Ruth and Olin's Girls

Created by: Candice Windham

When I saw the KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser Square at summer CHA, I was hooked.

My background experience includes a four-year stint as a draftsman, which means I worked constantly with graph papers and parallel bars on my drawing table, and more than 30 years as a graphic designer, back in the "olden days" as my son used to say. In the olden days, we didn't have a computer to get everything straight. We had t-squares, parallel bars and our own eyes to make it all work. I have to admit that I was pretty good at eyeballing the alignment on all the reams of typeset copy and the photos, but 20 years of working on a Mac will definitely spoil you. Everything is always lined up at right angles unless you don't want it to be, so I have come to rely on digital scrapbooking.

However, you don't always want to create digital pages. A case in point is this page I created about my sisters-in-law. I have a 12" x 12" family album, and while I could create it as an 8" x 8" layout on my printer with additional layers to make it fit the book, that's not always an option and it's a waste of paper as well.

Enter the Get it Straight Laser Square. This is the coolest tool I've seen in a long time. It makes getting things aligned so much easier.

I have to admit that, although I was good at lining things up when I was creating magazine layouts, those years on the computer have made me dependent. I used to be able to step back and see if an alignment was off, down to 1/16th of an inch. Now, I can't spot a 1/4" error while I'm working, but when I come back to the page once it's in a book (and glued down) it stands out like a sore thumb.

NOTE: I know that there a couple of pieces that look like they are slightly off, but that is due to the camera operator, and I have to admit that it's me, not the Get it Straight Laser Square.

Here's how I made this page:

I trimmed my patterned paper so that I could layer it onto brown card stock. Lining it up with the Get It Straight Laser Square was a breeze.

I wanted a vintage look to go with my vintage photos, so I sponged Walnut Paper Soft Color from Viva Décor on all the edges before layering. I then layered all the photo and journaling elements on brown and green card stock, using the Get it Straight Laser Tool to make the alignment easy.

I placed my largest photo first, moving it up and down until I had it where I wanted it. I then turned on my Get It Straight Laser Square and the beam showed me where I needed to straighten it.

I added the second photo using the Get It Straight Laser Square to guide the placement.

The third photo was added, but since I wanted to use it as a pocket, I only added the adhesive on the sides and bottom. My journaling will tuck in here.

Once again, lining up the title bar was so easy with the Get It Straight Laser Square.I made the title block using Duetica Lettering Arts Studio's Piper font. I was able to make this title my own by adjusting the letters using Duetica's great software. The font's alignment variety helps break up all the right angles of the other elements.

With all the nice straight edges, the title block wasn't enough contrast. I rounded the corners of the sub-tutle block and, instead of layering the sub-title straight on, I fanned the layers out.

My journaling tag was inserted behind the photo on the left, with a tiny pull tab made with the Craft Geek Pin It tool and the Solstice Pin It set. Here's what it says:

"I never knew my sister-in-law Janell at an early age and never even knew Betty. By the time Larry and I met, Janell was in her thirties and Betty had been tragically killed in a train/car crash. Looking back on these photos taken in happy times gives me a glimpse of the wonderful life they lived while growing up in Arkansas. I particularly love the photo of them sitting on the bumper of that old car. Betty is politely smiling for the camera and Janell was giggling. I can just imagine her saying, “I have ice cream and you don’t!”"

The gold in the Craft Geek Pin It tab stood out a little too much, so I cut some flowers, leaves and swirls from metallic gold paper using Sizzix dies and a Big Shot. They were the icing on the cake.

The finishing touch was to use a Viva Décor Gold Glitter Pen to add some dots around the page.

Watch for my next Get it Straight Laser Square post which will involve 45° angles!

A Great Show

 KellyCraft attended the CKC Trade Show at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos, Texas last week and it was an amazing show.

 Leigh and Kristin demoed the Get-It-Straight Laser Square to the crowd....

