Canberra Album with Tag by Penny

Hello Everyone

Back in week 23 of the Elsie Flannigan challenges, the Design Team were asked to create our own buttons. I created a small tag to go with an album I've been meaning to do since our family trip to Canberra last July.

As promised, I completed my 8x8 album a little while ago and thought I'd share it today. I started with the Album cover and inserted my cover page photo and attached my tag.

To help the album progress quickly, I stuck to the same type of theme for every page. I inked the backgroud page and stitched a piece of cardstock and patterned paper. I chose a range of papers by My Mind's Eye to help the papers blend together. I also kep the font on my journalling the same for every page to continue the theme throughout. Although each days siteseeing experience is slightly different from the next, the whole album still carries the theme from page to page.

Here's a small selection of the pages within my album.

I completed this 8x8 album over a weekend and although the inking and stitching did take some time, overall I was very pleased with the outcome. Some basic staples ie blending the theme over the entire album with some minor changes per page/trip/item, 4x6 photos, brads, rubons, flowers and journaling and your album is complete.

Till next week

Penny

November Club Pages

Have you had a look at this months Club pack yet? They are really pretty papers that are very versatile and easy to use with a really wide variety of photo types. I chose to use most of my pack to create a photo carousel. You can see photo's of the completed carousel in the club newsletter along with instructions for how I completed mine!!
In addition to the carousel I also created 3 pages with the left over papers. Here they are -

Candle Soot & Stamping Technique

Today I thought I would share a technique that I spotted on the web some time back and that I've finally had a chance to finish off into an actual project!

I know this particular Christmas card is not 'traditional' in any way - infact I don't think I've ever created a black Christmas card BUT I must say that I am pleased with the results and of course ANY themed stamp can be used for this technique as well!

I used a little Kaisercraft pattern paper, some silver stickers, a little silver thread, some bling and a stamped 'soot' image on the above card!

To create the 'soot' image you'll need a lit candle, white glossy paper, versamark ink, a rubber stamp and a can of matt clear sealer!

The technique involves standing a lit candle in your kitchen sink - or some place else that is safe, particularly if your glossy paper ends up catching on fire - we don't need any accidents! Hold the glossy side of your paper horizonatally over the flame - you'll actually need to have the top of the flame touching your glossy paper BUT keep it moving so that it doesn't catch on fire. You'll quickly notice how 'soot' will start collecting on the surface of your glossy paper.

NOTE: Make sure you actually create a 'sooted' area that is larger than the image you want to stamp - this way you can pick the best area to stamp on AND later, cut the image to your chosen size more easily as well. Continue moving your glossy paper about in the candle flame until you are happy with the coverage you have created. Remember you don't need to have a thick layer of 'soot' on your glossy paper, a little variation in the coverage will add to the overall finished result!

Now carefully lay your 'sooted' paper face up on your work surface, being VERY careful that you do not touch any portion of the 'soot' because it will immediately come off and you'll end up with black fingers!

Next, take your selected stamp and press it onto a Versamark Ink pad until you have an even coverage - then, carefully stamp your image onto the 'soot' surface of your glossy paper. What will happen is that your stamp will 'pick up' some of the black, leaving behind a negative image of your chosen stamp! Pretty cool huh! I have read that some people don't use any ink on their stamp BUT I found I got the clearest and best images when I used a little Versamark Ink on my stamp - try it both ways yourself and see which way you prefer!

All you need to do then is to give your image a coating of matt clear sealer to fix the 'soot' and to protect the image from smudging - I actually applied two thin layers, allowing each one to dry thoroughly inbetween.

I then simply cut my image to size, applied a little Christmas bling to the tree branches and then added it to my card!

So what do you think? Have you tried this technique before? I'd love to see your results of playing around with 'soot' - please make sure you share them in the Scrappit Gallery with us!

Have a wonderful day!

Shirley

October Club Scrappit

Well, I might already be in November and only a week from the release of the November club BUT I did eventually finish my October club!! It was my month off of the newsletter last month so I didnt need to rush to finish my kit!! What do you think?
I know it may look like a bit of a corny title but there was a reason for it - you see not many people realised Ems eyes are blue. Often they photograph as a greenish colour or a grey so when I lucked on this image where here eye colour is actually there I just had to write that title lol!!
I love this page - especially the lettering of the title!! I actually used Thickers puffy letters but I swiped them with brown stazon first to make them look more like toasted marshmallows!!
Last one!! I couldnt resist taking this photo - the first flowers in our garden for this year!!

Multiple Use Designs by Penny

Hi Everyone

I hope you all had a wonderful week an expect a glorious weekend. I thought I'd share and idea I had for a layout that expanded to the same design for a couple of Xmas cards.

It's quite simple really. The LO was based on square blocks of patterned paper to which I added my photo and some embellishments. To highlight my winter theme I surrounded the outer edge of the LO with hand stitching and some beads.

I then used the same theory to complete my two cards.

By continuing the same design theme, you can take the guess work out of deciding what to do with your left over paper......add some sequins, beads, hand stitching and a few well placed epoxy stickers and two of your Xmas cards are completed.

Till next week....
Penny

Kids Classes

Our Last Kids Class for 2008 Christmas Cards - $10.00 is the cost, everything is suppied. Time 1.30pm

Saturday 29th November at 12.30pm

Images will follow shortly. Our last Christmas Card workshop for 2008 - 10 cards completed all product included. Cost of class is $20.00. Bookings essential. Please call 9749 1006. All class samples are available for viewing at the shop.

Wednesday Class November 12th

Class Time: 7.30pm
This class includes paper cutting, stamping, working with foil and embossing. Using Basic Grey Eva cardstock you will create this lovely double page spread. Cost: $15.00 Photos required - 1 - 5" x 7" and 2 - 4" x 6"

Nestabilities Christmas Tree card

I figured since I started with an article about the versatility of the Nestability dies I should probably add to them - they really are unique and can be used for much more than they were created for!!


To create you will need –
Nestabilities scalloped ovals set
Card
Brown ribbon
Sanding block (only if using coredinations card)
Clear Kindy Glitz
Ink pad in co-ordinating colour
To begin –

1. Begin by cutting out the size card you would like – I cut mine from a piece of Coredinations card and then sanded the edges to give a subtle blue edge to my card.

2. Next, use your nestability Oval scalloped die to cut out 4 ovals. Run each through an embossing pocket – I used a cuttlebug Xmas Snowflakes one!!

3. Once embossed, rub a white ink pad over the top of the raised section of each scalloped oval then a co-ordinating ink pad over the edges.

4. Adhere each of the oval over each other, ensuring a ¼ inch offset.

5. Finally, ensuring your oval set is laid in front of you in portrait style, mark the centre top of the bundle. This will be your cutting point for the 2 cuts you will make. Next, mark 2 radiating lines from this point, you should end up with an upside down cone shape and cut. Turn around and your tree is complete.

6. It’s now up to you to complete your card. I chose to create a special effects background using inks and a straw but it’s up to you what you would prefer. I then drew a rough white line around the background square, adhered the tree with a strip of ribbon as my trunk and a small ribbon bow for decoration!!