Bo Bunny's Flashback Friday!!

I made this layout for the Bo Bunny DT for 'Flashback Friday'.  I wish I had a lot more heritage type photos to use for an assignment like this but I have to hit up my parents for some old photos.  So I wasn't sure what I was going to use for Flashback Friday.  Then I was shuffling through my photos and found this photo I recently took of my youngest daughter Meagan.  Although she is 9 years old, she is still very much into all her stuffed animals and often carries them around with her.  In this photo she is holding her favourite Teddy Bear she aptly named Beary lol!  The flashback part of this layout is that the Teddy bear was actually mine from when I was a child.  My Grandparents brought it to me from Germany, it used to actually speak German when you squeezed it's paw, but the mechanism that allows it to speak doesn't work anymore.  But I love that my children still hold precious something that meant a lot to me as a child.  

For this l/o I wanted to go with some soft pinks to go with the beautiful creams and browns in the Bo Bunny Timepiece collection that I used here.  I've been wanting to use the large clock die cut from this collection and I thought it would work well with the theme of this page.  The pink blooms I again made from recycled dryer sheets.  Again, super easy to do....just put a few drops of alcohol ink (I used Time Holtz Pink Sherbert for these blooms) or some food coloring in a small cup of water.  Dunk your used dryer sheets in the mixture and just blot off on a paper towel..
TIP:  IF you find the dryer sheet a bit to wrinkled to use nicely for your bloom and don't want to pull out your ironing board and iron a quick way I smooth out my swatches is to us my hair flattening iron.  I just give it a quick smooth with the flattening iron and the piece is ready to work with (also helps dry it quicker too)
....so the next step is to cut some strips from the swatch and gather the two long edges using a needle & thread (I use about 2 and a half strips for the large flower).  My daughter made me the flower centers using some bling from the Bo Bunny's Buttons & Bling packages and some seed beads.  Here are some close-up views of the above l/o.....

 

If you'd like to see some more amazing layouts made for Bo Bunny's Flashback Friday, go have a peek at the Bo Bunny Blog today!  So many heartwarming and touching l/o's made by the rest of the DT girls!  Thanks for stopping by!

~Gabrielle xx

A Couple Bo Bunny Pages

Hi everyone!  I had some fun creating the above layout for a Bo Bunny assignmnt.  It was for 'Same Designer, 4 Products'.  Bo Bunny chose 4 designers to use the same papers and embellishments to create a layout.   This was the product list we were given:
 
Ad Lib Hoopla



Ad Lib Scribbles


Ad Lib This n That


Ad Lib Hoopla


Ad Lib Cut Outs


Blast Off Buttons


Time Piece Chipboard


Gabrielle Trinkets


Vicki B. Wraps

Stripe Double Dot (any color)

I chose to us some of the more subtle colors of each of the patterned papers and went with the chipboard flourishes from the Timepiece chipboard sheet.  I used my chipboard flourish in 2 ways.  First I used it as the regular stick-on flourish and then I used the backing piece that you peel off the adhesive on the back of the chipboard as a mask!  I layed it down in the top right corner of my layout and inked a couple of soft colours (Blue, Green and a little brown chalk ink) over the piece of backing.  When you pull away the paper bit, you end up with a soft subtle design.  For the diamond design I drew out a diamond pane design with a ruler (no need to measure, I just eyeballed the line placement) and then drew over the pencil lines with a brown fine point pen, layering 2 squiggley lines one over the other to create the pattern.  Here are acouple of closeup shots of this page.....

To see any of my pic's in closer detail you can click on the above photos, the picture should enlarge as I save my photos in a larger size.  This can help you in understand in more detail what I've done on these layouts.  To see what the other 3 Designers created using these same products, check out this link ~~>  Same Products/4 Designers  ....you'll be surprised to see how different each layout turned out!

