Autumn Scrapbook Layout

This fun Autumn two page layout is made from several files from Paper Crafting World. The files used were:

Carving out Memories
Autumn Title
Bear in Sweater with Apples

I also used leaf dies from Prima to add an airy feel. The solid papers were from Recollections found at Michael's and the decorative papers were from "The Fall Stack" by Die Cuts With a View found at JoAnn's. (I think it has been discontinued so use any fall papers.) After cutting the pieces out with my Silhouette, I inked them all with Distress Inks. Optional, use a white gel pen for highlight and use colored pencils for details on apple barrel.

 I cut my mats for my pictures and ran them through my Sizzix Big Kick  for a little added texture. I used the a swirl folder from The Paper Studio found at Hobby Lobby. Each mat was backed with a tiny bit of black paper to help them stand out from the background papers. Lastly, I cut some strips of decorative paper in a wave to add movement to my layout and placed them behind my mats and title. (Before you glue anything down, you should lay them all out where you think they should go. I usually walk away at this point and then come back later to see if I still like how I have my items arranged. If there is anything that needs changing, I do it now and then I adhere everything down.)

If you already have photos you know you want to use, mat them first. Then lay them out to fit on the two pages and once you have all the photos placed add the die cuts.  I print my own pictures so I can make them fit any size mats that I make.

Scarecrow Card

I made this adorable scarecrow card from a Paper Crafting World design. It was originally a treat box but I wanted to show you how versatile the files are. It's like buying a treat box and getting the card file for free!

Let's make the card!

Open the Scarecrow boy treat box cut file in your die cutting program. I used my Silhouette Cameo.
Move the whole file off to the side of your cutting mat and ungroup. Select only the scarecrow pieces and place them on your mat.To size the scarecrow you need to assemble the pieces, use the "select all" button to select the whole scarecrow and size to 5.25 inches.

Next to make a card body you need to keep the design in one piece and use the shadow button and make a shadow .25 inches around the outside of your scarecrow. (If you want a white card base, keep a copy of this black shadow and then make the card base as described but make it white and add the black shadow to the white card base.)

Drag this shadow piece to the side and make a copy. Select the copy and flip that image vertically. Now merge the new flipped image with the original shadow copy and weld together at the hat. This completes the card base that the scarecrow will be built on. Move the card base to the right of the mat so you can work on the scarecrow body.

Take all the scarecrow pieces and group them according to color on your mat. You can place the black eye pupils next to the card base so you can cut together. (If you made a white card base then add the pupils to the copy of the black shadow piece.) I cut the shirt out of decorative paper but you can use solid paper if you don't have decorative paper.

Add your colored paper to your mat and cut out all the pieces. Ink around all your die cut pieces. I used Distress Inks. Prisma colored pencils were used to add details to my pieces. Add cheeks using chalk or Distress ink. Use a Zig Millennium .01 to draw on eye lashes and faux stitches around all the scarecrow features. Assemble all pieces on black card base. (Or black shadow base.) I used tiny brass brads for the pocket details and white enamel dots for the overalls buttons.
All Done!

Not seen on the directions:
I added a pumpkin! October's Challenge over at Paper Crafting World is "Anything Goes" and the "Twist" is to use a pumpkin!

Carmelita

Meet Carmelita! She is a file from Paper Crafting World or PCW. She is the second file in the Chico and Carmelita set. My last project from PCW was Chico and this adorable female Chihuahua is Carmelita.

Here's how to make the card!

1. Open up your Silhouette program and purchase design 42687 from Lori Whitlock. Cut out your card in red. The card opens up the size you need so don't adjust anything. Add paper to your mat and cut out the base card only.

 

2. Change the paper on the mat to your favorite dog paper for the background. Mine was from Creative Imaginations by Samantha Walker. I welded the square base to the bottom border to make one solid background for the front of the card. Don't forget to make the top 1/8 inch larger to replace the over lapping weld. See below:

 

 

 3. Make sure you also cut out the two side panels if you want them to match your base paper. If not, change out your paper and cut side panels.

 

4. Set that aside for now. On to the dog. Arrange all the pieces of Carmelita on your mat and assemble the dog in your program. Over lap where you would normally glue. Then select the whole image and size the dog to 4.5 inches, this includes the top of her ears. Select the whole dog and make a 1/8 inch shadow around her and cut out of black.