 People personalized their Get-It-Straight Laser Squares with our Laser Skins....

It was great meeting all of you who were able to stop by our booth; we look forward to future shows and will let you know when and where we will be....stay tuned!

“Onward to 6th” with Kellycraft™’s Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square

I heard all the buzz about the Kellycraft™ Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square at CHA this summer.  I saw the demo.  But, until I had it here in my own studio and actually had a chance for some hands-on use, I didn’t fully understand how much it would truly SIMPLIFY aligning things! 

For this “Onward to 6th” scrapbook layout highlighting my son’s first day of middle school, I wanted to incorporate not only the colors from his shirt, but the rough feel of the lettering in the background paper.  As Thomas loves to craft with Duck Brand Tape, I thought what better embellishment than colorful Duck Tape on the layout! 

Materials: 
Kellycraft™ Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square
12” x 12” Black textured cardstock
12” x 12” BasicGrey patterned paper
Assorted chipboard letters
Elmer’s Craft Bond Dot Runner Adhesive
Duck Brand Tape - black, orange, bright green, yellow, turquoise, purple
Westcott Premium TrimAir Titanium Paper Trimmer
Westcott Craft Titanium Non-Stick Scissors


Instructions:

To begin, I trimmed 3/4” off the 12” x 12” patterned paper.  

I wanted the top border of the paper to be straight,

 so I used my Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to be sure I aligned the top edge of the patterned paper 

on the 12” x 12” black cardstock (offset to the right edge so a black border remained on the left).

The lettering was created with random styles of chipboard lettering, 

each roughly covered with black Duck Tape. 

 Most often when scrapbooking, I arrange my title lettering in a haphazard manner - not always because the design called for it, but because lining up each letter before stamping or mounting was cumbersome.  When it came time to align my title for this project, I popped the background papers into the Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square, and voila - in no time I had mounted the title nice and straight on the top of the layout.

I repeated the same procedure to finish the title in the lower right corner of the page.

Next came the bright, funky arrows to symbolize moving “onward” to 6th grade.   Aligning each strip of colorful Duck Tape was super easy with the Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square.  And, ensuring an equal amount of space between each of the arrows was also simple using the tool.  I created this layout in no time at all, with no stress about aligning things - yet the result is a perfectly aligned project.   All I can say is wow!

Happy crafting and remember to "dare to be different!" - Cindi Bisson

Glittered Stripe Vase

Now that I have a no fuss way to get straight lines using the "Get-It-Straight" Laser Square - all of those "blah" vases hiding in the back of my cabinet are getting glittered stripe makeovers! Here's what you need if you want to update your vases this holiday season -

Supplies

• "Get-It-Straight" Laser Square
• Recollections Glitter  
• Mod Podge 
• 1/2 inch double sided tape 
• Foam brush 
• Vase (Dollar Store)

First cut your double sided tape to the diameter of the vase. Then using your laser square to lay your tape sticky side up every half inch. The laser square makes this easy peasy to get the stripes straight! Once you have your tape straight and spaced out you'll place your vase on top of the tape and roll it along the tape. Be sure to start in the corner of the laser square as that helps you roll the vase straight.

Use a sponge brush to add Mod Podge in between tape lines and then sprinkle your glitter on. 

Alternate colors. Once dry you can then take off the double sided tape protective film and glitter the tape too. Then voila!

 

Aren't those the most perfect stripes?

Mommy & Zoey Scrapbook Page

by Lisa Rojas,  Stampin' Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!!!

Hi Everyone,

I am so excited to be part of KellyCraft Design Team. When I first saw this product at the Craft and Hobby show in Chicago this past July, I instantly feel in love! I have been designing professionally for the last 12 years, but not matter how hard I have tried I can't draw a straight line with a ruler! For a designer, this is not a good thing! So, when I saw the Get-It-Straight Laser Square being demonstrated at the show I had to have one. I even tried talking the guys into letting me take one home on the plane with me!!!