Another layout I recently made was with the beautiful new collection from Bo Bunny called Vicky B!  This collection is so full of lovely Spring colours and the lacy blooms are just adorable from this collection.  Here is the layot I created for the Focus on Vicki B assignment.....

This collection has such pretty pinks and cool grass greens...I love the green houndstooth design on the die-cut paper from this collection.  Here is a product list of the Bo Bunny items that went into this page:

 VB (Vicky B) Patterned Paper ~ VB Plethoria Die cut, VB Perky, Kiwi Stripe Double dot, Noteworthy Vicky B., Vicky B. Chipboard, VB Dimensional Stickers, VB Combo Stickers, VB Jewels, VB Petals, VB Wraps

Here are some close-up pic's of some of the sweet Vicky B. products I used on this page....

To see more pages done with this gorgeous new collection of Bo Bunny's come have a peek at todays Bo Bunny blogpost HERE     I just want to take a moment to thank all the lovely ladies who post their kind comments here and at the Bo Bunny Blog.  I am always touched to read what you all have to say with regard to the work I'm posting...you all just make my day, thank-you!!

~Gabrielle xx

Ladies & Gents!

Yep! that's the name of one of my favourite Webster's pages collections!!  I love that there are papers in this collection that allow for ultra feminine layouts but can also be used for masculine layouts too!  I actually made this l/o for a CK submission call...but it never got picked up.  That's okay, I always find it hard to sit on a layout I really want to share for a few months till a magazine comes out, so I get to share it with you all now :)

I used some of the fun embellishments that come with Webster's pages collections, Princess Petals, trims and those cameo's (sillouettes) that I just can't get enough of!
TIP:  I've shared this one with you all before but I often get questions on this.....How do you make the scalloped edge you matte your l/o's and patterned papers with?  Easy Peasy.  Just matte your piece/photo with cardstock.  Then take an inexpensive pair of scallop edge decorative scissors (I got mine at Michaels for about $1.50 when it was on sale) and trim around the piece.  I then take a white gel pen and put a little dot in the center of each scallop (I recommend the Signo Unibal white gel pen .....for you Ontario girls, a great place to find this pen, and other awesome scrap product is Forever Scrapbooks in Burlington check out their website at http://www.foreverscrapbooks.com/ )

Here are a few close-ups for this layout, I find it always helps to view a closeup photo when I'm looking at techniques on a persons page.....

You just know I'll be doing a lot more with this awesome collection!  Looking forward to seeing what you all do with this one!  And don't forget....I'd love to have you join me in the challenge I'm hosting over at Webster's pages this month.  Use your Websters Trim and do a little cut work with your Websters papers....come play with us!

~Gabrielle xxx

Bo Bunny Timepiece!! & Dusty Attic!

I just love it when the products of two of the design teams I'm on mesh so well together!!  I feel like the small skelleton clock (DA0430), the Chains (DA0312) and the Cogs (DA0001) from Dusty Attic were just made to go with the beautiful Bo Bunny collection called Timepiece.  I created this layout using the beautiful sketch by Juliana Michaels (see below)....

I decided to do a more masculine layout this time around so I made one of my nephew (my sister's son)  He is like the son I never had.  He is now in his early 20's ....a time when most guys his age only have time for their friends or girlfriends. Well, he has plenty of friends and a really sweet girlfriend but he still makes time for everyone.  I love that he'll still call me up to just pop in and hang out, watch a movie, spend time with our girls or just chat.  My sister & BIL raised an awesome kid there and we love him.  I took this photo of him when we had a little pool party together, just family and a few friends.  Here are a few close up shots of this page.....

For the chipboard pieces I kept it fairly simple, just inked with some brown chalk ink (inking helps keep the definition of the intricate cuts in the laser-cut chipboard....paint can sometimes fill in some of the finer details of the chipboard pieces).  I then used a white gel pen to add a little distressed look to the pieces.  And finally I finished the effect by putting some random sploches of  Distress Stickles here and there to give the pieces a rusty look.

