Technique Overload....

Isn`t this just so Cool!!!  Nicole who teaches at Scrapbooker`s Paradise South Store saw the shoe that I did for the Store Blog back on the 5th of May and she was so inspired that she did her own Steampunk version.  The shoes are pretty similar in size, style and height when they started out but the altered state is so much more FUN!!!  

This is the layout that I`m featuring on http://www.scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.ca/ on the `Sunday with Sandy feature.  On the Blog I have a step by step on how to do the letters and here I`m just showing a few more tips to keep that post form being too long winded.

Here are a few more tips for those of you that are interested:

My first tip is just this and it`s really the simplest thing that you can do to any Layout.  Inking makes such an impact and it`s so easy to do.  The only time that I really try to refrain from inking is when I`m doing `Project Life`stuff.

Here is a comparison of my paper edges.  You can really see what a bit of ink will do to make a sheet of paper appear less flat.  The paper above is my background paper and only the left hand side has been inked and in the bottom image, again you can clearly see the difference between the inked edges on the left and the non-inked on the right.

I really wanted to use dark brads as a design element on the page and these bright fuchsia ones were just the right size.  I used my Copic Marker to color these and …ta-da….I've got my dark brads.

Now for my  favorite thing on  the page and that's the mesh.  I love  my Cheery Lynn dies and this one will certainly get a good workout.  As I mentioned on the Scrapbooker`s Paradise Blog,  I didn't want to use the mesh as intended on this layout but instead make it look like it was more of a fence or metal mesh.  This mesh is really fine and will look great on cards.

Here is how it the mesh looks when I first run it through my Big Shot.  I always start with plain white whenever I`m testing product or trying out new techniques.  I also stick to white when I'm showing something.

I can`t stress enough how great the Cuttlebug Metal Adapter plate is and how much time it saves you overall.  The key to these dies is making sure that you run it through multiple times and change the direction to hit all the soft spots.  It may look like you've cut through and you probably have but with the Cheery Lynn the little cut outs will actually just start to pop out onto your cutting plate when you run it through often enough and this means no poking at all.

I love using my Color Catcher box for spraying and I spray a lot.  The box is so much more convenient than running outside or always looking for the right box to use or as I used to do....use the garbage can because it was close and easy.  By placing paper towel in my box to collect the over-spray, I have the perfect set up.  Here is how I set up my objects to dry while I keep working.  Simple but effective, I just clip it to the edge of my color catcher.

I actually tore my mesh before I sprayed it to avoid having too much white on the edges.  I then sprayed it on both the front and back with my Chocolate Dylusions spray.  I used my Hematite Inka Gold and just rubbed it around but not all over when the mesh was dry.  I did two versions and on the other I also used some green Tattered Angels spray in some areas and did this sparsely.  You can just play around until you get the look that you want and just keep starting over by adding more Inka Gold to cover areas that you don`t like.

The Inka Gold strengthens the paper and makes it easy to shape and crumple it the way that you want after. The other great thing about the Inka Gold is that when you rub it, the shine will come through and create a very shiny surface.

About my storage tip:  

I mentioned on the store Blog that I used some extra Large Binder Rings to hold the tapes but these might be hard to find.  I actually bought rolls of ribbon a few years ago and they came on these rings.  I just held on to them (and so much more) because I knew that they would come in handy some day.  You could probably find something in the plumbing section of the hardware store.  The rings that I have are 4 1/2 inches in diameter and they fit perfect on the Dollar Store Banana Keeper.

Hope you enjoyed the tips,

For a list of all Supplies and Tools used for this project, check here:

http://www.scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.ca/2013/06/another-sunday-and-new-tips-and-tricks.html