Scrap your Halloween Memories & a Prize Winner!

Today is our Final day of Trick or Treat Blog Series!
We hope you have enjoyed all the inspiration from our fabulous team! We have had fun creating and sharing with you. Today we have some great Layout tutorials for all those Halloween pictures and memories you want to document!  

 

 

Trick or Treat Mixed Media Layout
by Nadine Carlier

 

1. Using a stencil and some modeling paste create some designs onto a piece of Kraft cardstock. Once dry spray some color mists around the areas you used the stencil and spray some water holding your paper up on its side to let the color mists and water run down the paper. Dry and then flick some different colors of color mist onto the paper with a paint brush. Cut the kraft cardstock piece down about a 1/4 inch on all sides and adhere to another piece of cardstock. This will also help with any warping that the kraft cardstock may have from the using the paste and sprays.

2. Remove the string from the mini canvas bag and replace with a fun colored ribbon of your choice. Grunge it up by rubbing some distress ink on it make some random folds and adhere it so the bag has creases in it. Cut up some fun papers or die cuts and adhere to the bag so it looks like they are popping out of the bag.  For the spider, I colored it with some black soot distress ink and then used some clear embossing powder over it to give it a shiny look.

3. Adhere the canvas bag to your page and layer up some random pieces of scrap papers and die cuts and adhere over the canvas bag with som 3D foam adhesives and you are done.

 

 

 

Boo, Eek Layout by Valerie Bishop

 

 I layered a piece of 10" x 10" white cardstock on top of the "Pumpkin" piece of Crate Paper which acted as a frame for my layout. I used a couple of photobooth pictures that I took with my younger daughter last year and layered several pieces of different "After Dark" Crate Paper pieces under each photo creating a mini group of similar yet different groupings for each one. I used a tag on one side of each grouping cut from the tag piece of Crate Paper

 I punched a hole in the top of each tag and threaded a piece of the smaller ribbon through each one. I used one of the tags to include my journaling which I typed using my antique typewriter. After choosing where I wanted each grouping I found and resized a bat border from the Silhouette America store and cut it from a piece of glitter paper  and layered it across the middle of my layout. I then sprinkled some spray mists in the white spaces and layered my titles using the glitter Halloween Thickers. I also layered on some of the glitter Halloween shapes from the Thickers set around my layout to give it more dimension and interest.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have a couple more LBH class projects to share with you today!

Check out our new Layout Kit, Costume & Candy Time Layout... now available at the LBH and Online

If you love Reverse Confetti and pocket page scrapbooking, this upcoming class is for you! We will show you to incorporate your stamps and die-cuts to make 3x4 and 4x6 cards to fit in with your pocket pages!
Call or Come by to Sign Up for this workshop next Tuesday!!

-----------------------------------------------------
It's Time for a PRIZE!! Our Winner this Week is...
Cathleen Yahn
Congrats Cathleen!! Please e-mail us at littlebluehouse.misstracy@gmail.com to redeem your prize!

Happy Halloween!!!    

I am Layout using Simple Stories

Hello Everyone!
 Vicki here to share a layout I created using the Simple Stories I am Collection.

 

My background pieces are from the I AM Collection Kit. I'll share with you in the steps below how I put my layout together. For me this is a pretty big achievement because doing layouts of myself has never been something I've been very comfortable with.  But I know it's important. I think as scrapbookers we often end up documenting life around us. The kids, events, ect... But "we" are a part of all that. Usually "behind" the camera. Which honestly is where I prefer to be lol I had to stop and think of it differently. How sad would I be if I looked thru photo albums and there were no photos of my grandma and great grandma. We are a very important part of it all ... so take time to document YOU.

I started by adding some sort of semi dry brush swipes of acrylic paint behind where I will place my papers and photo.

Then I added a little stamping. Just enough so it would show around the edge of the matted paper.

Adding the background paper and photo was easy, then I decided to use one of these American Crafts straws as kind of a topper or bar above my photo. I put ties at both ends, and at this end I cut out one of the feathers from one of the Elements Sheets in the Collection kit and attached it to the string. I added a foam square to the back to give it lift off the page.

