Making My Own Texture Paste!! Fun with Websters Pages Storytellers AND A Websters Pages FREEBIE!! PLUS Another Webster Treat ~ {Sprinkles Craftbox}!!!

I've been wanting to play with texture pastes for a while now but the penny-pincher in me was holding me back a bit!  I was all set to bite the bullet and go out and pay the $25.00-$35.00 it was going to cost me to pick it up from Michaels but then I thought I'll do a little research and see if there are any recipies out there for making home-made texture paste!  I found one that looked pretty easy so I thought I would give it a go, and guess what?  It worked perfectly!  (I'll share the recipe and some pic's of me using it on this page lower down but first I thought I'd share some close-ups of the page I made).... 

For this page I used a combination of Webster's Pages Park Drive and Once Upon a Halloween collections (using the non theme sides of this paper collection).  I also used some of their beautiful embellishments as well (Cameo) and the focus of the page is the title design!  

I am a HUGE fan of the Webster's Pages Alphabet Sticker sheets (they are called Storytellers).  I'm particularly fond of the scripted design.  In fact many of you send me emails asking what die cutting font I use for my title work and the answer is so easy!  I don't!  I use the Storytellers!  Here is what they look like when you buy a Websters Pages Collection kit (they can also be purchased seperately)  I love the large amount of vowels you get, my sticker sheets go a LONG way...

For the above layout I used the scripted and the regular printing paper font for my title work.  I thought it would be fun to use the larger letter stickers as a mask.  I placed my alpa's where I wanted them but didn't press down to adhere them to the page.  First I flipped them downward and spritzed with a little glimmer mist to create a 'mirror reflection', then I flipped them back up and adhered them to the page.  I thought it was kinda cool because the title was 'You Shine' and the reflection design kind of reinforced the idea :)

Okay, now for the HOME MADE TEXTURE PASTE/MEDIUM!!  It's a really easy recipe, quick to make and super inexpensive!  (Now I have to admit I have no experience with storebrand texture mediums so I can't say how they compare but I thought this stuff worked nicely!) 

TEXTURE PASTE/MEDIUM RECIPE

1/2 cup Baking Soda

2 Tablespoons white school glue

1-2 Tablespoons White Acrylic Paint

(some water may be necessary)

 

Instructions:  I took an air tight container and put in my baking soda.  I then added the glue, acrylic paint and started mixing.  I used a couple of disposable chopsticks to mix it up (we like take out sushi heehee) ....I just mixed to get a smooth consistency, I added a few drops of water to get it to the consistency I wanted.  There are many types of texture mediums in the store, from light to heavy, so the amount of water you add will depend on the heaviness of the texture you are looking for.  Done!

(The mixture keeps well in the air tight container....I made this layout a few weeks ago and kept it on my craft shelf, I just checked it and it's still perfectly usable....some of the moisture was floating on top, I just gave it a stir and it was good to go!)

 

In my research I also saw some recipes that used talcum powder instead of the baking soda, I haven't tried it with talcum powder but I bet it would give a slightly smoother texture.  For my design below, the slightly rougher texture was perfect for my brick design. 

So here again, me and my thrifty ways! LOL!  I find where I live, I find it hard to find masks, but I did have the Dusty Attic Brick Wall chippies in my stash.  I throw next to nothing out.  I used the negative space left from my brick chippies that I've used in past projects and used it as a mask.  Just filled in with the paste.  Below you can see the result when I lifted the 'mask' 

 I found that the medium chipped off a little here and there so what I did was brushed a little Gesso over the design to bind it better. (I think next time I make it I'll add a touch more glue).   I then rubbed a few different chalk inks on the design (after it dried) to pick up the texture more. 

 

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: Parkdrive (Through the Lens, Blanket, Trails, Margaret), Once Upon a Halloween (Haunted House, Whooo's There)

Perfect Accents: In Love

WP Bloomers: Pink

Dazzle-Me-Gems: Everyday Poetry

Digital Motifs: Parkdrive

Storyteller Alphabet Stickers: Western Romance, Sweet Holiday

Dusty Attic Chipboard: Brick Wall Panel, Swirl Vine #2, Mini Scrolls, Cameo Sliders

And before I close I wanted share a super CUTE little freebie from Websters Pages Digi!! Aren't these just the cutest little cards?  I used to put little notes in my girls lunches when they were littler ...wish I had these back then!.....here's a little peek!...

