The One with Four Studio Calico Layouts

The challenge last week on the Studio Calico blog was to use something on a scrapbook page that you normally wouldn't. I used brown pipe cleaners and bent them into hearts! Pipe cleaners should definitely be the next big thing in scrapbooking, IMHO.

PARK CITY

Journaling says: When I was 7 months pregnant with Fox my family all stayed for a week in a beautiful condo in the picturesque city of Park City. We had so much fun walking up and down Main Street, "hiking" to the abandoned mining town, eating Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory carmel apples, and shopping at the outlet mall.

How to: I don't really want to think about how long this layout took. My goal of not taking so long on layouts isn't workin' out so well... When I first sprayed over the title letters and removed them I used a mist that wasn't dark enough so I traced the letters with a pen but it just looked sloppy so I started over. I used a darker spray which worked wonders, sprayed on some white mist for fun, and then I channeled my inner Amy Tangerine and hand stitched around the letters using white floss. That took a couple hours. Oh, but wait, I ran out of white floss and I didn't want to go buy more on a Sunday, so I unravelled some baker's twine and used the white part to finish the stitching. And theeeeen, to get the chevron shaped patterned paper strips I made a chevron strip in Adobe Illustrator, printed it out, cut it out, traced it onto chipboard, cut it out, traced it onto lots of different patterned papers, cut each one out, and then lined them up on a piece of scrap cardstock. That took another several hours. Next I bent brown pipe cleaners into hearts, glued them over the chevron stripes, and cut around them. I adhered my pictures on the layout, figured out where I wanted the hearts to go, traced them lightly with a pencil, and then stitched around each stenciled heart with aqua floss. After erasing the pencil marks I glued the hearts in place and then added some stitching because the pipe cleaners kept popping up off the page. The journaling is written around three of the hearts. I finished by punching some partial scalloped borders around the edges and put some stickers on the bottom right corner. I solemnly swear not to spend 12 hours on my next layout...

Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, letter stickers (used as a mask), fabric stickers (chain people, heart), pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Letter stickers, spray mist: Studio Calico; Pipe cleaners: Horizon Group USA, Inc.; Floss: DMC; Scalloped border punch: Fiskars; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

While we're on the subject of Studio Calico, I got my very first box of goodies on Tuesday!

I'm now an official subscriber so I got the fabulous Glee Club kit, plus a bunch of other bits and pieces to jump start my collection.

Last night I was feeling crafty so I whipped out THREE layouts - once you start, the fun don't stop!

PRIDE & JOY

Journaling says: Dear Fox, I just want you to know how much your mommy and daddy love you. You are our everything. When you go to sleep at night all we want to do is wake you up and play with you some more. You have such a sweet personality and disposition - we hope and pray this continues throughout your life. We pray for you often and have so many hopes and dreams for you. Ultimately your life and choices are your own - dark that free agency - but we will do our best to lead you on the straight and narrow. This world is full of so much hate and fear and gross things, but at the same time there is an equal, if not greater amount of goodness and righteousness. Always look for and seek out the good. Be positive. Be happy. And always know that we are here for you - we love you unconditionally. We love you more than you'll know until the day when you hold your own child in your hands. We can't wait to watch you grow and see what you'll become. Dear Fox, you, son, are our pride and joy.

How to: Mask off three wedges on a patterned paper background and spray each section with a different color of mist. Punch lots of patterned papers into different borders, trim patterned papers with decorative scissors, and punch shapes from patterned papers, then adhere them radiating from the center of the layout out to the edges. Also add in border stickers and a fabric strip for more rays. Stitch over some of the seams using dark gray thread and embellish with jewels and pearls. Trim a wooden frame to fit a photo then edge the left and right sides with a scalloped border sticker before adhering it to the center of the layout with foam dots. Add a sentiment sticker to the bottom of the photo. Write journaling with a black pen in three of the wedges. Pierce two decorative stickpins into the foam square under the top right corner of the photo. Place three yellow label stickers on the edges and trim the excess. Create a title in one of the wedges using chipboard letters and a wooden ampersand.

Tips: This patterned paper background was the inspiration to create the sun rays - it was so easy to line everything up on the pre-printed lines. One of the "rays" was made from punching confetti hearts, adding a line of adhesive, then sprinkling the hearts on top. My sewing machine can't do zigzag stitches properly... don't look too close! Oh well, it adds a dash of whimsy!

Supplies: Patterned paper, fabric strip, stickers (borders, labels, sentiment), chipboard letters, wood (ampersand, frame): Studio Calico; Stickpins: Pebbles; Pearls, jewels: K & Company; Pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Punches: EK Success (borders), Fiskars (borders), Martha Stewart Crafts (borders, butterfly, mini hears); Pinking shears: Fiskars; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

SOMETIMES UNINTENTIONALLY WE ARE MATCHY MATCHY

Journaling says: It's funny how sometimes I'll get dressed in the morning and then after you wake up from your first nap I get your dressed and a few hours later I realize we're wearing the same colors of patterns. I guess my subconscious wants us to be matching!

How to: Punch about twenty-nine 3" squares from patterned paper, product packaging paper, and FabRips, crumple and crinkle each one, then adhere them to a blue cardstock background leaving space for a photo. Stitch diagonally both ways across the entire layout using dark gray thread. Add a photo with pop dots to the empty space. Bend a banner sticker into a curve and set it above the photo using foam dots. Create a title above, on, and around the photo using an assortment of letter stickers. Layer a key die cut on a tag die cut, set an orange hole reinforcer over the hole of the tag, then set the piece to the left of the photo. Slide on an orange star shaped paper clip to the left edge of the photo. Write journaling on a journaling spot sticker then place it under the tag. Tuck a green label sticker under the journaling. Trim about 1/8" from all of the edges then adhere the entire layout on a blue scalloped edge patterned paper background; straight stitch around the edges.

Tips: When sewing across the layout the patterned paper squares shifted and ruffled and corners bent and I just went with it for a craft/home spun look and feel!

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Patterned paper: Amy Tangerine for American Crafts, Basic Grey, Studio Calico; Patterned product packaging, fabric paper, die cuts (hole reinforcer, tag), stickers (banner, labels, yellow letters): Studio Calico; Stickers: Echo Park Paper Co. (mini green alphabet), My Mind's Eye (black round alphabet); Key die cut: Amy Tangerine for American Crafts; Pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

SEA WORLD SAN DIEGO

Journaling says: We had such a fun time at Sea World in San Diego with the Bybees and Kimballs. I loved watching all the animals do tricks. 08.11

How to: Adhere a photo to the center of a blue grid layout background using pop dots. Use a pounce wheel tool around the photo to create faux stitching. Tear patterned paper strips and layer them around the photo. Intersperse border stickers into the layers. Cut a banner from grid paper (it's actually product packaging paper), sew around the edges using dark gray thread, bend the left and right edges under, then place green letter stickers on top for the first part of the title; adhere the banner under the photo. Complete the title with round alpha stickers below the banner. Place a sentiment sticker above, a fabric yo-yo, a trimmed and notched yellow label sticker cut in half, a blue scalloped border sticker, and a wooden frame cut in half for brackets around the title as shown. Type journaling on lined paper and tuck it into the layers under the photo.

Supplies: Patterned paper: Amy Tangerine for American Crafts, My Mind's Eye, Scenic Route Paper Co., Studio Calico; Stickers (borders, label, sentiment), wooden brackets: Studio Calico; Round alphabet stickers: My Mind's Eye; Fabric yo yo: Basic Grey; Pounce wheel tool: Making Memories; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark; Typewriter: Smith Corona; Adhesive: American Crafts

Yay for scrapping!