Welcome to DT 2010 by Esther

Welcome to the new members of DT 2010. I look forward to my second year on the team. I am Esther McCullough. I like to create the layout starting with the pictures; secondly, select a solid color cardstock; then embellish. My favorite tool is a good paper trimmer. The Chomper is a close second. Lately, I have begun to learn more about the diecutting implements. The noise of tv is usually enough, but at times, I listen to smooth jazz or oldies while cropping. My work area is not as organized as most, but I find what is needed. Collecting paper, tools and bling rate high on my list of supplies. I think, each person has to envision their own layout. Ask for assistance in accomplishing that goal. Each has to create what pleases them.

My challenges come in taking the kits assigned and making them work with my pictures and ideas for creating. Well, I also can learn better blogging skills. This month we are showing the SEI papers used for the DT tryouts.

For the pagemap I used "Flamingos" to go with the pinks for this layout. There were two pictures from Florida and one from California. The journaling block on right was done on the computer in Publisher using Afternoon Delight font. I placed a pink circle on an empty sheet and laid a text block over it. To get the rounded text shape, the lines of text were staggered to fit the pink circle. Half of the circle was not used. The cut half circle was adhered to the layout on the right to balance the pictures that are slightly left of center. The flowers were hancut and attached with eyelets in the center.

The word flamingo was set as a vertical text in the Harlow Solid font. The other embellishments are curved - circles from the SEI Julliet line in pinks. A better picture can be viewed on the ScrapbooksPlus Design Team Wall. I hope this sparked some ideas for creating. Come back to view again.

Wintery Calendar by Esther

The winter-looking papers from SEI were an inspiration to make a calendar. Layers of the decorative papers were adhered to blue Bazzill cardstock to make a dimensional setting for the bird. The bird became the theme for my winter scene and the wintery months. The strips of papers were cut to be edged with a red stamping ink pad and show beneath each other. The circle of a snowflake was raised and placed on the left to give accent and balance.

Once the decorative top was complete, I used red brads for another piece of 12" square cardstock to overlap for the calendar months. December and January were printed in Microsoft Publisher and decorated on meaningfully personal dates. Some are birthdays, special days and others are holidays.

Once the decorative top was complete, I used red brads for another piece of 12" square red patterned cardstock to overlap for the calendar months. December and January were printed in Microsoft Publisher and decorated on meaningfully personal dates. Some are birthdays and others are holidays.

The pearl finish of the American Crafts brad was just the thing to add a bit of shine to attach the month pages. Red brads were used to attach the calendar blank section to the top portion by overlapping. Silver Sticles was added to centers of snowflakes because you must have some bling. Now to plan a calendar for the next two months...

Finding Inspiration by Esther

When I received the November kit with the S.E.I. Moravia scalloped shaped blue print cardstock, I was hesitant to cut it. It was so pretty. But the cardstock was too busy to do anything with my photos. I looked at the sheet for several days, with no ideas coming forth. Then one evening, I noticed a package of napkins bought a year ago. They also had a scalloped edge. Because the napkins were folded in fourths, I got the inspiration to cut the paper into fourths and make a mini-album.

The paper was halved and the half cut in half to get two triangles that became the front and back covers. The shape was traced onto chipboard and cut with the scallop. There are two inside pages along with the front and back covers.

Each of the four chipboard pieces needed to be covered with the cardstock papers. When gluing the paper to cardstock, use a quick-drying glue like Scotch Quick-dry Adhesive and spread it sparingly near the edges. Use a brayer to smooth it outward from the center of the chipboard. Let each side dry thoroughly first.

Biege allowed for a neutral warm coordinate. The sueded paper gave a soft cool blue side.

Some edges were decorated with rubber stamp ink pad and the embossed with the copper color. The Chomper was used to make a large curve at each point. This is the location of the hole made with the Crop-A-Dile that will attach them together with a ring.

It took a few days to figure out how to use the lovely patterned paper. You can also find inspiration in things around the house for your pages. See the results on The Wall at ScrapbooksPlus.