AWDML Design Team Blog

Reminder of September Contest

Dont forget to the Graphic 45 Contest ends on September 30th

I added mr.linky finally because it has not been working till now

Here is the link of the contest : Graphic 45 Contest

Made You Look Monday - Apple Cider!

There is nothing that makes me happier than the coming of Fall.  The mild days and chilly nights in addition to all the changing colors just makes me smile!  So, when the new fall papers get released, I just can't wait to play with them!  This year, my favorite fall papers come from one of my favorite companies, Imaginisce!  Even the name of the collection, APPLE CIDER, warms my heart!  Here are some of my favorite prints from the line:

This line is amazing!  The papers have an added glossy texture on one side that make them even better! Here are some of my designs for you

Make sure to head on over to the store and fill your cart with some Apple Cider --- yummy!  

Kim :) 

 
 

 

September Contest with Graphic 45

To celebrate Graphic 45 as our Featured Manufacturer, Graphic 45 has decided to  sponsor the September contest at A Walk Down Memory Lane!!!  Some more great news??  Because Graphic 45 is our Featured Manufacturer...everything in the shop from Graphic 45 is 25% off ALL MONTH!

To participate, all you have to do is:  Create a layout using 60% Graphic 45 products!!

Submit your project using to Mr. Linky below.  Please link your project to the actual blog post, and not to your "general" blog website.

Please make sure to specify in your upload description what you used for Graphic 45 products.

The theme or concept for your layout is all up to you!

The Winner will receive a bunch of goodies from Graphic 45!!!!

* Deadline: September 30th at Midnight PST

* A maximum of ONE entry may be submitted.

* Projects must be uploaded to your blog then post it in the comment section of this thread.

* The winner's project will be posted on the main website along with their name

*Your entry must be made specifically for this contest, and may not not be one that has already been shared on any other website or blog.

This will be exciting

Have fun and we cant wait to see your creations

Inspiration Friday-Getting Inspiration from Non-Scrappy Magazines

 Hey guys, it's Erica! 

Today I'm going to talk to you about getting scrappy inspiration from non-scrappy magazines. 

Here's the magazine that inspired me.  The May 2010 issue of Martha Stewart Living. 

 I love this cover!  I actually bought the magazine just for the cover.  I had no clue what articles were on the inside and didn't really care.  LOL!  This cover provided me with a TON of inspiration.  

Here's my first take on this cover.  
  
  

Supplies used-Patterned Paper~Garden Variety, Cardstock-American Crafts, Punch-Fiskars, Ink-Ranger

I pulled the color scheme from here almost exactly and used the placement of the pillows on the couch as the guide for the design of my card.

The second way I used this cover as inspiration is a little less obvious.  Here's the layout.

Supplies used-Cardstock~American Crafts, Patterned Paper~Pink Paislee, Punches~EK Success & Fiskars, Twine~Divine Twine, Buttons~Doodlebug, Letter Stickers~Pink Paislee, Pen~Uni Ball

Can you guess what I used for inspiration on this layout?  I used the yellow pillow and it's pattern of four squares with a fifth in the middle as a sort of sketch for my layout.  Cool, huh?  :)

Remember, design inspiration is everywhere and don't ever be afraid to use what you love to inspire you!

ps~I created one other layout using this cover and you can check it out over on my blog!

Tips/Technique: Super Star

Hello everyone Stacy here.  Hope you are all having a fabulous week.  I know alot of kids have gone back to school by now so today I made a card for my daughter for the A+ she just received on her Algebra test. For this card I used paper and the ribbon from Pink Paislee. Not only did I use the paper....but the packaging from the ribbon is also on the card (it is the white part of the card with swirls on it).   I'm also going to show you how to make the star that is on the card. 

Now to make the star.  It is super easy and works with any size star that you cut.  First you will need to cut you star out of paper.  Next you'll need to score your star.  I have drawn lines on the star to represent where you score it.  Once you have done this you need to fold on the score lines, this will help to give the star that dimensional look.

Once you are done with this is what it should look like.  You can use pop dots under the center of the star to help keep the dimensional look.

Supplies used on the card are Pink Paislee paper & ribbon, October Afternoon letters. There you have it...a simple congrats card for your hard working student.

Until next time...have a fabulous week!!

~~Stacy~~

Layering Masks

Anything can be a mask --- I have used chipboard, product packaging, die cuts, plastic rings, doilies --- just about anything you can imagine, I've used!  For my little tutorial here, I am going to use a variety of different things:

 

Tim Holtz Masks - http://www.awalkdownmemorylane.net/store/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=ranger+holtz+mask

Heidi Swapp Masks - http://www.awalkdownmemorylane.net/store/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=swapp+masks

Maya Road Chipboard - http://www.awalkdownmemorylane.net/store/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=maya+road+chipboard

Prima Packaging - http://www.awalkdownmemorylane.net/store/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=3

Grungeboard - http://www.awalkdownmemorylane.net/store/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=grungeboard

After gathering my goodies, I put down my craft mat (love my craft mat!) and got to work.  I set down my background paper and positioned my first mask:

 

Using a sponge brush, I applied some red paint:

After allowing the first color of paint to dry, I positioned another set of masks:

Using silver paint, I covered those masks.  In addition, I added another mask to the bottom of my layout and covered in silver paint.  I apologize for my lack of photo for this step - my camera card froze and I was unable to retrieve the remaining photos!

My final project shows some more details for you:

 

I then layered my remaining embellishments over the paint and added some stitching!  The important thing is to not be afraid!  Just keep layering masks, paint and embellishments until you get the look you want!

Kim :)

Made Ya Look....

AWDML has a great selection of books and magazines to learn new techniques and to be inspired by!  I was getting sick of the "same old, same old" card sentiments, so one book that I could particularly inspiring was, "Say it With Style: Perfect Quotes for Every Card-Making Occasion," edited by Tanya Fox. 

It's a WONDERFUL collection of quotes and sayings to use for card sentiments.  It is broken up into chapters by different occasions that you would make a card for such as: Birthdays, Children, Christmas, Encouragement, Family, Friendship, Gardens, Get Well, Holidays, Humorous, Love, Occasions, Parenting, Sympathy, Thank You and MORE! 

A few of the quotes & sentiments that I love from this book are:

(In Birthdays) "I still have a full deck, I just shuffle slower now."

(In Family) "You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. -Desmond Tutu"

(In Seasons) "May the bounty of the season fill your heart and your soul!"

(In Holidays) "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures"

(In Sympathy) "May you find comfort in friendship and strenght in love."

This book has become my "go-to" tool to find different card sentiments that go beyond just the simple "Thank you" and "Happy Birthday."  I hope you enjoy it, too!  And, today it's even 25% off in the AWDML Store making it ONLY $14.99!  Enjoy!

~Nicole~

September 1st- Featured Manufacturers

We have two Featured Manufacturers this month

The Designers will be showing off Graphic 45 today then on the 15th it will Stampendous Stamps

Here is what the designers did with Graphic 45 productsw from the AWDML Store
  

Stay Tune on Monday when we post a contest for the month of September and our sponsor is Grapgic 45...woot woot!!!!