This pocket with tags from the Interactive Elements was one of the pieces I had decided from the beginning, would be a focal point on my page. What a fun way to add some journaling. I used the Expression Stickers on some of the tags and hand wrote journaling on others, using both the fronts and backs of the tags. Just a few of mine were I AM.. Simply Me, Compassionate, Choosing Happiness, Believer in God, Right were I want to be, a creative spirit, a believer that music soothes the soul, committed to my family, Lover of Animals. 

Then comes my favorite part. Going back and adding details. I used the Gold Photo Stickers a number of different places on my layout. LOVED them! And a long the side of my photo you can see I used one of the photo overlays. Instead of using it over my photo I just used the part I wanted along the side of the photo, since it would easily show up on the background paper.

I hope this encourages you to create a "I AM" layout of our own.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a GREAT day!

Vicki

Love Bug Feature: Using Watercolor on a layout

Valerie here, sharing my layout that I made for the Front Porch Kit Design Team using watercolors to accent the photo and to enhance one of the papers that was in the kit. It was this piece of Crate Paper from the Kiss Kiss Collection

I loved the "B" side of this - the watercolor pinks were just gorgeous, but I wanted to be able to use both sides of the paper so I only wanted to use half of it on this layout

The right side of the has the watercolor - you can see it underneath the photo and the title

All you need to do this is some gesso, watercolors, a watercolor brush, and some water.

 First I used a plain piece of white cardstock and painted white gesso all down the right side. I didn't worry about the left side, because I knew it would be covered by the piece of patterned paper. I let it dry naturally - it doesn't take too long, but if you're in a hurry you can use a heat gun to speed the process

I then got my paintbrush very wet and chose the pink color I wanted and got it juicy wet with the paintbrush

I took my brush loaded with the paint and after determining where I wanted the photo to sit, I painted a line across the page.

 

When I had enough paint on my page, I dipped my paintbrush into water and swiped it across the paint on the page and let it drip down by tilting my page up

 To further make the paint move around (and also to help it dry), I used my heat gun to push the paint around and down to the bottom of my cardstock

This was the finished look

I then attached the patterned paper to the left side of my page, used some heart stickers right down the middle, did a little sewing, attached my matted photos to the correct spot and started layering the embellishments and added the title. Here's the completed project again

This Front Porch Kit is still available at the Little Blue House! You can purchase at the LBH or online at www.thelittlebluehouseonline.com. 

Leave a comment here today and you will be entered into a drawing for a LOVE BUG Prize Bag filled with lovely goodies! Winner to be announced TONIGHT!!!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome time creating!!

Valerie

NEW Page Builder Bundles @ the Little Blue House!!!

Good Morning!
Several of you have been asking about our Page Builder Program...and today I will fill you in on our NEW Page Builder Bundles!!! 

What is a Page Builder Bundle??

Our NEW Page Builder Bundles are a hand-selected bundle of unique Paper Crafting goodies! With each bundle you will receive an assortment of printed papers, coordinating cardstock, a fabulous variety of embellies, fun fibers/ribbon, and a few unexpected finds too!

 Each bundle will come with a Page Builder Bundle BluePrint Guide which is a photo-filled, step by step instruction guide which will include all cutting dimensions. You will receive BluePrints for a minimum of 3 single layouts and 1 double layout (all made from the contents in one Bundle Bag). The BluePrint Guide will be emailed to you at the time of purchase. These Page Builder Bundles are $25 each and a limited quantities are available. 

If you love the layouts, but would prefer to create them from your own stash of papers and embellishments, you can purchase the Page Builder Bundle Guide for $10. Once purchased, it will be sent to you via email.

We are excited to release TWO NEW Page Builder Bundles TODAY!!! Party Time and Love to Read are now available and on display at the Little Blue House! We will be releasing several unique Bundles throughout the year. 

