AWDML Design Team Blog

Inspiration Friday

Hi Everyone!  It's Scarlett with you today to bring a little inspiration into your Friday.  Did you know the forum is filled with sketches and challenges for you everyday?!  There is a whole lot of mojo kick starters there and you need to check it out.  I love going to the sketch section because sketches are such a great way to get a LO planned, started, and completed with ease. So my inspiration for you today comes from one of the sketches. 

Here is the sketch:

This was created by our wonderful DT Coordinator, Lucy Chesna. 

Now, I must say I am not a 2 page LO girl very often at all, but that certainly doesn't mean this sketch is not doable.  I adjusted it to fit my needs.  I took the left hand side of the sketch as my starting point and instead of doing a 12x12 LO, I went with 8.5x11.

Here is my LO:

The Best Gift

I really love these pictures of my kiddos when they were younger and was glad to finally get them scrapped!  I hope this inspires you to go and check out all the fantabulous sketches there are in the forum.

Products Used:

Patterned Paper, Letters, Trim, Sticker - The Girls' Paperie Tinsel and Twig (remember The Girls' Paperie is 25% off)

Twine - The Twinery

Snowflake Punch - Martha Stewart

 

 

Friday Inspiration

Hi, everyone!

We have a fabulous new feature on our message board: Daily Challenges and Sketches!!  Come check them out and see what you can win!  I chose to take on one of Kim's color challenges from earlier in the month.  It's a wonderful fall color scheme:

To me, this color pallette just screamed for me to use my new Apple Cider papers from Imaginisce!  I put these fun papers together with a PageMaps sketch, and I LOVE the layout that I created to remember our trip to the apple orchard this fall.  I even used an overlay!

 
 
I totally loved cutting out the apples from one of the pieces of Apple Cider paper, and the pleating was oh, so easy!  If you haven't been over to check out the message board lately, I invite you to come on over and play with us!  We are having a blast!!

Products Used:  American Crafts Cardstock, Imaginisce "Apple Cider" Patterned Paper, Thickers, Hambly Overlay, Maya Road "Create a Forest" Stamp, Martha Stewart Border punch

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

~~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!!!!

Friday Inspiration!

Do you ever have a time when you make a layout, card or other project and then you step back to look at it and think, "Ho-Hum."  You stare at it trying to decide what it needs to make it really POP!  Well, I have a super-simple suggestion for you that will POP your socks off!  Grab your white pen and add some doodling.  Doodling can range from very intricate swirls and patterns to simple dots and faux stitching. 

On this layout I had FUN adding tons of white dots around the edges of the papers and when I stepped back again, it looked to me like it had a lot more dimension and FUN to my page!

And, here's another one where the white circle of dots really completed the page and the white dots also helped to pop the journaling strips and heart out from the patterned paper background.

 
  So, grab your white pen and go to town on your pages!  You'll be amazed at the difference a little white dot can make!

AWDML Produts Used: Echo Park Sweet Summer Time Patterned Paper, American Crafts Cardstock, Prima Flocked Alpha Stickers, Imaginisce Lucy Bird Patterned Paper, Clearsnap Cat's Eye Ink, Prima Flowers, Bo Bunny Double Dot Naked Chipboard, WHITE PEN! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

--Nicole

It's All About Layers!

Hi There Everybody, Happy Thursday!  It's Scarlett here today to share with you some ideas and a technique for layering with your punches. 

First up, a technique for covering up shapes with border punches.  I think the first time I ever saw this done was by our very own Nicole.  I fell in love with the LO she created using this technique and stored it away in my brain for later use. Let's get started!

Step 1: Prepare Your Paper

To begin this technique, you are going to need the shape you would like to cover and enough punched border strips to cover it.  You will also need to create a strip with both edges punched.  I created mine a bit wider than the rest of the strips I was using.  For this project, I used a 3.5" circle, which took 12 strips to cover, not counting the center strip.