Well, that didn't work but I finally received mine in the mail and this scrapbook page I created for my daughter and my new grandbaby (to be) was my first project using this wonderful new tool. For me, this is the best new invention the craft industry has seen in quite some time. If you don't have one, I say run don't even walk, but run to the nearest store to purchase one. This is one tool that you have to have in your tool box!

 Supplies

KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square
Bazzill Basics Card Stock
Making Memories Tag Maker & Tag Rims
Westcott Personal Paper Trimmer
Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry Paper Glue
Clearsnap ColorBox Premium Dye Inkpads- Sky, Guava, Strawberry & Tangerine
 Ranger Dylusion "Around the Edge" rubber stamp set
Pattern Paper- Pregnancy theme
Stickers- Pregnancy theme
Various Ribbons
Hole Punch

 Instructions

Using the Get-It-Straight Laser Square, layer all of the photos on different colors of card stock.

Cut second sheet of pattern paper into strips. Align with the Laser Square and adhere layers to base pattern paper.

Glue layers together

Align the photos using the Laser Square

On white card stock print wording. I used the Duetica font called Piper.  Cut tag shapes out and stamp border around the tag shapes with ink pads. Use the Tag Maker to create rims around the tags. Add ribbons to tags.  Print out title on white card stock, stamp around edges and adhere to orange card stock. Adhere tags and chipboard stickers randomly on page.

KellyCraft in San Marcos

KellyCraft will be attending the CKC Trade Show at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos, Texas next week;  September 19^th & 20^th, 2012.  We will be in booth 215.  If you are in the area, please stop by to check out our show specials……we would love to see you! 

Get-It-Straight School Magnets

School Magnets by Ann Butler

I have collected a lot of magnets over the years; the kind of magnets that calendars, events and other things are printed on. They are to good to throw away but are out of date so they are perfect to re-purpose. With back to school here already I thought this would be a great time to make some school magnets...the kind that can be used to show off those great school projects, spelling test, drawings and other things that parents so proudly place on the fridge from their kids. I grabbed some white card stock and printed off some sayings like: "Awesome", "Good Job" and "Way to Go" using the Floot font from the Duetica Lettering System. I cut them out and layered them on top of some print card stock in school colors using the "Get-It-Straight" Laser Square and glued them onto the magnets, then I trimmed the magnet down to size. Oh so quick and easy, but the kids are going to love them.

Supplies:

"Get-It-Straight" Laser Square by KellyCraft Innovations

Duetica Lettering System: Floot 

Zip Dry by Beacon Adhesives 

Magnets

Card Stock: White

Card Stock: Print

Scissor

 Create words or sayings with the Duetica Lettering System and print out onto white card stock.

 Trim words/sayings, cut print card stock 1/2" larger then words/sayings.

 Use the "Get-It-Straight" Laser Square

 to align the words/sayings onto the print card stock

 glue in place; then glue onto the magnet and trim as needed.

Announcing the KellyCraft Design Team

 We are pleased to announce our first ever KellyCraft Design Team:

Ann Butler - Design Team Lead:

Ann Butler is a mixed media artist, designer, author and instructor for the creative industries. She works with a variety of mediums and loves testing new products.  Her designs appear in multi-authored books, magazines, booklets, manufacturer tradeshow booths and websites. 

Teaching others to craft is one of Ann's favorite things to do which is why she has been teaching workshops locally and nationally for the past 20 years.  She is currently teaching online classes at Creative Workshops and appears regularly on Cool2Craft Web TV.  Ann has a featured column in Scrap and Stamp Arts Magazine called "Back to Basics" and also writes a craft column for a local newspaper.

While Ann designs for several manufacturers she is also a craft industry consultant specializing in Social Media, Marketing and Blogging needs.  She is an active member of the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) and serves as the current CHA Chair of the Designer Council.

