A Layout Appearing at CHA

This is a design team project I created for Glue Arts using canvas creatively with their new Extreme adhesive products launched at Summer CHA. It is presently on display at the show!

I decided to create a wall hanging scrapbook layout for my office of my niece Lauren. Since she has on a leopard print bathing suit, I wanted to play on lots of texture and use earthy shades like teal, green and brown with the white contrast. To make the texture on my canvas sheet, I used Stampin’ Up!’s new embossing folder that I tried out at my demo friend Ree’s house during one of our stamping “play dates”. I loved how it accentuated the texture of the canvas. See the detail, here..

Next, I applied pigment inks to bring out the embossing and used some of my smaller Cuttlebug Fancy Corner embossing folders for the smaller canvas tiles.  I also rubbed some of the brown ink over the textured Core’dinations cardstock used in the background. Check out Glue Arts’ website for the step-by-step instructions!

2 years, 220 Posts, 1 Great Experience!

I just looked back to see how long it is has been since I started blogging. It was 2 years in June, and my how that time has flown by! In my years as a graphic designer I have seen changes in computers, technology, software, trends and it has been such an amazing journey. When I started my own design biz, I was simply thrilled to have a little Mac Plus computer that I could do my own typesetting on. Yes, that was in the days of paste up, where every add, logo and brochure had to be pasted up...mechanically. Each title cut out and glued onto a mechanical board and the colors had to be all cut out of rubylith or amberlith with an Xacto knife by hand!

Then came all the software and possibilites with Adobe leading the way. Designers could actually see how the designs would look using certain colors. This opened up the windows to new creativity. We could see the designs before they were printed! But then, suddenly software got all technical, and I suddenly went from being a creative type to having to know how to do pre-press art and set up. Thank God those days are gone...not fun, let me tell you! Laptops showed up giving me design capabilities on the go! The internet lent a wealth of resources, too!

Now the digital revolution has appeared on the horizon and technology continues to advance along with the software posing a need for more RAM and storage space...internal and external hard drives. Photoshop and phtooshop brushes add new life to images and art. Sites like Picnik offer special effects at your fingertips. Uploading, downloading, social media and networking are necessary parts of a designer’s life.

Today, I share with you a scrapbook layout that I did totally digital. It is a faux magazine cover featuring a few photos of Kylie from this summer. Dan commented on how the one picture looked like it could be on a magazine cover...and so the inspiration was born! You see in our house, you have to be careful what you SAY and what you DO. It may just end up on a scrapbook page! LOL

Class Kit Projects for CHA Summer 2010

I won’t be at the Summer CHA show, but I created some project samples for a Class Kit offered by Glue Arts, Cosmo Cricket and Core’dinations to store owners. I created some pocket note pads and gift card holders using the fabulous products and adhesives from these manufacturers. Be sure to email me if you want a complete supply list. I just adore Cosmo’s DeLovely collection’s yummy colors...vibrant jewel tones mixed with some summer brights...and the chipboard designs are so adorable. You will want this collection, trust me! Pairing them with Core'dinations textured cardstocks was very fun, especially using sanding blocks to add some distressing to bring out the texture and patterns. I have a template for the gift card envelope and measurements for the holder, which can be used with Glue Arts’ Glue Glider™ Pro and repositionable adhesive to create your own post it note pad or paired with high tac adhesive and patterned cardstock to create a custom gift card holder for gift giving. Here are some pictures. Leave me a comment and your email if you would like to receive the template/instructions.

Here are individual photos of the projects. I used gold cording with buttons and adhesive squares as closures for the holders. I also used Glue Arts new Raise N’s to give dimensionality to some of the chipboard layered elements. You can even cover a standard pen with some adhesive lines and cardstock to create a matching pen and notepad set. These tiny size holders can be glued to the inside of a standard greeting card or tucked neatly into a putse or backpack for school or shopping.

More New Designs to Share!!!

Before my Sun-Sational Summer Sale ended, I wanted to add some new sets to my shop so you can take advantage of the sale price. Inspired by the Fluidity collection, this Fluid Cross set features and outline and solid version of this cross made of decorative flourishes, flowing lines and hearts. Perfect for use for religious themes and occasions.

Versatile and bright, my new Spotsy Dotsy Floral Collection blends just the right amount of fun items in this clip art collection which is also perfect for embroidery or scrapbook purposes. This set included 4 designer 12" x 12" digital papers, 3 coordinating borders and 15 embellishments that work well separately or together for crafting cards, scrapbook pages and other creative projects. Try these out on a Military, Patriotic, 4th of July or Memorial Day project or liven up the baby and toddler pages of your scrapbook. Great for picnic, back to school and spring/summer themes. A fun mix of red, blue and yellow colored designs, borders and papers.