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Friday, December 5, 2014

My FotoBella Vivienne Bundle is so Versatile!

Hello Bloggers,
I have had so much fun creating with the Vivienne I want it All Bundle by Basic Grey and FotoBella!
With every paper I pull out, and every package of embellishments I open, a new idea emerges...


I thought, why not see what I can come up with for Valentine's Day...



Here is a fun little card I made by stamping my own background 
and using ONLY what was inside the bundle!
For a tutorial of how I made it, hop over to the FotoBella Blog!

Happy Creating!
ReNae

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Hey Sunshine! Card

Hi Bloggers!
I sure have been having fun over at the FotoBella.com blog!  This week I made a cute little "all purpose" card for just about any occasion, from Birthday to just Thinking of You.  I called it Hey Sunshine! 



With design paper as versatile as Vivienne, by Basic Grey, you can create beautiful cards and other paper projects!  I have created 2 cards so far with this collection, and am loving the Bundle that FotoBella has which includes all things Vivienne, from acetate overlays to resin flowers, chip board shapes and stamps!










For a tutorial of this cute little card head over to the FotoBella.com blog, and see what other bundles are available now!  And be sure to check back here for other projects using Vivienne!


Happy Creating!
ReNae

Winter Wishes



Hello Bloggers!
With winter fast approaching and Christmas on the way, I wanted to share a Winter card with you. The inspiration came from a Make-n-Take I did Saturday at a local store called Ink Paper Rubber.

They used a stamp with two pine trees, Broken China Distress Ink,
and put a sentiment in the upper left corner

I used a Penny Black stamp called Snow Dust, two colors of Distress Ink, Broken China and Salty Ocean. I stamped a sentiment in the lower right corner. The mat is black and card is white.
I then sprayed Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist on the image to give the illusion of snow.
It was quick and easy!  And if I do say so myself, quite pretty!
Using another person's card as inspiration can sometimes result in some really amazing cards!  Next time you see a card you like, think about how you can use it as inspiration!

Happy Creating!

ReNae


Thursday, November 27, 2014

Vivienne Friend Card

My first project for the FotoBella.com Blog was a cute little Friendship card, using paper and embellishments from the Vivienne "I want it all" Bundle.  It was so easy to make, and went together in minutes!




 Everything you need to make this and many other projects is included in the Bundle!  Stamps, chip board shapes, alphas, and cute little frames.  If you want a paper collection that is beautiful AND versatile, Vivienne is the one to have!




If you would like a step-by-step tutorial on how to make this card, please hop over to the FotoBella.com Blog, and see how quick and easy it goes together!  While you're there, take a peek at some of the other ideas and inspiration from the FotoBella.com Design Team!  They are amazing!

In the next few days, I'll be posting some of the beautiful projects I made using the Vivienne Bundle, so please check back!  Click here to go to the card tutorial: Bundle 101.
And if you click HERE, there is a little surprise post!

Happy Creating!
ReNae

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Exciting News! I'm a Foto "Bella" now!

Hello Bloggers!
I have some exciting news to share with all of you!  Those of you who follow this blog, know it has been a few weeks since I last posted.  Well, I have been very busy!

I have just accepted a new position as a Design Team Member for FotoBella.com!  

If you haven't yet shopped at FotoBella.com, and you appreciate great prices on craft supplies, I recommend you go to their website and check it out!  They specialize in scrapbooking supplies, paper crafting tools and bundles to make scrapbooking easy, fun, and affordable! Who doesn't love affordable?!   Fotobella carries a variety of scrapbook albums, kits, paper, accessories and cutting machines to help you design and create the coolest projects ever! 

Brands like Graphic 45, Bo Bunny, Authentique, Prima, Tim Holtz, Basic Grey and Teresa Collins, all your favorites!  Learn how to utilize new scrapbooking tools and paper crafting techniques for scrapbook layouts by utilizing their tutorials.  And you can spoil yourself with a digital cutting tool, like the Silhouette Cameo, or Craftwell eCraft.  Those machines literally do it all!

