Studio Calico

Challenge

After having Claire, I’ve found that I laugh so much more and I love that!  Claire’s at the age (and I hope she will be for at least 3 more years) that you can laugh at her and she thinks you’re laughing with her, so it’s all good… no hurt feelings or embarrassment.
 
I’ve had this photo that I’ve wanted to scrap for quite a while and thought it would be perfect for this week’s challenge. Supplies: Cardstock, Patterned Paper, Die Cut Tags, Chipboard, Stamp (SC kit or Countryside Collection); Ink (Staz-on); White Mist (Studio Calico)

My challenge to you this week is to scrapbook something that makes you laugh or puts a smile on your face (and if you haven’t already used the “smile” tag from your PAPER MOON kit, now would be a good opportunity).
 
Post your layout in the SC gallery by Monday, July 18 and then come back to this post and comment + link your layout for a chance to win a Studio Calico gift card.

4th anniversary PDFs

We've got yet another anniversary celebration for you - 4 step by step project PDFs featuring our State Fair and Countryside lines. Download them and print them out, and you'll have a little Studio Calico inspiration to take with you wherever you go!

(click here to download the PDF for Waleka's "Happy Shakes" layout)

(click here to download the PDF for Jen's "At the Cabin" layout)

(click here to download the PDF for Tina's "Like Forever" layout)

(click here to download the PDF for April's "Happy Birthday" card)

Sunday Sketch

Hello to all my favorite crafty friends, Kimberly here to bring you this weeks Sunday Sketch.
 
This weeks sketch was designed from one of April’s gorgeous creations. I was asked to create a 2 page layout from this layout and sketch. I really love how April used the diecut doilies with this creation and wanted to mimic that in my creation. I used them as a mask effect with the mister huey and I really love how it turned out.
Here is the 2 pager I created from this sketch using this month’s Paper Moon/June kit, and Mister Huey.
 
Here is the left side
Here is the right side
Here is the layout completed with the close up’s.

Supplies used: Paper Moon kit; Mister Huey - Piglet; Addy Alpha - Pink
 
Thank you all for playing. I hope to see some of you creating more 2 pagers from the sketches as well, it's a fun way to stretch your creative imagination. Please be sure to share your layouts by linking them up here, and in the SC gallery by Monday, June 13 for your chance to with an SC gift card worth $5. I can’t wait to see what you all create!

Insider Tips: April

I know it won’t surprise many of you that I’m super organized, even when it comes to scrapbooking.  On my desk now is two piles.  One with all the items from my June Studio Calico kit.  The other has several Studio Calico branded items that coordinate with June’s kit.  Keeping both stacks of products handy helps me to make the most of my kit, complete my assignments each month, and keeps me from rummaging through the rest of my room for extra items.  It’s all right on my desk!  
 
When, I’m ready to create, I throw it all together and mix and match.
You’re probably laughing now, because this photo show anything but organization, but it works.  You see remnants of the June kit plus fresh Countryside & State Fair branded product.
 
As I was working on my layout, I pulled from my scrap pile of cut papers.  Even the pink cardstock was already punched, so I left it that way.  I just lined up some pieces on a spare 4x6” piece of cardstock and angled the ends of the strips and added some embellishments.
You’ll notice that this project used only items from the June kit plus some branded product.  It just fell together so easily. Supplies: PAPER MOON KIT, Mister Huey’s (Piglet, Clover, Bonny Blue), Countryside Chipboard Alphabet, Zing Embossing Powder (Charcoal), Wood Veneer Buttons, Paper (Die Cut Cream Ledger,Cotton Candy, Midway, Pie Contest)

And as a bonus tip, use a versamark pad and your favorite Zing to change the color of any chipboard alpha!

April's Insider Tips

Circles are one of my favorite design elements.  I love big circles and small circles.  And even teeny tiny circles can make a big statement on a page.  Most of the layouts in my favorites at Studio Calico have circles as a major design element.
 
So, it’s no surprise that my circle punches are some of my most used tools in my scraproom.
 
On my “Fear” layout in the May Gallery, I punched 1.5” circles from some scrap paper and laid them end to end on the paper I wanted to mist.  When I mist, I don’t adhere the mask to the page or hold it down with my hand.  I just lay them and let the mist fall where it lands.
I sprayed several times with White Mister Huey and removed the circles.

I basically created my own patterned paper with mist and a circle punch.  This is a great way to use mist on your layout without having a “messy” look to your page, too. Supplies: Kits (Lawn Party, Pink Lemonade, Paper Lanterns), Mister Huey White Mist, Cardstock (More Color 5/2011), Pen (American Crafts)

April's Favorite Kit

There are lots of reasons the Metropolitan kit is one of my favorites.  The color combo is what first drew me in.  It works so well with everyday photos or winter photos because of the cool color palette.

Another reason I love this kit is the exclusive patterned papers, which are still available in the More Patterned Paper kit.  Both Stephen (SC designer) and Sassafras knocked it out of the park.  I love all the little tone-on-tone patterns, but the Sassafras stripe and Studio Calico numbers have my heart.

I thought this kit with the cool tones would work great with a black & white photo.  I rarely scrap with black & white photos, but I love the simplicity of them and wish I used them more often.
It’s fun to look back at this kit since it was pre-baby and remember what my mornings were like when I got to sleep in!  I love that this kit provided the groundwork for me to document that memory.

Sunday Sketch

To me, sketches are the most brilliant thing ever in the scrapbooking world.  Again, just my opinion, but here’s why.  They can be adapted to any product you have on hand and they’re “legal” to use without feeling guilty.   Not to mention, they’re easy to make yourself or print and file them away for reference.  I mean, why reinvent the wheel when a sketch is there, it’s simple and quick to complete a layout you’ll cherish forever.
 
