Belle Papier {pretty paper}

I hope I’m totally not boring you!Next class…I promise…just one digi post a week. I’m seriously cramming to get ready for it and having a blast while I do. I think by now, you’re getting a good idea of my favorite place to be.

I actually created these digi layouts yesterday. I’m just about done the course now and yay! Ready to start the next! I’ll show you my lesson four designs in a few days. Right now…I have a million things I have to get caught up on. This digital scrappin is a little addictive!

I have a fun challenge for you today. At least I hope you’ll like it! I’ve recently decided to stop hoarding some darling little charms I bought a while ago and just use them. Do you find yourself doing the same thing? Charms are a fabulous accent and embellishment. If they have words on them, I love how they can tie a design together by adding a little thought. Whether your charms are metal or you make your own…find great ways to tuck them into your design. My favorite way to use them is clustered in a group of embellishments such as below on this home decor piece I created. Play along with today’s challenge here.

Steadfast Hope

You may have seen this Thomas Kinkade The Light of Peace image colored here before. It’s one of the ones I colored while away at the cottage and I just knew it had to go into something besides a card. I’m thrilled with the way this altered frame turned out.It’s actually an MDF frame that I picked up at Michael’s and then covered with some Basic Grey paper. To frame the image section, I stamped a couple backgrounders right onto the paper and another on the kraft cardstock behind my image. My hope charm by Imaginesce helps accent the main theme of light and hope.

Quick Tip: After coloring with Copic Markers…add in some extra detail with the sharp, fine point of a Prismacolor colored pencil.

Wishing you a fabulous day!

Supply List:

Stamps:
-The Light of Peace(Thomas Kinkade Line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
-Inextinguishable Light (Thomas Kinkade Line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
-Cheesecloth Backgrounder by COrnish Heritage Farms
-Aged Sheet Music Scrapblock™by Cornish Heritage FArms

Ink:
-Black Memento ink by Tsukineko
-Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink by Ranger

Paper:
-Simply Smooth white and kraft cardstock by Prism
-patterned paper by Basic Grey

Other:
-lace by Prima
-flowers by Prima
-grungeboard by Ranger
-hope charm by Imaginesce
-Distress Crackle paint by Ranger
-ribbon by creative Impressions
-Copic Markers
-frame from Michael’s

Well, I’m on to week two. Actually I’ve just finished it. I’m trying to cram most of a four week course into one as my next course…Now we’re rockin’ starts on Monday! Yikes! Actually…I’m sure I’ll be fine with it. One thing to note…the Up and Running course is on a self-paced format and works wonderful at any speed. This next course is instructor taught and if you want to sign up…you need to pay attention to the web-site. It sells out within 24 hours so sign up for updates!!! Oh…btw…all the digi stuff you see here comes with the class. It’s a great way to get started! Here’s my “week two” layouts.

I’ll be back tomorrow morning with a stamped project…notice I didn’t say card? And a Ways to Use it Challenge for you.

Take care!

A little paint anyone? Did you know you could stamp with paint? It’s actually a super cool and fun idea. I love the grungy shabby look to it and how paint is opaque rather than soaking into the paper like ink. Now I must admit…I DID go a little crazy with the paint on this design. Actually…it’s a bit of a sampler. You know…like they used to make with different stitches. Well…this card highlights a bunch of paint ideas I was trying out.

Here’s my ideas..

- inking a scrapblock with paint dabber - Old Typewriter stamped on patterned paper

- inking the kissable tree with paint dabber and stamping on a clear card sheet
- freestyle painting the reverse of the clear card sheet to make “leaves”
-highlighting a sentiment by painting behind the word - hello sentiment
-painting paint dabbers over already painted chipboard - chipboard bird

Painted Hello

Maybe it’s a little over the top for paint but hey! It was lots of fun to make! Ranger Paint Dabbers are the Cornish Heritage Farms product spotlight for the next two weeks. Check out some tips and ideas here.

Have a fabulous day!

Supply List:

Stamps:
Kissable Tree (kim Hughes line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Mocha Chica (Kim Hughes line by Cornish Heritage Farms
Old Typewriter Scrapblock™ by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink;
Black Stazon by Tsukineko

Paper:
-Iced Teal by Prism Papers
-MochaChica patterned paper pack by Cornish Heritage Farms

Other:
-Clear Card Sheet by Cornish Heritage Farms
-snowcap, Espresso, Lettuce Adirondack Paint Dabbers by Ranger
-Distress Crackle Paint by Ranger
-ribbon by Creative Impressions
-flower by Prima
-sewing machine
-chipboard bird by Maya Road

I am up and running! With digital layouts that is. After reading a review on Jessica Sprague’s on-line classes by a fellow reporter on Craft Critique…I just had to sign up for a class. Actually…I ended up signing up for two! I wasn’t sure exactly where to start as I’ve been slowly learning to digi-scrap over the past year and a half in my free time. It DOES take a while when you’re learning on your own for the most part but I’ve put together some fun layouts that I’m pretty proud of. I thought perhaps this first class may be a little basic but halfway through…I’m thrilled with what I’ve learned. While I’m used to designing layouts on my own instead of using templates…the hints, free downloads and tricks I’ve learned have really made it worth my while.How come I didn’t know about this MONTHS ago?! If you’re wanting to learn digital scrapbooking or just want to learn more about Photoshop…Jessica Sprague’s on-line classes are a fabulous place to start….and keep learning!

One of the most basic things I learned was to use the arrow keys to nudge your image or element one pixel in any direction. Wow, wow, wow! This makes my life so much easier. How on earth did I not know this before?!!

These pages are from my first week lesson from Up and Running with Photoshop. I’ll be sharing more as I go along. Hope they inspire someone else to give this a whirl! If you’re looking for stamping…I’ll be back in the morning with a fun stamped card design.