Laura Vegas

Scrapbooking And A Little Bit Of Everyday Life

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Kerri Bradford Studio: Birthday Celebrate + A Layout

August 1, 2012

There's big stuff happening over at Kerri Bradford Studio this week! Kerri's store is coming up on it's second birthday. I was a huge fan of Kerri's design style from way back in the day. In fact, I even got to meet Kerri, about four years ago (picture proof HERE). She was one of the biggest reasons I finally bought a Silhouette, and I filled my library up with tons of her designs. When she branched out on her own, I followed. And I was totally honored when she asked me to be a part of her creative team. I just love getting to play with her kits every month.

When Kerri asked if we wanted to do a little extra project for her party, of course I was up for it. My first thought was do a birthday layout, for this birthday celebration. But after all of my CHA work for Bella, I admit, I was a little birthday'd-out. Lol. So I went another route, which is up on her blog today.

This is another set of photos that I swiped from Sarah's iPod a while back. These girls are all of Sarah's closest friends, and they took these photos of themselves (or someone else helped for the group shots, I would assume) at school. They were posing in front of a firetruck that was visiting the school, most likely for a safety day or something. I'm not actually sure who took these photos, but they came from one of the girl's cell phones or iPod's.

I knew these photos would be perfect to use with Fancy Pant's Off To School collection. Fancy Pants is an extremely generous sponsor of the 2012 CK Dream Team, and I am always grateful for the goodies they send us. This was a collection that I was really excited to play with, but I just never seemed to get around to it. I love the aqua and browns in this collection, mixed with the more traditional red and yellow school colors.

I knew I wanted this layout to be more about Sarah and her friends, rather than the fact that they were posing with a firetruck at school. But I also wanted to tie it into a school themed layout, if that makes any sense. I choose this title from Kerri's Graduation kit, and added a little subtitle using some tiny letter stickers from Jillibean Soup.

This layout came about quite a bit differently then most of my layouts. I printed out the photos, without really knowing how they would go on the page. They ended up taking up quite a bit of space, which led me to a more random design. I like the change, from my usual "linear, all lined up" style. I misted my white cardstock before adhered anything, and then ended up covering up most of my good misted areas. I printed my journaling, and then realized how tight the space was, so it got crammed together in order to fit.

I wanted to include the grade Sarah was in when these photos were taken, so I chose her school year from the School Years kit. And because I don't like to have to do the math, when trying to figure out what year corrulates to what school year, I added the actual year (2012) with some tiny number stickers.

While I was cutting out my title pieces, I also die cut a few stars from each patterned paper, thinking I could work them onto the layout. I believe there are stars in quite a few of Kerri's kit, but my go-to star is from The Ol' Ballgame kit. I wasn't really thinking about how I would use them, or where on the layout, so I made them totally random sizes. No measuring, which is completely unlike me. I decided to add threaded buttons to the centers of the stars, so I wish I had made some of them a bit larger.
Bella Blvd: All Prettied Up

July 30, 2012

I had this layout up on the Bella Blvd blog over the weekend, and almost forgot to share it here.

I created this layout for the catalog, to feature Bella's designer tapes. It's not very often that I create 8.5×11" layouts. In fact, I can probably count the ones I have done on one hand. I started this layout by picking out an assortment of the tapes, in a color pallette that I liked. From there I went searching for a photo to go with them. This older one of Haley was perfect.

I used my favorite grid patterned paper (from the Family Dynamix collection) for the base of the page, and matted it on a fun aqua chevron patterned paper. Then I started adding strips of the designer tapes, lengthwise across the page, so that they would go underneath my photo. The grid background actually came in really handy for this, since I could line up the tapes nice and straight on the grid.

I adhered the photo over the tapes, to the right of the page. Then I added some cute little crochet flowers and some threaded buttons to embellish the tapes.

