Thursday, May 30, 2013

The Beauty of Spring


I just love the beauty of springtime in Tennessee. The flowers just explode with gorgeous color, and none is more beautiful than my three-year-old Clematis. I took so many photos of this plants because it grew prettier every day. I don't know how anyone can look at this and think it is an accident of nature.

Of course, with all these straight lines, you know I had to use my KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square. It makes it so easy to create a layout in no time at all. (Don't you love the new blue animal print shown in the photos below on my Laser Square?)

After printing my photos and headline, I put the whole thing together in less than five minutes, including the time it took to photograph it and move the laser guide each time. My printer is on the fritz and has been printing text with a shadow on it, so I had to use hand-written journaling. That's on the tag tucked behind the photo, lower right.

Here's how I did it:

Supplies
KellyCraft Laser Square
Gold butterflies from Paper Dreams Factory
White pen
Deep purple card stock, 8" x 8" and 2" x 4"
Printed photos


Instructions
1. Open main photo in Photoshop or any other photo manipulation program. Set the size to 7 1/2" x 7 1/2", cropping if necessary. Set the layer opacity to 50%.
2. Open another layer and set the page title in 100% purple over the tinted photo. Save it as a jpeg file.
3. Size three additional photos to fit within the 7 1/2" square. Saves as jpeg files.
4. Print all photos on photo paper (I used Ilford Galerie Classic Pearl), and trim all except the screened photo with title, leaving a 1/8" white border all around. This saves creating a separate layer, saving you time and money. Trim the large screened photo flush, unless you prefer leaving the border here as well.
5. Line up the 8" piece of card stock with your laser square and place the tinted title page on top, leaving a 1/4" border.
6. Place the other photos according to the sample, lining each up with the Laser Square.
7. Place the large butterfly on the top left of the large flower photo.
8. Attach the small butterfly to the purple journaling block. Add journaling with white pen and slide it under the photo.

It was so easy that it makes me want to make matching pages with all my spring flower photos.

Friday, May 24, 2013

KellyCraft's Newest Design Team Member

We'd like to welcome LaJeania Hicks as our newest Design Team Member....



My name is LaJeania Hicks and I am from Texas. I have been married to my wonderful husband, James, for 22 years. We are both Special Education teachers at our local elementary school. We have been blessed to have the opportunity to work with many amazing special needs children and truly feel that this is God’s plan for our life. We also have four amazing children: Nicholas, who is 21 years old and is a student at Houston Community College, Ryan, is 20 and is a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps and is currently stationed in Washington DC, Jefferson is 17 and will be a high school senior this year, and our daughter Kendall is 6 years old and will be in first grade. As I am sure you can tell, we are very busy, but we are love our crazy, hectic life and wouldn’t change a thing! Our children and our students give us many picture taking opportunities and I have the pleasure of preserving those memories through scrapbook pages. Almost 17 years ago, shortly after Jefferson was born, I was invited to a home gathering and asked to bring a few pictures. Well, by the time that Saturday afternoon was over, I was hooked! I knew that this would become my new hobby, but I did not realize what a big role it would play in my life. About 6 years ago, I was introduced to the Close To My Heart Scrapbooking Company and became an independent consultant. I currently teach scrapbooking and cardmaking classes monthly to an amazingly talented group of ladies. Scrapbooking not only allows me an outlet for my creativity, it has also given me the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing people. I am excited to be a part of this design team!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Memorial Day Decorative Flag Box

Project by: Cindi Bisson
Decorative Flag Box 
Create a cute functional decorative flag box just in time for Memorial Day or in advance for the Fourth of July......


Materials: 

KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser Square
Wooden Box
Dark blue & ivory acrylic paint
Elmer's School Glue
Assorted red ribbons
Lace
Best Glue Ever  
Blue star button 
Paintbrush, scissors

Instructions: 

Paint box with dark blue paint.  Let dry.

Apply a layer of Elmer's School Glue over entire painted surface.  Let dry just until clear & tacky.

Paint over tacky glue with ivory paint.  Let dry.  Top layer of paint will crackle as it dries.

To create flag: 

Cut rectangular piece of lace to fit in space on top of box.  Mount.

Cut 5 pieces of assorted red ribbons to fit in lace rectangle.

Use KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser Square to ensure straight application of Best Glue Ever, equally spaced, where ribbon will be mounted  Let glue dry until clear but still tacky.


Use KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser Square to ensure ribbons are mounted straight over glue.


Add large blue star button to the flag. 

Friday, May 17, 2013

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Flowers & Swirls Tag

Created by Lisa Rojas, Stampin' Queen Creations
Give The Queen A Call!

