make your own ruffle trim

   Ruffled trims have become a big trend in the scrapbooking world. I have always thought they were a pretty touch. Notice I said pretty. Well, that's because many of them have a feminine look. So I never chose to add any to my stash. So, when I saw a tutorial over at Ella to make your own trim, I was very excited. What a wonderful way to make the trim fit my boy themed pages.

  My page centers around my son eating a lollipop. During Bahamas Independence day, it's a wonderful tradition to head over to Mortimer's candy shop for some of their home made confections. My son looks forward to it every year. The lollipop is made in the colors of the Bahamas' flag. I had found this wonderful ribbon which also had these colors. So I chose that in place of felt for my ribbon border. The border was very easy and quick to make. I am in no way a great seamstress, but found that it didn't matter with this. Your stitches don't show and it's haphazard feel adds a fun tone to your page.

The sketch comes from Scrapfit's workout #27. I chose to try a reverse mask with paint and to extend the circle design onto the 2nd page. I always have the desire to use paint on a page. However, I often am stumped by it's look when I am finished. It never quite has the effect I am going for. In this case, I liked the look of the circles, but did not like the flat, matte finish.I hand stitched the circles. I looked at adding trims. I tried several other things, but finally decided upon using glossy accents over the paint. I embedded buttons in the circle as well, using them tone on tone for a dimensional effect. The results reminded me of hard candy, which seemed perfect given that the LO centered around a lollipop.

For some added interest, I added some scraps of cheesecloth which I stapled to the page, then smeared with paint. I used some scrapworks alphadots and Echo park stickers for the title.

BTW, if you have an interesting international dish or food to share, there is a scrap challenge to submit it to over at Sketches for you during the month of September. Don't forget, the sketch-a-thon has started there as well. It's not too late to get into the fun. The submissions are not due until 9-30-10. So head on over there for a chance at some great prizes.

Ella's Inspiration Chain

  Do you remember that game called telephone...the one kids play a lot? Some people call is Chinese Whispers. In the case of Ella Publishing co., they call it an inspiration chain. Instead of a word or phrase, you take someone 's project and scraplift it, then pass on your version and so on, until you reach the last person. Ella did one recently, and I made a version based on the last page in that chain.

This was the last page in that chain. This digi page was made by Katrina Simeck.

I loved her simple design and wanted to replicate that on my page. Mine of course is not a digi, but a traditional creation. I used DCWV Natural stack card stock for my base. I cut a square out of the back so I can get more out of the paper. It was easy to do with my purple cows free style mouse.

The photo is one I took when I was experimenting with sun light. I am looking up through the branches of a Royal Poinciana tree. I liked the way the Fancy pants harmony paper complemented the colors of the photo. I used a quote from DCWV Nature and inspiration vellum quote stack. I accented the quote with a Fancy pants felt flourish. On the lower left corner, I fussy cut 3 small circles from some Crate Paper pink plum paper. I stitched over them with Bazzill floss.

All in all, a simple page and one I hope to use as the ending to one of my summer albums.