A Good Layout Stands on its Head!

I promised to show you more tricks with our "Rule of Thirds" layout.

Compare this to the horizontal format from the last post. You can see that the balloon panel is the 2/3 piece, and the stripe is the 1/3 (back to using the World Spectacular DSP that was featured this month at the Lawrence club). The banner has narrowed slightly into a half inch strip.

And once again, if you would rather use stamps, the same proportions work - I've cut a couple of strips of paper with the Adorning Accents Edgelits, embossed them with the coordinating folders, and added two images from the My Friend set (French version, why not?!).

So many looks, so simple. What are you waiting for?

-Kathy

Stamp Club Olathe - July 2012

How would you design a card that can be quickly modified for any recipient, any occasion? That was the hostess' challenge for the Olathe club this month!


I decided to focus on a good strong layout, using DSP as my main element. Patio Party seemed a good choice, since it contains general "birthday" themes as well as some patterns and also some florals.

Did you spot the "Rule of Thirds"? That's always a great place to begin. One panel is roughly 1/3 the width of the card, the other 2/3. The banner strip ties them together, and the medallion provides a focal point. Aren't the new Apothecary Accents Framelits great shapes? The birthday sentiment is from Itty Bitty Banners.

See how simply substituting the floral DSP for the cakes makes immediately more feminine? I thought the butterflies made a nice combination with the flowers.

 
Wait, what happened?! It's doing tricks. A strong layout can easily be turned in another direction, as you can see.

If you prefer to use stamps instead of DSP, you can still get the same effect. Here I've collage-stamped an image from the set Papaya Collage, then added a banner strip (using another image from that set) and medallions as above.

In my next post, I'll show you how to turn this layout on its' head! 

Stay tuned,

Kathy

Class: Silhouettes II

If you missed this class the first time around, you won't want to miss it again! Just look at these projects, all using techniques that are perfect for showcasing your silhouette stamps:

I'll be taking registration a little differently this time. If you are interested in the class, please e-mail me  (catalina_los_ojos@hotmail.com) no later than Wednesday, July 25, 2012. Once I have a list of interested persons, I will contact you and we will set a date that works for all those taking the class. We will make a total of five cards, and the class cost is $15.

Hope you can join me!

-Kathy

Stamp Club Lawrence - July 2012

The hostess for club this month wanted some ideas for decorating little boxes (she volunteers for a program with at-risk teens, teaching them how to make jewelry). I showed them a 3D flower made from the blossom punch, a pinwheel that might appeal to a younger recipient, and this medallion option that could be more masculine. Everyone chose what they wanted to affix permanently to their box (which incidentally are also just the right size for gift cards). The boxes also feature the new World Spectacular DSP, which I think would be equally applicable to all audiences.

In addition to the box, each person made a gift card and decorated envelope using the You're Amazing stamp set. It has such fun images in it!! It may be my newest "go to" set, because what occasion would that not apply to??! (OK, so maybe there would be a better choice for a sympathy card.) You already know that when you start with something tiny, like the SU! 3 1/8" square envelope, you're guaranteed "cuteness factor".

Inside the card, we made an unexpected pop-up of the sentiment (and can anyone guess where the corner pieces came from??). I just love it when everything coordinates!

Hope you're staying cool and hydrated,
Kathy

Technical DIfficulties- Thanks for your patience!

Hello friends,

I appreciate your stopping back by after my absence. I've had technical difficulties, i.e. my computer hard drive melted down and it was just ugly. I not only purchased a new computer, I switched from a PC to a Mac so I have had a pretty steep learning curve to work with all new versions of programs and equipment! In case you don't know me well, I always have to be dragged kicking and screaming into technological advances.

In addition, my little Mama has been undergoing radiation for melanoma this summer, and I have needed/wanted to spend considerably more time on that front than I had been. But I think I'll be up to speed here soon, so keep checking back to see what I've been up to behind the scenes!

Kathy