Belle Papier {pretty paper}

A little peek into my world…..

Some digital designs for you today that I’ve created over the past couple weeks…the first two, I was just playing around trying to put my newly learned skills to practice. If you’re having trouble reading the journaling, you can click on the photos to enlarge.

Quick Tip:  Don’t be afraid to try something new! Take a class, ask a friend, search the web. Never stop growing.

the little things

a layout about my friends’ daughters on the beach…

I found some digital photos from three years ago and just had to create a layout. Isn’t he precious?!

Sweet Cherish

Saturday 30 min Start to Finish assignment: October 5th

Class 3 layout: Sweet Days

Just a little peek into my world. Enjoy each moment of yours!

Scrap time again! I have another fun layout sketch for you today by Lesley Langdon. Using just one photo, this is an easy layout to have some fun with. Leave it simple or add some fun stamping or embellishing in those open spaces. To make this design work better with my photo, I flipped the sketch.

Check out the other layout samples of this sketch by  Lesley, Jennifer, Becky and Kristine. If you’d like to play along, we’d love to see your work! Here’s the challenge…

Celebrate Three

Quick Tip: When designing with photos…have the people looking into the middle of the page rather than out of the design. It helps balance the layout better.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supply List:

Stamps:
-Writer’s Block (Backgrounder line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
-Thomas Train Tracks by Cornish Heritage Farms
-Thoams the Tank Engine Front by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink:
-Burnt Umber Palette ink by Stewart Superior
-Vintage Photo Distress ink by Ranger

Paper:
-Suede Brown DArk by Prism
-Papa line by Fancy Pants Designs

Other:
-felt letters by American Crafts
-ribbon by Creative Impressions
-felt by Fancy Pants Designs
-stapler
-sewing machine

Adirondack inks are one of my favorite inks to use. Almost a year ago now I made the switch as a designer to a more”retail friendly” ink and I’ve been thrilled with the Ranger Adirondack Ink line. The colors are rich and beautiful and when using them or the reinkers for watercoloring, the color never breaks down. As I’ve been using my Copic markers a lot lately, my most favorite Adirondack inks to use are the Pitch Black and the Espresso. These inks are perfect for using with Copic makers and do not bleed, even when using the colorless blender pen.When stamping detailed images such as my challenge design below, I ink up my brayer with the ink first, roll onto the rubber and then stamp. Brayering the ink will give you the highest quality image. Adirondack ink pads and reinkers are the CHF product spotlight for the next two weeks.

Today’s CHF Challenge Chicks Challenge is to create a design featuring the Adirondack inks.  We have lots of samples and ideas today so take the time to check them out. Joanne, Kristine, Lisa Silver, Julie, Dawn, Jen, Kim, Alli, Michele, Becky, Val

We’d love you to play along here. Hope you’ll join us!

Winter Peace

I actually stamped and colored this beautiful Thomas Kinkade Village Christmas image while on holidays at the cottage in August.  I finally had some time with the kids back at school to make it into a card this week and it fits the challenge well. My image is stamped in the Pitch Black Adirondack ink before coloring with my Copic Markers. Sorry I can’t tell you exactly what colors I used as it’s been a while. When coloring, I start light and slowly build up the color, blending with my lightest tone in that area.

My background is created with the new Thomas Kinkade Masculine series patterned paper. It has a beautiful subtle pattern that you can stamp on. In this case, I ran the layer through my Cuttlebug with a new Snow Dots embossing folder. One of the fun things about embossing patterned paper is the white core. Simple stamp the embossing lightly to highlight the inner white color.

To finish up…I  added a subtle embellishment. A little “peace” charm is all the sentiment this design needs and it is paired up with some Creative Impressions’ felt snowflakes and ribbon.

Quick Tip: Make sure you allow your stamped image to dry well before coloring with the Copic Markers.

Have a wonderful day!

supply List:

Stamps:
-Village Christmas (Thomas Kinkade line) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink:
-Black Adirondack ink by ranger

Paper:
-Simply Smooth White cardstock by Prism
-Majestic Light cardstock by Prism
-Thomas Kinkade Masculine Series Paper Pack by Cornish Heritage Farms

Other:
-felt snowflakes by Creative Impressions
-dotted ribbon by Creative Impressions
-Cuttlebug and embossing folder by Provocraft
-Peace charm by Imaginesce
-markers by Copic

Nope, it’s not a typo…the title of this card is four(ever). A little creative math here on my part. I was having a little brain-storming session with the Rummage Bin Story Book stamp set and this popped into my mind. one love + two hearts = four(ever) I know it doesn’t “quite” add up but hey… this is love and not math class. A clean, fun design…perfect for simply Saturday. I’m pretty tickled with it…hope you like it too!

four (ever)

{sorry…this project has been removed for publication}

Have a “simply” wonderful day!

Supply List:

Stamps:
-numbers from Story Book Stamp set (The Rummage Bin line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
-ever from Classic Essential Expressions set (mona Lisa Moments line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
-love from Everyday Petites set (mona Lisa Moments line) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Paper:
-Simply Smooth White Cardstock by Prism

Ink: Black Palette Ink by Stewart Superior

Other:
-rhinestone circle by MAMBI
-ribbons by Creative Impressions
-heart brads by Creative Impressions
- book plate by Creative Impressions

 I love paper of all kinds but seem to have quite an addiction to collecting beautiful flocked, die-cut or other specialty papers. The thing is…I’m often a hoarder more than a user…keeping it for that “perfect” project. Today’s challenge is to stop hoarding that gorgeous paper and actually USE it! Whether it be flocked or glittered, die-cut, foiled or embossed…pull out that specialty paper and put it to good use! Have fun with the challenge here.

A few tips for using specialty papers…

•  a little can go a long way…make smaller cards or projects to get as many projects as possible from it
• save your scraps…sometimes a little scrap worked into another design is all you need
• when adhering layers on top of flocked or glittered papers, use an extra-strong adhesive such as glue dots or Sticky Strip
• play up on the texture or features of the paper by adding coordinating embellishments
• keep the design fairly simple so that it doesn’t take away from the beauty of the paper
• store them in a safe place as these papers can be expensive
• create your own specialty papers by adding glitter or flocking to your patterned paper with a glue pen

 Deer Baby

I thought this sweet little deer would be darling for a baby card design. I couldn’t resist using some of this gorgeous pink flocked paper. To keep the size down, I made this card 4.5″ square. The layout was kept extremely simple so as not to cover up the beautiful flocking.The soft pink flocking is perfect for a baby girl and I love this deer with it. Chloe the deer is one of the new releases from the Kim Hughes line today. If you’ve ever wanted some of her darling animals in singles or wood-mounted stamps…now you can have them.

The frame on this design is a chipboard frame covered with Pearl Paint Dabber. To add some stamping and a place for the deer to adhere to, I stamped my petite bebe sentiment across a piece of Clear Card Sheet and then adhered my deer over top. The clear layer breaks up the design but still allows you to see the beautiful paper beneath.

Thanks for stopping by!
Julia

Supply List:

Stamps:
Baby Love (Kim Hughes line) by CHF
Chloe the Deer (Kim Hughes line) by CHF

Ink:
-Black Adirondack ink by Ranter
-Black Stazon by Tsukineko

Paper:
-Simply Smooth White by Prism
-flocked pink paper

Other:
-ribbon by Creative Impressions
-flower by Prima
-chipboard frame by Maya Road
-Pearl Paint Dabber by Ranger
-felt heart button by Making Memories
-Baby Epoxy tag by Making Memories
-safety pin by Creative Impressions
-markers by Copic

-Clear Card Sheets by Cornish Heritage Farms