Step 2: Cover Up Your Shape

You'll have to forgive me because I got so engrossed in creating I forgot to take a picture of this step and recreated it.  In this step, you are going to cover up your circle with the border strips.  Place a strip at the bottom and glue, then place a strip at the top and glue.  Continue until your strips meet in the middle.  I worked alternately at the top and bottom, to ensure I would meet in the middle evenly.  Then place your double punched strip across the middle.  Trim off excess strips from the sides.

Step 3: Embellish Your Circle

I chose to add a punched scalloped edge around the outside to give my circle the appearance of a flower.  Then I topped it off with a punched circle and butterfly.

Step 4: Finished Project

This technique does take a bit of time with all the punching involved, but it sure is worth it.  I think it creates such a pretty background.

Here are some other ideas for layering up your projects using punches:

Layer Your Shapes (in my case circles)

Create dimensional layers with your punches and then add a punched edge around to finish off.

Use your punches in combination with other supplies in your stash and patterns cut from your paper to create embellishments on your pages.

Layer borders to create depth and interest on your LOs

Using a couple different border punches along with straight edged paper makes for delightful layers.

I hope I have been able to kick start your mojo thinking layers.  So, the next time you are working on a project bust out those punches and layer them on up!

Happy Scrappin'!!

Products Used in Creations:

Pucnhes - Fiskars Apron Lace

EK Success Double Crochet Lace

EK Success Martha Stewart Scallop Dot

Fiskars Upper Crest

Marvy Circle Punches

Patterned Papers - October Afternoon Fly A Kite

Studio Calico Documentary & Anthology

Letters - Studio Calico

Embellishments - October Afternoon

Cosmo Cricket

Stamps - Unity Stamp Co.

Featured Manufacturer- BO BUNNY

We have two wonderful manufacturer's that we will be featuring in the month of August.

Our 1st reveal and feature manufacturer is Bo Bunny

 

You can check out all the goodies that

A Walk Down Memory Lane

has in the store HERE

Check out what the designers did this month with Bo Bunny

 

 

Stay tune for August 15th when we showcase the next manufacture for August- Unity Stamps  

Recycle those Innies!

heheheh---any idea what I'm talking about?  I didn't think so!  I love to use pop dots to lift embellishments and things up off my layouts to add dimension and interest.  I find that I am constantly running out of them, especially if I am lifting a large item and need to use like 10-15 dots for coverage.  Well, one day, I ran out and of course, I was in the middle of an assignment.  After looking around my scrap space for a bit, I had an ahhh-haaa moment!  I pulled out all my chipboard alphas and punched out the centers and the negative space.  Now, I just cut up the larger pieces and place them under the embellishments for lift!  Of course, I still love my little pop dots, but for larger items (and smaller items in a bind), I use my chipboard innies!

 

My sample layout is full of yummy Jillibean New England Clam Chowder and it is on sale in the store for 25% off until the end of July!

Product Review~A Walk Down Memory Lane Kits!!!

Hey gals, it's Erica.  Have I got a great product review for you! 

Now, you know how the ecomony is not as fabulous as it could be right?  But, we still have to feed our creative souls, right?  Of course we do!  Here's how we feed our need and still stay in line with our budget.  :)

A Walk Down Memory Lane Kits.  That's right, kits!  AWDML used to have a monthly kit club and Lisa, bless her heart, still has some of those kits left.  She has also, bless her heart even more, marked them down to a ridiculously low price.  How low?  Um, yeah, $10.00!  Squeal!  When I found these babies, I bought three right away and have a few more on my wish list. 

Here are a couple of my favorites and some of the products that are worth more than the $10.00 cost of the kit! 

She Said.

 
There are goodies galore in this cute kit!  It comes with a full size bottle of Maya Mist, a package of Chatterbox Artsylicious alphas, a Tim Holtz mask and tons more product.  ($6.99 + $5.00 +$2.99=$14.98!!!)

Everyday Nonsense. 

 
This kit is so fun!  It's got lots of bright colors and comes with a full pack of Thickers, a full pack of Maya Road chipboard and a bottle of Stickles!  ($4.99+$3.70+$1.99=$10.68!!)

Gadgets and Gizmos. 

