Graphic 45 "March" Place in Time

I'm back from a warm and relaxing Spring Break vacation and am excited to get back into my studio!  Today I thought I would share my "March" Place in Time Graphic 45 vintage layout and a video featuring a technique for making watercolour flowers using Distress Markers.

My mother turns 85 in November, and I have decided to surprise her with a 12 x 12 photo album.  I'm using Graphic 45 "Place in Time" collection and duplicating photos from her vintage scrapbooks.  Mostly they are pictures of herself, friends and family around 1954 and 1955.  

I have already posted the January and February layouts, and I thought I'd share the album as I work on it.  So, here is March....

I was so excited to find these photos of my mother at a St. Patrick's Day party!  What luck!  Her roommate was Irish, so I can see why they had a party.

The technique featured on this layout is the watercolour flowers...

The flowers are cut with Spellbinders (Donna Salazar) "Rose Creations" die set

I made a video tutorial that shows how you can make these flowers, which I am thinking look like pansies or violets...either way they're purple flowers that match the floral images on the paper.

You can also click HERE to go to my YouTube channel and watch the video on a bigger screen.

I hope to be making more video tutorials in the future, so if you would like to "stay tuned" then click SUBSCRIBE while you are watching.  

I hope Winter is coming to an end wherever you live and that Spring weather has arrived!

Graphic 45 February Place in Time

It's no secret that I love designing with Graphic 45.  The vintage themes are so inspiring!  

When I saw the "Place in Time" collection, I wanted to use every single piece of paper, so I decided to create a 12 x 12 album for my mother, using photos from her scrapbooks.

My mother's precious scrapbooks

Her birthday is in November, so I have lots of time  to design the layouts.  Although I am teaching this album as a class at The Urban Scrapbook using double page layouts, I will only share the single pages and some techniques here on my blog each month. 

Here is my February layout...

Whoa Mom!  Two men...not one!

The large distressed heart in the top right is made with Tim Holtz Ideology Tissue Wrap and chipboard.  Here is how I created this special page element.

First, I cut a heart template from scrap paper and traced it onto a piece of chipboard.

 I tore off a piece of Tissue Wrap that was larger than the heart.

Using a foam brush, I applied Mod Podge all over the heart in a thin layer.

Crumple the Tissue Wrap and press it down all over the heart, scrunching it into wrinkles as you do so. 

Flip the chipboard heart over and apply Mod Podge to edges only.

Trim off excess Tissue Wrap and press down flat along the edges of the heart. 

Rub the entire ink pad of Aged Mahogany Distress ink across the Tissue surface of the heart.

Because the Tissue Wrap is somewhat resistant to colour, I rubbed off the excess ink with a dry baby wipe.

I wanted the colour to have more of a brown tone, so I added some Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Remember to wipe off the excess ink.  You can continue to layer the ink like this until you achieve the desired colour.

On my layout, I backed the heart with a heart doily, that I found in the Dollar Store.  

I hope you have someone special in your life that you can give your own heart to this month :)

Happy New Year!

I can't help it....I love the beginning of a year and totally buy into the idea of starting fresh, having resolutions [breaking them] and creating new opportunities.

One idea I had for a class to start off the New Year is to design an album using Graphic 45's "Place in Time" collection.

Here is the first layout of the album....I'll share the others as the months go by.

January

This is a photo of my mother back in 1955, in winter, headed out with her skates.  I didn't know my mother skated! 

Everyone thinks most Canadians skate, and I suppose many of us do...except for my daughters and me!  Yes, I took skating lessons as a child, but the ice and cold are not my friends, and my girls agree.

Some close-ups...

I layered these banner strips in the background.

Distressed and inked edges.

A snowflake Sizzix die and glitter

Glittered tags and dyed ribbon.

I am really excited about creating an entire 12x12 album with Graphic 45!  If you would like to join my class and live in the area, call The Urban Scrapbook or register online.  

If you live far far away and would like to take the class by purchasing a kit or registering for online videos, please get in touch with me by sending me an email at kelly@klapstein.com .  

Graphic 45 Happy Haunting Mini Album

I have waited awhile to post this Halloween Mini album on my blog after teaching it at the Canadian Scrapbooker Carnival in September and then another version of it at The Urban Scrapbook last weekend. A big thank you and shout out to Graphic 45 for sponsoring my class at the Carnival!  Everyone really enjoyed making the album.

Lots of photos coming up...so grab your pillowcase filled with candy, munch away...and enjoy :)

The full moon is embossed with a Tim Holtz Sizzix folder and then lightly inked with Vintage Photo Distress ink.

  The bats are cut from Clearly For Art black modeling film, using a Sizzix die.  When you heat the bats with a heat gun, you can curve their plastic wings.

The cheesecloth fabric clouds are coloured with Black Soot Distress Ink (you can also use Stain)

Now let's look inside... 

I cut the stars with a Sizzix die and also embossed them.  The Oct. 31 is a Graphic 45 stamp.

This pocket insert has a fussy cut moon tab.

 Each page is made from a 6" x 12" piece of black cardstock folded in half into a pocket.  The pages alternate pockets opening at the top and at the side in the album.  A big thanks to Michelle who advised me how to make these pages!  Click HERE to visit Michelle's blog, where you will find more fabulous mini albums! One of my favourites is her travel mini album designed with Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue.

Pages 2 and 3

Page 2 has a slide out pocket as well.

A paper pieced pumpkin I designed using Bazzill cardstock in Raven and Marigold

Space for photo and journaling

Page 3 side pocket has this clock pull-out

Pages 4 and 5

The clock is also a Sizzix die and the corner webs were stamped with an Inkadinkado set called "All Hallow's Eve" (and embossed with Clearsnap)

The clock is on a paper hinge and flips up.

The page 5 pocket has a tag with stamping on it.

 The black manila tag is stamped with more Graphic 45 stamps, pumpkin and vine border.  Then I used Clearsnap Donna Salazar Mixed Media Inx in "Leather" to achieve this copper effect.

The reverse side also has Graphic 45 stamping.

Pages 6 and 7

The spider web is cut with my Cricut from the Teresa Collins Halloween cartridge "Chic & Scary"

The web flap lifts for more photos.

The doors open with paper hinges.

I used Black Soot Distressed card stock and embossed it with a Sizzix wood grain Tim Holtz folder.  Then I sanded it and lightly inked with brown.  

The door knobs are Graphic 45 brads glued onto grunge board pieces that are painted with metallic Gold Adirondack dabber by Ranger.  I clipped the corners of the grungeboard piece with a hole punch and inked a little with black.

Page 8 and the inside back cover

The fence is a pocket, and this page is a side pocket that holds 2 tags.

 The tags are tied with black ribbon and black tulle.

I cut some words from one of the patterned papers to add to both tags.

The crescent moon is cut freehand and then embossed in a Sizzix folder and lightly inked.

 This beautiful black cat is another Graphic 45 stamp.  Did you know that this Happy Haunting Halloween collection has THREE amazing stamps sets?  Beautiful images and all rubber cling mount!

I cannot wait to fill up this album with photos of Halloween....I was able to snap pics of all 3 teenagers before they left for school this morning in their costumes.  

BabyOfTheFamily is a 1950's Diner Waitress...

Serving up a bloody finger hot dog...

DramaQueen is Annie....well, a more "grown up" version of Annie

She spent ALOT of time curling her hair

And BoyGenius...uh oh.  Please don't judge me as a mother for his politically incorrect costume [or send me hate mail].  

Oh look. It's Bob Marley.  [eek]

Happy Halloween!