Creating Your Own Resist Paper

The fabulous Miss Heidi Swapp. shared with the world how to create your own resist paper a while back.  I gave it a try for myself back then when I discovered it, and thought I'd share with you here how I did it once again for Chic Tags using something as easy and affordable as Mod Podge.  I gave it a try a while back, and wanted to let you all in on the secret too.

To begin you'll need the following supplies.

background paper

Mod Podge

mist

sponge brush

a mask

some paper towel

a heat tool for drying

Position your mask onto your background paper, and add a little Mod Podge to a painters palette (or paper plate, or even a scrap piece of cardboard)

Use your brush to spread a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the mask.  In my case I wanted to create a resist that was only a touch here, and there.  This is what your page will look like once you remove the mask.  Cool right?  Barely visible, but you can still make out where the resist will be.  Now it's time to add the mist to the areas where you've applied the Mod Podge, and remove the excess from on the Mod Podge using paper towel.

This is what your background will look like once you've wiped all the excess mist away.

As I said earlier, I tried this technique a few months ago for the first time, and this was the colour I chose back then.  For Chic Tags I created a brand new project and used a different colour to create my resist.  

Here is my newly created project, mixing the resist technique and fabulous Chic Tags products.

A close up of the resist pattern

Layered goodness to my heart's delight

I placed the Date Tag in a glassine envelope to be able add/hide the journaling.

There you have it, easey peasy right?  I hope you're able to go and try this technique out for yourself.  Are there any techniques you've discovered recently that you think are worth sharing?  If so, I'd sure love to hear them.

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Getting Sketchy with Scraptastic

Here is my take on this's month's Scraptastic Club sketch.

And here is Susan's awesome sketch.

Darwin and I love to go to Bomber games.  We love cheering them on (or should I say loved, seeing as they are really stinkin' it out this season, lol)  It's one of the few things we actually make time to do together.  This photo was taken at the last game we attended with friends.  It was exciting as it was our first time to the brand new stadium to watch the Bombers play.

This layout was made using mostly the I Found A Boy Add On kit found here, and the Stamp Add on found here

Hop over here to see what the rest of the DT did with the sketch.  Perhaps you'd like to play with it too?  You may win yourself a $10 gc to the Scrapstastic Store for playing along with us.  We have a few challenges every month.  The more you play the better your chances of winning.

Thanks for stopping by today friends! Pin It

New Wheels

Here is a quick layout I did for Scraptastic Club last week, documenting Darwin's upgrade form the family van to a vehicle all his own.

I was happy to take over the RAV4, with it's all wheel drive, and better gas mileage than the van, I really wasn't too concerned with what he bought, even though he did ask for my input.  It's his vehicle, so he was allowed all the say.  Of course he went for a more sporty look, with all the upgrades.  That's my guy, always such pricey taste. It was pretty funny to see all the sales guys coming out from lunch to check out his new wheels though. I know he felt pretty darn good about himself.  This was apparently the first vehicle in the city like it (not just the standard version).

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the chevrons directly into the white background paper.  The file is a free one from the super talented Kinsey Wilson that I modified.  Everything on the this layout came from the I Found A Boy Main kit, with the exception of the yellow Jillibean Soup alphas which are from my stash, and the Elle's Studio round tags, and enamel dots, which are from the Add On kit (which is still available in the shop here).  The Stamps are from the Add On stamp pack, which you can find here.

If you have a sec, I encourage you to hop over and check out the other kits available in the Scraptastic shop.  Jessica puts together some really great kits, and she has no contract to sign for monthly subscribers.  You can also see a lot of inspiration in the Gallery here. Pin It

Going Simple with Scraptastic

The I Found A Boy Kit at Scraptastic Club sold out pretty quickly, and I can show you why.  I have a couple of layouts to show you today.

I decided to try something a little different this month and go a little flatter than usual with my Augusts kits.  For this first layout, I really wanted to use a design that incorporated almost all of the patterned papers that came in the kit.  I just love the way they all coordinate so well.  Zero journaling on this one, which is a little different for me, but I thought the title and the photos were really all this layout needed.

For this layout I used mainly the I Found A Boy Add On Kit.  I thought it would be fun to cut up this sheet and stick the squares back in place to add depth to the "flatter than usual" design.

Journaling reads: "It was a little disappointing when our VACATION turned into a STAYCATION.  We made the best of it, by taking the girls to do things we wouldn't normally like Wall Climbing and getting their first pedicure.  August 2013" 

I used the stamp form the Classy girl kit to emboss onto a scrap piece of cardstock in the centre of the photos.  

See, pretty simple, but still gets the story recorded, and in an even faster time frame than I'm use to.  These kits are so jam packed with product that I've made 4 layouts, and two cards.  I even combined a bunch of the bits and pieces with my This Life Noted kit to create 2.5 spreads.  I have so enjoyed working with these brighter, bolder, more masculine colours.  The stamps are great too.  It appeared at first that the kit had a more masculine bent to it, but once I started working with it, it became increasingly clear that the colours were great for many of the photos I had ready to be scrapped.

I'll have the rest of my projects to share with you soon.  In the meantime hop over here to the gallery for inspiration from the rest of the Scraptastic DT and our members.  You can follow along with the blog here.

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Paper Secrets Guest Spot

It's the 15th of the month, which means it's time for Sketch Challenge #2 over at the Paper Secrets Blog.  Kelly created another great sketch for us to work with.  I worked with the Summer Stories Collection by Teresa Collins and came up with the layout pretty quickly.

That "Life" is cut using my Silhouette Cameo.  I actually combined a couple of different fonts to get the look I was after.  I began with the Lobster font, it's one of my favourites when welding titles.  I did't however like the upper case "L" or the "F" in the font once it was welded.  The solution was to take those letters from a couple of different fonts and weld them into the Lobster font.  The "L" is from the Holla font, and the "F" is from the Apple Chancery font.

