ScrapFIT Step Class #9: Paper Piecing

Hi Everyone!!  :)  I have another fun Step Class lined up today at ScrapFIT and it is definitely one, that any paper crafter can be a part of!  This month, we will be focusing on Paper Piecing!  If you're like me, I'm sure you have more paper than you know what to do with.  Sometimes it's fun to just get creative with those papers and make your own fun embellishments.  Paper Piecing is really fun and simple.  It's basically cutting and putting together.  You can use electronic dies for layered paper pieced embellishments or free hand, if you are a brave soul.  I did a mix of both.

I'll show you what I did to create a paper pieced Cupcake for a birthday layout:

  
1.  First, I used my Expression, to cut a scalloped circle.  You could also use a punch or try it with decorative edged scissors.

2.  I cut a trapezoid shape from my patterned paper and then used my Expression once again, to cut a cloud shape.

3.  Next, I used a small hole punch to punch out some circles.

4.  Finally, just adhere it together and add in some pop dots for extra dimension.  I also added a wood veneer star and two flags behind my cupcake.

And here is what the finished layout looks like:

You are welcome to let your imagination have fun with this challenge - you do not have to do a cupcake!!  :)  If you would like some ideas for Paper Piecing, check out Pinterest. 

So make sure you come over to ScrapFIT and link up for a chance to be our featured Step Class FITgirl and have your project displayed on the Blog for a whole month!

You have until October 21 to link up your project---I will announce the winner on October 22.

A Day Late...and a Winner!

Yesterday was a new Fabulous Friday challenge at Frosted Designs, but I held off on my post, since I was participating in the Blog Hop launching Smitha Katti's new Card Shoppe.  We have a great challenge this week and it involves a very pretty trend....DOILIES!  Who doesn't love a good doily on their page??!!  Our DT did some amazing work so make sure you go over and check it out.

I really struggled when I was putting this layout together.  I liked the sketch and it worked great for the Doilies, and I think the Studio Calico Heyday collection was the perfect color combo, but I just kind of got lost in what I wanted to embellish with.  They just kind of felt all over the place for some reason.  And even though I think it turned out pretty in the end, there is still something that just seems kind of off to me.

The Sketch I used is from Creative Scrappers:

Products Used:  Cardstock & Brads:  The paper Studio; Patterned Paper, Mister Huey's Spray Mist, Mister Huey's Chevron Mask, & Butterfly Stickers:  Studio Calico; Flair Button:  A Flair for Buttons; Doilies:  Hobby Lobby; Pearls:  Kaisercraft; Washi Tape:  Recollections; Letter Stickers:  Authentique, Pebbles, & Studio Calico; Punch:  Marvy

I also need to announce a Winner from yesterday's Blog Hop!!  Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment for the chance to win some cards from Smitha's new Card Shoppe!

The lucky Winner is:   DIANA WAITE!!

Congrats Diana!!

Please contact me at ashleyhorton010675@gmail.com and I will forward your info to Smitha.   

Smitha Katti's Card Shoppe Blog Hop!!

Hello friends! Welcome to our  blog hop to celebrate the launch of Smitha Katti's Card Shoppe!

If you've arrived from Annette's Blog, you're in the right place! If this is your first stop, please go back to Smitha's Blog so you don't miss anything!

Smitha just launched her new Card Shoppe, where you can buy fun and cute cards that can be printed in the convenience of your very own home, at any time you want. Perfect for busy crafty moms :)

Here is a sample of one of her cards, 

I used the above set of cards, and created a layout, by cutting the card images.

The card was perfect inspiration for this page and I decided to repeat the heart pattern from the card.  I also cute out the "i love you" phrase and backed it with pattern paper and added some pop dots to give it dimension.  So these cards are really cute and versatile!!  You can use them strictly for note cards, or have some fun with them and incorporate them into your paper crafts. 

How would you like the chance to win five cards from Smitha's new Card Shoppe??!!  It's really easy...if you are already a Follower, just leave a comment on this post.  If you aren't a Follower, become a new Follower and leave a comment here letting me know you did!  Easy Peasy!!  The Giveaway will remain open until Midnight on Friday, October 5, and I will announce a winner on Saturday.

To see more of her cards (and some more chances to win these cards!), hop on over to  Jessica's Blog!!

Just in case you get lost along the way, here is the order of this blog hop...

Smitha
Annette
Ashley <----<----<---- You are Here!
Jessica
Joscie
Kristin
Nirupama

Thanks for hopping with us today! Hope you have a great crafty weekend!

Products Used:  Cardstock:  American Crafts; Patterned Paper:  Sassafras; Card Images:  Smitha Katti's Card Shoppe; Washi Tape:  Love My Tapes & K&Company; Smooch Spritz:  Clear Snap; Flair Buttons:  A Flair for Buttons & Bluebirdchic.com; Wood Veneers Studio Calico & Pink Paislee; Butterfly Stickers:  Studio Calico; Baker's Twine:  The Twinery; Punch:  Anna Griffin; Fonts:  Arial Black & CK Psychedelic; Packaging:  Heidi Swapp

Flag!!...You're It!

I love combining my Love My Tapes Washi Tape collection with fun trends!  You can't go wrong with two great trends together!!  One of my favorites, being Flags!  They are so cute and easy to make and add to your pages.