Here are photos of the two double layouts made from these NEW Page Builder Bundles...

"Celebrate" Layout

Designed by: Miss Tracy
"Party Time" Page Builder Bundle

"I love Books" Layout

Designed by: Miss Tracy

"Love to Read" Page Builder Bundle

Please stop by the Little Blue House to see all of the layouts designed with these two new Page Builder Bundles. They are on display in the front studio. 

Layouts for these Page Builder Bundles have been designed by myself, Miss Tracy, Rhonda Merry, Natalie Sheeran, and Cathy Grigsby. We hope you enjoy our pages!!!

Another fun NEW addition...

PAGE BUILDERS NIGHT @ the LBH!

Cat and Nat (the Blue Crew) will be hosting a Page Builders Night at the Little Blue House. Bring up your bundles and enjoy their assistance as you put them together. Extra Goodies will be given to each attendee! We will have a few prize give-aways and serve snacks & beverages for this workshop night. Cost per person is $15 and you must reserve a seat in advance. 

PAGE BUILDERS WORKSHOP: $15

Friday, Feb. 20th   6pm-10pm

Make plans to join us and enjoy time spent with other Page Builders! Most importantly, you'll leave with finished layouts....YaY!!!

If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Keep Creating,

Miss Tracy :)

MORE Designer Spotlights: Susan Tidwell & Lynette Chiles

We are back for more Designer Spotlights!!! Meet two of our most talented designers and instructors, Susan Tidwell and Lynette Chiles.
These two gals teach and designer several of the beautiful creations you see at The Little Blue House.
If their not in the studio... they are probably off spoiling their grandkids! hehehe :)
Get to know these 2 lovely ladies better today on our Designer Spotlight!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Designer Spotlight: Susan Tidwell

Hi LBH friends, this is Susan Tidwell. Many of you know me as a designer and instructor at The Little Blue House since we first opened our doors over 4 years ago. Before that, I worked with Tracy at Anthologies, Create Joy and Recollections. I love teaching and am so excited to now join the new LBH Media Team!

I have been married to my husband, Bill, for 42 years and we have five grown children living all over the US, two darling little grand boys and two more on the way! Since two of our daughters are flight attendants for Southwest, we are fortunate to have non-rev flight benefits and we take advantage of them often to visit our kids and grand boys.

I have crafted all my life, dabbling in everything from sewing to pottery to needlepoint before finally settling into the paper arts. It started with rubber stamping and card-making about 15 years ago and has developed into an obsession for mixed media since that encompasses it all! I love to create using just about anything, love texture and color and repurposing things that might otherwise be thrown away. (I’ve been known to retrieve things from the trash can!) I’m also a technique junkie and a day for me isn’t quite complete without getting painty and messy.

It’s hard to choose my favorite projects as usually whatever I’m working on at that moment is my favorite. This altered cigar box was fun to make using lots of “junque” and painty layers. 

I love to create mixed media canvases and this one was one of my first so this holds a special place in my heart.

  I also enjoy making books - this last project  (“Summer Journey”) is a favorite travel book and box I made and taught several years ago. It was featured as one of Maya Road’s Project Recipes and you can download instructions from their website. 

Products that I can’t live without would be: 1) gesso, 2) paints (my favs at the moment are Dina Wakley’s new Media acrylics); and 3) texture paste (I love Ranger’s for great texture and Faber Castell’s Whipped Spackle for great detail). I mostly use old book pages or music papers but I do love the paper lines of Authentique, Graphic 45 and Webster’s Pages. 

If I’m not at the LBH, you can find me on my blog: www.susan-artfulmuisings.blogspot.com.

Designer Spotlight: Lynette Chiles

I began creating ART at the young age of four. Inspired and taught by my paternal grandmother, an artist, my maternal grandmother, a florist, and my mother, a seamtress. I also had two aunts that taught me to knit. I studied ART in high school and college.

