Something old, Something new...

If you're anything like me, when you get new scrappy goodies, you dive right in, often forgetting the many treasures you already own. I'm going to share with you just a few approaches on how to incorporate some older product onto your pages without making them look dated.  Don't worry, I know you've got new stuff you're dying to use,  we're just going to sneak a bit of aging stuff in, in order to clear a bit of room for the next trend.

Patterned paper- If you're used to using lots of solid or neutral backgrounds for your pages, dig through your older papers, and pick out some that can be used as solids, and keep them nearby when working on new pages. Often, you can slip them in with a new collection. On this page, I used the reverse of an older My Mind's Eye paper ( green dot) paired with a new sheet from The Amy Tangerine Ready Set Go Collection. You can always slide in scraps of those older papers too, as decorative border strips, as I did with a piece from Sassafras Lass.

Letters- Maybe it's because I love letter stickers so much, but I think even the craziest fonts or colours will work somewhere somehow. Don't forget about the basics you already own, and don't be afraid to use several fonts to make up a title if need be. I used an older sheet of Candy Shoppe letters from Doodlebug Design Inc, to make this simple title.

Embellishments- I added a few stickers from Crate Paper Story Teller collection and some flags from the October Afternoon Sassparilla Collection. These are still newer products, but were being neglected since I had newer things to play with. The really old bits include the metal framed tag and chipboard apple from American Crafts. The key to making everything work, is to keep a balance between the older items, and some newer trendier items or techniques. In this case the wooden shapes I coloured with Distress Stain, and the stenciled background help to keep the page feeling current. 

Trends are cyclical, and it seems everything old is new again. So don't discount your older embellishments and papers, you may be surprised at how well you can incorporate them with the newer treasures you've just brought home. 

Have fun mixing it up!

Erin

Erin's Surprise Package- Part 2

Well it's no surprise now that I got the fun Halloween collection by October Afternoon to work with this month. I am still surprised though that it took October Afternoon this long to come out with a Halloween line. This is right up their alley! Did I mention that the collection is the perfect mix of whimsical vintage inspired images and some great pattern and textures too? Great for photos of little goblins as well as big ones.

Everything you see here, with the exception of the trim, some distress ink, 2 little googley eyes, and Helmar adhesives all come from the Witch Hazel Collection.  I sliced into the witch's hat to hang it over the corner of my photo, and cut the cat in half so both his head and tail peek out from both sides of the photo. I love the orange letter stickers that come in the collection pack too- definitely a fun font for a Halloween page! All I did to create the title was use the labels from the pack, and layer my title letters on top.


Are your goblins ready for Halloween, and are you all done scrapping last year's photos?
You've got a few days left!

Erin, LCOM Marketing Team Member

Simple Stories Awesome Mini Album

If you've got boys, you know how hard it is sometimes to find a versatile collection for photos of them, even harder if you need to tackle a multi themed travel album. I must say, I really enjoyed this collection by Simple Stories; it's full of colour, but in a "big boy" kind of palette. It's cool enough for older boys, but not over the top, so it was perfect for a mini album featuring my 3 little guys. I also loved working with this album by Basically Bare. I loved the varied shapes and textures of the pages, and that I was able to customize the page order.

 A little alcohol ink and some collection stickers, made layering this acrylic page fun.

I love the texture left on the corrugated pages once you peel off the top layer a bit.

Another great feature of the album were these acrylic tags. I stamped a map texture on them using Staz On ink in Timber Brown.

Some of the 4x6 sentiments were a perfect fit  for my photos.

There you have it an entire road trip in one compact little album!

Made easy with the Awesome collection by Simple Stories, and a Rowdy Rooster Album by Basically Bare.

Erin Morehouse

More Misting on Canvas

Hi everyone,  I hope you're not tired of hearing me talk about the fun stuff you can do with your mists and canvas. Today I have three fun variations to show you that are really easy, and give great effects. 

The first is using Chipboard shapes as masks:

 

I began each page by misting with Perfect Pearls Mist in Biscotti. I love the sparkle this gave to my base, as well as how it primed  the surface to allow the new colours I added to seep in. Try experimenting on dry canvas versus canvas misted with a light base colour or water. 

Arrange your shapes, mist, re-arrange your shapes, or remove some and add new ones, and mist again. You can keep layering and playing with colours until you reach the look you want. I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Timberline, Decadence, and Pomegranate). When all was dry, I highlighted some of the shapes using Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze ( Sugar Cane).

The next technique uses a plastic stencil, and acrylic gesso. ( If you don't have Gesso, you can try using Acrylic paint, a heavy bodied glue, or anything that might act as a sealant on the canvas).

I just blotted the gesso through the stencil using a stiff brush. 

Once dry, I misted randomly using the same colours as above.

