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Friday, September 28, 2012

You Make Me Smile - Card

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Seriously this is one of my favorite printables by Marion Smith Designs.  The Garment district paper is just awesome and so versatile.  I shared with you guys a mini album, and layout.  Today I want to share with you a card I made from the scraps from both the Mini and the layout. 

 
 
I sewed some of the smaller scraps together to create the background, and then proceeded to layer a few of the other journal cards, ephemera, and scraps together to form the focal point of the card. I used a spell binder's label die to showcase the sentiment. Then added some sprigs of flower pieces from a left over Prima vine.  The tiny roses are one of my all time favorite Prima flowers, and they are awesome for cards because of their size.
 
It is so fun using my scraps up, and creating such a wonderful piece.  The tiniest of pieces can be used as banners, or peeking from a layer.
 
Thanks for stopping in today,
 
Tonya Gibbs
 
 

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Friday, September 21, 2012

Heritage Layout - Garment District

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Garment District Printables from Marion Smith Designs have been at the top of my play list since I downloaded them. Last week,  I shared with you a little mini that I created using these papers. Today I want to share with you a layout I created using the scraps and left over designs that didn't make it to the mini.

I was digging in a box of stuff from my Grandmother's this past weekend, and I found this photo of a woman I believe to be my Great Great Aunt. There is very little information on the back of the photo; however, there is a note that says "Alice, here is the photo of Aunt Jessie's Sister" now I know that Jessie was my Great Grandmother's first name, so I figured out the relationship. I really wish I had a name of this beautiful woman, but that information was lost forever when my Grandmother and all her siblings passed away.  It is quite possible that she passed away at an early age, because my Mother wasn't sure who she was either.  




This brings me to the point of today's post.

When I create a layout - you rarely see my journaling and sometimes the title is subtle. But the 5w's [Who, What, When, Where and Why] are always addressed somewhere on the piece. I love to hide my journaling behind photos on pull out tags because I find it distracting on the layout.  If the design doesn't offer an appealing display of the journaling it is written on the back of the base page.

We often forget to do this because we know the person in the picture, or all of our current family members know the person. It is kind of one of those things that our mind tells us it isn't necessary because everyone knows the person. As time passes the information is lost much like it is with the subject of my layout share today.

While I know little about this woman, I know that Marion's collection fits the time period this photo was taken. It is probably safe to assume that she sewed since it was common in this era for women to make their own clothing.



I love how Marion's Garment district showcases this photo.  I used a lot of layers to frame the photo. This gives the photo more presence on the 12x12 layout.  Although I may not know the name of the woman in the photo, I was able to capture the information that I did know on the back of the layout.

Also note that this is not the original photo, I scanned and reprinted the photo used in the layout.

Thanks for stopping in today,

I hope you have a great weekend.

Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com


 
 
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Blowing Kisses Layout

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Last week at the high school football game, my cute little niece,  Addie, was standing in the end zone blowing kisses.  I used the picture on a layout that was inspired by Jamie Dougherty's Live with Prima last Thursday night.  I learned some new techniques and thought it would make a nice follow up to my Ustream class.
 
 
From Flamingo Scraps:   Prima: Songbird and Almanac Paper, Vine, distress tool, Flowers, Trinkets. Liquitex: Gesso, Liquitex Molding Paste.  Other: Twine, stencil, charcoal pencil, ribbon, charms, and corrugated card board.
 
I started by distressing all the edges with my new Prima Distress tool.  (LOVE THIS).  To soften the background, I brushed white gesso over the paper, and then used molding paste to add texture.  This is a great way to soften busy or bright patterned paper.  Gesso was also added to some of the layers to try and merge them back into the background.  This technique really helps the photo take center stage, and also makes the smaller photo appear larger.
 
 
I was able to incorporate a lot of scraps from the Almanac collection, and you guys know how much I love using scraps. I cut banners from scraps, and used small pieces of scrap paper to frame around the picture.   Jamie's technique of having the banners travel vertically and horizontally throughout the layout, really make the layout dramatic and serve as arrows leading your eye back to the photo. This is definitely going to be used in more of my future projects.
 
 
While I often cut my vines in half, rarely do I arrange them diagonally, usually mine are in more of  a L shape, horizontal or virticle.  I love how all the elements appear to be drawing your eye back to the center fo the layout.  I incorporated scraps of small vines and leaves from previous projects in the negative spaces of the vines.  Again - love using up those small pieces.   
 
 
Thanks for stopping in today,
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Friday, September 14, 2012

Garment District - Mini Album

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Garment District is the latest digi collection by Marion Smith Designs. It is full of rich color tones, and vintage dressmaker style ads.  The designs print as a full bleed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper which make it easy for you to design your own cards, layouts, mini albums, journals, or altered projects.   There are a few add ons to this kit that includes journal cards, ephemera and extra page designs.

I decided to make this simple mini using policy envelopes.  The album took about an hour to put together. It would make an awesome gift for someone, or a personal journal.  I thought about cataloging some of my fav. Sewing tips in this little cutie.



Here are the instructions on how to put the mini book together.





To see a complete walk through of the mini please watch this video.





Have you created any projects with this collection?  If so, please post them in Artsy Addicts and be sure to tag me in the photo.  I would love to see your creations. 
 
Thanks for stopping in today,
 
Tonya Gibbs
 
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Monday, September 10, 2012

Amber - Ombre Style Layout

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I stumbled across this photo that I took a year ago of my Niece Amber.  I decided to use it for the Prima BAP contest for August. When chosing the color pallet for the layout - I wanted to play off her name Amber and chose an orangish/amberish tone.   I've been really inspired lately by the "Ombre" style  (Note: Ombre is a French word meaning "Shaded") where you create something monochromatic that starts with the richest value and fades into the lightest value. I thought the Songbird collection would be perfect for incorporating my color choices as well as the sketch.
 
 
 I love how the branches on the printed paper, lead your eye back down to the soft focused photo of Amber. To enhance the sunburst and add a few layers, I used my Silhouette to cut a doily shape from a sheet of Flights of Fancy Prima paper that has the Fruit of the Spirit written all over it. This is one of my favorite sheets and has been in my hoard vault for years. The floral spray also sends your eye back to the journaling that flanks the burst of linen. I painted one of the Prima Shabby Resin birds with Worn Jeans, and Shabby Tote Prima Chalks and perched him over the title.
 
 
 
Since the sketch used a sunburst as the focal point I decided to rip linen into small strips and soak it in Pumpkin Color wash on one end and then let it fade to a more watered down wash on the other end. After it dried, I spray the entire linen piece with gold glimmer using a Prima Floral screen. This gave a subtle pattern to the rich orange tones. I used some molding paste and circle stencil on the linen with a Prima Hexagon stamp to give a little depth.

 

 

Here is the sketch designed by Prima's Marie-Nicolas Alliot. 
 
 
 
 
I love how this layout turned out.  It has lots of details but still maintains the integrity of the sketch.  Did you participate in the Prima August BAP?  I would love to see your entry, please post them on the Artsy Addicts Facebook Group Wall and make sure to tag me so I see it.
 
Thanks for stopping in today,
 
Tonya Gibbs
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http://www.teresacollinsdesignteam.blogspot.com/2013/10/family-stories-layout-and-video-by.html#comment-form   http://canvascorp.com/2013/03/21/easter-treat-baskets/


Past Teams

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