What I might like best about Fotobella is that they carry a wide selection of 12x12 scrapbook collections and page kits.  You get everything you need!
They offer these "I want it all" Bundles that you can purchase separately, or you can get a "I want it all" Membership  and receive an auto ship each month of your favorite brands!
Just look at all the items included in the Bundle!
Can you tell I'm excited?
I will soon be posting some projects I made with my first Bundle, Vivienne by Basic Grey.  Stop back by and see all the amazing projects I will make using this amazing paper line!  And don't forget to hop over to the FotoBella Blog!  I have some amazing  colleagues on this Design Team who create some incredible projects each week...so until next time,

Happy Creating!






Saturday, September 20, 2014

'Twas the Night Before Christmas Part 2: The Process of Designing Cards

Hey Bloggers!'
My friend Jen owns a crafting store called Ink Paper Rubber, and when first saw the new Graphic 45 paper "Twas the Night Before Christmas", she wasn't sure it would be a line she wanted to order.  Jen's customers for the most part are artists and card makers, but not scrapbookers.  Some papers work better for one group than the other...maybe this line was one of those best-suited for scrapbooking...in her mind it just didn't seem to have enough images that would work for a card...

Well, maybe, maybe not.  Because even though "Twas the Night" is perfect for scrapbooking, great journaling spots, "Project-Life"-esque shapes, pretty colors,  and the like,  if you just think a little bit outside the box, you might be surprised at what what you can do!

I personally liked the new line very much, the bright colors and Victorian images always speak to me!
So I bought one sheet of every paper in the line, and the envelopes and tags packet to boot, and set out to see what card designs I could come up with!  Let me take you through my process and maybe it will help you to see things a little bit differently next time you're shopping for paper!


First, I cut out all the images.
Along with the framed illustrations, I cut out any images that might work in a card element, or that I could use as an embellishment. I cut holly, clocks and images of Santa... even if it wasn't a full image, I cut it out.
I selected the striped TEXT paper to use for my rosettes.  
It worked great!  I used red buttons for rosette centers.
Next, I opened up the envelopes and tags packet, and assembled all of them.
Now it was time to start playing!  I cut a background out of every paper, and experimented with what looked the best.
I tried different combinations of just about everything I had!
Once I selected my focal image, I set out to find the perfect background, and the perfect embellishment. 
Sometimes I would like the background, but try it with a different focal image just to see if I made the right choice...
When I design cards for a class, I need to see everything at the same time, to get the big picture.  So I put everything out in front of me and start moving pieces around until I am satisfied.
I knew I wanted to decorate the insides of these cards, so I laid the cards open. This helped me to match up the outside with the inside, and again, make the best choice.  I wanted them to be cohesive, yet different, and wanted the inside and the outside to coordinate.
The cards slowly came together.  It does take a while.
On this card, I liked the image, but it was a journaling spot, so would not have worked as a focal image.  But by using the little envelope OVER the journaling spot, I covered up that part, and an image I would have originally rejected became an adorable little interactive card!
And I didn't mention it earlier, but I inked all the edges of the elements. That way, I can glue down the pieces when inspiration strikes, and not have to stop to ink edges. 
All the insides of the cards are interactive.
Only the top half of this little Santa image was appropriate for my card, but as you can see, the top half was really all I needed!  I tucked it inside of the envelope!
And here they are!
All ready to send!





I hope you found this helpful and maybe the next time you buy paper, you'll be able to look at it in a different and more creative way!  And you may wonder, what did Jen decide to do about this paper?  Well, she took one look at these cards, and decided to order the entire line of course!  Stop by Ink Paper Rubber and see her if you're in Kansas City!  And please tell her I said hi!  

I have an exciting announcement so please check back Monday!  

Until next time,
 Happy Creating!
ReNae








Wednesday, September 17, 2014

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Hello dear bloggers,
We all remember from our childhood that wonderful poem by Clement C. Moore, "'Twas the night before Christmas." This year, graphic 45 has released a beautiful paper line with the same name. These beautiful Victorian images are perfect for making Christmas cards. So I made some!
I am also conducting three sessions where I will teach how to make these cards. Hastings, Nebraska,  September 26, 2014 and Overland Park, Kansas (Kansas City) October 2 and 3, 2014.  Leave a comment if you want more information about either of these classes.


 Here are four Christmas cards that I made using this beautiful paper line. I hope you enjoy looking at them, and if you do, please stop back in on Friday and I'll explain to you exactly how I made them!
Enjoy!


And a close up...






Please check back Friday for more photos!
And please take a moment to Join my Blog!

Happy Creating!
ReNae