My first art work age 4, framed in my craft room

I taught macramé in the 70’s, did cross stitch, needlepoint, crochet, knitting, ceramics, and many other crafts over the years. I have even done 4” of tatting, (required for college course).  I started quilting and it became my passion and “addiction”. I met Joan Elizabeth Lewis and together we started a quilt pattern publishing business, Tomorrow’s Heirlooms. For a short time, we owned and operated a retail quilting store, Spools Gold. Our greatest accomplishment was co-authoring a book for Better Homes and Gardens, 501 Quilt Blocks. Joan lost her courageous battle with cancer and I gracefully left the Quilt Industry, after spending twenty years in that industry.

And then……I began scrapbooking. I am a prolific scrapbooker, having created over one hundred albums. I am detailed and precise. I still use a ruler OFTEN. I have learned to spend time creating mixed media, even though “getting messy” isn’t my strong suit. I do love the outcome.

My favorite product to use is.... Glossy Accents!! I use glossy for just about everything, I like to use it to add a pretty gloss finish to a project or just using it as a glue to attach pieces together.
My other favorite product is... PAPER, PAPER, and more PAPER... If I had to choose my favorite paper companies I would say Simple Stories, Bella Blvd, October Afternoon and all the NEW Websters Pages.

I am married to my high school sweetheart, 45 years and counting. We have three children, one son and two daughters. They are all married so I inherited three other children. My four grandchildren, three boys and one girl bring me much joy and many blessings.

I do blog occasionally for our Front Porch Kit releases so please check out my blog: http://netteart.blogspot.com
________________________________________________________________
Thanks for sharing Susan and Lynette!
Stop by the Little Blue House and see more of their beautiful creations!

Front Porch Kits: REVEAL DAY

It's finally here!!! YAY!!!
Today is the BIG REVEAL of our NEW Front Porch Kit,

Weekend Adventure!!!

Our NEW Front Porch Kit is called 

Weekend Adventure....and it's packed with some fabulous finds perfect for celebrating one of my favorite things...WEEKENDS!!! Whether you are packing up for a weekend trip, or taking your kiddos to the "big game", trips to the Park, your Daycation-Staycation - Vacation Destinations, or simply enjoying time with family and friends!!! This kit is perfect for the EveryDay Moments that bring you JoY !!!

This kit will be a great Creative Adventure for you to embark on...and we make it easy for you!!! With the purchase of your Weekend Adventure Kit, you will also receive a BluePrint Guide with step-by-step instructions for 8 unique projects!

...and we have 2 Specialty Workshops that will be available only to our Front Porch Kit customers. This is something NEW we are offering at the Little Blue House and we are super-excited about it! I'll be posting more about these Special FPK Workshops  later this week. 

And there's even more great Inspiration!!!

Our fabulous FPK Design Team has created some

 amazing projects with their Weekend Adventure Kits and you can see all of their creations in our Inspiration Gallery...It's located on our website...

www.thelittlebluehouseonline.com

I want to take a moment to Thank You for posting comments on our Sneak Peek posts. I'm so excited to announce our WINNER...

Congratulations to

LINSEY (From Auburn, WA)

Congratulations Linsey...Give us a call at the LBH to claim your Weekend Adventure Kit!!!

You can now purchase your Weekend Adventure Kits at the Little Blue House or online at... 

www.thelittlebluehouseonline.com

Weekend Adventure Kits are ready to pick up now and only available while supplies last. The BluePrint Guides will be ready and emailed out on Tues. May 27th. Did you see the FuN stamp set in the photo?? Each Weekend Adventure Kit includes an Exclusive Stamp Set by Reverse Confetti...designed just for this Kit...

I Love it!!!!! YOU will too!!!

Come see us at the LBH...the Weekend Adventure Design Board and loads of fabulous Projects are all on display! Stop by and take a looksie! 

Always remember--Stay true to your Passion!
Keep Creating!
Miss Tracy :)

P.S. The FPK Designers are revealing their projects today too...check out their blogs!

Susan Liles
Rhonda Merry

Valerie Bishop
DeeDee Roe
Lynette Chiles
Tracy Pounds