See it. Live it. Doc|u|ment it!

Silhouette Layout

I've been going back and adding pictures to some of my blank layouts from Page Maps class. This one turned out so well, I just had to share! I used trees and an owl that I cut with my QuicKutz Silhouette, and two QK 4x8 alphabets: Storybook and Dragonfly.

Here's close-ups of the QK shapes. The owl is perched on a branch (4x4 Rev shape). I attached one tree with pop dots to give it more dimension. The owl's eyes are black brads. I roughed up her feathers too.

  

I didn't do a close-up shot, but on the right page you'll notice I used Noell Hyman's "bubbling effect" that she taught on Ali's Tuesday Techniques one week (look here for the tutorial). You can see in between those top two photos how I've made a "floating bridge" to join the two photos since they aren't the same height. I didn't want to mat them on more paper because there is so much color and detail going on already. You might also notice I spread my trees out so there'd be three focal points leading the eyes around the layout (see, I'm trying to remember to incorporate all those good design elements!). All the solid papers are by Bazzill and the patterned papers are from Basic Grey's Marakech collection. Leave a comment if you have questions, feel free to use the sketch on your own layouts! Check out one of my monthly Page Maps layout classes here if you live in OKC area!

Wedding Layouts

Thought I'd post a few wedding layouts since I know it's wedding season! These I actually did for a customer. He wanted specific dates so his bride-to-be could add the photos later. You'll see on one layout I attached the date to a strip of acrylic, and attached the acrylic to the layout with ribbon at the sides. This way she can slip her photos behind the date! All the dates were cut with the Silhouette.

Layout 1 It doesn't translate in the photo, but I also added Stickles over the flourishes on the patterned paper(Creative Imaginations). The scalloped edge border was cut with a QuicKutz Border Die out of Doodlebug Sugared paper. There's also a closeup of the acrylic strip!

 

Layout 2 For this layout, I added some pearls to the pre-printed damask (Kaiser paper) and I went over the date title with Glossy Accents to give the letters an epoxy look. The back cardstock is Dotted Swiss by Bazzill. The large diecut is by Accucut. You can see the pearls and title in the close up shot!

 

 

Layout 3 The last layout has more sugared paper (QK Border die) and a dainty layered flower. I started with a Bazzill paper flower, added tulle, a patterned paper homemade flower, and a button. I tucked a couple Making Memories stick pins in there, too! The date is cut on the Silhouette from pearlized paper by Bazzill. You can see all the flower's detail in the zoom shot!

 

 

 

So, if I left off any details you need, like paper brand or technique tips, just leave a comment and I'll post an answer! In the meantime, love is in the air...

1 Shape 3 Ways

Thought I'd do a post about one of the new Silhouette Digital Download Shapes! I picked the tattoo_1867 that was released last week, and I'm going to use it 3 ways. Hopefully it will get you Silhouette owners to go cut some shapes and play with your machines!

First, I used it on a card. I resized it to be the same height as my card base. For the mat, I trimmed some of the mat away to match the tattoo lines. For the pattern on the mat, I layed the diecut facedown on the mat and inked over it with Distress Ink. After adhering the mat and diecut to the card, I added some Stickles (Vintage Photo shade) along the curves of the diecut. I also inked around the edges of the card with Vintage Photo Distress Ink on an Ink Blending pad. The crown diecut is by Making Memories. The stamped sentiment is from Stampin' Up (stamped with Faded Jeans Distress Ink).

 

Next, I used the tattoo diecut on a layout. Other shapes featured in the layout are the QuicKutz tattoo art set and the Frankie alphabet. The tab is a Marvy punch. I spritzed the tattoo diecut with some Glimmer Mist, too, to help it shimmer and stand out more. I traced the outer edges of the diecut with black journal pen to make the edges stand out more over the busy graffiti background.

 

 

The last way I used the same tattoo shape was as a mask on a layout. I decided to use some old pictures from when we were stationed in Hawaii! The patterned paper is by Rusty Pickle but probably not available anywhere anymore. Other diecuts on the layout are the tropical flower by QuicKutz available as a 2x2 die and as a digital download. I cut the tattoo and attached it to the edge of the layout's page with repositionable adhesive. I spritzed it with Glimmer Mist and then removed the diecut. Once the mist dried, I just rubbed the adhesive away. I added some dots of Stickles and a few Basic Grey pearls amidst the curves of the void left by the diecut, then added my patterned paper and photos. The font on the journal strip is called Hawaii Killer and it's free at dafont.com.

