Hearts and patterns

Who doesn't love hearts? When I saw this pattern layout I needed to try it. It's very versatile and you can use any scrap paper you have around as you only need 10 squares sized 2"x2". Cool right? The original we can see it here.

I loved the wood grain look and I had an older pack of 'wood grain' so I went all for it but will look awesome with any patterned/plain combination.

I made a complementary page as I usually scrap in double layouts but definitely this can be a standalone page, a cover or backing page, whatever you want.

Materials you need:

• 10 squares sized 2"x2" cut in half by the diagonal.
• White cardstock 9 1/2" x 9 1/2" 
• Contrasting cardstock 10"x10" (I used a dark wood grain, in the video they use glitter paper but any solid or contrasting paper would work).
• 12"x12" base paper, I used a light wood grain pattern, but again, any patterned or solid of your choice will work.
• scraps for details and embellishments are at your convenience.

I have double-matted my picture to make it pop and added some black details to tie everything.

Some details I added:

• I have fake distressed the edges of my white cardstock using a Toffee inkpad, I just grabbed my inkpad and worked sideways along the edges, if I wanted more ink I just went flat against the paper. It gives a cool distress effect that adds some dimension.
• I have stamped stitching lines all around my heart, this can be done by hand with a pen, or even with a sewing machine, I used blank ink to tie up some of the details and my photo mat.
• As I'm a paper saver, when I need frames like this, I use a technique called gutting. What I do is I cut the inside 1/2 or 1 inch wider than I need, so I can save the inside for another project. For example, in this case, the outer frame, I need a 1" inch, so I grab my 12"x12" I put it on the trimmer at 2", place the blade at 2" and slide until I reach the 10" mark, then I turn the paper 90 degrees a do the same until I cut out the center, so I will have an 8"x8" leftover square. I did the same for the inner frame, this is a 10"x10" showing just 1/4", so I cut out a 1-inch wide frame saving another 8"x8" square.

The main advice for making this page is to mark where the center of your page is vertical, I draw a line with a pencil at the 6" mark once all the frames were in place.

Then place the triangles without gluing down anything. When you are happy with how they look start gluing them, I started from the bottom and worked upwards.

Have fun!

Zip strips and scraps!

 Are you the same as me and always keep the tiniest amount of scrap paper? Where is the limit to discarding or keeping? 

I end up with lots of tiny pieces, all the zip strips that come with the papers and I keep adding them to my scrap box... so I wanted to do a little cleanup but bin cardstock is so painful...

I discovered in a folder some studio photos we took 7 years ago, yes I know 🙈, and I haven't included them in any of my albums. Because some were black and white and very neutral in the background I wanted colour. And with some of my zip strips and some scraps from my box of shame, I put this page in place.

I finished with a title done in black with the Cricut (font is Magnolia Sky), some bling and little stamps matching the strip above, looks like is a raining rainbow, don't you think?

I also used some stamps on white, colouring and fussy cut them, as this lovely butterfly:

It's a very simple layout, and you can put it together very quickly but at the same time is very happy and colourful and makes me smile.