Working some more on the wreath project this weekend. I grabbed an image of it this afternoon after locating a spot for it on my living room wall. I figure that even though it's not technically finished per say, it's shouldn't go unnoticed. So, I punched a few holes in the wall and put it up! What do you think? I wish I could of captured a better image of it..this photo simply doesn't do it justice. Blame it on the not so great lighting situation we have here in the house. If I had the option, I knock a wall down and build me one big window! Then all my photography problems would be solved!
Peeking at the wreath at this point should give you a general idea of where I'm going with it. Eventually, it'll house a total of sixteen "mini layouts" or "notes". They'll be interspersed and layered amongst each other. There's some tweaking that you'll have to do each time you add a new note. Pay attention to how the note is angled and how it interacts with it's neighboring note. Rearranging is essential in maintaining symmetry - move the notes around 'til you feel confident about their placement.
Today's note is extra easy, though it still houses a host of artsy, quirky details. Because it's quick to be made, I put together a step-by-step set of instructions for you to read and follow if interested in creating your own.
This particular design demands rummaging through your scrapbook stash so that you're able to find an assortment of small wares to add to your note like I've done. A visit to the "junk drawer" may be required - think in terms of tiny chipboard pieces, misc. buttons, ignored stickers, cute lil' jelly pieces, etc. You should have more than enough to keep you busy here..laugh. I have numerous drawers brimming with smaller items that often go ignored because I never think to use them when scrapbooking. This is one of those moments when the "lil stuff" takes center stage - dig it out and see what you come up with!
Remember my mentioning Elle's Studio a few days ago? Well, this is one of those moments when I fall in love with her vintage phrase cards all over again!! This "ho, ho, ho" card is irresistibly cute, so I took it out and brainstormed various ways in which to coordinate a design around it. I finally decided on starburst circles trimmed from multiple, different colored pattern papers.
In starting this note, seek out a narrow, long background for the placement of eight, 1" circles. Layer the background with ledger pattern paper. Trim the circles with either a regular 1" circle punch or Martha Stewart's 1" Starburst punch. Adhere the circles as I've done to the background card as shown.
From your pre-selected "small embellishment" stash, adhere bits and pieces of decor to each of the circles - while doing this, watch for color matching. Some of my small items match perfectly with their partnered circles (christmas tree, bird, brad, etc), though one or two are echos of nearby circles (heart, jelly flower). This creates unification between both the circles and small embellishments.
Once you've managed the circles/embellishments, layer the fully completed section with dark green pattern paper/cardstock.
Tuck a red/Dark Pink strip beneath the lower edge of the note - trim it wide and then adhere it in place so that just a smidgen of it peeks through the bottom.
And finally (see, I told you this card was super duper easy!), tuck an additional layer of pink scallop sticker/border beneath the red strip you that you just so patiently placed. I chose a pink scallop border sticker for the bottom portion of the note - it's from Doodlebug! Love Doodlebugs border stickers..versatile and heavily textured!
So there you have it! I brand new note needing clipping! What's funny about this note is that it's one of my favorites thus far, yet it doesn't entail a whole lot to create it. With this large size wreath, I decided that it didn't make a whole lot of sense for me to go over-the-top detailed with each note. What's the point, really?! I don't think I'd finish the wreath on time if I were to spend four or more hours on each note, which I've done already. Holiday's often call for practical use of one's time and this holiday is no exception!
Here's an extra look at the note...
Ah, sweet birdie - I do say I love the thing! It's a stamped image from Martha Stewart's 2009 Christmas collection. I stamped it out in "bright poppy red" ink and propped it up with pop dots. It's so folksy!! Makes me want to break out the banjo and sing you a tune!
A softly spoken brad takes the note back a few decades - amazingly, it sits well on top a punched snowflake that suddenly appears flower-like with the added brad (My Mind's Eye).
This is the backside of the note - I'm showing you this to demonstrate the layering behind the bottom portion of the note. Very rarely are the back of my notes without a few bumps and lumps.
Another note from the line-up of this weekend's crafting frenzy will find it's way to my blog in the next day or two. Hope I'm not going to fast with this...let me know if I am! Hope all of you are partaking in a nice leisurely weekend! Do enjoy what remains of it! Take care!
