Studio Calico

weekly challenge

For this week's challenge, we decided to put our sequins to good use and we can't wait to see you do the same!

From Amy : If you didn't feel like sewing down the sequins with French knots, you could just use a long-arm stapler like I did. Another alternative is to use a liquid glue like Glossy Accents. 

(supplies - patterned paper: Studio Calico Snippets 6X6 pad; letter stickers: Sketchbook Thickers; stickers: Sundrifter 6x7; mist : Neverland Scrapbook Kit, Opaque White ; stamps: Sundrifter Love This & Frame & Feathers; ink: StazOn & Hero Arts Shadow Ink; other: sequins) 

From Nicole : I love how sequins can be used in conjunction with 'plain' backgrounds to spruce them up a bit and add some color :)

(Supplies : Snippets 12x12 Sticker Sheet, Printed Chipboard Cameras, Me Oh My patterned paper; Sundrifter 12x12 Sticker Sheet, Sunny Day patterned paper, Here&There San Diego patterned paper, Mister Hueys Gold)

Make a project using sequins, then share it in the Studio Calico gallery. Leave us a link to your project by April 29th in the comments here to be entered to win a $5 GC to the Studio Calico Shop.

tutorial

Why not try a new technique this weekend? Amy Tan is sharing how she did some of the fun techniqes on her pages from her Front Row gallery.

 

Amy Tan book giveaway

While supplies last, grab your very own autographed copy of Amy Tan's new signature series book - it's now available in the Studio Calico shop! We've had a chance to flip through it and Amy has packed the pages with fresh and fun projects to inspire you.

To celebrate Amy's book release, we wanted to give you a chance to WIN a copy of her signed book! Just leave a comment here with your SC username and we'll post a winner next Thursday.

masking + stitching tutorial

If you're anything like me, you likely have more than enough seasonal supplies to cover documenting the holidays. Since the products outnumber the occasions I can scrap about, I wanted to find a way to give new life to some of my stash. By mixing some of your older supplies with the newer ones, you can cleverly combine them to turn the holiday theme into an everyday page. (Click here to download this tutorial as a printable PDF)

I gathered these supplies together.


From the 6X6 paper pad, I pulled out the woodgrain sheet and took it outside with the ampersand mask and possibly my favorite Mister Huey's of all time, the opaque white.


Once it was dry (I sped up the process with my heat tool), I placed the paper onto a foam pad and used the brad setter as a paper piercer. I poked holes all the way around, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart. TIP: around the curves, you want to stay a bit closer together, while the straight parts can have holes that are further apart.



Then using Aunt Lydia's crochet thread in fuchsia (embroidery floss works fine too), I did a back-stitch all the way around the design using the pre-poked holes as a guide. TIP: You can do this on the sofa while watching your favorite show. You may even find it to be therapeutic.




From the Handbook Album Inserts, I chose a plain beige grid with a Christmas tree on it.


Then I took a different sheet from the 6X6 paper pad and covered the tree. I noticed that it didn't completely cover the holes, so I make a mental note at this time that I would use washi tape to remedy that.


Laying out all the elements with the photos allowed me to choose the colors of tape I wanted to use.

I put some strips of tape down, adhered the photos, title, and the typewriter journaling. Then I finished it off with the stamping of the date in the top left corner.


Hope you're able to transform some of your holiday supplies!


(supplies:  patterned paper- Studio Calico Wonderland 6x6 Paper Pad; cardstock- American Crafts; frames- Wonderland; wood veneer- Studio Calico Darling Dear; Handbook- Wonderland; mist- Mister Huey's Opaque White; mask- Studio Calico; stamps- Studio Calico Roller Date; other- Brad Setter)

sunday sketch

This week's sketch comes from Amy Tan's SOCK HOP gallery - it's based on her layout titled "I'd go everywhere with you."

We couldn't wait to see how Manda (manda.m) would take on Amy's design!

(Supplies: Studio Calico Central High & Style Guide kits; AC white cardstock; Abroad Transportation Wood Venneer; Abroad Badges; Mister Huey's Taxi, Boss Lady & Powder Blue; Silhouette Cameo)

When I saw the sketch I knew I had to use a photo I took last year in Bali of the spectacular sunsets they have there.  I pretty much stuck with the original sketch because it worked so well with the photos I wanted to use.  I used avoid sketches that included large circle shapes because I never seem to be able to make them work. Now I don't look at the shape literally, instead I like to take smaller embellishments, die cuts or paper pieces and fill the area as I have done here with the embroidery twine.

We love Manda's misted starburst - she pulled the colors out of her photos and carried them over to her background. Such a gorgeous effect, and it really pulls your eye right to her beautiful photos! Please check out the rest of Manda's work in her SC Gallery and on her blog.

How will YOU use this sketch?  Whether it's a layout, a card or something else, link us up to your project by November 12th for a chance to win a $5 gift card to the Studio Calico shop. (Please remember, your project must be loaded into our gallery to qualify...and your comment has to link back to it in the SC Gallery)

weekly challenge

Hello Everyone! As much as I love the way alphabet stickers look straight out of the package, sometimes it's fun to add a personal twist to them. There are a few different, easy ways to do this. With natural chipboard Thickers, the easiest (and neatest) way is to change the color of them by simply adding some ink.

You can also use your favorite Mister Huey's to change the color of small white alphas for an artsy look.

My challenge to you is to play designer and change the colors of your alphabet stickers and use them on a layout.

(supplies : October Add-On: Toe Stop, Hero Arts Shadow ink, Mister Huey's Honor Society, Mister Huey's Taxi, Uniball Signo)

What color will your alphabet stickers be? Will you ink, paint or mist? We can't wait to see your projects - post a comment with a link by October 8th for a chance to win a $5 gift card to the Studio Calico shop.