You can pick up your free Lunchbox notes to download and print off HERE!  But that's not all!!  Websters Pages has brought out a NEW super-cute (and inexpensive) monthly treat, just for you! The SPRINKLES CRAFTBOX!!  Check this out!

Do you want a little peek to see what is in the September Sprinkles Craftbox?  Check it out! (You will be seeing some cute sample projects done with the Sprinkles Craftbox Starting on Monday at the Websters Pages blogsite).... 

 

You can find out about this wonderful little monthly treat, that will be available in limited quantity on the first Monday of every month HERE!  And guess what? Yep! you get the cookie too! :) :)

 

 Thanks for stopping in, hope everyone has an awesome weekend!  We're going to have one more nice family weekend before the kids are back to school! :)

Bo Bunny's Blooms, Blooms and MORE Blooms!!

So a few weeks back I got my design team box from Bo Bunny.  I'm always excited to rip this box open and yep! this was the view right at the top of the box!  All the newest Bo Bunny blooms!!!!  I am super excited that Bo Bunny is now making blooms to coordinate with their beautiful collections!  And they are not some simple blooms!  They are layered, embossed, crochetted, blinged up and have a lovely color graduation....blooms that I'm so excited to start using in my layouts!   

For this layout I wanted to use a variety of the blooms, everything from the paper blooms, crochetted blooms, tattered fabric and ribbon blooms.  I really love the gentle greens in these blooms so I chose some papers from the Bo Bunny's New Apple Cider collection and then added some coordinating cardstock.

TIP:  Choosing a limited or monochromatic color base helps make a layout look more cohesive and 'put together'. Here I chose a couple of the patterned papers from the Apple Cider collection that had the soft greens/yellows in them and added in a piece of Double dot paper in a neutral tone (Almond Dot). Then I chose my floral embellishments in the same shades (greens/butter yellows). I find this also helps me when chosing what embellishments to use on a page. 

Here's a close-up look at the blooms, I'm just loving the center gem in the tattered green bloom! 

TIP:  I created a unique title by using a word stamp "Cherish" (this is an old Heidi Swapp stamp I had)....then I used a complimentary color of DMC floss to hand stitch over the stamped lines to create a hand-stitched title. 

I also used a couple of Dusty Attic chippies to dress up this page, the Vine Border, the Chicken Wire Panel and the new Bird Houses.  Here is a full list of the products I used on this page....

 

Patterned Paper: BO Bunny Apple Cider (Afternoon, Apple Cider), Et Cetera (Symphony)

Cardstock: Bo BUnny Double Dot; Almond Dot, Clover Dot

Blossoms:Bo Bunny Dahlia (Clover, Buttercup), Daisy (Buttercup)

Lace: Bo Bunny Clover Lace

Stickers: Bo BunnyApple Cider Combo Stickers

Jewels: Bo Bunny Serenade

Stamps: Bo Bunny Midnight Frost, Heidi Swapp 'Cherish' Stamp

Chipboard:  Dusty Attic; Chicken Wire Panel, Vine Border, Bird Houses

Other:  Zva Creative Crystal Flourish (tinted with Meadow Green Alcohol Ink), Burlap, buttons, some corregated cardboard and some torn book paper.

 

Thanks for stopping by today and again thanks again for the sweet and kind comments you all keep leaving me here a my blogsite, I read every one of them!  xo

Got Another Layout Published in the September issue of Scrap365!!

Cover Image of the September Issue of Scrap365 ....with a little peek of my layout on it (the butterfly)....the main cover photo is a lovely page done by a friend of mine Rachael Elliotte! Congrats on getting the cover Rachael! xo  Here are some peeks of my page in this mag...