 
This bad boy is perfect for all the little boys (and some big ones) in your life.  It's got some great classic Cosmo Cricket rub-ons and a full size bottle of Copper Memories Mist.  ($2.99+ $7.49=$10.48!!)

Here's a layout I made using the Gadgets & Gizmos kit. 

Everything that I used on this page, including the pen, came in the kit.  All I added was my adhesive.  Ya gotta love that! 

I really loved this kit!  It came with eight sheets of patterned paper, a sheet of matching die cut letters and a sheet of journaling cards, five sheets of coordinating Bazzill cardstock, a full pack of Cosmo Cricket blackboard shapes, some matching buttons, a few Maya road journaling sheers, some gorgeous green ribbon, a black American Crafts Slick Writer, and the afore mentioned coordinating rub-ons and mist.  These kits are put together expertly and everything goes together without it all being from the same line.  I love that it takes out all the hard work for me and all I have to do is grab some pictures and start scrapping.  Oh, and did I mention that they are ten bucks?!?!?!  Just checking.  ;)

Not only are these kits a great deal, but the previous design team's work is still available for you to use as inspiration!  For example, here's the gallery for Gadgets & Gizmos.

So, if your budget's a little tight but you still need a scrappy fix, zip on over to the store and pick yourself out $10.00 of scrap heaven!

Friday Sketch Challenge with Erica

Hi guys, I've got a sketch challenge for you today.  I hope you like it!

Here's my take on the sketch.  You may recognize the embellishments I used, yep, it's my alcohol ink Easter Eggs!  You can find the tutorial to make them here.

Alpha Stickers~Basic Grey, Patterned Paper~Basic Grey, Border Punch~Fiskars, Pen~Tombow, Acrylic Embellishments~Tim Holtz, Alcohol Inks~Ranger, Cardstock-Bazzill

I hope you play along with our challenge.  If you do, make sure to post your layout in our gallery and leave a link to your project on this blog post to be entered in this month's drawing for a prize from A Walk Down Memory Lane!

Made you look Monday: School Spirit

Happy Monday to all of you!  Hope you are all having a fabulous start to your week.  I just love adding misting to my layouts and cards.  I think it is a fabulous way to not have "empty" space on your page.  The selection on May Road mists at the AWDML Store is simply AMAZING!!  I think you could probably pick up any color you want.  Go check it out before I grab them all!  Well ladies here is my layout that I did a little misting on.

 
   For this layout I fell in love with MVP  line of paper from We R Memory Keepers.  It was perfect for this picture.  Love my thickers, and Jenni Bowlin rub-ons for my title work.  Don't forget to add a little Ric Rak to your page.

Well ladies until next time happy misting.

~~Stacy~~

Made You Look Monday-Studio Calico

Hi everyone, it's Erica again!  :) 

With all the new goodies in the store, I have to say the one line I am most excited about is Studio Calico's new Anthology line. 

The line has six sheets of double sided papers, a set of four journaling cards, Fabrips (self adhesive fabric strips that you can rip and pretty much do anything your heart desires with), a 12x12 sheet of alphabet stickers and a 6x12 sheet of journaling stickers. 

The colors are a gorgeous!  A fresh mix of greens, blues, yellows and greys with a pop of reddish orange here and there.  I've been in love since I first saw it!

Here's a couple of my favorites.

 
I'm totally cutting out the letters in that last one!  

And, here's what I made!

So, check out the Anthology line in the store!  Oh, and while you're there, don't miss Studio Calico's Homefront line, it's just as fantabulous!  :D

Challenge #8-You in the 80's!

You in the 80's

We never seem to scrap ourselves enough so this challenge is all about you! Well, more correctly, it's all about you in the '80's. Create a layout using a picture of you in the '80's. Were you a brain, an athlete, a princess, a basket case or a criminal? (Name that movie!!!) We can't wait to see you in all your 1980's glory!

Patterned Paper-Bella Blvd, Cardstock-Bazzill, Flowers-Bella Blvd, Die cut & Letters-Slice, Punch-EK Success