How to Create Budget Friendly Layers with One Sheet of Patterned Paper - week #11

As a scrapbooker, I strive to use every inch of each sheet of patterned paper possible.If you are budget conscious and/or trying to be environmentally friendly, I am sure you do the same. Patterned paper prints with large designs are often the most difficult to use. In some cases, I just can't figure out which part of the design I want to work with. I hate covering designs I like. I even feel that some papers lose their impact on the layout design if I cover a portion of the paper's design with photos or embellishments.Then there is the opposite instance in which I feel the patterned paper print may overpower my focal point.If you have the same issues, I have a scrapbooking quick tip which will help you create budget friendly layers with a single sheet of patterned paper. All you need is a  craft knife.

 Essentially, all you have to do is to cut a portion of the large design so that you can slide your photos, embellishments or other papers underneath a section of the patterned paper.I adore my Westcott Craft knife because of the soft grip and light weight.The key to doing this technique well is to leave portion of the paper attached. Don't cut the design completely out. Cut small sections first, enlarging the slit just a bit as you go so that the papers or photos can slide under the slit with ease. You don't want to force anything in as the paper might buckle and become lumpy or bent.

Sometimes a photo just can't do a technique justice. Take a look at this video in which I explain the technique in further detail.

How do you feel about larger print patterned papers? Do you use them or are they collecting dust in your stash?

Supplies Used
Craft Knife by Westcott
Xyron Adhesive
Patterned Paper,Letters and Stickers by Simple Stories
Wood Veneer by Pinkfresh Studio

Wander Downtown Disney - Week #9

Regular readers of this site know that I love to work with collections as a shortcut to creating easy coordinated layouts. Paper pads are one of my go to methods of doing this. For this week I chose a paper pad from Pink Paislee, the Memorandum collection.

I combined that paper pad with another of my favorite tools for fast, fun layouts: the Scrap Free Scrapbooking ebook by Jennifer Priest. I chose a design from the first pattern set for today's layout.

The pattern sets use color blocking to create a set of layouts from just a few sheets of paper, with no waste. This technique means that to create the basic elements of these layouts, you need nothing more than a simple paper trimmer, such as the Westcott Titanium. 

After creating the basis of the layout with the patterned paper, I added the focus photo on the 4"x6" mat included in the layout. I had taken several dozen photos that evening at Downtown Disney but in the twilight and dark not many came out so they really aren't good for a series of layouts. So I decided to add more photos to this layout, in a small 3"x4" size that largely disguises the problems from the low light photography.

The next step was to layer embellishments to the layout on top of the photos and base layer of paper. I don't have any of the embellishments that coordinate with the Memorandum collection, but I do have a sheet of patterned paper from the collection that looks like a sheet of labels. I cut out a red one and ran it through my little Xyron sticker maker and turned it into a label sticker!

I love creating visual triangles in my layouts. This one actually ended up with multiple triangles on it, driven by color. The red label, stamp, and splash of red on Tami's shirt make one. The silver twine, blue pearls and glitter sticker make a triangle of bling that layers on the red one. The three black embellishments make another, tighter triangle inside the first set of them. 

While that makes it sound like I planned the layout in minute detail, I really didn't. It developed as I added first one, then another embellishment. You start to see patterns as you add, so you fill in the pattern.

It's hard to tell in the photograph below, but the "wander" title was stamped and then heat embossed in dark blue using Colorbox's Mix'd Media embossing powder. The dark blue (which I also used for the button and pearls) is a softer alternative to black, and goes great with the soft green shade in the patterned paper.  

Supplies:

• Pink Paislee Memorandum collection paper pad
• Kelly Purkey "Ready, Jet, Set" stamps from KellyPurkey.com
• Hero Arts Clearly Kelly "Kelly's Food Coma" stamps
• Heidi Swapp Date Stamp
• Colorbox Petal Point ink pad in Aurora
• Colorbox Cat's Eye ink pad (red)
• Colorbox Mix'd Media Embossing Powder in Denim
• Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen
• Xyron Mini Sticker Maker
• Heidi Swapp Memory Planner Sheer Stickers
• Heidi Swapp glitter stickers
• Heidi Swapp Puffy Chat Bubbles stickers
• Crate Paper Notes & Things Ephemera Pack
• Buttons Galore 28 Lilac Lane embellishment kit in Let It Snow