Can't get enough of Sizzix

Usually, I use the Sizzix decorative strip dies as embellishments, but this time, I created the whole background with them. Let me tell you, it was a lot of fun to use a favorite product in a different way... kinda stretches your supplies along with your imagination! Here are some close up shots and step-by-step instructions.

1. Die cut vintage laces, harlequin borders, ticket strip, and Typeset alphabet out of cream cardstock. 
2. Pop out the letters and numbers from the Typeset alphabet strip by poking with a paper piercer. Keep the negative.
3. Do the same with the vintage lace borders.
4. Color the diecut decorative strips with acrylic paints. Let dry.
5. With very little adhesive on the backs, position the colored diecut strips on black cardstock as shown. Add a strip of patterned paper. Stitch in place.
6. Splatter paints across the page by loading paintbrush with acrylic paints diluted with water and gently tapping the brush handle.
7. Attach a piece of book paper. Tear some vellum and layer it on top. Attach bits and pieces of trim and loose thread. Add photo and some sequins. Stitch the cluster in place.
8. Add a bit of journaling.
9. Embellish with clip, tag, and flowers.

Here's what I used to create my layout.

Supplies:From Sizzix

Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Vintage Lace
S

izzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Harlequin Border

Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Alphabet Die - Typeset

Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Alphabet Die - Ticket Strip

BIGkick Machine

Others
Cardstock: Recollections
Patterned paper: 12x12 Chinoiserie Collection, Anna Griffin, Inc.
Acrylic paints: DecoArt
Glimmer Mist: Polka Dot Pink, Tattered Angels
Adhesive: Scotch 3M
Thread: Coats & Clark
Tag, trim, vellum, lace, sequins, clip, flowers, book paper


Thanks for stopping by!

Balancing Act ... continued

Check it out here: http://www.sizzix.com/balancingact

Sizzix Balancing Act

Check it out here: http://www.sizzix.com/balancingact

Sequins + Glitz Design

I'm loving sequins these days, little bits of shine to sprinkle around projects... pretty, sweet. Here's what I made with some gold sequins and a lot of Glitz Design products.

On this layout, I added lots of small bits and pieces from the Uncharted Waters collection as well as some pieces from Love You Madly and Color Me Happy collections. This was one fun layout to make! Here are some closer looks.

Supply List:
Glitz Design “Uncharted Waters” 6x6 Paper pad
Glitz Design “Uncharted Waters” 12 x12 Bits & Pieces paper
Glitz Design “Uncharted Waters” Paper Layers
Glitz Design “Love You Madly” Paper Layers
Glitz Design “Color Me Happy” Paper Layers
Glitz Design “Uncharted Waters” BokehWashi tape
Glitz Design “Uncharted Waters” Paper Garland
Glitz Design “Uncharted Waters” Teeny Alphas Aqua Stripe
Other: cardstock, acrylic paints, paint brush, sequins, adhesive

Don't forget to check out the Glitz blog for more inspiration!

Sizzix Love

Sizzix dies seem to fit any projects! Here are some projects I have worked on recently using Sizzix Alterations dies by Tim Holtz.

Starting with the most recent

Using Sizzix Movers & Shapers L Die - Pocket Envelope

Tutorial here.

Using:

Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set 2PK - Vintage Alarm Clock & Camera Set

Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set 2PK - Vintage Fan & Globe Set

Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set 2PK - Vintage Telephone & Typewriter Set

Taught this one at CKU last year.

Using: 

Sizzix Bigz Die - Weathered Clock

Tutorial here.

As seen in March-April 2013 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine, Copyright: Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher.
Using:
Sizzix Movers & Shapers Die - Ornamental
Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Alphabet Die - Typeset

Using:

Sizzix Bigz Die - Tattered Florals

Tutorial here.

Using:
Sizzix Bigz Die - Tattered Florals
Tutorial here.

Using:

Sizzix Bigz XL Alphabet Die - Block Talk

Did this one for Tim's CHA-W 2013 booth

Using:

Sizzix Bigz XL Alphabet Die - Block Talk

Sizzix Big Die Pediments

Also for Tim's CHA-W 2013 booth

As seen in November-December 2012  issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine, Copyright: Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

Using:

Sizzix Big Die Vintage Noel

Sizzix Big Die Reindeer Flight

Sizzix Big Die Tattered Pinecone

And one I did quite a while back for Anna Griffin.

Using: 

Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Paper Rosette

Hope you enjoyed my little recap :)

Garden Journal with October Afternoon

The April showers have brought May flowers and new plants have sprouted. Around this time every year, we get ambitious and start our own garden at home. This year, I'm keeping a garden journal. I have always loved altering books with paints and gels. This time,however, I'm sticking mostly with papers to alter an old book I found at our library's used book shop.