For a look at more l/o's done by the Bo Bunny design team with this sketch come have a peek at today's Bo Bunny Blog, .....you can have a go at the sketch and try out for a Bo Bunny Prize!  Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for all the sweet comments.....I have to say I was just so touched by the kind words left on my last blog piece.....so again, Thank-you! xx

~Gabrielle xx

April's Awesome kits from My Creative Scrapbook!

We had so much fun designing with the Main kit for April at My Creative Scapbook, the feature papers are the Bo Bunny Gabrielle collection with a little Prima thrown in....and loads of awesome blooms and embellishments too!  If you are looking for the Gabrielle trinkets, they are in this kit and so cute!!  I made the above l/o of my oldest daughter using the papers and the lace paper doily (I trimed down the outer edge of the doily to make it a little smaller (and idea that orginated with my friend & team mate Gerry V. Gent, thanks Gerry!) ...and then tinted it with some brown chalk ink.  There are loads of wonderful Prima blooms in the kit but for the above layout I wanted to try out another design using some Recycled Dryer Sheets.
BLOOM TECHNIQUE:   I added a few drops of Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink (Pink Sherbert) to some water in a cup.  I dunked the dryer sheets in the liquid and blotted dry on some paper towels.  Cut your dryer sheets into strips (you will need about two 1.5 inch strips to make the larger flower.  Using a slip stitch just gather both long edges of the strips, bringing the edges togther.  Tighten the center, then adjust the outside gather so that the bloom sits flat before you tie-off that edge.  Add some beads or adhesive pearls to the center...Done!  The effect is sheer and soft....give it a try!

I've been asked about the yellow diamond pattern paper inside the circle design  This is actually a scrap of one of the Bo Bunny papers.  I cut it in a circle design and then with a pencil and ruler drew a diamond pattern.  I didn't measure, just basically 'eye-balled' the design.  Then I took a brown pen (I used a Martha Stewart Brown fine tip pen) and drew a squiggly line over my pencil lines, then went over the line again with another squiggly line, this ends up give the design a sort of 'stitched' look.  It's a very simply way to add an extra pattern to your layout :)

Another page I made using this beautiful kit was using the Bo Bunny die-cut paper called 'Mocha'.....I just had to do a layout about my dear pup Mocha who this paper was named after.  I was so touched that Bo Bunny named this paper after dear Mocha, I miss her so much.....

Here's a few close-ups of the kit embellishments, love those diamond dusted roses, the pearls and the trinkets!

A third layout I made with the Main kit, I used the gorgeous new Parfait blooms from Prima (also included in the kit)....the bloom my youngest daughter is holding in the photo is a giant DinnerPlate Dahlia that she and her Grandfather grew in her little garden.....

 TIP:  I made the pink butterfly embellishments by scanning the pink chipboard butterfly into my computer and then printing a whole bunch of them out in different sizes on some white glossy cardstock.  I then cut them out and bent up the wings and attached to the page to create a 3D embellishment.

Another wonderful kit I got to work with this month was the  Limited Edition kit....this kit was packed and I mean REALLY PACKED with beautiful Prima blooms, papers and embellishements!  And such unique pieces too, in the layout below I combined cut paper blooms with the fabric roses in the kit and added some of the unique and pretty metal blooms also found in the kit.

 TIP:  I used a pink Sharpee market to tint the clear crystal flourish (also in the kit) to coordinate with the colors on my page. (Copic markers can also be used to get the same effect)

A second layout I made using the LE kit I went with the blues and browns in the kit and accented with yellow.  The other set of blooms in this kit have such a sweet homespun look to them, the yellow bloom gave me the idea to add a little yellow cardstock to the page (the photo is of Chloe and her best friends horse Darla)....

And finally a 3rd layout I made with this pretty kit I used more of the pinks in the kit.  The photos are from a few years ago when Meagan was in a little ballet/dance class.  I thought the soft pretty blooms would work well with the ballet theme....

