Friday, October 26, 2012

Little Yellow Bicycle and Xyron Blog Hop

We are so excited to share our projects created with Little Yellow Bicycle’s Acorn Hollow Collection and Xyron Adhesive.
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If you haven't tried Xyron adhesives, you are missing out!  They are not only easy to use, they are terrific for putting your paper and embellishments in place... and KEEPING them there!
 
Here is a layout that I made with both Little Yellow Bicycle Acorn Hollow Collection and Xyron adhesives.
 
This fall collection is absolutely adorable!  It is perfect for all of your fall projects!  Both the Biker Chicks and the Xyron team have been working with it all week!  Be sure, after the hop, to take a peek at all the other ideas on each of the LYB Blog and Xyron Blog!
 
 
The Xyron Create a Sticker Machine is terrific for adding adhesive to the LYB Clear Cut Shapes.  You can see by this close-up how great a job it does both adhering the Clear Cuts to the page and staying clear behind them! 
I used the 2 /12 inch Create a Sticker Machine for this one, but there are different sizes to fit your needs.  I am addicted to the Xyron X (1 1/2") for adhering letters and small bits and pieces.  It is also the BEST way to add strips of ribbon to your pages!
 
 
Don't forget the Xyron Glue Sticks!  They are a great way to adhere the paper flowers or chipboard to your pages, too!
 
 
Now, on to the BLOG HOP!!
 
You know you want a chance to win some great products from both of these terrific manufacturers!!
 
Leave a comment here and on each blog you hop to and you have a chance to win the entire
 BRAND NEW Once Upon a Christmas collection
from Little Yellow Bicycle. Leave a comment on our Facebook page and you add another chance to win. Then head on over to the Xyron Design Team blog to check out their fabulous creations and enter their giveaway for our Acorn Hollow Collection! Be sure to "like" them on their Facebook Page for an extra chance to win!
 
If you've made it this far, you are almost home! 
Your next stop is the Xyron Design Team Blog!
 
 
If you started here, hop over to the Little Yellow Bicycle Blog to get started on hop!
 
Good Luck!!
 
 
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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Gift Packaging with Little Yellow Bicycle

Ever need some quick packaging and don't want to settle for ho-hum?  Don't have exactly what you want either?  Can't stand the thought of running down to the Hallmark Store? 
 
No worries!  We are paper crafters, after all!  Raid your stash! 
 
I wrapped this gift box with some simple craft wrapping papers and Little Yellow Bicycle's Acorn Hollow collection.
 
  Don't forget your punches! Try layering a punched strip of paper for a decorating base. A chipboard frame with a co-ordinated paper inside is just the ticket to something interesting.
 
 
Finish it off with loopy bows in raffia and tulle.  Adding a few more chipboard shapes is a fun touch for the center.
 
 
Finally, don't forget a tag!  The Little Yellow Bicycle journal cards make adorable little tags!  They are perfect for so much more than just journaling!
 
Tip:  The raffia is actually a raffia looking ribbon.  I like it much better than actual raffia.  It comes on a roll, so you never have those weird kinks that yousometimes find with raffia.  You can find it in your local craft stores.  Look in the section with the curling ribbons.
 
Be sure to check out the Little Yellow Bicycle Blog for more ideas from the Biker Chicks!
 
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Friday, October 12, 2012

Limited Supplies at Bo Bunny!

Using limited supplies doesn't mean unfinished pages or sparse pages.  You can do a lot of embellishing with just a couple of embellishments and a few sheets of paper.  At Bo Bunny, we were given this recipe to make a layout. 
 
Use:
3 sheets of patterned papers
1 sheet of cardstock
1 sticker package
1 package of embellishments
 
Here is my page:
Is this not the cutest Christmas picture ever?
 
 
You can see the stickers I used here better.  If you are really watching your dimes, try to buy things that you can use again and again.  I pulled the twine out of my stash.  Twine packages go a long way!
I also used the combo sticker sheet for my page.  Although I used several stickers, I have a LOT left over for future projects.
 
 
For the embellishments, I chose the 12x12 chipboard package.  This is another embellishment that goes a long way and that I can use again and again!
 
 
Now... recipes are made to be tweaked to your individual taste, right?  As you know, I almost always use ribbon on my projects.  So, I used a piece of ribbon instead of cardstock for my page.
 
Be sure to check out the Bo Bunny Blog for lots of ideas for stretching your supplies!
 
 
 
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Monday, October 8, 2012

Just Playing!


Lately, I've been playing again with mixed media.  I have taken the She Art workshop and recently purchased the Collage Couture book by Julie Nutting.  Along the way, I am finding what I like!  I'm loving mixed media and making 'girls'.

Julie Nutting does a fantastic job of breaking down her process for her girls in the book and I love the results that I'm getting from using the book to tweak my own style of drawing.
This is a girl that was made for my daughter.  She recently moved and has an extra bedroom that she's using as a home office.  I made this one to go with the colors of her new room.
We are so proud of Jade!  I wanted her girl to remind her that there is nothing she can't accomplish if she sets her mind to it!

I love that there is no "right" way to do these canvases.  Messy is good!  :) 
For the hair, I use a combination of acrylic paints and pens.  The paper is from Teresa Collins.  I LOVE this collection!


I also love that I'm using stamps that have been stuffed in my drawer for a very long time.  The flourishes are from some OLD Fancy Pants stamp sets.  I literally haven't used these in years and it's like going shopping all over again!


So, because I'm loving doing this so much, I had to make another one for Jade.  This one, although not originally planned to be, is a nod to her sassy side.  After the girl was finished, I couldn't help thinking that she was looking pretty sassy, so her quote was meant to be sassy and fun! 


This one totally makes me smile and I hope that when things aren't going so well, that it will do the same for Jade!  :)

I used some old LillyBee papers from my stash for the bulk of this girl.

I have another one done that I will share soon!  The only problem with making these is that I could make them ALL the TIME!  I'm not sure what I would do with them all!  Hhhmmmm... wonder if I could put them on flat canvases and use them for wall paper? 
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Saturday, October 6, 2012

Happy Card Day!

It's World Cardmaking Day and the team at Bo Bunny has been busy! 
This is a card that I made for the current month-long challenge going on over there! Be sure to check it out for a chance to win a great Bo Bunny prize!
 
In addition to the current card challenge, some of the designers are having a blog hop!  You can play along for another chance to win a prize from Bo Bunny.  I also happen to know that along the way, there are a lot more prizes to be had at some of the designer's blogs!  
 
Hop over to Bo Bunny to get started!
 
Here is my card.  The challenge is super simple this month.  All you have to do is create an Autumn Card.  You know that you can do that and with the fabulous Apple Cider Collection, the cards pretty much make themselves.   Go HERE to link your card for a chance to win!
 
 
Tips: Keep your supplies needed down by taking advantage of both sides and the pieces that are left over after you build your card. The Apple Cider Dot was used for the top layer of the card, the tiny punched flower centers and I punched the leaves from it, too. The leaves are the opposite side of the same paper.
 
 
Also, take advantage of the packaged embellishments. Brads go a long way and I seldom use an entire package for one project. Think about using the smaller ones on smaller projects, like cards, and the bigger ones for layouts or projects where you need more impact.
 
 
Don't forget that you have all month to play along in the challenge!  We can't wait to see what you come up with!


 
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