Trend watch... BANNERS!

Have you guys noticed the latest scrapping trend?? Banner? Well, I just love them, and look at this adorable one that Chris Hertel added to her awesome "our hero" layout. So, so cute!



Here's what Chris had to say about her layout.

"This layout is a tribute to my husband for Father's Day. And let me
tell you, it's hard to do a layout of my husband because he won't let
me take a photo of him, hence the side view shots! I used the Pink Paislee Starlight Collection, perfect for a masculine layout.

To create the layout, I first took a sheet of Spark paper, and used
the light blue side as the base. I used a sheet of Shine, the side
with the stars, and trimmed it to be about 4 inches wide, distressed
the edges then adhered it just a bit above center. Next I took that
same sheet of Shine, and flipped it over to use the ledger side. I
trimmed it to about 7 high and 9 wide and distressed the edges and
adhered that. Using a sheet of Glow, I made a matt for the largest
photo, and applied that to my layout.

Using the Alphabet and the Elements sticker sheet, I made the pennant
banner in the upper left corner. Added the smaller 2 photos, which
are 2 x 3 size, some bakers twine, the title and a ticket from the
elements sticker sheet. Next comes the fun part, I made some fanned
embellishments using a 3/4 inch strip of a sheet of Bright paper. I
did an accordion fold then adhered the ends. Using a gear punch (or
you could use any shape you choose), I punched out a shape from the
Glow sheet of paper and using a glue dot, adhered it to the accordion
rosettes. Finished that off with a sticker star from the Elements
sticker sheet. Add journaling. I always journal last."




Supply List:
Pink Paislee Starlight Spark
Pink Paislee Starlight Shine
Pink Paislee Starlight Glow
Pink Paislee Starlight Alphabet Sticker
Pink Paislee Starlight Element Sticker

Hey, I've been lining up the guest designer list for the rest of the year... and WOW, I can't wait to tell you who's coming to AllyScraps! :) Have a great week.

~ Dana

Shabby Betsy Ross Dress Form by Melissa Phillips!

Are you excited for the 4th? Feeling proud to be an American? Well, this project by Melissa Phillips is sure to get you in the mood. A dress form album, all decked out in the ole red, white and blue!!





Instructions
** All of the sweet vintage images can be found at Country Living and are free to print and use as you wish: Country Living vintage images.
1. Paint dress form base with off-white acrylic paint, let dry, sand to distress, and machine stitch.
2. Create the cover by tracing the dress form onto Chicken Bouillon paper. Adhere in place, and distress with ink.
3. Trace dress form again onto light blue patterned paper, cut out a “v” for the neckline and embellish with trim along neckline and sleeves. Adhere a strip of dark red patterned paper along bottom edge of dress form,
4. Create an apron from coordinating patterned paper and use vintage book print around the edges to resemble a ruffle. Adhere this entire piece over Chicken Bouillon base.
5. Use tea-stained twill tape to create a tie for your apron and tie it in a bow on the backside of the dress form cover. Embellish with a button. Cut paper strip with the Pledge of Allegiance on it and adhere across front of apron.
6. Embellish neckline with pearls from the embellishment pack.
7. For each additional page, cover with coordinating paper and use die cut paper along bottom edge.
8. Cut out vintage images and adhere to each page.
9. Embellish with flowers from the embellishment pack, polka dotted canvas flowers, word strips, buttons, twine, American flag cutouts, and stickers.








Supplies
Maya Road Dress Form Chipboard Book
We R Memory Keepers Old Glory Collection – Frontier Die Cut Paper
We R Memory Keepers Old Glory Collection – Betsy Die Cut Paper
We R Memory Keepers Old Glory Collection – Freedom Paper
We R Memory Keepers Old Glory Collection – Pennant Paper
Pink Paislee Starlight Collection – Shine Paper
Pink Paislee Starlight Collection – Bright Paper
Pink Paislee Starlight Collection – Dazzle Paper
Pink Paislee Starlight Collection – Glow Paper
Pink Paislee Element Stickers Starlight Collection
Kaisercraft Devonshine Embellishment Pack
Jillbean Soup Egg Drop Soup Collection Canvas Flowers Red Polka
Jillbean Soup Chicken Noodle Collection Chicken Bouillon Paper




Thank you so much Melissa! Be sure to check out Melissa's blog for her latest inspriation! By the way, Cathy just uploaded some brand new Maya Road to the store, and some new Echo Park Paper Co. coming soon. Oh, and more great projects from Chris Hertel and even a few layouts from Cathy soon! Have an awesome week.