I picked a book with a green cover for the garden theme. I cut out a seed packet from Farm Girl 12 x 12 Wheelbarrow paper and attached it at about the center to decorate the cover.

Next, I cut away some pages from the book. To do this, slide in a cutting mat below a stack of pages you want to remove. Leaving about half an inch from the binding, lay a ruler and cut with a sharp craft knife by carefully pulling toward yourself. Cut some windows the same way.

Of course I couldn't do away with paints altogether, so I splattered some on each page. Load your brush with a mix of paint and water, tap on the brush handle with a finger to splatter the paint, and let it dry.

Cut the rim around one of the seed packet images to frame the window. Add some banners from the Farm Girl Sew Fun Banners pack and stitch them in place. Use Woodland Park 12 x 12 alpha stickers to spell out a title for your journal. Attach a seed packet image to peek through the window.

Add some painted diecut tickets, patterned papers, chipboard accents, and washi tapes. Journal on the tickets.

Attach patterned papers and other accents to the page. Add photos. Journal.  

Add a coin envelope splattered with paint. Insert a tag in it to journal on. Use a phrase stamp to add words. 

Have fun altering your own book! Don't forget to check out the October Afternoon blog for inspiring ideas.

Woodgrains, Glitz Design Style

Did you know that Glitz Design makes some wonderful Woodgrain patterns?

Like this paper

and this washi tape

and this roller doodle stamp

Think of all the lovely things you can make with these products! 

Usually, I associate woodgrain designs with masculine and outdoor projects, but I wanted to try them to make something softer and a little more feminine. This is a card I came up with...

I inked up the Giant Roller Doodle with pink ink and rolled it onto the card. I sprinkled some water onto the card for the ink to blend a bit. I splattered acrylic paints on the card. I cut a strip of woodgrain paper layer and notched the ends to make a banner, added the strip to the card, and put pieces of washi tape at the top and bottom of the strip. I stamped the sentiment on a punched circle, layered it on a bigger circle, and mounted it overlapping the strips. To finish the card, I stitched in circles around the sentiment.

Supply List:
Glitz Design “Color Me Happy” Paper LayersGlitz Design “Color Me Happy” Woodgrain Washi tape
Glitz Design “Color Me Happy” Woodgrain Giant Roller Doodle
Glitz Design “Ucharted Waters” Rubber Stamps
Other: cardstock, acrylic paints, inkpad,  thread, paint brush, circle punches, adhesive

Don't forget to check out the Glitz blog for more inspiration!

Made an image footer

Mother's Day with Little Yellow Bicycle

Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a page about my mom...

LYB Products:
FNG-106 Field of Flowers/Teal Dots
FNG-108 Fanciful Forest/Tan Chevron
FNG-304 6x6 Paper Pack
FNG-230 Clear Cuts Shapes - with glitter accents
FNB-579 Chipboard Shapes - with thermography
JB-279 Chipboard Shapes - with foil accents
HL-225 Clear Word Stickers - Faith
HL-200 Clear Word Stickers - Everyday
JB-277 Stick Pins
NA-SP40 Stick Pins - Cork Hearts
NA-CRH20 Cork Shapes - Zig-Zag Rounds
NA-BS50 Layered Burlap Stickers - Hearts
CSS-100 Cling Stamps - Vintage Banners
CSS-102 Cling Word Stamps - Vacation
Others: Cardstock, white and blue acrylic paints, paint brush, adhesive, inkpad

Instructions: 

1. Trim 12" x 12" Field of Flowers/Teal Dots paper to 8.5"x 11". Apply a light coat of white acrylic paint to the background and splatter some of the same paint on it. Let dry.

2. Cut a polaroid frame from 6" x 6" Field of Flowers/Teal Dots for the photo.

3. Mount the framed photo on a 3.5" x 4.5" piece of Fanciful Forest/Tan Chevron paper. Attach to the background leaving about 2.5" from the top and left with pop dots for dimension.

4. Cut a 3.5" x 1.5" strip from Fanciful Forest/Tan Chevron paper. Notch the bottom to make a banner. Tuck it under the photo.

5. Stamp a banner on cardstock, cut it out and add to the photo frame. Attach 'adore' sticker from Clear Word Stickers - Everyday.

6. Paint a Cork Heart stick pin and Cork Zig Zag Round with blue acrylic paint. Let dry.

7. Stamp " The Best" on the cork round.

8. Arrange chipboard title, burlap sticker heart, the cork pieces, and a flower stick pin next to the photo on the right.

9. Attach a Clear Cut Shape mushroom and clear scroll sticker to the left. Attach a chipboard heart square on the top right corner of the photo.

10. Journal near the photo to finish.

Don't forget to check out the Little Yellow Bicycle blog for more inspiration!