This week, I had the opportunity to make a layout based on Lisa Truesdell’s design from the INTO THE WOODS gallery.

To make my layout, I looked at the sketch, then put it away for a few days.  I wanted to make a layout inspired by the sketch, but not an exact copy, and that’s the only way I know how to do it.  If I have the sketch sitting right next to me, I tend to over-analyze it.
 
I came up with this layout:

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill), Twine, State Fair Die Cut Tags (Studio Calico), Wood Veneer Hearts (Studio Calico), Addy Alpha – Pink (Studio Calico), Nibbles Paper, Tickets Please Paper, Midway Paper, Button & Epoxy Sticker (Epiphany Crafts), “Talk of the Town” tag (vintage)
 
As you can see, I borrowed the banner portion in the upper left, then added a title below the photo. This layout was so easy to make since I based it on the sketch, but yet, it doesn’t look too similar either.
 
Now it’s your turn.  You have until Monday, March 28 to upload a layout based on the sketch and link it to this post.  You can copy it exactly, or make it your own.   Whatever you’d like, just make sure to meet the deadline for a chance to win one of two $5 gift cards.

Behind the Scenes for April

We're getting close to April's Sneak but we have an extra special Behind the Scenes sneak peek to share with you today.  Here's my inspiration for the April kit...

See anything that catches your eye?

Sunday Sketch

Hi everyone, Kimberly here to share with you this Sunday's Sketch. What fun this is to create a layout from April's creation. Her layouts always WOW me with her creative way to mix different elements and dimensions with each creation she does.

I really love the design and use of different patterned paper April used with her creation. I LOVE the placement of her photograph and journaling spots. When I use a sketch to draw inspiration from, I will generally not look at the layout example at all until I am done creating my layout. This helps me to create something from it that is not an exact duplicate.
 
* I chose to create a 2 page layout from April's one page design, so that you all can see how far you can stretch your creativity with a sketch. The sky's the limit.

* I love finding different ways to use inks, and absolutely LOVE the variations of the new Mister Huey colors that will be available soon. I wanted to use them all together so you can see how well they work together. Rather than using patterned paper strips as April did, I used a different color of mists from the sketch example.

* Also, instead of journaling in the same areas on the sketch, I decided to repeat the title for a fun effect. I also used the journaling label cardstock stickers to carry out the design of the journaling spots from the sketch. Another thing that would be fun twist to do, is crop photographs to go in place of where I chose to mist, and April chose to put patterned paper.

* I tend to also like using more photographs... as many as possible to compliment the design and journaling. With making this layout a 2 page layout, it made it easier for me to add a couple more photographs.

* I love to layer different embellishments to my creations also. This gives them a more unique look. Don't be afraid to layer a rub-on over the top of a sticker. It's a simple touch, and add's just enough to complete a simple design like what I've created here.
Supplies: Ink- New Mister Huey: Barnwood, Pickle, Bluegrass, Orchard, Piglet, Lemonade, Hot Dog, Bonny Blue and clover;  Cardstock- More Kraft  and More Vanilla; patterned paper - State Fair: Sideshow; Alpha- Studio Calico die-cut alpha green and Sunrise Thickers - Limeade from Into the Woods; Stickers-Studio Calico Die-cut stickers and labels; Rub on's- Studio Calico Blue and green butterfly's; Fabrips- Studio Calico Pink Houndstooth
 
As you can see, my design follows a lot of the same lines as the sketch itself, but don't be afraid to turn it around, or flip it. Whatever it is that you can draw inspiration from with this sketch, stretch your boundries and just create!

I can't wait to see your take on this sketch! Be sure to post a link to this thread by March 14 for a chance to win one of two $5 Studio Calico gift cards. Good luck and have fun!

April's Insider Tips

One of the most appealing aspects of working with kits for me is that the supplies and colors are predetermined, which requires very little thought process on my part to coordinate a layout.  I simply choose from the supplies in front of me, working with photos that coordinate.
 
Because creating layouts is my goal, many times when working with a kit or choosing inks/paints/mist, I will use tone-on-tone.  This helps me to do these things:

• Streamline my selection process.  This gives me more time to scrap.  When working with a kit, sometimes I run low on a favorite piece of paper and need to add some from my stash.  Choosing one from a similar tone is nice and gives an added element to the page.
• Add layers without adding too much complexity.  Ever see a layout with lots of layers and think it’s gorgeous, but wouldn’t know where or how to put all those colorful products together or how to do so without distracting from your photo?  Put my name on that list!  Layering using similar tones makes this easy and keeps the layout from overwhelming your photo.

The photo I used to create my Friday’s Child layout had yellow tones in it that matched the Penmanship paper perfectly.  I collected that item, plus the alphabet from the WHO’S WHO kit, some office tags (not pictured), and Notions Flowers.

Also, I wanted to use the Weekdays Stamp without calling too much attention to it.  So, I chose a green cardstock (from More Color 1/11) and my trusty Old Olive Ink (a good substitution is Peeled Paint).

The layout uses 3 main colors, blue (Geyser from More Color 1/11), green, and yellow in 3 distinct areas.  I added the book pages from the Dear Abby add-on beneath my punched circles as another yellow-ish layer as I noticed the solid sheet of Penmanship was too plain for the look I wanted.
Supplies: Patterned Paper – Penmanship, Dear Abby Kit; Cardstock – More Color 1/2011; Stamp – Weekdays; Flowers – Notions; Stickers – Who’s Who kit