I pulled out some of the Simply Simona chipboard letters to use for my title, in both the pink and the black. I wanted a few black letters, to tie in with the black designer tape. Once again, the grid paper made it super easy to line up my title letters perfectly. I'm very picky about things being straight 😉

Speaking of Bella Blvd. This week, Bella is celebrating it's FORTH birthday, and we're having a big celebration over on the blog. What better way to celebrate a birthday, than to share tons and tons of inspiration using our new Birthday Boy and Birthday Girl collections? And I'm pretty sure there will be a giveaway in there as well. You can check out all the fun stuff HERE.
Bella Blvd: Endless Inspiration Week – More Birthday Girl

July 25, 2012

We are sharing more projects today, on the Bella Blvd blog, using the new birthday collections. I thought I would share another one of my altered projects with you, using the Birthday Girl collection.

These fun little paper ribbons can serve two purposes at birthday parties. First, they make for a great tabletop decor item. This would look cute on the cake table or food table, or even set out by the presents. Second, you can hand them out to the party guests, either during or after the party. This is a great project to make with your scraps of patterned paper, since they are all assembled using bits and pieces of papers.

I used my Silhouette die cut machine to cut all of the pieces needed for these paper ribbons.

The shape that I choose (called "Ribbon Pinwheel", from Lori Whitlock) actually came with every piece you see layered on here, including the ribbon tails. I arranged all of the individual pieces so that I could cut two sets at once. I just covered my cutting mat with 2 different pieces of pattern paper (4×12 for each, since I have the Silhouette SD), side by side. So I cut a full set from 8 different pattern papers, and then mixed all of the pieces together.

However, these would be simple to create even without a die cut machine. You could achieve the same look using a variety of circle punches, scalloped circle punches, or even certain flower punches, in varying sizes. The ribbon tails are just strips of paper, with notches cut at one end.

I layered the pieces together, using pop dots on a few of the layers. In between two of the layers, i added a piece of Designer Tape, adding small staples to each end to help secure it.

I finished off each paper ribbon with either a threaded button, a crochet flower, or a sticker added to the center.

I cut 4 long pieces of curling ribbon for each paper ribbon, and curled them with my scissors. I tied them onto a wooden stick, and then I hot glued the paper ribbon to the top of the stick. I created all of these assembly line style, doing each step for all 8 at the same time. So they really did come together very quickly.

To display these, I found a long (but small) metal tin, and added some styrofoam and filler grass inside. Then I just shoved the wooden sticks into the styrofoam to hold the paper ribbons in place.
Kerri Bradford Studio: Layout Share

July 24, 2012

I was just looking at my posts from the last few weeks, and realized I've been sharing Bella Blvd goodness for a full THREE weeks now! And there's still more to come on that end, since I did so many projects. But today, I'm switching gears, to share a few projects that I did for Kerri Bradford Studio this week!

There's still at touch of Bella on here, since truthfully, this started as a Bella layout about 2 months ago, for our team-up with Core'dinations cardstock (isn't the dotted embossed cardstock gorgeous!). It never got finished, and what I did have done, I didn't love. So I tore most of the layout apart, keeping the photo collage and a few of the papers I had picked out, and started over. I'm so much happier with how this turned out.

I wanted to use one of Kerri's storyboard templates from her Picture That [Squared] kit, for my photo collage, but didn't have quite enough photos to fill up the spaces on the one I choose to use. I played around with the layers, combining two of the openings to make it a bit larger.

For the upper left corner photo, my photos wasn't cropping in how I wanted it to, to fill up the full space. So I adjusted the photo to how I liked it, leaving a bit of empty space on the right side of the photo. So when I printed my collage, there was actually some of the grey box still next to the photo. I printed out my journaling on a piece of graph patterned paper, and adhered it over the empty space next to the photo. Just an easy way to add your journaling right into your collage.

I cut out several hearts, using the XOXO kit, to sprinkle around the page. Good old basic hearts are always great for embellishing in my book. I dug out some coordinating buttons to add to the center of each heart. I also wanted to add a little interest to my pattern papers on the layout, so I used a few background shapes with circles (I'm slightly addicted to circles these days ;)). It's hard to see it here, but that white text patterned paper is cut with a circle background.