For the last technique , I began on a page that was already primed around the edges with gesso. I started again with the Perfect Pearls, and then added my colours randomly. while the canvas is still wet, sprinkle on some grains of salt. Try anything from fine table salt, to coarse pickling salt. The salt will attract and concentrate colour in areas surrounding it( I used a coarse sea salt). This is a fun, and relatively cheap technique to try.

To add a bit more texture, I added some Glimmer Glaze to the edges of the gesso areas (Pewter). 

It might not look like much now, but layered with photos, and embellishments, This should become a treasured keepsake. 

Have fun creating!

Erin

 

More Canvas

You may have noticed lots of canvas around lately. It seems many companies have gotten into creating canvas embellishments that can be altered,as well as bags, aprons, books, and well...canvases. 

If you've wanted to try doing a canvas, but feel a bit intimidated, a canvas mini album may be the perfect solution- small size, and lots of pages to practice on!

Here's what I started with, this fun book by Canvas Corp.

Now because of how I work, this isn't a step by step tutorial, but it will give you some ideas of where to start. I began with  a Crafter's workshop Stencil, and a bottle of Sugar Cane Tattered Angel's Glimmer Glaze. The brush is built right into the cap, so there's no need for any special tools, or brush clean-up!

Once I had the Glimmer Glaze applied, and dry, I played with several shades of Glimmer mists like Timberline, Coffee Shop and Tattered Leather. I worked and blotted with a rag. I eventually went too dark, and rinsed and scrubbed and then went back in with some more mist, some Pewter Glimmer Glaze, and added a finishing mist of Biscotti Perfect Pearls to even out the colour. ( I did warn you that this wasn't an exact science).  See how the Glaze works a bit like a resist with the mist?

I stamped a Canvas Butterfly By Maya Road with Staz On ink. I found the best way to do this is to apply your canvas directly to the stamp and apply pressure all over with your fingertips. It's a subtle transfer, but adds just a bit of interest.

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I added a bit of metallic embroidery floss, some lace trim, which I glued on, and two beautiful cotton flowers. I also added a bit of colour to the edges of the butterfly using the Glimmer Glaze. The added benefit, is that it also helps to keep the canvas from fraying.

Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to make this little book into.

Erin Morehouse

I Spy With My Little Eye...

Lots and lots of goodies in the store! Need a new tool to get you going? How about one of these fun punches from Jenni Bowlin? ( click on each image for more information).

  

or maybe you're looking to experiment with spray inks, paint or doodling? These are some of my favorite templates in store: 

 check out all the Crafter's Workshop stencils available at LCOM.

Another hot item are fantastic flatback buttons from Evalicious, available in a ton of styles. These are my personal favorites: 

you can chose your favorites here.

Your turn- what's your favorite thing in the store at the moment?

Erin

Welcome Erin!!

It's time for our very last new Marketing Team member ! We would like to welcome Erin Morehouse to the team!

My name is Erin Morehouse, I live just outside of Montreal, Quebec, Canada with my husband and our three young boys.

I've always been the type to have my hands into something crafty. I think I learned to crochet before I could read! Five years ago I assumed scrapbooking would just be another passing interest. I was instantly hooked, and have not looked back since. A stay at home mom, with a bachelors degree in Art History and Studio Art, I find myself itching to constantly explore different techniques and styles, using papercrafting and photography as my main creative outlets. I am slowly rediscovering mixed media and finding fun ways to incorporate my scrapbooking and art supplies into projects.

I am Copic Certified, and have enjoyed teaching at my local scrapbook store. I am driven by challenge, and love coming up with new ideas to solve problems, or find fresh uses for older product. I love adding touches of whimsy to my pages, and enjoy the process of creating as much as I enjoy the final product

Check out more of Erin's work on her blog at : http://girlpaperscissors.blogspot.com/

Here is a sample of Erin's work for her all about me page!

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper

Patterned Paper: American Crafts Amy Tangerine Sketchbook

( Carmine's Collage, Paige's Portraits, Sydney's Snapshot)

Stamp: American Crafts Dear Lizzy Jar Stamp

Ink: Staz-On , Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists( On flowers and butterflies)

Flowers: Prima Marketing-Laraine Pearl White Flowers and Leaves

Butterflies: Maya Road Mini CAnvas Butterflies

Glue: Helmar Acid Free, Liquid Scrap Dots ( to add dimension to the cameras)

Letters: American Crafts Sketchbook Black Thickers

SMASH Mini Dymo

That is our last Marketing Team member!

On behalf of Michelle, Sherri, Kate, Lisa, Erin and I - we want to invite you to visit, be inspired and play along with us every month! We hope to share a few tips/techniques along the way and also enable you to crave those supplies we love :)