 I loved the pretty combination of the soft celery green with the pale pink and deep rose blooms. The little vine I created using the small bulk roses (also in the kit).  I used a little floral tape to create the vine.  You can see a video tutorial I made up on how to make the vines HERE.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you all create using these beautiful kits, so don't forget to post your work in our gallery over at MCS!  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for your kind and thoughtful comments, I read them all!

~Gabrielle xx

Webster's Pages Challenge W. Awesome Prize!!

This will be my first month hosting a challenge over at the Webster's Pages Inspire Me site!  I'd love to have you all come join me in the fun!  I just love using fabric elements on my pages lately, whether it be trims, lace, netting, blooms made from various fabrics!  And Webster's Pages has so many wonderful fabric options for your projects.  My challenge this month is to use some of the GORGEOUS Webster's trims on your projects. For the above layout I used two types of Websters trims and layered them (the two trims I used are from the Holiday collection). I also used the Webster's Threads/Doilys and Shapes (white heart and blue circle shapes) as well as the new Websters Netting (fabric swatches....the white butterfly fabric on the blue circle cut paper).  So my challenge for you is to use  gorgeous Websters trims on your layouts or projects, the more creative the better!  .....and the best part?  The prize of course!  The winner will receive any Webster's Pages collection of their choice!   I have one added TWIST!  Websters Pages papers allow for some fun fussy cutting, so you have to include a little bit of cut paper embellishing on your page along with some trim to enter your page/card in the challenge.  To find the challenge thread and the complete details to play along just click this link Webster's Pages Trim Challenge.

In the layout above I used the lovely new WP paper collection called Country Estate.  I just love the 'shabby-chic' styling  this collection inspires.  The hinge and large chipboard butterfly are from Dusty Attic....I just gave each of them a coat of white paint, added a little ink and glitter.  The photo is one of my oldest daughter Chloe who recently became a teenager **sigh** where does the time go!  Here are are a few close-up shots of the layout....

I have one more layout to share with you that I made up with the Country Estate Collection (with a bit of the Ladies & Gents collection thrown in).  Each month Websters Pages has a Guest Designer and this months Guest Designer is the Fabulous Tara Orr.  The Websters Pages design team girls are asked to take one of the guest designers layouts and use it as inspiration for a layout.  I chose Tara's l/o 'Watching you Grow' as inspiration for the layout below.  I noticed that she often uses an off center vertical design on her layouts so I imitated this look on my page below.....

The photo is one I took last summer up at the cottage of my girls on a walk with their Grandfather (Opa in German).  I like the outdoorsy feel that the botanical papers from the Country Estate collection gave to this page.  The butterflies I got from the Webster's pages Digital Elements...I printed out a bunch of them on some glossy white cardstock and printed them out, cut them out and attached them to the page.  The large skelleton clock frame is ...you guessed it...from Dusty Attic, as is the key on the left side of the page.  Here are a few close-up shots of the page elements....

....and the blooms?  Okay don't laugh but....well, the brown bloom is of course Princess Petals from Websters Pages....but the pink blooms are actually blooms I found at a local accesories store called Ardiens.  They have the cutest blooms attached to hairbands, bobby pins, clips etc. and they sell them 5 for $10.00 (each package/hairband has a number of blooms attached) so I picked some up to use on my pages! :)   To see more of the Websters Pages Guest Designer lifts along with layouts done for WP by Tara be sure to check out the featured Guest thread at the Inspire Me site!   ....and then put on your thinking caps and come join me in this months Trims challenge!

NOTE!:  If you'd like another chance to win some awesome Dusty Attic chippies go check out Michelle's blog here ~~> DA Giveaway!  and Natasha's blog HERE

Thanks so much for stopping by and for all the sweet comments you all are kind enough to leave for me!  I really love to hear from you!

~Gabrielle xx