Since my collage was being adhered over the strips of pattern paper, I only needed to cut a small strip of paper to go on either side of the photo collage. The Life Additions: Backgrounds kit worked perfectly for this, with the small sized background pieces. Btw, all of the patterned papers on this page are a mix of Bella Blvd and Echo Park.

For my title, I choose this fun phrase from the All About You kit. I cut an extra phrase from white cardstock, and layered it behind the patterned paper phrase, just to help it stand out against the blue cardstock.
Bella Blvd: Endless Inspiration Week – Birthday Boy

July 20, 2012

Today is all about the new Birthday Boy and Birthday Girl collection, over on the Bella Blvd blog. Since I have already shared a few of my projects using the Birthday Girl collection, I wanted to share one of my Birthday Boy projects today.

You all know that I have two girls. So when it comes time to create boy layouts, I turn to all the daycare boys I've had over the years, or family/friends that have boys. I can almost always pull it off. But birthday photos? That was a bit tougher.

Until I came across this adorable photo on Susan Weinroth's blog, of her son Noah on his second birthday, right after my CHA product arrived. It was as if this new collection was designed just for Noah's birthday photos. Luckily, Susan is such a great friend, and gave me permission to use this photo for my layout. Lucky me, because it made creating this layout SO easy!

I used lots of the chipboard pieces on this layout. I combined the "Party" letters and the "Birthday" banner piece from the Ciao Chip Icons, and some of the new Blueberry Sienna chipboard alphas, to create my title. I added in the chipboard asterick sign from the Ciao Chip Icons, and added one of the new orange star buttons to the center. And lastly, I used the cake from the Ciao Chip Icons as well, adhering it with pop dots and adding one of the new flags.

There are so many great patterned papers in this collection, and I wanted to use so many of them. So I pulled out my new Jenni Bowlin banner punch, that Fiskars generously sent me, and punched out lots and lots of little banner pieces. I adhered them all across the very top of the page, and machine stitched along the tops to secure them.

Stop by the Bella Blvd blog to see more Birthday Boy projects, along with Birthday Girl projects as well. We are only halfway through our Endless Inspiration feature. We'll be back next week, with even more CHA projects to share!
Bella Blvd: Endless Inspiration Week – Thankful

July 19, 2012

Today, on the Bella Blvd blog, we are showing off some of the CHA booth projects using the Thankful collection. I already shared my Thankful layout last week, but I have a few cards that I created with the collection that I thought I would share today.

I had used one of the quote stickers on a birthday girl card, and wanted to use this fun chevron quote sticker on one of my Thankful cards too. It's the perfect size for the front of a card. I used the leaf patterned paper as the base of my card, and then did my little paper framing trick with the brown paper, and just left the white cardstock showing through the center.

Love this cute little cloud from the Cute Cuts paper. I did a little back and forth machine stitching along the center of the cloud, which isn't super noticable here.

Once my chipboard alphas were adhered to the quote sticker, I adhered the entire piece to the card using pop dots. I also tucked the cute little sunflower flag in, and adhered it with pop dots as well.

I just had to use the adorable turkey from the Cute Cuts patterned paper for this card. I'm really not a fan of "fussy cutting" (which is the technical term for sitting and doing tedious cutting out of shapes), but every now and then I will do it. I hand cut the turkey twice, from 2 different sheets of paper.

Then I cut out some of the feathers from the second turkey, so that I could adhere them directly over the matching feather on the first turkey, but using pop dots to give them a little lift. I also decided at the last minute to cover those lifted up feathers with some paper glaze, to give them a shiny look.

Make sure to stop by the Bella Blvd blog today, where you can see more Thankful projects from our CHA designers! And I'm thinking that I'll share a fun birthday boy layout tomorrow. Yep, that's what I'm going to do 😉
Bella Blvd: Endless Inspiration Week – Button Market

July 18, 2012

On the Bella Blvd blog today, we are continuing our Endless Inspiration Week, sharing tons of booth projects from CHA. Today, we are focusing on our Designer Tape and Button Market collections. We have added new colors/designs/patterns to both the tapes and the buttons, and asked some of the designers to show off some fun ways to use them.

