It's ON! The Scrap Fx chipboard techniques Blog Hop

Hello! Hello!

I am SO EXCITED to share my chipboard techniques with you today!

You've already visited the following blogs:

Michelle Logan

Agnieszka/ Bellaidea

Kristine 

Make sure to visit these gals next:

Misty

Rachelle 

Scarlett   

Your last stop will be the Scrap FX blog- http://www.scrapfx.com.au/blog/

To be entered to the drawing for the final prize please answer the following question in the comments section:
What chipboard designs do you want to see more of and what theme or motif do you think has "jumped the shark" (been done to death, is played out, over exposed and boring- you get the idea- LOLZ!)
Personally, I am over bicycles, chevron and cameras.
I am SO in love with stars, triangles, butterflies and delicate swirly script titles.

FEAST YOUR EYES!!!
Check out the "Unforgettable" wordlet!! SWOOOON!!!
Also included the mini cogs (perfect for decorating photo edges), the wonderfully articulated
feather and clear butterflies you can use as stencils or color with alcohol inks.
You KNOW you want them!!! Just answer the question above in the comments section. 

Ok onto the show!!
Today I want to talk to you about layering.

I love to use my chippies totally naked- their neutral brown color goes so well with most of the modernist inspired designs I tend to make.

Scrap FX items: Flutterby J rose model #2013013,
Paper butterfly A model # 2013025,
Paper Butterfly c model #2013027,
Unforgettable wordlet model #2013037

The first element I chose for this page was the spray painted banner strip.
I loved the yellow color and that it made windows on the paper.

Depending on your scrap style, layering is either super easy or incredibly difficult.
It took me quite a while to figure out what I liked to do most.

This page has very few actual elements but each adds a bit of visual interest.
A special eye was kept on the proportions.
I wanted a 60/40 negative space versus embellishment ratio.
MATH MUMBO JUMBO! you say. After looking over many of my past projects,
I found I tend to take over the page and leave very little room for the eye to "rest".
I designed the page so that all "lines" led to the relatively small photo.
I then added extra emphasis with the butterfly embellishments.

MICHELLE'S LAYERING TIPS 

(or- what I've discovered while messing around with paper)

• Always throw in a couple of clear elements to make windows into your layers. Printed transparency material, vellum, frame die cuts or paper you have cut shapes into all work.
• "Layer" with your adhesives. Try using staples, tape AND stickers to attach a main element to the page. Washi tape is semi transparent so it's especially good for this treatment.
• Keep an eye to proportion and edge shape- you can start small and move up to large elements but many times the smallest edge showing between larger items has bigger impact. 
• Alternate the edge shapes. Many of my favorite scrappers rip or distress their edges. I love that look but ripping requires lots of practice- it can be unpredictable. I tend to use punches to change the shapes of my layering items.
• Keep color and texture foremost in mind when choosing items. The most interesting layers include unexpected touches of fabric, plastic or metal. Throw in some string. Experiment.
• Make your embellishments first then design a page around them. Choose your color palette and your patterns then start building your embellishments. The photos can come last.

This title is so unbelievably beautiful. I love the script font. I have ruined many a beautiful scrip wordlet with chunky embossing so I decided to leave well enough alone.  I simply painted the points of the word using Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Sweet Cherry and added some texture by stitching the wordlet to the page using American Crafts jute twine.

In case you haven't heard- there is a DESIGN TEAM CALL. (Find all details in the link)

Email submissions are due March 1st.

I really encourage you to submit your work!!!

To be entered to the drawing for the final prize please answer the following question in the comments section:

What chipboard designs do you want to see more of and what theme or motif do you think has "jumped the shark" (been done to death, is played out, over exposed and boring- you get the idea- LOLZ!)

Onto the next blog!

Misty- My Scrap Therapy (Perfectly Imperfect)

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Budgeting time to get the most from the day- A Scrap FX page

Happy wednesday folks!

This is my latest page for Scrap FX and it's currently up on their blog.

Materials: scrap FX dart board setand Sieze The Day wordlett, Echo Parl woodgrain paper, Crate instaframe paper (FAVE!), EK Success triangle punch (awesome!) puffy star ribbon from a Studio Calico kit.

I had two hours to finish this page.
It's how I work these days and my design style has changed because of it.

I'm using two great pieces of advice to get  handle on what's important and what can wait:
Both come from blog comments.

From SoaphouseMama- discuss with your spouse what three household tasks are most important and make sure those get done.
For me the top three household tasks are:
-washing the dishes
-fixing dinner (and making enough so there's left overs for next day's lunch)
-making sure Lola's toys aren't all over the floor ready to trip and kill any of us.
But really- the house can look like a crack den as long as the dishes are done.

Dave claims he doesn't have three things.
I really wish he would just pick three things.
I think Dave is avoiding having to DO said three things.

The second comes from Jenn - limit your task list to 5 items a day.
Sage advice.
Naturally I find a way to over think it:
Is combing Lola's hair a "task"? She screams and fights and runs around making it so.
Plus I have to do it twice a day- does that mean it's TWO items on my list?
Which is why you see so many shots of Lola with a hat on.
Lola Hat = Mama sanity

When I got the dart set I was all- what the heck will I do with these???
Wish I had another pack!!! Dart Board set model# 2012268

Here was my list for yesterday:

• 1. Return new rug to TJ Maxx as it had a HUGE hole (the rug was rolled up to hide the hole)
• 2. Take Lola to the park (nixed due to rain- took Lola to the supermarket- sorry kid!)
• 3. Supermarket 
• 4. Call medical insurance and find out why Lola was kicked off (she wasn't).
• 4a. Call doctor and discuss why they have insurance info from 2010.
• 4b. Fax new documents to doctor (ei- find a store that still HAS a fax machine and pay for said faxing.)
• 5. Wash dishes. (don't EVEN ask)
• 6. Cook (ditto)
• 7. Punky Scraps page
• 8. Redo flair buttons pages for possible magazine submission (this took all my scrap time)
• 9. Give Lola bath and put her to bed (this is important since I work past 10pm now and don't get to do it as much as I would like) Also clean Lola's teeth and comb her hair- or as I like to call it- chasing Lola.
• 10. Write blog post (nixed- doing so now at 11am)

Lists help you seize the day OR the fill you with dread and anxiety- you decide!
Seize the day wordlett model# 2012123

How do I even tackle things like clean scrap space, find 8 standing hours shoes and do something about new iTouch that doesn't work with 8 year old Mac? (first world problem!!)

OH! And WHEN will I send the care packages that I've had sitting under my scrap desk since MAY.
(insert small scared scream here)

So that's my life right now- I'm SURE it's yours as well.

Fall Hamlet. SO. NOT. POSED! I wanted a smile.
I got this. (Awesome!!)

Smooches!
Michelle