~ Dana

A "vintage" banner from Cherry Nelson.

Hey, check out this beautiful "vintage" banner from Cherry Nelson. Love the use of the dress forms and the really pretty soft look of the project.










Cherry sent us some directions for the banner, here they are! To make the Maya road dress form VINTAGE banner, use a pencil to draw templates out of each pattern paper using dress form as your template. Cut out and adhere with glue to each dress form chipboard piece. Add stitching to each form if desired, then add vintage lace to the bottom for a little flirty fun. Punch holes on each "shoulder" of dress form and pull your chosen ribbon through tieing nots on each piece to make a banner, Add your rhinestones, pearls, or anything that would make a fun necklace to each "neck". Add your Girl's Paperie diecuts to each dress form for added detail, then if desired make some flowers (I used a sizzix diecut for mine) but any flowers premade etc would work, add them to the dress form. Spell out VINTAGE and adhere to each dress form. Add buttons or any other little details that you would like.


SUPPLIES
Girls Paperie- Paper girl collection: green brocade, cabbage rose and shabby flower
Girls paperie diecuts
Girls paperie chipboard alphas
Maya Road dress form album

Cherry sent us a beautiful card as a special treat! Here it is, with the directions too.




Make a card from cardstock, cut three rectangle pieces of paper in varying sizes and adhere to card, cut scallops using scissors and adhere. Choose your diecuts from the Girls paperie diecuts and for added demension use foam adhesive and adhere to front of card layering each piece to the top of the last for depth, Add little birdy to the bottom with more foam, adhere your buttons to the top left corne and add pearls to lower left corner.

Check out Cherry's blog for even more inspiration!

Have a great week, thanks for checking in!! Dana

Bonus sketch!

I know what I will be working on this month.... a bonus sketch from the fabulous Debbie Gaydos! Enjoy. :)



~ Dana

GiGi

For this layout, I used one of Ally Scraps fantastic sketches as a jumping off point. I used the June 2008 sketch. I made a few changes to the sketch, rather than one large picture I chose to use 2 smaller ones. Here's the sketch.



I chose to use the beautiful Girls Paperie Paper Girl collection, which was perfect for these vintage 50's photos of my husband's mom.







Here's how I put the layout together:

1. Start with a card stock base, I used a key lime green color.
2. Trim the decorate edge off of the Girls Paperie die cut paper.
3. Cut a piece of pink cardstock in half - 6 inches - then trim to the same height as the die cut piece (about 10 1/8").
4. Using the Girls Paperie newsprint stripe, I cut off about a 3 inch wide section, and the same height as the other two.
5. Apply these to the cardstock base, then using another strip of the Girls Paperie newsprint stripe, add a decorative edge using deco scissors or a punch.
6. Using the backside of the Girls Paperie newsprint stripe, I cut a strip and used another decorative edge punch for that, and applied it.
7. I wanted my photos to have that vintage edge look, so I took my deco scissors and trimmed out the photos.
8. Once the photos are adhered, I started on my embellishments. I used a Maya Road Square Kraft Envelopes and sprayed the flap with some brown Maya mist to give it a more vintage feel. Then, I took a paper towel and used some of the over-spray to "ink" the edges of the envelope. Add a cute Jenni Bowlin vintage button to the top part of the envelope. Adhere envelope to your layout.
9. I used the envelope to anchor my title. (American Crafts Poolside thickers.)
10. Next, I cut out a felt flower using a die cutter, like Sizzex. Then I layered it with the Girls Paperie - Paper Girl Collection - Flower Market-Paper Route flowers and attached it to the layout using a foam dot.
11. I loved the packaging so much from the flowers that I used my digital craft cutter to cut out a butterfly! Talk about upcycling! I also cut out some from cardstock and the GP newsprint stripe. I add a few BoBunny Candy Jewels to the butterflies and attached to the layout using foam dots to give them dimension.
12. I did some computer journaling and cut into strips and framed it with the American Crafts Poolside brackets.
13. Lastly, I did some hand-stitching to finish off my layout. I just drew a light pencil line, then pierced some holes along the line. Using a bright key lime embroidery thread, I stitched a swirly line to the butterfly.