 

5. Disassemble the dog and place each puppy part in groups by color. Cut out the puppy parts with the colors you would like her to be. Ink the edges of all the cut pieces with Distress Inks. Use inks that are a shade darker then the paper you used to shadow.

 

 

6. Assemble the dog and add any details you would like to embellish. I used a rhinestone on the collar and some Wink of Stella on the bow and flower charm on the collar.

 

7. Add base papers to card and pop up Carmelita with foam squares. I added some extra embellishments on my card with stickers from Karen Foster Design Love my Dog #10475 and Sandy Lion stickers Dog Phrase.

 

 

Paper Craft World's Chico the Chihuahua

 I love this Chihuahua file from Paper Craft World. This is also a September Challenge from Paper Craft World's Blog. The challenge is: Anything Goes. The Twist: Use a digital or stamped image.

Here's how to made the card!

1.  Cut the pieces of the Chihuahua out with your favorite die cutting machine. I used my Silhouette Cameo. 
   
2. Ink all the pieces with distress inks. Whatever paper you use, choose an ink to match. The papers I used were Recollection from Michaels. Assemble the dog and glue together.
   
3. Cut your backing paper to fit a 5x7 card base. I used a bone pattern from Die Cuts with a View (DCWV) paper pad called "The Pets Stack." Attach your base paper to your card base with an ATG tape gun or any tape runner.
   
4. Cut a piece of 3.5x5 inch piece of paper and use a corner chomper to round the corners. My dog names paper was from DCWV "The Pets Stack."  I am not sure this is still available so use any papers you think would go with your card.
   
5. For your border strip, cut a 2x7 inch piece of solid brown paper as your base and layer a 1.5x7 inch piece of decorative paper over it.  My puppy paw print paper was from a 8.5x8.5 inch paper pad by daisy hill called "Top Dog."
   
6. Attach a ribbon to the border strip and adhere to card with tape. Tie the bow separately and use glue dots to attach the bow.
   
7.  Now for the twist, which is optional. In Microsoft Word, type "Ruff Day" about an inch tall. Then use the stamp and die set from Lawn Fawn "A Birdie Told Me " to stamp the talk bubble in versa fine around the word group and cut it out with the matching die set.
   
8.  Attach the die cut of the dog and the talk bubble with 3D foam tape. You are done!
   
   
   
   

Paper Crafting World Design Team

I'm so excited to announce that I have been selected to serve on Paper Crafting World's design team! Over the next 6 months I will be designing exciting projects featuring designs from Paper Crafting World! Check out their web store for fun SVG files and other cut files to use with home die cutting machines! They also have a great blog you can follow where other design team members and I will be making awesome projects with Paper Crafting World's (PCW) adorable cut files!

So to help celebrate the new design team, PCW is having a special! Just use the code PCW55 at the checkout and you will get 55% off your entire purchase with no minimum! This special offer will close on September 18, 2015.


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From the Heart Stamps

This is my submission to From the Heart Stamps design team call.

I used a sketch from their blog and their freebie digital image, Mouse Balloon.

I water colored the  mouse with distress inks and used my quickutz nesting circles to cut all the circles. The paper is American Crafts birthday 6x6 pad.
For added fun, you could add glossy accents to the balloon!

Best Witches

 This card was cased from a card I saw on the internet but I don't remember where I saw it, sorry.

I used my Silhouette to cut the cauldron. The background was stamped with a Stampin' Up background stamp with versa mark on a purple background. I layered that on a green paper and put that on a basic black card base. Reminder, before you apply the green layer to the black base add twine. That way you don't see the twine from the inside of the card. (If you forget, use a craft knife to make a slit in the fold of the card and insert twine.) I stamped Best Wishes and cut to resemble a banner and inked the edges with green ink and applied to the corner with tape. 



 

 

To add some dimension to the brew, I used some glossy accents to resemble bubbles. There was very little inking on this card. A touch on the tag and some on the base of the cauldron. I used dimensional squares to attach it to the front of the card. 

 

 

I stamped the inside saying from a Stampin' Up stamp on some green card stock, added some twine and three faux enamel dots. The dots were made by melting down some Perler beads. Tapped the green decorated paper to the inside of the card and I was done!