I used one of my favourite Bo Bunny collections (Country Garden) and some new Dusty Attic chipboard pieces (Bird houses) on a layout I got pubbed in the September Issue of Scrap365!!  I'm only allowed to show you all some little sneaky-peeks of the layout online, so if you want to see it in it's entirety, you'll have to pick up the magazine! :)  Here is another wee peek.... 

I answered one of the the most asked questions I get at this blogsite in this article....how do I make the punched looking edges around my photos and the curvy cut-outs on my layouts?  I think you'll really enjoy this issue, it's packed with beautiful layouts and projects and has loads of tips and techniques.  You can find Scrap365 Magazine HERE (if you are looking to subscribe you can fnd the information under the 'shop' heading)....and you can find their blogsite HERE...Lots of fun challenges as well as the newest pub calls to be found there if you are looking to submit your work for publishng in the magazine!!

Still Playing with my Dusty Attic ATC's!!

Just a quick little post for my latest Dusty Attic project.  I'm still working along each month doing the ATC of the month challenge.  The challenge for August is "Through the Window".   I didn't have any mini window chippies in my stash so I just took some of the extra chipboard that comes on the outside of the cut chipboard pieces and cut some strips to serve as window panes.  I then used the Dusty Attic Buttons for the flower centers and the Mini Picket Fences to give the ATC the look of pearing into a secret garden through a window.  The Curtain is just a little piece of cheesecloth.  Here is a close-up of some of the chipboard.... 

I used some Tim Holtz Rock Candy (crackle finish)....to give the pieces a weathered look.  If you want to play along (and have a chance at a fun Dusty Attic Prize) you can find the challenge details HERE.  Hope to see you there!  Thanks so much for having a peek (and for all the sweet and kind comments you all leave me!!) xo

What Is Your Place You Can Most be Yourself?

Recently a dear friend and fellow design team member, Courtney Walsh, on my Webster's Pages deisgn team had her second novel published, in a series called 'Sweethaven".  I couldn't be more thrilled or excited for her!  The new release is called "A Sweethaven Homecoming" a sequel to her book "A Sweethaven Summer:".  Her books are heartwarming stories based around scrapbooking!

To help celebrate and promote her new book she is doing a weeklong blog challenge for scrappers to play along (Prizes Too!!!)  The topics to choose from are:

~Reconciled Friendships

~Motherhood

~weightloss

~being transparent

~distractions

~forgiveness

~old friends

~getting away

~the place where you can most be yourself

~the place where the peace is

~the cover of the book

~a verse or quote that really means something to you

~second chances

Courtney asked a few of her scrapper friends to do up sample layouts featuring one of the above topics to share on her blog.  I chose "A place where I can most be myself".  Most of you may not know this about me but I am a total 'home-body', I love nothing more than slipping into some comfy PJ's and kicking back in our bedroom.  It's the one room in the house that absolutely is always clean and tidy.  I wake up in the morning and immediately make the bed (LOVE a nicely made bed).  The rest of the house get's it's clean-up but it never stays that way with the everyday adventures of the rest of my family.....but my/our bedroom is my place of refuge, a relaxing, calm, comfortable place to read, nap, watch TV (Yep, we have a flatscreen in the bedroom....bad, I know! lol!!) and Yes! even scrap!!

I combined this challenge with a Bo Bunny challenge I had today to do a page that featured fun ways to add journaling to our pages.  I used the gorgeous new Bo Bunny Collection called Serenade to make up this page.  I chose to journal in a way that would add a design element to the page.  I machine stitched a zig-zag circle design on the page and handwrote my journaling around it.

There is someone else in our family that loves a well made bed, as you can see in this photo.  I was trying to snap some pic's and the next thing I know our pup Zoe had hopped up onto the bed on her favourite blanket at the foot of the bed.  At first I was going to shoo her off but then I thought, nope...she really is part of the package, the one that is always sitting there keeping me company in my peaceful place. 

I used a little bit of chalk ink and some of the new Bo Bunny stamps to create a background on the Double Dot Khaki paper (above) as well as some of the green jewels. 