When I started working on my assigned Button Market layout for CHA, I originally had a summery photo printed out for it (which then got moved to another layout), and lots of colorful plastic buttons pulled out of my Bella button stash. I was going to create a wavy button border along my page, to go with the summer theme. Then, with a last minute change in the catalog planning, I had to switch my focus to the wood buttons and mixes. I decided to move ahead with my wavy button border anyways.

Because there are quite a few wooden buttons that have black on them, I wanted to make sure I had a good amount of black on my page to tie in with the buttons. I built my page on a sheet of the Oreo Sprinkles & Lace patterned paper from the Sophisticates collection. I choose the aqua Turkey Tracks (how cute a name is that for a paper?) patterned paper from the new Thankful collection for the bottom of the page, and freehand cut a wavy line across the paper.

Then I just started arranging buttons along the wave, mixing lots of wood buttons along with a few plastic buttons and buttons from the mixed packs. I tried to stick to a certain color scheme, with the black, red, green, aqua, and yellows. I do take the time to thread each button, because I like the finished look it gives when adhered to the page. Just a personal preference. I thread them, and then add them to the page with a glue dot. I am not patient enough to actually thread them ONTO the page.

I choose this photo of Alyssa, not just because I love it, but also because she was wearing black, which tied in with the page. To add a bit more color to the page, I pulled out some papers in colors to match the buttons. Red from the Sophisticates collection, green from the Birthday Boy collection, and yellow from the Birthday Girl collection. I cut them into strips of varying widths and lengths, and then machine stitched around the edges, before layering them behind my photo.

After adding my title and journaling, I still had a bit of empty space on the top right corner of the page. I wanted to add another touch of color to the page, so I picked out some chipboard accents to add. Designer after-thought: I am sitting here typing this blog post, and writing about my layout, and I just literally said this out loud as I typed: "Is that an ORANGE star?!?!?!". I had to scroll up to look at my full layout, and I DO see a little orange star button. Must have made sense at the time. Just seemed very random, as I'm looking at it now. Lol.

Visit the Bella Blvd blog, where you can see more ideas using the buttons and also the designer tapes. And check back tomorrow, when we will focus on the new Thankful collection.
Bella Blvd: Endless Inspiration Week – Birthday Girl

July 17, 2012

Today is the big day! CHA officially starts today in Chicago, and I am positive that the Bella Blvd booth is looking fabulous and busy as can be. I'm kind of wishing I was there right now, but it just wasn't in the cards for me for this show. It might be different if I had paid vacation at this job of mine. But seeing that I'm self employed, I don't, and just can't afford to take a week off during the summer. So I'm at home, watching all the craziness happen though blogs, Facebook, Instagram, and whatever other places I can find it 😉

Anyways. The real reason I'm here blogging, is that starting yesterday, and continuing for 2 full weeks, we are having "Unlimited Inspiration" weeks on the Bella Blvd blog. We are sharing lots and lots of the booth projects that our design team has been hard at work creating over the last few weeks. I love when it's time to finally share them, and not keep them hidden away in my files.

Today, we are focusing on the new birthday collections. So I thought I would share one of my altered projects I made, using the Birthday Girl collection. I came across this unfinished, wooden shadow box frame at Hobby Lobby (that store is new to us in CA, and I am in love with it after one trip!), and I knew right away what I wanted to do with it. Create a fun tabletop decor item, that would be perfect for any little girls birthday party.

I painted the unfinished wood frame with white paint, focusing on all of the edges and corners that I knew my pattern paper would not cover. Then I cut strips of paper and decopauged them onto the frame using Mod Podge. I brushed an additional coat of Mod Podge over the top of the papers, to add a nice shiny finish to them.