Supply List
Girls Paperie Paper Girl collection
Maya Road mist in brown
Maya Road kraft envelopes
Girls Paperie flowers

Thanks for taking a look, I'll have another project to post soon! Chris

Sew Sweet!

I'm SOOOO in love with this altered plaque made for AllyScraps by Cherry Nelson! Love every little detail of it, especially the soft colors and the added embellishments.




Supplies used
Maya Road chipboard dress form
October Afternoon Fly a Kite collection Icecream paper
October Afternoon Thrift shop collection Complete set paper
Melissa frances sculpture appliques
Melissa Frances medium frame
Melissa frances Vintage Attic pink rhinestone embellishments
Girls Paperie paper girl paper
Girls paperie chipboard alpha
Girls paperie diecuts





Here are Cherry's directions- Take chipboard label piece and cover in your papers ( I chose to use a patchwork type design by alternating two patterns from October Afternoon but you could cover it in one type of paper of your choosing), sand edges and ink, cover your maya road dress form with chosen paper and sand and ink, embellish the dress form with appliques, flower(made from vintage doily using sizzix diecut and vintage spool for the "center" of flower), frame, and Girls paperie diecuts as you like. Adhere MF gemstones as your "necklace". Adhere your skirting at the bottom. I choose to use vintage paper lace and sew it but any type of paper border would work well or a doily. I used a vintage piece of yardstick as a border in the middle but again a paper border etc would work just as well. Adhere your dress form to plaque, Using foam adhesive for demension adhere your birds and rose diecuts to plaque from the Girls paperie collection, Adhere MF gemstones to middle of roses. If choosing to make a tag for the top...use the premade tag from the Girl's paperie and adhere another rose and button, Adhere word Sew. Weave through your ribbon and tie bows to each side of plaque. It is ready to Hang! Would make a perfect gift for a friend's sewing room....or be a little greedy and keep for yourself!

Thanks so much Cherry! Can't wait to see what you come up with next. :)

~ Dana

Brand new stuff in the store!

Woweeeee... Cathy's been busy, putting up brand new stuff in the store. :) Love that!

Ruby Rock-it papers and embellies (did you see those crochet flowers, swoon...)
BoBunny Peacock Lane, Sun Kissed, Block Party and Petal Pushers. (SO cute!)
Brand new Jenni Bowlin embellies
The cutest new Maya Road stuff too!

Guess it's time to do some scrappy shopping. :) Hey, while I'm thinking of it, don't forget about our AllyScraps sketch contest for June. Check back tomorrow for another beautiful project by Cherry Nelson and another brand new sketch by Debbie Gaydos next week. Enjoy your weekend.

~ Dana

A big AllyScraps Welcome BACK to Chris Hertel, June guest designer!

We are so thrilled to have Chris Hertel back to AllyScraps as one of our June guest designers. Chris is no stranger to AllyScraps, having been a regular design team member here in the past... welcome back Chris!



Hi, I'm Chris Hertel, a mom of 2 kids, a boy and a girl. Married for 18 years (yikes, I know!)... we also have some furry kids... 2 dogs and a cat. Those are my primary sources of scrapbooking subjects, but, I have been known to scrapbook some other subjects, for instance, coffee, and my love of coffee and my coffee pot! And food... gotta love food!

I've only been scrapping since late 2006, but I've always been a crafty girl... I remember making shoes when I was about 6 out of cardboard and my brothers wooden blocks! I actually started with digital scrapbooking. I'm a graphic designer, and that was easier and quicker for me... then I fell in love with paper... fell hard and fast! Can't get enough. I enjoy my day job very much, and I get to work with my husband (we a design business), but there's just something about cutting and pasting that really relaxes me. My work has been published in Scrapbook Trends Cards, Making Memories Magazine, ScrapStreet Magazine and Creating Keepsakes. I've also had some work featured on industry blogs, most recently the CK blog and Cosmo Cricket facebook page."



