Chubby Cheeks

I haven't done any layouts in a while and I wanted to make one using the sketch for challenge #18 at the Filipino Scrapbook Challenge Blog.  The last entry I made for the challenges was about a month and a half ago.  And now that I'm currently working on moving to and organizing a new craft area, I'm looking forward to getting more craft stuff done.  For starters, it was a lot easier putting this layout together because I already have most of my tools and supplies sorted out (they just need to be put away).

Here's the sketch by Kathleen B. Hernandez for this current challenge:

So my take on the sketch is fairly simple and straightforward, except that I used two photos instead of one in an 8.5"x11" format.  I've had these pictures of my niece for a while now (she's a little girl now).  The journaling goes:  "You're not used to having your picture taken yet, that's why you're not smiling.  But still, you're oh so cute!!!  CHUBBY CHEEKS Jasmine Dana / August 2008". 

Supplies:  Patterned paper (K&Co., DCWV, & Kraft Yard), brads (Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials, All About Scrapbooking, & Simple Joys), embroidery floss (DMC), flowers (All About Scrapbooking & Craft World), die cut leaves (Yellow Violet House).

Create Art

I just realized that I haven't posted anything in over a month.  I've been busy towards the end of March, with graduation and Holy Week.  But with the first few weeks of April, I guess I have just been enjoying my summer break. :-)  So when I joined Graceful Crafting's first tag swap, I had to start getting back to work (not that it feels like work when you're doing something you love).  But then I drew a blank, I had no idea what I was going to put on the tag.  To finally get going, I just decided on what papers to use, and then I cut the base of the tag.

The guidelines specify that it's supposed to be a 3" x 4" tag.  I used a smaller tag as a guide to cut the top corners to make it look more like a tag.  I then punched a hole at the top with my Crop-a-dile Big Bite (I know it's overkill, but for the life of me, I couldn't find my so-tiny-it-can-fit-in-my-small-hand hole punch).  It took a while, but after I had cut out all my tags, I already had a bit of an idea of what I was going to do.  Since this new Fancy Pants Designs clear stamp set (I think it's called Pollen Dust) that I bought online from Memory Lane Store came in the mail, I thought it would be perfect for this project.

One of the stamps was a row of diamond shapes with script on them.  I stamped three rows in Black Soot distress ink to create a harlequin pattern on the background.  Although the paper/cardstock (Sweet Nectar by K & Company) base did have a pattern on it, it was subtle enough to not clash with the stamped background.

I only stamped the upper half of the tag because I was going to cover the lower half with polka dot patterned paper (Laced with Grace by Glitz Designs), although I used the doily lace edge punch (Martha Stewart Crafts) on the bottom before I attached it to the base.

I also stamped the main sentiment on the tag which is "Create Art" from the same stamp set I used for the background.  I had to center it carefully on the artisan label type stamp from Making Memories Noel stamp set.  It actually had some holly that I had to cut out/cover up later, but I like this shape a lot.  This time, I stamped the sentiment and label with Versafine ink in Onyx because I wanted a nice crisp image.  I cut the label very close to the design, and by the way, the paper is from the same Glitz Design paper pack.  I also attached some gold/copper ribbon before I glued down the sentiment.

I then added a large-ish paper flower (Prima) to cover up whatever remnant of the holly is left on the sentiment.  I don't have many flowers of the same kind, so I just chose which ones would go well with the color scheme (aqua/copper/black).  And for those flowers that were a little lighter than I wanted them to be, I used a little DIY glimmer mist to adjust the color.  I added some bling, set the eyelets, and added the black ribbon to the tag.  Then I distressed the edges of the tag with distress ink.

I also wanted to include a quote that went well with the sentiment: "Let yourself be drawn by the pull of what you really love."  It's one of the lines from a poem by Rumi, and it rings true with me and crafting. :-)  I thought I would be done at this point, but somehow, it still didn't feel quite finished.  So the tags sat like that for several days, until I just added some punched out teeny tiny butterfly shapes (which I only glued along the center, so I can fold the wings up) and a little bling flourish to the flower.  So here they are, the tags I made for my first ever tag swap.  I didn't expect to take so long to make them, but the conceptualizing and waiting for inspiration to hit me took much longer...  I would say, more than half the time (or much more than that!) than the actual work.  Needless to say, this will not prevent me from joining more swaps.  I think I might have 2 or 3 lined up as I write this entry.