I trimmed a TON of 1/2 inch x 12 inch strips of pattern paper, using just about every sheet from the Birthday Girl collection. I then cut each strip roughly in half, eyeballing it, since they didn't need to be perfect. I took a pencil, and one by one, I rolled each strip tightly around the pencil. After holding it in place for a few seconds, I slid the rolled piece off the pencil and then loosened it back up a bit. Kind of like you would do when curling your hair 🙂

I took the "Eat More Cake" sticker from the Just Write Journaling sticker sheet, adhered it to a scrap piece of cardstock, and added small strips of punched scalloped edges cardstock around the edges. I glued together about 8 small blocks of thick cardboard (cut from a box), and then adhered my sticker on the top and glued it in the center of the frame. This raised up the sticker, and allowed me to fill up the rest of the shadow box frame with the curled strips of pattern paper, tucking them under the sticker as well.

Make sure and visit the Bella Blvd blog for lots more inspiration from our designer today, featuring both the Birthday Boy collection and the Birthday Girl collection!
Bella Blvd Sneak Peek Week: Flags

July 13, 2012

Yesterday, on the Bella Blvd blog, we shared some more peeks at our new embellishments and chipboard alphas. I shared one of the layout that was posted yesterday, and I'm back today to share the other layout.

I knew I wanted to use lots and lots of flags on this layout. I started with my photos (isn't Miss Miranda adorable!) and the title block from the Birthday Girl collection.

Then I pulled flags from several different sets, in colors and styles that matched. From there, I pulled together my patterned papers and buttons, also in coordinating colors.

I thought this little title block was so cute, with the "You are the frosting to my cupcake" saying on it. I recently picked up this really cute canvas print, that had similiar types of sayings on it. I used that canvas to do my journaling. If you can't read it, it says: "You are the sun in my sky. You are the smile on face. You are the apple of my eye. You are the bubbles in my bath. You are the ink in my pen. You are the love of my life."

To help "ground" the flags to my layout, I layered punched circles of pattern paper together, and topped them with a button. These created fun little accents to scatter around the page, and I simply tucked a stick pin flag into each one.

Now, head on over to the Bella Blvd blog, where if you havn't already, you can enter in the FOUR giveaways we're offering up this week. We will be announcing winners next Tuesday. On Monday, we are kicking off our Endless Inspiration feature, where we will be sharing a TON of the CHA projects that the Bella designers have been hard at work on for the last few weeks. So there's definately more projects to come here on my blog as well!
Bella Blvd: Sneak Peek Week – Designer Tapes

July 12, 2012

Are you visiting the Bella Blvd blog every day this week? I hope so! For the last three days, we've shared the three new collections with you, each of which has some fabulous new embellishments that coordinate perfectly with the collections. Well, today we wanted to put the focus on the new embellishments and the new chipboard alphas. We want to make sure you know they're not JUST for that collection, but are meant to be mixed and matched with all of the Bella products.

I actually have two layouts up over on the Bella blog today, but I'm only going to share one here on my blog. I'll share the other one tomorrow. Today though, I wanted to share one of my Designer Tape layouts from the catalog.

I am in love with the Designer Tapes, both new and old. I decided to pick out a fun mix of tapes, in my favorite colors, and create a frame around my layout. Also, notice that I used pattern papers from the Birthday Boy collection. You know I'm always telling you that Bella's papers are so versitle, they can be used for anything, right 😉

I started from the outer corners and worked my way in, adding torn pieces of Designer Tape one after another, overlapping them as I went. Designer confession: See that tape that I added to the top of Sarah's photos? My original plan was to include it in my decorative tape border, but the roll of tape must have gotten away from me on my desk. I had all of the pieces neatly arranged, and in a very specific order, so I was bummed that I couldn't add it in.

Once I had all of the pieces adhered, I machine stitched along the tapes to help secure them. See that brown pattern paper, full of circles? I LOVE that paper! It also comes in pink, in the Birthday Girl collection.

For my title, I once again used a mix of the new Sienna chipboard alphas and the High Five alpha stickers.

The small circles were punched from the polka dot pattern paper in the Birthday Boy collection. I adhered some of them with pop dots to add a little dimension.

Now, head on over to the Bella Blvd blog, where you can see all of the new embellishments and the new chipboard alphas featured, piece by piece. There are also FOUR layouts that you'll want to check out!