Let's Celebrate Summer + new layout.

Hello friends! Happy Wednesday!

I have a new page to share with you today using the April Hip Kit & add-on kits. When designing it, I was inspired by vibrant SUMMER colors, & happy memories of our gorgeous teen on the beach.

Celebrate Summer with Friends by Kim Watson
When sorting through the pretty papers from the April kit, I fell in love with this piece from Webster’s Pagers, but wanted to use both sides. I really didn’t want to cut up x2 pieces of paper for one page, then had a brainwave…why not cut it on the diagonal & flip the one half over allowing me to get the best of both worlds by sticking it together back into a single piece of paper. 

Making the most of the fabulous printed chipboard accents…the double sheet from American Crafts is filled with great sentiments as well as tags, labels & other die-cuts.
I cut my photos into circles to compliment the happy circle vibe that suits the April Hip Kit & add-ons so well. Layering a B&W photo over a color photo, adds great visual interest to the layout. 
A metal circle die made the mini square card from Webster’s Papers, into a cool circle accent, the perfect addition to my embellishment cluster.

I love how the uber trendy wood veneer sentiment square from Heidi Swapp, gives emphasis to the sentiment card, as well as adds textural dimension to the page.
Come now…tell these alpha stickers & chipboard die-cuts from American Crafts aren’t awesome!!! The variety of fonts, substrates & colors…make for wonderful conversational titles like mine.

I love that there is not much thought needed when putting these pages together because Kimberly from Hip Kit Club solves the hard work by putting the perfect mix of papers, accents & embellishments together. These kits definitely take the angst out of product mixing..this April Hip Kit & add-on kits are a perfect example.

Happy crafting this week friends…I look forward to seeing you next time!

DIY: Flower techniques for Spring

Happy Spring to all my crafty friends living in the Northern Hemisphere. We are enjoying Fall weather here in Cape Town, which is bitter sweet for us all. It means shorter days & chilly nights with the bonus of less wind...so  I suppose there is an upside to having summer hijacked :D

In honor of Spring, I have a page of our DD to share using a few handmade flower techniques you might find inspiring. This happy color palette, teamed with fresh, candid photos of Cassidy, make for a lovely addition to her teen scrapbook album. 

Your Life by Kim Watson

Supplies: Cardstock: +Bazzill Basics Paper ; Patterned paper: +Heidi Swapp , My Minds Eye; Frame, Brag Card, Stickers: +Fancy Pants Designs  ; Die Cuts Accents, Chipboard: Simple Stories; Ink: Heidi Swapp; Adhesives: +TombowUSA , +Thermoweb, +Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ; Metal Dies: +primamarketinginc . , +Little B  ; Manual Die-cutting machine: +Spellbinders Paper Arts  ; Other: Sewing machine

For the layout, I clustered handmade flowers around the photo arrangement, creating drama, as well as drawing the eye towards the title, then up to the photos & around to the journaling.

Torn paper & stitching flower: 

Pipe Cleaner & Button flower:

Layered die-cut flower & Leaves:

Stitched leaves & Flowers:

Bought Flower:

Here are a few details about each flower:

1. Rough rose made with torn paper strips & machine sewing.
2. Pipe cleaner daisy.
3. Layered patterned paper flower with felt & button center.
4. Peony created with metal dies.
5. Real paper bloom from Prima for a splash of yellow.

NOTE: All leaves are created with metal dies.

To further support my idea of a flower garden, I machine stitched leaves & swirls onto my background page, adding subtle texture & interest. 

I am so glad you stopped bay!
Have a wonderful weekend!