As usual I've layered many of my elements on this layout.  Only the buttons, the Studio Calico wood veneer, the Chic Tags pennant, and the Scraptastic custom flair are not from the Summer Stories Collection kit.

I loved working with this kit, and have Kristi and her shop at Paper Secrets to thank for it, as it's not a collection we have in my local LSS, so I never would have known how gorgeous it is without them. Paper Secrets has a number of great products in their shop, at great prices.  Right now, in fact there is a great deal on patterned papers, collection kits, and all cardstock.  This same collection kit is available in the shop at a super price, check it out for yourself here.

A huge thank you to Kristi and her team for having me along for the ride this month.  It was a real honour to have been asked, and a definite joy to have played along.  I sure hope I get to meet up with them again at CHA in January.  I've got my fingers crossed I'll be able to attend.

Now go and get your craft on.  You have until August 31 to link up a newly created layout to the Paper Secrets Blog using the sketch, and adding the twist to use 5 or more buttons on your layout for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the shop.

Thanks for stopping by today friends.  Leave me a comment, and I'll be sure to swing by and leave you some love also. Pin It

Library Pocket Cut File

I had this post up on the Chic Tags blog the other day, and wanted to share it with you too.

I downloaded this Freebie library pocket cut file from the the Chic Tags store to use on a layout.

Have you had trouble trying to figure out how to download freebie files for your own use?    I've created a little You Tube video to help walk you through the process. Click here to view the video if you'd like a little tutorial on Trace & Cut for the Silhouette Cameo.

I also created a video to show you how to add perforated lines to the library pocked for easier folding, like this.

You can check out that video here.

Here is how I used the cut file on a layout.

Stopped in a farmer's field on the way home from the lake the other day to grab a few photos of the girls against the giant hay bales.

Like that cute little star cut tag?  It's another Chic Tags freebie, you can grab it here

The colours of the new Echo Park Hello Again collection worked so well with Chic Tags products.

Lots of layering of the tags as usual.

I hope you've felt inspired today.  Lots of freebies to add to your collection, a couple of tips and tricks, and a little eye candy to boot.

Thanks so much for stopping in today friends.  Leave me a comment letting me know if there's anything you'd like to see covered in a Silhouette video and I'll try to make it happen for you.  

Have a great day!

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A few layouts

Thought I'd share with you a couple of layouts I haven't yet shared here.

First up is this one I did for the July Sketch Challenge at Scraptastic, using this sketch by Susan.

I used the Out On The Town main kit and Add On kit to create this layout.

I just loved these Fancy Pants papers.

The second layout is one I put together the other night with a collection that I've had almost completely untouched for 3 summers.  It is by far the oldest collection I own.  The 100 Days of Summer collection by Simple Stories is was so gorgeous, I actually had a hard time cutting into it, and so it just sat there untouched after only one layout.  

Feels good to finally put more of it to good use.  I plan on using the rest to complete a project life spread.

Last is this one that I created for the Scraptastic Online Crop last weekend.  Thanks so much to those of you who joined the party and played along with me.

Everything here is from the Out On The Town Add On Kit.  Lots, and lots of embellishments, very little patterned paper.  I seem to be doing that more frequently lately.

There you have it, you're all caught up on what I've been up to in between CHA and getting out to the lake with the girls here and there.  I have a crop with a bunch of friends coming up on Saturday.  I'm really hoping to get ahead of the game there for September DT projects, giving me more time to catch up on Project Life and get some just for fun layouts in.

Thanks so much for stopping by today friends.  I sure appreciate it.  I've been making a point to come by and visit all of you too.  I love having a little peek into the lives of my scrappy friends.

Happy Monday all!

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Project Life Catch Up

Catching up on my Project Life here.  I shared these layouts on the Scraptastic Blog last week.  They were both made using the July This Life Noted kit.

 Left Side

Right Side

Close ups

That Love This Life die cut card was part of the kit that I just backed with some scrap patterned paper

This section of the week was my favourite.  I used the anchor stamp from the Rock Lobster stamp add on kit to embellish the custom made card.  I stamped it onto white cardstock, embossed it, fussy cut it, then popped if off the page using 3D foam squares.  If you're interested that set is still available in the shop here.  And that cluster of washi, stamping, and flair just makes me happy.

The next week was a lot more fun to create.  You can tell that I got a lot more comfortable with the kit, and adding more bits and pieces to my spread.

Left Side

Right Side

Close ups

Love that little heart stamp.  And I shortened the pennant a little by cutting the tip off in that top left photo.  Right next to that, the black and white card is actually just white cardstock with strips of the chalkboard washi lined up on it. I used my white Signo pen to write on it.

The repeating arrows are one of the stamps in the Out On The Town Add On Kit.

I used the "photo op" stamp from the Out On The Town stamp Add On, and stamped directly onto that photo of my daughter painting.  And that chalk board washi came in handy too, it was a perfect way to embellish my 4x6 journal card.

Love that Happy, Happy, Happy stamp that Kaitlin designed for us.  

It's safe to say that designing my PL spreads with a kit is definitely a great way to go, it's portable, it's fast, it's 100% coordinated, and best of all it's fun.

Come check out this month's This Life Noted Kit in the shop here.

I will be away for a few days now, as the girls and I are going to take off to the lake once again. Unplugging and recharging ourselves with friends in the great outdoors.

See you when we return.  I hope you are off creating memories and enjoying these last few weeks of summer before school begins once again (I understand it's even less time for my American friends, I feel for you, but know that you've been off a lot longer than us too *wink*)

Until then,

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