How to use 6x6 and 8x8 paper pads!

Do you squirrel away your 8x8 & 6x6 paper pads like I do?? I look at them & feel bad that I am not actually using them, so thought I'd challenge myself to try. This is the result!

8x8 pads don't have to be limited to mini books, I used 5 pages from a 8x8 pad to create the entire layered background on this double page. 

I am proud to share it was published in a local print magazine: Scrapping & Kei. Many thanks to Liezel & the team for selecting it.  

It page about one of my closest friends, Lisa. Everything about the page is a reflection of who she is. It is a gift for her birthday to be hung in her bedroom :)

• She is a girly girl
• Loves the pretty things in life.
• Loves gold accessories & home decor accents.
• Crazy about cute critters.
• One of the strongest people I know. 
• Has beautiful, kind & thoughtful personality.

Hello my Name is Lisa by Kim Watson

Supplies: Digital supplies: Actions by Sweet Shoppe; Cardstock: +Bazzill Basics Paper ; Patterned paper: +Cosmo Cricket , +Glitz Design ; Stickers, Paper leaves, Gold Brads: +American Crafts; Frame: Jillibean Soup; Tags: Elle Studio; Wooden Veneer: +Freckled Fawn, Cosmo Cricket; Fabric pom-pom: +Basic Grey; Stamp, Ink: +My Favorite Things Stamps; Mist: Maya Road, +Ranger Ink ; Stencils: The Crafters Workshop; Adhesive: +TombowUSA , +Thermoweb , 3L; Tools: Scissors, Mat & Trimmer: +Fiskars ; Other: Typewriter, Vellum, Buttons. 

How-to create the collage background:

• Select 'muted' co-ordinating paper designs.
• Cut the pages into different width paper strips.
• Layer over one another to create a well balanced collage.
• Adhere along the top edges of the paper only leaving the bottoms loose for 3 dimensional texture.
• Mist entire page with opaque white mist. Allow enough drying time. (White takes longer than usual colors.)
• Splatter with highlight color and paint water color dots in a 3rd color, creating an interesting background.
• Once dry, add decorative stitching.
• Complete your page on top of patch-worked background. 

Paper leaves, journaling onto vellum, buttons, brads & tags make this page a winner! 

My title was matted onto a big stamped image by My Favorite Things stamps...isn't it divine! More buttons, a heart badge & glittered bling add lovely focal points to the page.

I hope this technique has inspired you to haul out those smaller pads & get them onto a scrapbook page.

I'm glad you stopped by!

Fun with washi tape!

I cannot get enough washi tape...& have collected tons over the last few years, so thought is was about time & came up with a few ideas on how to use it in creative ways on a scrapbook page. This page was published in the Papercrafts & Scrapbooking 2014 Scrappers Handbook special issue. 

Washi tape ideas:

1. Pointed petal folded flower
2. Little folded origami style hearts
3. Borders & page edges using overlapping tape in different widths
4. Chevron detailing on top left corner of left page 

Enjoy This Moment by Kim Watson

 Supplies: Cardstock: +Bazzill Basics Paper ; Patterned paper: Sassafras; Tags: Elle Studio; Wood Veneer: +Freckled Fawn ; Decorative Tape: Bella Boulevard, +AmericanCrafts , +Freckled Fawn , +Glitz Design; Fancy Brads: Simple Stories; Adhesive: +TombowUSA , +Thermoweb; Cutting Files: +Daniela Dobson, Silhouette, +Heidi Swapp ; Electronic die cutting machine: Silhouette Cameo; Other: Typewriter; Sewing Machine.

Stitching in the center of the chevrons, masks any rough torn edges. 

A wood veneer heart makes the cutest flower center. 

Machine stitching the row of hearts give great texture & adheres them to the page.

I know these ideas barely touch the surface of what one can do. If you have any ideas...I am always keen to learn new tricks...so please share them with me.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Scrapbooking your other passions?

As you know, February means Valentine’s Day. This page focuses on one of my greatest loves,

but not necessarily romance. Instead of focusing on a sweetheart, it focuses on where we live; one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

When tackling this article assignment for Papercrafts & Scrapbooking magazine, I found choosing only a few photos from the 100's I have on file, a difficult task. 

The thing that jumped out at me was the amount of breath-taking sunset images I had captured since living here in Kommetjie, so finally settled on 3 of my most recent to use on this scrapbook page. It went without saying that I would have to enlarge one of them to maximise its 'wow-factor'. The shot in question was taken using my iPhone, seriously...no lenses or effects. It looks like that IRL :)

I feel so spoilt at the sheer amount of beauty that surrounds us merely a 5 minutes drive from our house. 

Our neighborhood has an enormous feeling of space & freedom, having the mountains behind & in front of us, with the Atlantic in between . It makes me happy to wake up every morning, knowing that a moments walk or drive in any direction, and & I can be surrounded by world-class beauty.

Love This by Kim Watson: Supplies: Cardstock: AmericanCrafts; Patterned paper: Elle's Studio, +Fancy Pants Designs; Chipboard, Tags, Buttons, Envelope, Stickers, Blackboard label: +Fancy Pants Designs ; Decorative Tape: +Freckled Fawn; Hemp: +Close To My Heart ; Stamps: +Technique Tuesday , Elle's Studio, Cocoa Daisy; Ink: +Ranger Ink ; Pen: +Kuretake ZIG ; Adhesive: +TombowUSA, +Thermoweb, +Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ; Tools: Mini Attacher by +Ranger Ink; Cutting mat, Scissors, Trimmer by +Fiskars

Making the most of a preprinted tag from  Elle's Studio with the addition of a big button, chipboard from Fancy Pants Designs & stamps, creating the cutest accent cluster for the corner of the big photo. 

Adding another accent cluster to the bottom right corner of the large photo, creates movement across the page as well as balance. Don't you LOVE that cute stamp from Technique Tuesday?!

More layering of accents from the Memories Captured collection from Fancy Pants Designs & stamped images from Technique Tuesday.

So I challenge you to try scrapbooking another passion or great love in your life, other than the 2 legged variety :D

Glad you stopped by!