Andrea Currie:

Andrea Currie is a craft industry industry personality, designer, inventor and "Champion" on TLC's new hit show Craft Wars. Whether she's designing innovative new craft products or demonstrating clever projects and tutorials, she always bring an intoxicating mix of artful moxie and pure glee to her work.

Andrea and her husband Cliff founded HandMAKEMyDay.com, a kicky creative blog where they chronicle their “he said, she said” adventures in crafting, cooking, home improvement and product development. When they aren't covered in glitter or sawdust they are playing with their dog Gracie and drawing up plans for their sustainable dream home.

Candice Windham:

Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Candice Windham is an award-winning graphic designer and fine artist, working in watercolor, acrylics, colored pencil, fabric, mixed media and paper and altered arts.

She studied design at the University of Memphis and retired from her graphic design work at Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division to open Candice Windham Design Studio, providing design, layout and illustration for brochures, fliers, annual reports, CD covers and other printed materials, as well as display design for various trade shows. She is also curator and designer of the Memphis Light, Gas and Water Historical Museum

Candice is the author of Scrapbooking for Home Décor from of Fox/Chapel Publishing. Her work has appeared in a variety of paper arts and crafts magazines, including Make it Mine, Stamper’s Sampler and Today’s Creative Home Arts. Her work also appeared in Make It In Minutes: MiniBooks, Make It in Minutes Party Favors and Hostess Gifts, Make It in Minutes Wreaths and Make It in Minutes Last Minute Gifts, a book series from Lark Books, a division of Sterling Publishing Co. She is an instructor in rubber stamping, scrapbooking, mixed media acrylic collage and altered arts.

In addition to receiving numerous design awards from the Public Relations Society of America - Memphis Chapter, the American Water Works Association and the International Association of Business Communicators, her fine art has been accepted and won awards in local, regional, national and international juried exhibitions. Candice is past-president of the Memphis/Germantown Art League (MGAL), a group of more than 350 fine artists.

She was the recipient of theCraft and Hobby Association’s Designer Press Kit Award in Orlando, 2009.

Candice and her husband Larry have a son, Michael, and reside in Brighton, Tennessee along with pups Pete and Sam.

Cindi Bisson:

Cindi Bisson specializes in creative design with a focus on unique combinations of mixed-media; She enjoys working with paper, clay, resin, fabric, paint, metal, and more. Her wearable art, home-decor, paper crafts and upcycled projects have been featured in books and magazines, at events and trade shows, and online in craft TV programs. Cindi’s crafting series “Behind These Eyes with Cindi Bisson” can be seen regularly on www.WhenCreativityKnocks.com.   Cindi is an active blogger and is a CHA designer member. You can also find her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Linked-In. An experienced media spokesperson, educator, project and product designer and more, Cindi’s style is diverse and ever evolving. If you are looking for an artist who “dares to be different” - you’ll find her BEHIND THESE EYES™ - www.fatcatcreations.blogspot.com

Lisa Rojas: 

 

Lisa Rojas has been a rubber stamp artist and instructor since 1995.  Lisa began designing for publication in 2000, with her work appearing on the web, national advertisements, and in various craft and home decorating magazines including, Scrap and Stamp Arts, Crafts n’ Things, PaperWorks, CardMaker, The Rubber Stamper, Stamp It!, Craft Home & Style and Aleene’s Craft Club. She also has designs published in seven multi-designer books. She has over 150 of her designs published to date. Lisa works with many manufacturers, using their products in her work. Lisa is also an active member of the Craft and HobbyAssociation and serves on the board of the Designer Section.  Stampin Queen Creations - Give the Queen a Call!

We are so excited to have these talented designers join us on our team....we know they are going to create some awesome projects and have creative uses to share with you for the "Get-It-Straight" Laser Square!

Quilting with the Get-It-Straight™ Laser Square

Check out the video below to see how easy it is to use the Get-It-Straight™ Laser Square for Quilting....

There is no easier way to things straight then with the Get-It-Straight™ Laser Square!