Chris used paper and embellishments from the brand new Echo Park Paper Co. Sweet Summertime collection. Her base paper is blue sky, she also used whimsy stripe and sunny days border strips. Aren't these element stickers the very cutest?? She embellished her layout with BoBunny gems , My Little Shoe Box blue jeans letters , American Crafts thickers and some cute ribbon and trim!




Instructions:
1. Use the Echo Park Sweet Summertime paper Blue Sky as your layout base.
2. Cut a 3 1/2 x 12" piece of the whimsy stripe and apply to your Blue Sky paper about 4 1/2 inches down.
3. From the Sunny Days Border Stripe sheet, cut out the stripes and the words summer and a bit of the flowers below, about 3 inches total. Along the bottom, using your favorite border punch or decorative scissors apply a decorative edge to the strip of paper, and adhere to layout layering over the whimsy stripe paper.
4. Add your photos, stickers, ribbon, embellishments and title.
5. You're done! A quick easy and cute layout!

Thanks so much Chris! Love your layout, super cute.

~ Dana

Please welcome Cherry Nelson to AllyScraps!

We are so pleased to welcome Cherry Nelson to the AllyScraps blog. We've been admiring her awesome cards and altered art on her blog Cherry's Jubilee for quite some time, and we are so honored that she has agreed to design for us this month. Welcome Cherry!



"I have had a fascination with paper and scissors from an early age..use to cut out little paper villages and I adored paper dolls (still do)! About three years ago I started scrapbooking to preserve memories of my son and our family. In the last year I have found I really enjoy making cards and love to alter found items and make them my own. Paper is my passion and is theraputic to my soul. I enjoy the whole process of creating...from found items, finding that perfect paper, to the embellishments. It makes me happy!"

Here is Cherry's lovely LIBERTY banner...



Supply List
Two Maya Road mixes scallop triangle banner albums
Maya Road resist
October Afternoon paper - Root Cellar
Girls Paperie - Vintage Travel
MELISSA FRANCES - Pop Out Glitter Accents Alpha
WeRMemory Keepers - Old Glory clear stamps







Instructions- Take your banner chipboard and trace your papers and cut out, adhere your papers, using maya resist put in the areas (edge of scallops where you don't want paint using a brush and let dry 10 minutes, than paint with your color of choice...let dry and than chip away paint, construct rosettes for the middle of each banner and adhere, stamp your images and cut out and distress with inks, adhere on rosettes and at the bottom, adhere bottle caps (I distress mine first), and than add your buttons, adhere your chipboard letters and buttons, Add your ribbon through each banner.....tie ribbon bows at each end if you would like.

Thanks so much Cherry! Can't wait to see your other projects throughout the month.

Hey, don't forget that our sketch contest is still going on. Here's all the information. Have a great weekend! Dana

Enjoy the journey card.

Here is another beautiful project from Melissa Phillips. She has sent us such beautiful things this month... and as I mentioned before, she will be doing some guest designing at AllyScraps EVERY MONTH!! Hurray. :) Here is her enjoy the journey card.



Instructions:

1. Create a card base from cream cardstock.
2. Cut strips from coordinating paper and adhere them around the outside of card front. Stitch down center of each.
3. Attach cream trim to the backside of the postcard Creative Scrap, and adhere it, along with snippets of other Creative Scraps to the center of card.
4. Tie the Enjoy the Journey Creative Scrap with ribbon and adhere to card using dimensional adhesive.
5. Spray fabric flower with Glimmer Mist to create an aged look and adhere it near center of bow. Attach a cream button to the center of flower to finish.




Melissa used the following supplies.
GCD Studios Chic Collection Homespun Garden Double Sided Glitter Paper
GCD Studios Chic Collection Pink Sparkle Double Sided Glitter Paper
Little Yellow Bicycle Freshprint Clothesline Collection Seamstress Double Sided Paper
Little Yellow Bicycle Clothesline Collection Fabric Flowers
Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Creative Scraps – Travel
Melissa Frances Beige Ribbon

Thanks so much Melissa! We've really enjoyed your inspiration this month. Keep your eyes open later this week for the announcement of our June guest designers... and don't forget about on sketch contest too.

See you soon, Dana