Day of the Dead - Week #41

Hi Ladies!

Today I'm going to share my layout and it is all about the "Day of the Dead"  and a little of what is this Mexican holiday.

Day of the Dead or Dia de Muertos.. is a holiday we celebrate in Mexico in particular the Central and South regions.. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died and help the support their spiritual journey.. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called "Ofrendas" honoring the deceased using sugar skulls marigolds and the favorite beverages and food of the departed, also visiting graves to be with the souls of the departed.. the intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them.. Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.

Jose Guadalupe Posada created a famous print of a figure he called La Calavera Catrina.. as a parody of a Mexican upper-class female..

I went in 2012 to Guadalajara Mexico and as I said in central Mexico they decorate everywhere with paper mache Catrinas.. I took some pictures and some I use in my layout..

We always can use papers even if they are for a different occasions.. This paper is Christmas paper but I think it was perfect for my layout!

 This iron transfer was my inspiration for this Layout... As you know I love fussy cutting so I cut the Iron transfer with my excellent Westcott Craft Titanium non stick scissors!!! and was perfect to embellish my layout!

This is a simple-easy layout and I use 3 photos! 

 

The Catrina Skull is a great embellish and I add some pearls with my Pearl Pen.. 

Also I add some Molding Paste and Embossing powders from Color Box to give more color.. Day of the dead is also a lot of color!

I just did my Title with my lovely Sakura White Pen.. some flowers from my stash and ready!!! 

I hope you get some inspiration and see you next Tuesday with another fabulous Layout-A-Week!

Supplies:
Westcott Brand - Craft Titanium Scissors, Self healing cutting mat, TrimAir Trimmer
Fancy Pants "Oh Deer" Paper Collection
Crafty Chica - Day of the Dead Iron-on transfer
Pentart - Pearl Pens " Lilac, Morning Glory and Poppy
Aleen's - Turbo Tacky Glue
Color Box - Embossing Powders
Golden - Molding Paste
Sakura - White Pen

How to use Frames to Anchor Scrapbook Embellishments- Week #40

What is it about die cut frames that makes them so difficult to use? I usually leave them sitting untouched in my scrapbook supplies simply because I don't have the right size photo to fit inside the frame. When it comes to challenging scrapbook embellishments, you have to be willing to use them in a manner which may be quite different from their intended purpose. Today, we're going to take a look at how we can use a die cut frame to anchor a cluster of scrapbook embellishments.

Let's start by taking a look at the basic steps to creating an embellishment cluster with a frame:

 I used a large size die cut frame for my layout. Larger frames can be difficult to use simply because of their size.Cutting them down and tucking them beneath a photo adds a layer while preventing the frame's size from overpowering the other elements of your scrapbook layout. You can save the other half of the frame for another page, or tuck it in somewhere else on your layout. The large frame acts as an anchor for the embellishment cluster in that it provides a junction where it meets the heart print patterned paper matte. Placing embellishments where lines meet is a good way to create more visual interest in your page design.

 If you are have a smaller frame, you don't necessarily have to cut it in half and tuck it under. I like to layer small frames on top of photos. They act as a sort of nest for tiny embellishments.

In the video, I showed you a close up look at the wooden circle in this cluster. The circle has a wood burned phrase which simply won't work for any stories I want to tell. If you have a die cut or wood shape and don't think you can use it for your layouts, consider flipping it over so that you can use the back. They provide a nice foundation for building an embellishment cluster.

The key to a good embellishment cluster is a mixed set of scrapbook embellishments with varying weights, sizes and textures. Choose one large shape, then build it upwards with a mix of flat items like die cuts and stickers and dimensional items like buttons or flair. Choose one or two shapes or colors to repeat in at least one other cluster on the layout.

 After I filmed the video, I let the  layout sit for a bit before coming back to finish the small details. Sometimes the clusters need a little something extra to make the page feel more polished. In this case, I added some sequins. I adore sequins. They won't make your layout feel to heavy but can add a hint of glitz. 

The frame can also be a starting point from which to layer your title. Experiment with different size letter stickers. Smaller letters can be held inside the frame. Larger stickers can flow over the top of the frame, as shown above.

How do you like to use die cut frames? 

This layout was based on a design from the Scrap Free Scrapbooking E-book. You can learn more about the book at JenniferPreist.com. Use code CHRISTY to save $3.99 at checkout.

About this Layout: Flamingo Parade features photos of my son in Ardastra Gardens in Nassau, Bahamas. They have a flock of flamingos that roams free through the zoo. Once a day, they parade the flamingos through the park in the center of the zoo. Once there, guests are invited to walk out into the flock and join in.

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper- Pink Paislee, Cocoa Daisy

Die Cuts, Wood Veneer, Stickers: Pink Paislee

Wood Buttons: Crate Paper

Sequins: My Mind's Eye

Ink: Colorbox

Visit me at MyScrapbookEvolution.com

Simple Fall Layout of Monticello - Week #38

Welcome to October on Layout-A-Week! In most of the country, October means fall. But here in Florida, of course, we don't get much of what is considered to be "fall". So to get a taste of fall scrapbooking and get in a seasonal mood, I decided to go way back in time and dig up some pictures from a trip to Williamsburg and Virginia in October 1994. I didn't start scrapbooking until several years after this trip so these beautiful pictures have never been scrapbooked!

One way to make scrapbooking old photos easy is to use templates. For this layout, I used a template from the Scrap Free Scrapbooking ebook by Layout-A-Week's own Jennifer Priest. The book contains beautiful clean template designs that show you how to take a few sheets of paper and turn them into 4-5 coordinated layouts by cutting them to certain dimensions!

Working with templates like this is even easier if you work with pre-coordinated paper kits. For this layout, I worked with Graphic 45's recent collection Botanicabella. The combination of brown, green and golden yellow is perfect for fall, and the historic touches of text and other elements are a perfect match for Monticello, the historic home of one of America's founding fathers.

The fall colors of the paper set a tone, but to emphasize the fall theme, I decided to add a die cut leaf. I cut the leaf out on my Cricut Explore machine.

I love intricate die cuts but adhering them? Not so much. My Xyron 505 machine is the perfect solution for my sanity. It's a lifesaver for items like this! A large portion of what comes out of my die cut machine goes straight into my Xyron for adhesive.

Besides the leaf, there was one other thing that I added to the template design: a journaling block. I measured the area between the bottom of the picture of Monticello and the top of the title block. Then I took those measurements to my Westcott TrimAir rotary trimmer and cut a piece of just slightly textured patterned paper to insert in that space as a journaling block.

Before gluing all of the paper elements down, I added a final touch that made the layout just a bit more finished. Using this many patterns together - even if they are all beautifully coordinated - can easily start to appear a busy, muddy mess. I used a Colorbox ink pad in Expresso (dark brown) to ink the edges of my design blocks to give them definition so they appear more separate from each other. It also gives the layout a bit of dimension by creating a faux drop shadow effect.

Using the glitter Thickers for the name Monticello draws the golden highlights out of the photos.

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to come back next week for more fall layout goodness!

Supplies:

• Graphic 45 Botanicabella collection
• Cricut Explore machine & leaf cut file
• Hero Arts "Clearly Kelly" stamps (Kelly's Outline Letters)
• American Crafts "Wisecrack" Thickers in gold
• Brown journaling pen
• Westcott Trim Air rotary trimmer
• Xyron 505 adhesive machine
• Colorbox pigment ink in Espresso
• Scrap Free Scrapbooking Ebook (Cutting Pattern 5)