Studio Calico

weekly challenge | Shanna Noel & Steph Washburn

Hi! For this challenge, we thought it would be fun to create projects featuring the softer, more feminine colors in the Atlantic collection and the Planetarium kits! Check out this gorgeous color combination!

From Steph: When I saw these pretty colors, I knew I wanted to include that pretty vintage lace from the North Star Kit on my card! So soft and pretty! I started by choosing three patterned papers and adhering strips to a thin sheet of printer paper. I cut the Home Sweet Home cut design with my cameo from those papers. I adhered a pretty lace bow to the tag before adhering it to the card front! Then, I printed out a quick "congrats" sentiment and adhered it to the card. A clean and simple, quick card to take along to a housewarming party!

(supplies - patterned paper : Studio Calico Planetarium Card Kit, North Star Kit; vintage lace trim: Studio Calico North Star Kit; digital cut file: Planetarium Home Digital Cut Design; font : KG Eyes Wide Open)

From Shanna: When I first saw the Atlantic collection online I was excited to get it, but when I saw it in person I just feel in love with it! I love all the pinks, yellows and golds intertwined throughout the collection! As I was putting this layout together I wanted to use lots of the papers (which is rare for me!) and thought a layered hex design was in order. I haven't done a layout like this in a long time so it was fun to create a pattern with the papers. Within each hex you have a spot to highlight some of the fun embellishments that come in the Atlantic line. 

(supplies- pattern paper: Studio Calico Atlantic Collection - embellishments; Atlantic Fabric Bows; Atlantic Glitter Stars;  Wood Veneer Hearts - Alphas: Rockabye Thickers Atlantic Collection Tools: MIni Anchor Punch Digital Stamp; Planetarium Digital Stamps ) 

Make a project with our color scheme, then share it in the Studio Calico gallery. Leave us a link to your project by May 20th in the comments here to be entered to win a $5 GC to the Studio Calico Shop.

-Steph Washburn and Shanna Noel

Sunday Sketch

We know that our members love sketches, so this week we are offering you TWO...one for cards and one for layouts!! The card sketch is from Joy Taylor's Spencer's gallery:



And the layout sketch is from Shanna Noel's Spencer's gallery:



We invited member Tina (adogslife13) to choose one of these to use as a starting point this week, and she couldn't choose just one!! She wowed us with both of the projects she submitted!!

Supplies: (layout) Patterned Paper:  Crate Paper, Twine:  American Crafts, Stickers:  Crate Paper, American Crafts, Chipboard:  Crate Paper, Buttons:  Crate Paper, Clothes Pins:  American Crafts, Crate Paper, Deli Paper:  WebRestaurant.com, Die Cut Machine:  Silhouette Cameo, Adhesive:  Tombow (tape runner), Scrapbook Adhesives (foam tape), Mini Stapler:  Tom Holtz

(card) Patterned Paper:  Studio Calico, Die Cuts:  Studio Calico, Stickers:  American Crafts, Filter:  Fancy Pants Designs, Washi Tape:  Etsy, Sewing Machine;  Brother, Thread:  Coates & Clark, Adhesive:  Tombow (tape runner), Scrapbook Adhesives (foam tape)

We asked Tina to share her thoughts on using these sketches...here's what she had to say:

Layout Sketch: 

I really loved the 'split' page look; using 2 patterned papers to make the background.  I used this idea, but shrunk down the 'split' page look and created 2 strips of patterned paper to place behind my photo.

 I love any sketch with a banner.  Banners have been around for awhile but I never get tired of creating layouts with them.  They are definitely one of my go-to design techniques. You know what they say, 'Go Big or Go Home', so I went BIG with my banner.  I layered several cut banner pieces and chipboard elements for my banner, and 'hung' them to  a piece of twine with mini close-pins.  I seriously think I could put mini close-pins and paper clips on every project.  LOVE THEM!

 I also changed the location of the title, and moved mine to the bottom of my page.  I'm not sure if you can see this from the photo, but I wanted to expand on the fun theme of squirrels and nuts, so using a squirrel shape, I repeated the design with my Silhouette software and cut out a squirrel background from deli paper.  It's a great way to tone done a busy background, and super fun at the same time. 

 

Card Sketch:

I LOVE Joy's card and how she combined such fabulous shapes and design elements. I actually stayed fairly close to the sketch, layering all sorts of SC goodies, creating my sentiment.

 Instead of a large circle in the background, I brought the circular element forward and layered my sentiment on it.  I layered several die cuts to create my sentiment and popped the sentiment off the card.  In place of the paper strip, I used 2 strips of washi tape and stitched them in place.  Quick and Easy!

