on Monday.

Let me know if you have any questions :)

upthestreet@isp.ca