 

 

 

It's actually a 2-page layout, so here's a close-up of the mask on the second page! Anyway, hope your Independence Day weekends have been a blast! Now go play with your diecuts and see what kind of fun techniques you can invent on your pages and cards!

Freedom to Create with QuicKutz!

Ok, maybe that was a little bit cheesy for my title...but I did make some Freedom inspired cards with my QuicKutz shapes! First, the Statue of Liberty cut with the Silhouette SD, the little star-shaped ribbon holder (remember those $1 shapes back at Christmas?), the plate from the table setting double-die 4x4 set, Celebrate from the Cookie Cutter phrases, and lastly, the stars Goosebumpz (now discontinued) to add texture to my white marginal piece. The patterned paper is from the 1776 Collection by Reminisce and the solid is most likely Bazzill Basics (my favorite pick for solids!). When you untie the bow the card opens up.  Finished size 6" x 6"

 

The second card also features a digital shape cut on the Silhouette: a basic star (50 basic shapes included with the Silhouette) and then a circle I drew around it with the drawing tools. USA is cut from the Supermarket 4x8 alphabet. I drew little x's around the star outline on the white circle, tied gold ribbon around the point of the askewed star, and added a few buttons for embellishment. Finished size 4" x 4"

Tech Tuesday

I've been busy playing with my Silhouette! I made a bunch of decorative plates, and I decided my coffee carafe needed some sprucing up, too! Honestly, I don't recall which fonts I used to do this, but I used one block-type font for COFFEE and used a mug (digital download mug_0553) for the "O." The font for the expression before and after the word coffee is smaller and more rounded. I used brown self-adhesive vinyl from QuicKutz. I know they have transfer paper on eternal backorder, but the SD Sil came with a sheet of the new and improved transfer paper and let me just say - the new stuff will be worth the wait!! It is sooo much easier to work with!

Some little tips to save you a headache when you work with your vinyl: use your hook tool to remove the negative pieces before lifting the vinyl onto the transfer paper. I'm referring to the little insides of the o's, e's, f's, etc. It's easier to pluck them away from the beginning. (UNLESS you are using etching cream, but that's a different type of project). Next, lay your transfer paper over the vinyl and gently, slowly, with your hook in hand, start peeling the vinyl away from the transfer paper making sure your cut image is staying on the transfer paper. When you lay the cut vinyl on your project it will stick right away so try to get it where you want it the first time you lay it down. Use your scraper to press the whole image down and then the transfer paper should peel away easily. If edges of the letters try to lift, use your scraper to hold them down as you peel away the transfer paper.

It's lots of fun. You can always do a test cut on plain paper before cutting the vinyl if you aren't sure it will all fit on your intended project!

 

Jenni Bowlin Papers

I've had these papers for over a year! I just loved them together and HAD to order them online, but then I've been saving - hoarding -  them for just the right project. So I decided to just dive in and create something with them. It's about 6x8 inches in size overall. It hangs on the wall by a ribbon. I like it. And I have lots of scraps leftover to make cards or a layout or two! So go grab your favorite kit (pre-made or made by you!) and break the seal!! What are you saving it for??

 

I think the paper line is Tangerine Dreams from summer 08 release. The shapes are all QuicKutz Digital Designs cut with my Silhouette. The font is Dragonfly which is a 4x8 QK die. I found the lace in the trim section at a fabric store. The photo is my two boys plus my nieces and nephews (taken by me with my Christmas present!).

Published!

Ok, I'm sooo smiling right now! QuicKutz is asking for submissions for projects using the Silhouette and any projects selected get to be added to their online gallery, plus the creator gets $15 in downloads. I submitted 3 designs and .... one got picked!! You can click here to see it on their website. It is a plate I made as a gift.

 

It's just fun to get published on a site that I did not author or maintain in any way, shape, or form! Plus, I got to shop without spending my own dough. Bonus! You can submit your ideas too at www.quickutz.com!