I can't say how easy these were to make, but they are such a fun embellishment for your pages!  Grab a toothpick, cut off about a 3 inch strip of Washi Tape, then fold it over itself and the toothpick.  Once you have it adhered, you can cut a triangle out of the end or leave it straight.  Stick pins would also work for your Flags and you could use some of Love My Tapes Fabric Tape also, for Flag embellishments.  Once your Flag is attached to your page, you can "dress" it up, by adding a die cut, brad, button, pearl, title or whatever you would like to the center.  And tying two or more together with baker's twine, adds another fun element to your page!

Have fun on your next layout, creating your own hand-made Flag embellishments and gettin' crafty with your Washi Tape!

Ready.Aim.Fire!!

The start of a new month, means new reveals at Get It Scrapped!  There will be some great articles coming your way this month and today's is no exception.  We will be looking at the fun Menswear trend.  Menswear-type prints/patterns are inspiring home decor, print media, textiles, even fingernails!  Our assignment this month, was to incoporate one or more of these trendy patterns: pinstripe, chevron, houndstooth, herringbone.  Here is what I created:

I love to use patterned papers on my layouts, because they create a lot of movement.  One of my favorite Menswear trends, is the Chevron pattern.  I repeated it several times on my page by using the more subtle pattern as my full background, by cutting one section of the Chevron from the full pattern and trimming the ends into arrows, and by adding a little bit of a stitched Chevron pattern.  I also added in a little bit of Houndstooth, which is also a Menswear pattern that is really popular right now.

Don't miss out on how the Creative Team took on the Menswear assignment!  You will find some fun ideas for your next layout or project!!

Products Used:  Patterned Paper:  Fancy Pants; Mister Huey's Circle Mask & Mister Huey's Spray Mist:  Studio Calico; Thickers:  American Crafts; Baker's Twine:  The Twinery; Flair:  Ormolu & October Afternoon; Washi Tape:  Bella Blvd. & K&Company; Font:  Arial Black, CK Journaling, & CK Splash; Other:  Button & Embroidery Floss.

October Sketch It Out!!

Yesterday, the Sketch It Out challenge that I host at Club CK went up!  I waited to post here, today, since we had our new Workout for ScrapFIT go up on yesterday.  I always have fun seeing the different interpretations of how everyone uses the sketch.  You are welcome to come play along with us or if you want to save the sketch and use it later on, that is fine too!  :)  

I will show you my layout first, because I did it beforehand and then created the sketch from the layout.

  
This was one of those pages, that just worked out exactly the way I wanted it to.  I couldn't decide what papers to use at first, since we were at a parade, but then I remembered I had some of the Prairie Hill line from Pink Paislee...one of my favorites from them!!  I was actually hoarding that Yellow polka dot paper, because I just couldn't bring myself to use it.  But I decided to go all out and use it for the background on this page and it worked just right!  And now, I am sure you are ready to see the sketch!!  :)

You are welcome to alter the sketch any way you like...add photos, take away a photo, move your title area, or even create a double pager from it!  I also like to add in a TWIST each month and the twist for this month is using a Tag or Tags on your layout.  You don't have to use the twist, if it doesn't work for you, but it's just a little extra fun for the challenge.

I also decided to invite a Featured Designer every other month and this month, my friend Melissa created a layout based on the sketch and here is her adorable page!!

 
How cute is her "Mister Baby"??!!  Love that sweet photo!  And Melissa shows a perfect example of altering the sketch, by removing one photo and making the sketch work for her single pic.  I love the way she did the outline of the circle and then added another one in faux stitching, and the punched circles with the pop dots add some great dimension to her page.  Melissa shares her amazing work on her Blog, melshappyscrappyplace, so make sure you pop over and check it out!

I would love for you to come play along this month!!  If you are already a member at Club CK, just add your layout to the October Sketch It Out post in the Creative Challenges Forum.  If you are not a member, you can set up a FREE account and join in all of the fun Club CK has to offer!

Products Used:  Patterned Paper & Stickers:  Pink Paislee; Mister Huey's Circle Mask, Mister Huey's Spray Mist, & Butterfly Stickers:  Studio Calico; Thickers:  Pebbles & Amy Tangerine; Buttons:  Dear Lizzy; Washi Tape:  My Mind's Eye & SEI; Punches:  Anna Griffin & Martha Stewart; Other:  Tag & Staples  

Workout #77 - High Flying Flag!

Happy October 1st!!  October is my most favorite month of the year...it's so Fall-ish!  Love going to the Pumpkin Patch, Fall Festivals, picking out the kids' Halloween costumes and feeling and seeing that change into Fall weather.  But even though Fall is upon us, I am taking us back to the 4th of July, with my layout for Workout #77 at ScrapFIT!  :)  We want to see your High Flying Flag!!

#77- High Flying Flag  

 

Let your flag wave high with this Workout!  We love the new little hand made flags that are popping up all over!  Show us a hand made flag on a layout or card.  

Be creative with your flag – put your title on it, make it pop and be unique!

 

 

A 4th of July page is the perfect spot to use a cute hand-made flag...but they are fabulous on all kinds of pages!!  I used two different patterned papers for these flags and attached them to toothpicks.  Then I added a wood veneer star to the center of one of my flags!  Easy Peasy!!

Make sure you come play along with us and link up your layout or card!  You could be the winner of the October FITkit, Hundred Acre Woods, provided by Paper Issues!!

Products Used:  Cardstock:  The Paper Studio; Patterned Paper:  Pebbles & Pink Paislee; Spray Mist & Wood Veneers:  Studio Calico; Washi Tape:  Bella Blvd.; Other:  Toothpicks & Staples