Lots of ideas and neat elements on Tina's projects! She has a way of using layers and pieces together that always catches my eye, I simply adore her work...thank you so much for joining us this week, Tina!! You can see more inspiration from her 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 April 22nd 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)

digital color matching with shanna noel

Hiya everyone! I have put together a super quick tutorial for you with one of my favorite tips on using digital stamps or custom journaling. Have you ever tried to select a color in photoshop only to have it totally clash with your paper line once you have printed it? Here is my super simple solution!

For my example today I will be using the April Studio Calico Project Life Kit as well as the digital stamps from Studio Calico.  

 

-Shanna Noel

video tutorial - digi brushes with shanna

I hope you will join me for a tutorial showing you how I created my Neverland layout using the digital stamp brushes from Studio Calico. 

 

handbook

When Studio Calico asked me if I would be interested in doing a feature on the Handbooks, I jumped at the chance. I have been wanting to get one but had not had the chance- this was the perfect opportunity! I honestly didn't have a project in mind to start, but as I started flipping through the pages I realized this would be the perfect solution for Project Life. I have been wanting to move away from the 12x12 size and to something smaller, easier for the kids to handle, allows for travel, etc. Handbook was my answer. What really sold me was the spine. It's as thick as my regular scrapbooking albums so I knew it would last me a while into the year.

What does any scrapbooker jump to when given a clean canvas? AQUA! Oh wait no.....inspiration. Yes, inspiration! I wanted something clean and not to fragile, the kids look through my PL album all the time. I want to continue to encourage that, so I knew I needed to keep it simple. I decided to just paint the whole thing AQUA and then emboss the year along the side, then I added a pink heart for good measure.

For the opening page I wanted to do something different from last year. I decided to make it one large image instead of doing the pocket pages. I loved the idea of using the sequins from the Pioneer Drive add-on along with the "hello 2013" card from the Project Life kit. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to create the "floating" effect until it hit me - laminate them! I put the sequins and card inside the laminating pocket and ran it through.

I was slightly nervous (you know when you have an idea you want it to come out how you have imagined) and when I pulled it through I loved it even more. You see, the heat had slightly melted the sequins. I LOVE how they turned out! You can't really see here, but I tried my best. Give it a try - I think you will like the effect.

A couple of my spreads went up in my Jan. gallery but I wanted to show you how they looked in the Handbook albums. 

I used the laminating idea again in the album. Using the Handbook for my Project Life I need to come up with ways to add a little extra where needed. I love using the laminated pockets because they are very sturdy when you punch the holes to add them to the album. I can't wait to use this idea throughout the year.

Since I was using my album for PL I wasn't really sure I would use the album inserts, but I quickly fell in love with them. I like the idea of taking a moment to highlight a special event, award or just something we are excited about.

One of the things I really liked (as I mentioned) about the smaller size for PL is I now have the ability to travel with it when I want to. We are in and out of town a lot, so this was a HUGE plus for me. As you can imagine over the holidays we traveled a lot, so I just packed up a small tote with some basic supplies, added my handbook and my little  Canon Selphy and I had PL- to go.

This spread was done on the road. No sewing machine, no Cameo, no *gasp* trimmer. I used my family's printer to print out the journaling and the rest was basic supplies. That is one REALLY nice thing about the die-cut frames from Studio Calico, is that you can kind of get the diecut effect when you need something quick and easy.

To add a little hidden journaling and extra "real estate" to my spread I created this flip pocket journaling. Inside there is journaling that is more in detailed, things that not everyone would be interested in reading. 

(supplies-  Journal Cards & Wood Veneer Label Stickers: Studio Calico PL Kit, Pattern Paper: Studio Calico, Classic Calico V3 6x6 Pad,  Embelishments: Sequins: SC  Pioneer Drive, Polka Dot Pocket: SC Woodbrooke Road, Diecut Frames, Long Hexagon Stickers, number paper clips, wood veneer speech bubbles: Studio Calico Yearbook Collection, Speech Bubble Chipboard Sticker: Studio Calico Darling Dear, BG Alpha: Studio Calico 34th Street , Arrow Veneer: Studio Calico Block Party, Album, Studio Calico Handbook , Page Protectors, Studio Calico 6x8 Page Protectors Adhesive: Tiny Attacher; Glue Glider Pro; Glue Pen Digital Supplies: Studio Calico Block Party Digital Stamps, Studio Calico Hop Digital Stamps ,Cut Files from Day by Day Class.  Stamping: White Zing; Versamark Watermark Pad Other: Washi Tape & Brad from October Afternoon, Binder Clip)

If you are thinking about using Handbook for your Project Life, don't forget to pick up a couple extra page protectors. My favorites are the 6x8 page protector #4 and 6x8 page protector #2. Enjoy!

- Shanna