SUNBURST TUTORIAL

They are everywhere you look (and I'm not talking about the sky.. LOL).. forums, magazines, blogs, etc.. Sunbursts are the coolest thing to do with your papers at the moment.. they really are fun and an awesome way to use up those tons of scrap papers you are sitting with too.

Here is quick tutorial on how easy it is to use these on your page:

Step 1: First choose your papers and your photos that you wish to create your layout with

Step 2:  Select your sketch that you wish to work with (or create your own) – for my layout I used the left side of Let’s Scrap sketch 8-24-11.

Step 3:  Arrange your photos on some Scratch paper so that you know more or less where you want your sunburst to go.  If working with a double layout and you want your sunburst to extend over both pages, use two pieces of scratch paper.

Step 4:  Using a marker, select the centre point of your sunburst and draw same on your scratch paper.  Now draw lines from this point to the outer edge of your layout where you want your sunburst to go.

Step 5:  Number and cut out all these pieces

Step 6: Using these numbered pieces as templates, place on-top of your various pattern papers and trace them off and cut out.  NOTE:  remember if using paper with text to place your Text the correct way up so that you don’t end up with upside down or skew writing.

Step 7:  Once they are all cut out, line them up to make sure that you end up with the correct shape

Step 8:  Adhere these to your background paper in the position that you require. 

Optional:   To define the edges of your sunburst pieces, you can either ink, distress, sew, add ribbon, add border strips, stickers, twine, elements, etc.

Step 9:  Finish your layout by adding photos, elements, etc

Step 10:   Sit back and admire your handiwork

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and I cannot wait to see your layouts.

Hugs, Mich

DESIGN TEAM CHALLENGE 139

My challenge has been posted for the next 2 weeks at Lets Scrap:

I recently received the Kaiser swatch book of Cardstock to work with.. and looking at the names it sure made me hungry... names like Chocolate, Papaya, Watermelon, Pistachio... is it any wonder that most of us are addicted to all the yummy colors of cardstock?   I know I sure am.    I adore the rainbow of colors in my paper trays next to my workspace. 

So this weeks challenge is dedicated to the humble piece of paper now known as CARDSTOCK.  You can create any layout of your choice (using a Let’s Scrap Sketch of course),  and can use as many  different colors of cardstock as you wish but your layout must ONLY contain photos and cardstock!!  Only cardstock ladies  No extra embellishments (this includes sticker sheets, flowers, etc) & no printed papers……get creative & show us what you got.

The only extras you are allowed to add will be Brads and Ribbons.

Create your own embellishments and title work.. (print it out, cut it out.. !  Lets get crafty this week).

This is the layout that I have created using Only cardstock and 2 brads.  

I have used 7 different techniques on this layout to help it stand out.

1. Borders cut from Punches

2. Tone on Tone:  This can be your lettering, circles or shapes on your pages, etc.

3. Die cut flowers stacked to give dimension

4. Dry Embossing with Cuttlebug and embossing plates

5. Wet Embossing with Black embossing powder

6. Bleaching my paper with a stamp and Bleach

7. Glittering a piece of paper (check out Tutorial No.  For steps on how to create this effect)

Extra Ideas on how to UPSTYLE your humble piece of CARDSTOCK can be found HERE. 

So don’t be shy.. jump right in and play along.. this is a great chance for you to use some of that cardstock scraps you have lying in your basket too.

Rules:

1. Create a single or double layout using a Let’s Scrap Sketch

2. Use ONLY cardstock to create this layout.  No pattern papers or embellishments of any kind, with the exception of Brads/Eyelets and Ribbons.

3. You have 2 weeks to complete this challenge.  All layouts to be loaded by 11:59pm as per main clock page on the 12th of July 2012.

4. This challenge cannot be combined with the weekly main page sketch, special month-long site-sponsored sketch or the Scrap our Stash challenges.  There is no prize for our Book About Me challenges, so we do allow you to combine the BAM challenge with the DT Challenges.