I also got to use some of the NEW gorgeous blooms that Bo Bunny released at the summer CHA!  I'm so thrilled that they decided to add blooms to their new collections this time around (I'll share a pic of the stash of blooms they sent me in an upcoming post) 

Want to know what it says above our bed? ..."Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away" ......Can you believe I found this wall decore at our local dollar store?  I was so pleased with myself when I finished applying the quote to our wall and was so happy with the look of it!...Then my dear husband came home and chuckling said, "Of all things to put over our bed, you had to choose THOSE words??" ....Ha!, I told him my mind doesn't dwell in the gutter like his does! ROFL!

So enough about me.....would you like a fun challenge? Then be sure to stop by Courtney's blog to play along, you can find it HERE and if you are looking for a wonderful summer read, you cnn order one or both of the Sweethaven books HERE. Courtney is an awesome writer and has a magical way with words, I know you'll love her books.  So my question to you is, "What is your place where you can most be yourself?"

Thanks for stopping by today! xo

Websters Pages Shipping Week Blog Hop {and GIVEAWAYS!!!}

That's right!  The new Webster's Pages collections from the Summer CHA start shipping today!!  And to celebrate, Websters Pages and the design team are having a fun little blog hop to share projects made with the gorgeous new collections and to share some amazing give-aways as well!!

The hop begins at the Websters Pages Blog, where you will find a beautiful, heartwarming story and the list for the hop.  You should have come to me from Kay Roger's beautiful blog, if not then hop over to the Websters Pages blog and begin from there.

I'll begin by sharing 2 projects I made with two of the newest collections.  I made cards up as my projects for the hop because I wanted to step out of my everyday element (I LOVE doing 12x12 layouts).  I find myself always in need of cards and what nicer way to show people you care than to give a handmade card?  For me scrapping is not just a hobby that allows me to play with pretty papers.  It's about sharing my stories and photos and showing those around you that you love them.  What nicer way to do this than to send a hand crafted card right?  This first card is one I made with the gorgeous New Parkdrive Collection..... 

I wanted to make an interactive card with a unique design for a party invitation.  So I used a scallop edge die cut paper from Websters Pages (the Sunday Picnic Die Cut, the Game On die cut has the same shape as well) as a template, cut it in half, traced it onto some Parkdrive paper and folded in at the two sides to create the pocket/corset design... 

I then made a little insert card for the information for the invite, (who, when, where) that can be pulled out and slipped back in.   I just LOVE the new Designer Trim cards that coordinate with this collection as well as the stunning NEW CHARMS that also coordinate with this collection.  There is an extra waide lace trim in this collection of trims that worked perfectly for the fabric overlay look I wanted to give my corset design, and the sweet Cream Floral Charm with the soft purple/pink tear drop gem added just the finishing touch I was looking for.   Here are some close-up pic's... 

The floral design is from the Websters Pages Park Drive Digital Motifs.  I printed off the floral element and cut it out as an accent for the insert card (so I guess you can call this a hybrid card). 

For my second card I used the Once Upon a Halloween Collection.  I just love the scripted paper on one of the patterned papers....and again, I LOVE the Designer Trims that go with this collection....the large lace/circle design trim is one of my favourites on the trim card!

For my card title I stamped on one of the patterened papers and finished the edges with a little machine stitching. 

The flower was made from another one of the fringe trims (Tutu Blue Trim) from the Mesh Trim Card.  I made it by simply running a bead of glue around the edges of a small punched circle from patterned paper...I ran the trim around twice for a full effect.   

Here are some of the New products I used to create my two projects....you can find them all at the Webters Pages Website and Yep! you can go ahead and start ordering today!! 

So.....how do you play along in the blog hop?  Just follow one blog to the next, enjoy the projects shown and be sure to leave a comment!  There will be 7 fabulous prizes up for grabs!  You won't know which of the blogs the prizes will be chosen from (even us DT gals don't know!) ...so be sure to comment on each of them to ensure a chance at one of the prizes!  The Winners will be announced at the Websters Pages Blog on Friday August 17th!

Hope you like what you saw here and that you've found some inspiration!  Ready for some more?? Well hop on over to the amazingly talented Jamie Harder's Blog, she is sure to WOW you with her project!

Happy Hopping!! xo