Sketch Challenge

It's my turn to post a layout challenge at TSF. I have chosen a great sketch from PageMaps. It's an oldie, but a goodie! I love the layers and the emphasis on one large photo.



Here's my layout. I used BG papers, some Prima flowers, chipboard letters by Bisous and mini alpha stickers by MLS. I followed the sketch pretty closely, except I used strip journalling instead of a block of text. I didn't even rotate the sketch. A first for me! This is the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. We had the most lovely high tea experience there!

Thanks for peeking!

Accordian Flowers

Accordian flowers are becoming really popular. They look fabulous on pages and cards but can be a bit tricky to make. Here's a quick tutorial.




You'll need some paper, double sided medium to heavy weight patterned paper works best. You could certainly do it with card stock as well. You also need a scoring tool, a hot glue gun (very important), and an extra scrap of paper. I used an edge punch as well for added interest.

Determine the diameter of the finished flower you desire. You need to cut a strip of paper 12 inches in length and half the width of your finished flower. I wanted a 2 inch flower, so I cut a 1 inch strip. I also punched one of the long edges of my strip with a fancy border punch for added interest in my finished flower.




Next you need to score your strip at 1/4 inch intervals all along the length of the strip. Since my strip was already punched in scallops at 1/4 inch intervals, I simply scored between the scallops. Easy peasy!









Then pleat along the scored lines and you should then end up with an accordian strip like this.

Next, plug in your glue gun and wait for it to get nice and hot. Punch or hand cut a circle slightly smaller than your finished flower from scrap paper. Fold your strip around so the narrow ends meet with the patterned edge facing out. Hot glue these edges together, creating a circle.

Working quickly, gather the edges of your circle together so they all meet in the middle to form a flat flower. Place plenty of hot glue onto your punched scrap circle and press your flower into the glue, holding until set. If glue seeps through the middle that is fine, as you will hide this with your finishing embellishments. Hot glue is really key here. Any other adhesive I have tried will eventually fail and cause your flower to "pop" out of its flat shape.

Here's my finished flower. I topped it with a wooden flower and brad.

And here it is on my layout! It really adds nice dimension.

Give these a try! They are fun and worth the little bit of fuss.

Superbowl Crop!

This past weekend TSF hosted an online crop. The theme was the superbowl and there were a bunch of wonderful challenges.

For Avril's food challenge (because the Superbowl is all about the food), I made this layout of our high tea experience at the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Spectacular views and the most amazing food! What an indulgence!

Christa chose "brackets" for her challenge because they look like goal posts! I crafted this layout of herons both in Florida and at home. I used a big rub on bracket from American Crafts to frame my journalling.

For Shelby's challenge to use jersey numbers, I crafted this layout "10 Days in Heaven" showing the sunrise at our condo. Ahhhhhh...

For Carolyn's "stars"challenge I crafted these fun dimensional stars for this layout featuring photos of the Atlantis hotel on Palm Jumeriah in Dubai.

For Joanne's "team colours" challenge I chose the Packers and used green, yellow and white for this layout of our day tour of Dubai.

For Dee's "be the ball" challenge we had to use brown, texture and stitching. This layout shows us being "lounge lizards" in lounges in airports last March in Buffalo and Chicago! There was a big storm that day so we had lots of delays. Those lounges really came in handy.

And finally, my challenge was to showcase "sunny" layouts in honour of Texas hosting the Superbowl. Of course they had record cold and snow but who was to know! I made this colourful layout of that hot day we spent in the cathedral towns around Frankfurt on our way home from Dubai.

It was a great weekend of scrapbooking on the TSF forum. Lots of participants, wonderful creations, great laughs and warm encouragement. Check out the forum for more upcoming events! And congratulations to all the winners!

February DT Reveal

This month I got to work with some great BoBunny products for the TSF Design Team.

Some blissful fun in Florida last Christmas. I added trim, crochet flower and Scenic Route chipboard letters.

Another layout of last Christmas, this time on a canal lights cruise. So beautiful! I added Prima flowers, Doodlebug mini alpha rub ons, Maya Road kraft tags, floss for stitching.

A few shots from Singapore, our Asian adventure in August 2009. I love the "merlion" the mythical creature mascot for Singapore. I added the large doilie, BoBunny fabric blossom, the BG chipboard letters.

Be sure to head over to the TSF Gallery to check out what the other talented DT ladies crafted this month!

Spring Planting

A while back Christa issued a DT challenge on the TSF forum to make a layout showing a new years resolution. This year I am really trying to not sweat the small stuff and be sure to "stop and smell the roses." This layout of our spring planting last year really showcases that resolution! And what a great memory on a snowy January day. I used pp by K & Co., plus Doodlebug and MLS alpha stickers and a cute Sassafrass feltie. Thanks Christa for another great challenge. Check out the TSF Forum for this and other great challenges!

Fun with Sentiment Stamps!

It is my turn over at Two Scrapbook Friends to post a card challenge. I used these Stampin Up stentiment stamps in a fun way. I stamped then embossed them and then punched circles to form the base for these flowers!

It's a fun way to get an embellishment and a sentiment all in one! Thanks for peeking!

Great things at the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum

What's new at the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum? I'm glad you asked!

Monthly 5 for 5 challenges… where each month a DT member will launch a challenge where the first 5 people to sign up get 5 scrappy items in the mail to create from! Find this under Challenges, Contests and Prizes.

Monthly Sketch Challenge – A sketch a month with prizes at the end! Find this under Sketches!

Here's January's sketch...check out the Forum for more details!

Online Crops – First of which is the weekend of Feb 4th – 6th! We are working on the challenges now and boy are they fun. Did I mention prizes yet?? Also we have another planned in March!

What’s your Recipe Challenge – You will have to tune in to learn what this is all about!

Guest DT Members – By invitation only so you are going to want to show your work here!

Blog Hops - with prizes.

National Scrapbook Day Challenge – with prizes.

A Scrapbook Rewards Program!

Are you sensing a pattern here?

Head on over to the TSF Forum to get involved, be inspired to get some of your projeccts completed, and maybe even win a prize!