5. Your layout must be NEW for this challenge! 

6. Be sure to tag your layout correctly:  challenge139 (all one word), followed by a comma, a space, and the sketch number you used.  My tag will read:   challenge139, 12-1-10.

A small RAK will be posted by me to the winner of this Challenge.

Here are some more closeups of my layout.

Thanks for looking,

Hugs, Mich

Lets Scrap Sketch: 6-27-12 ... Check Mate

This is this weeks sketch that is up at Let's Scrap:

I found these photos of my sons taken about 2 years ago.  On this particular day they were both grounded for doing something (must have been fighting with each other.. LOL)... anyhow.. they were banned from TV and Computer games.. so the only thing they could find to do was to play Chess.  Was awesome to watch them play Chess for about 2 hours.. They really enjoyed it and totally forgot that they were at each others throats a short time before. 


As can be seen I flipped the sketch totally to suit my photos:

Amazing how some old time games can still keep the kids entertained.


Close ups of layout.  Used a Challenge Kit from The Scrapbook Lady for June.  Have to submit this on Monday for judging.. along with 2 other projects.

Close ups of elements used

I hand cut the chess pieces and inked them.

Remember you have a week to complete this sketch and post your layout into the Lets' Scrap Gallery in order to win a great prize.


Hugs, Mich

Challenge 138 - Love

This weeks Design Team Challenge was posted by Denise van Deventer.  

The requirements this week were:

• Use Black cardstock as part of your background base 
• Use Chipboard
• Add some fussy cutting

I just loved this challenge and had to try my hand at it. I created my layout using photos of my niece Natalie's wedding recently.. loved these photos of them on the beach.

I used black cardstock as my background and some awesome Chipboard swirls from RM crafts to add to my layout (I painted half of it white and kept some black).  I then fussy cut my flower and the title was fussy cut too (yes, I know I own a Cricut and Siloutte, but wanted to go back to my roots a bit..LOL).

Fussy cutting the title is still fun if you don't have an electronic machine.. remember to just use Word or Powerpoint, find a nice font, print out your word in reverse on the BACK of your cardstock / paper and cut it out.. Voila.. easy peezy..

Hugs, Mich

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Let's Scrap Sketch: 6-20-12 Birthday Card

This weeks card sketch came at the perfect time. 

It is my son Klaven's 15th birthday on the 20th and the sketch is dated the 20th, so I decided to dedicate a card to him.

He is such a special kid and was very excited to get an I-Phone for his birthday finally, he has been nagging me for months.. LOL

here is the card I created from the sketch.  I used Kaiser papers and stamped the background of the card.  

I cut up a strip of wording on the Kaiser paper to create my circle and FINALLY got to use Washi Tape.. yay..

 

 Inside of card: 

Thanks for looking..

Hugs, Mich

Challenge 137: Lazy days of Summer

This layout was created for Asmah's challenge at Let's Scrap. 


Photos are of a friend of mine when we celebrated Australia Day earlier this year.   I recently received this paper pack from LILLYBEE- BUTTERCUP Design Kit. 


The photos just worked perfectly with the fun blues and yellow's of this paper pack.

Challenge to use 3 different options as given by Asmah:
I used: Flowers / Ribbons / Buttons
Sketch used by Let's Scrap

Thanks for looking.. Hugs, Mich

6-13-12 - Melbourne

Welcome to my side of the planet.. this is where I live. it has to be the most beautiful city in the world as was actually voted as the #1 most livable city in the world for 2012. I can see why. We live in the suburbs, but the city is so beautiful..

I loved the new weekly sketch posted at Lets Scrap this morning, and created my layout all about Melbourne.  I used polaroids with the photos and also an extra booklet on the right hand side to include more photos.

Here is the sketch:

This is my layout I created with the sketch:

Papers used: SCRAP COLLECTIONS AROUND THE WORLD travel range.
Title: RM designs (c/o Scrap Collections), Alphas.

Left and right of layout and closeups: