Sunday, April 29, 2012

Hanging Chads??!!

Well, I guess they're not technically hanging chads...but have you ever noticed those quarter inch strips at the bottom of your 12x12 patterned papers?  Let me just tell you, that they are pretty awesome!  I love, love, love to use border strips on my layouts, but I hate cutting them from a full sheet of my 12x12 paper!  Why, you may ask?  Chances are, that I am going to want to use that piece of paper for a full background, so I don't want to cut a small amount off and not be able to use it later.  That's why the quarter inch pieces at the bottom are so great...they save a full 12x12 sheet.  Most of the time, the quarter inch strips are a preview of what's on the other side of the paper and they are 12 inches in length.  Echo Park papers, usually have a shorter preview piece, but definitely still useable.  And lately I've noticed a fun trend, where the companies make the quarter inch piece a totally different pattern that still coordinates with the papers.  

Now you might be wondering what other ways these could be used, other than just border strips across your page.  You can use them to punch small holes and use for confetti across your layouts.  You could also use them with your border punches.  For my second layout in this post, I cut the smaller strips from the bottom of the Echo Park papers and used the as the pennants in my banner.  And I am sure there are a ton more uses for these skinny mini patterns!

First, I'll share a layout, where I just used them as border strips at the top, center, and bottom of my page.





I loved Sketch #205 from Creative Scrappers and knew it would be perfect for these photos!!  I really thought little boy pages would be a challenge, after doing pages for two little girls for over 4 years, but I am definitely getting the hang of them.  And I think the industry has started putting out some awesome products lately for little boy pages...Sasparilla by October Afternoon, Charming & A Boy's Life by Echo Park, Chap by American Crafts, Awesome by Simple Stories, and of course the one I used on this page, Technologic by Kaisercraft!

Products Used:

Cardstock & Brads:  The Paper Studio
Patterned Paper & Rub Ons:  Kaisercraft
Font:  Euphemia & Arial Black
Thickers:  American Crafts
Punch:  EK Success
Embroidery Floss:  Janlynn
Buttons:  Michael's
Acrylic Paint:  Apple Barrel
Pen:  Sharpie
Metal Rings:  Avery (Office Supply)

On this second layout, I used the small preview pieces for my pennant banner and I also punched a few of them with the notebook edged punch.  This layout is also for one of the fun weekly challenges, hosted by my friend, Erika Hayes at Club CK.  Our issue challenge this week, was to create a button banner (inspiration taken from the March/April CK magazine).



  
This was a really fun page to do, because it was my "inaugural" layout using Echo Park's Charming line.  Now I will say that it is definitely hard to pick favorites when all of the new CHA releases come out, but this one is definitely in my Top 3 from CHA-W!  So using the little preview pieces at the bottom of the page worked great for this page.  I was able to add 7 different patterned papers in my banner, without having to cut from my full 12x12 sheets.  And just another little tip...the preview sheet at the front of each of the packages, is also great for cutting little bits and pieces, here and there!


I hope I gave you a few new ideas to try on your next layout, and I would love to hear any other fun ideas you could think of for using the quarter inch strips.  I'm sure the possibilities are endless!!  :)


Products Used:


Patterned Paper & Stickers:  Echo Park
Brads:  The Paper Studio
Smooch Spritz:  Clear Snap
Buttons:  Dill-Buttons & Close to My Heart
Embroidery Floss:  Janlynn
Punch:  EK Success
Washi Tape:  SEI


 

 


12 comments:

  1. These are BEAUTIFUL!!! I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the pennants...and I love using those paper strips too!!

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  2. What a great tip, tfs :) your pages look great, nice sketch and cute photos!

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  3. Love the LOs! Yes-- I LOVE those borders on the pages! I always use them and save them if i didn't use them or only used a portion of it.

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  4. Love both of these layouts! Absolutely amazing take on the sketch! Great job!

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  5. Great ideas! Close To My Heart's papers have these great half-inch strips that coordinate with the rest of the papers, and I'm always trying to figure out new ways to use them. Thanks!

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  6. I love using the little border strip at the bottom of pp's, too! Sorry I haven't been by your blog lately, as you know life has been busy! I really love both of these little boy layouts, so fun!! THe giant robot in the first one is such an interesting accent piece, and I love all the energy you created with the stitching and the paint, very nice!! Your button banner on the second one is adorable, once again, love the stitching!!! Have a great day!

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  7. Love this post, great tips and beautiful pages! I just used some strips recently from American Crafts and those strips were pre-perforated! Sure hope all the scrap companies pick up on that one! Also, the Echo Park This and That Charming has been one of my favorite lines so far this year, too.

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  8. I just love looking at your layouts Ashley and saying to myself "gosh she is creative". I love seeing what details you use and where you place all the goodies. Both are awesome layouts! I'm glad you "broke" into your Echo Park line!!

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  9. Cute layout! I sometimes use the name on that border too.

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  10. these are awesome Ashley, you have a particular style I can pick out anywhere, always full of color and fun, and I agree, those little strips are great, I do really love it when they are a totally different pattern, it's like you get a little something extra, make a sheet of paper last longer :)

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  11. Another darling layout!! I agree with Laurie, I can pick out your layouts anywhere...I so love your style!! I have to admit that for the longest time I didn't use the little strips that I cut off, not sure why, but I do now!! Love all of the detail in this cute layout!!

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  12. your title was cracking me up! Great creations Ashley!

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