Boyish Girl

This is a layout about Chloe being always mistaken as a boy. Well, I could totally understand that as she has very little hair and is always so cheerful and boyish in character. The inspirations for the colours of this layout came directly from the photograph itself.

Here are the steps to this layout.

1. I've used quite a number of "stamped images" on this page which I've printed on vellum. I've added lots of glitters and details to it using doodling and embellishing it.

2. The circles on the left are actually "stamped images" printed on green vellum. I've masked a few sizes of circles too to do my journaling.

3. Instead of using chipboard or stamped flourishes around the flowers which I normally do, I've added some ribbon and rick rack. And I've also stitched part of the rick rack down just to add some colours there.

4. I've tried two different two tones stitching here. Firstly, I've done the zig-zag two tones stitching in white and green. Secondly, I've done some two tones cross stitching which I've use the "Add Little Beads on your Stitching" technique here. It's so much fun to hand stitched your layouts. It's not difficult at all. Here are some simple tips. Before to stitch, place a soft crafting foam underneath your layout and use a twizzer or needle to poke some stitching holes in advance on your layout. Then later you can easily stitch on your layouts without the hassle of having to poke through thick layers with a small needle.

5. I've added a hand drawn butterfly on some alcohol inked glossy paper to the layout too using some foam adhesives for dimensions.

6. I've used some chipboard brackets and alphas for the title which I've painted. I've doodled on the brackets and I've added crackle accents on the alphas.

To accentuate the meaning of how she is always a princess and so beautiful, I've added a tiara and quite an amount of glitters and bling everywhere.

Sources: Card stock: Bazzill Basic Papers, Pattern Papers: Scenic Route, Basic Grey, Ink: Ranger Alcohol Inks, Tim Holtz's Distress Ink, ColorBox, Stamps: Autumn Leaves, Chipboard: Fancy Pants, Basic Grey, Others: Zig pens, uni-ball signo gel pen, acrylic paint, crackle accents (Ranger Ink), vellum, sequins, flowers(Prima).

Add Little Beads on your Stitching

In the past weeks, I've received various emails on requesting ideas on using these small beads on layouts and projects. I've actually used them quite a few times in my work. I've tried using them to make small frames for a necklace, embellishing on flowers and etc. In my latest layout, I've tried to add them into my hand stitching work. I love the effect. It gives a more detailed look. I've also tried the two tones cross stitching technique here.

Love My Dad mini album

This is a project to answer Ryan's second request. He wanted me to create a welcome home gift for his daddy. Well, since Father's Day is just next month, I thought I could do a two in one gift. So here's a mini thick chipboard display accordian album that I've created for him. It is meant for his dad to display it on his office table and that's the reason why I've kept the colours masculine and suitable for his office display.

I've first painted all the chipboard pieces in white and grey acrylic paint. Then I've used some stamps to stamp on them. I've kept it in a monochromatic colour scheme hoping the photographs would be the center of attention. I've added numerous rub-ons, printed journaling on vellums, sticker quotes, doodled and metal embellishment.

Ryan will be crossing out his last day of being apart from his dad on his calendar tonight and he is so excited to see his dad again tomorrow morning.

Sources: MIni album: KaiserCraft, Pattern Papers: Paper Pizazz, Ink: Tim Holtz's Distress Ink, Emboss It, Rub-ons: Heidi Grace, Stamps: Hampton Art, Autumn Leaves, Heidi Swapp, Brads: The Paper Studio, Stickers: Phrase Cafe, Others: Zig pens, uni-ball signo gel pen, acrylic paint, crackle accents accents (Ranger Ink), embossing poewders, .

CJ Intoduction Page

This is just an introductory page of my CJ (Circle journal) that I'm part off recently. I've used only "stamped images" in this page. I've used the "Dress Up your Stamped Images" technique to enhanced the stamped images which I've printed out on regular white card stock. I've cut the images out and layered them on the page using some foam adhesives for more dimensions. I've used a doiley to create the masking on the background. I've used the scissors technique to distress all the pattern papers and card stocks.

Sources: Pattern Papers: Paper Pizazz, Basic Grey, Ink: Tim Holtz's Distress Ink, Emboss It, Brads: The Paper Studio, Others: Glitters (Stickles)

Dress Up your Stamped Images

Recently, I've came across lots of swapping of stamped images among COFs and bloggers. I've also received some stamped images from some of my friends too. Of course, there are some limitations as compared to the actual stamps but I guess with a little creativity, there should not be a problem in using them.

I've used some stamped images in my recent CJ introduction page. Here are some ideas to dress it up.

1) Colour it using watercolours, colour pencils, distress inks, or even crayon.

2) Inked the edges for some shades.

3) Print it onto some pattern paper.

4) Add glitter or bling to it.

5) Stamp another image on top of it.

6) Heat embossed it.

7) Add some 3 dimensional accents to it.

8) Embellish it with flowers, brads or even eyelets.

9) To add some dimensions to it, you can attached it to your project using foam adhesives or use a piece of chipboard to layer it.

There are so many possibilities to it and saves you tons of money on some one time stamps. Hope this tip could help some of you who had emailed me regarding this topic.