Hi Everyone,

I decided for my post today would be a large tag instead of a card.  This really pretty tag measures 6" x 6" and for me, it just screams Spring!  I love the bright colors with the flowers and swirls. This tag is something that won't end up in the trash can after your friend or family member sees it. They are going to want to place it in a frame and hang it on their wall!  What better way can you say that "I'm thinking of you!"


Flowers & Swirls Card


Supplies
3D Foam Tape
Mini Brads
Hole Punches- 1/16" and 1/4"
Ribbon
Blender Pen
Cardstock- Ivory, Blue, Green and Orange


 
Instructions

Pull together all of your supplies.  Cut cardstock as follows
Ivory- 5 1/2" x 5 1/2", Blue- 5 3/4" x 5/34", Green- 6" x 6".



On the ivory base tag and on a scrap piece of ivory, stamp
fence on each piece with mudslide inkpad, using the
Get-it-Straight Laser Square to align the stamp.
(See Below)


The Get-it-Straight Laser Square can now replace all
of those stamp positioners that you have collected over
the years.  It will position your stamps perfectly each
and every time you use it!



Color your fence images with chalk pencils and blend
your colors with a blender pen.  You only need to color
the edges of the fence image on your base tag.  The other
fence image will be placed on top of the base tag.
(See Below)


The fence image on the left is the base tag.  Cut
out the other fence image.


Using the Grand Calibur die cut machine and the floral
template, cut out multiple flowers.


The floral template and the rubber stamps are made
to use together.  Stamp floral images onto die cuts with
red devil and tangerine inkpads.


Curl flowers around a paintbrush.  Layer flowers
together and punch holes in flowers.  Insert brads.


Cut out swirls and leaves with die cut machine using
Jewel Flowers & Flourishes template.


Ink leaf edges with golf course inkpad.


Use a distresser to distress the edges of all three
pieces of the cardstock.  Place foam tape on fence
image and place on top of base tag image.


Use the Get-it-Straight Laser Square to layer all
three pieces of cardstock as shown above.  Adhere
layers together with Zip Dry.


To finish the tag, cut out two smaller tags with blue and
green cardstock, adhere together.  Stamp small tag with
"Thinking of You".  Adhere the flowers, leaves and
swirls onto tag with Zip Dry glue.  Punch hole in top
of tag and add ribbon.  Use completed tag for placement
if needed.

 


Monday, May 13, 2013

Featured in Scrap & Stamp Arts Magazine

The KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square is featured in the upcoming July issue of Scrap & Stamps Arts Magazine.....the July issue will hit the newsstands in a few short weeks.

 Complete instructions for the card pictured above 

 and this card along with a few others are on pages 54 & 55 of the July issue.

Alone with some step out photos of the Get-It-Straight Laser Square in action!
Be sure to check it out!

Friday, May 10, 2013

There is still time to SAVE $$$

Now is the time to get your Get-It-Straight Laser Square at special "White Box" pricing of only $49.95 per unit plus FREE Shipping (Continental US only).......


"White box" packaging discount on 200 units only.  Get one before they are gone.  Product is brand new but without retail packaging.  FREE SHIPPING (Continental US only)!  While supplies last!

Takes the guesswork out of aligning multiple elements! The Get-It-Straight Laser Square is the only tool you need to quickly and easily laser align elements on your scrapbook pages or any other projects.  Utilizing our patented sliding laser design, you can easily position the laser alignment line precisely where you want it on your project.  No more crooked titles or ribbons, and all your pictures will be in perfect alignment with each other!

Get yours here!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Guest Blogger LaJeania Hicks

Project by: LaJeania Hicks

It is always a pleasure to share a great project that way created using the Get-It-Straight Laser Square.  This card was created by LaJeania Hicks for a blog hop......



Check out the supplies she used and the inspiration behind the card by clicking right to her post here!  While you are there check out some of her previous post for more great project inspiration!





Saturday, May 4, 2013

Getting it Straight with Ann Butler's Unity Stamp Line Blog Hop

Created by: Kristin Kelly

A bright rainbow of colors! What a great way to put a smile on someone's face. And a colorful way to showcase a brand new stamp line by Ann Butler Designs for Unity Stamp Company. And the perfect tool to get all those triangles straight? The KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square!




Supplies:
KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square
Ann Butler Designs Stamps Unity Stamp Company
Buttoned Together stamp set (Close To My Heart)
Smoothie, Sunset, Creme Brûlée, Sweet Leaf, Lagoon and Gypsy ink pads (CTMH)
Solid cardstock, 1 sheet White Daisy, 1 sheet Lagoon (CTMH)
Rhinestone brad (CTMH)
Artiste Cricut cartridge
Adhesive (Glue Dots, Scotch)

Instructions:
1. Cut a piece of White Daisy card stock 5 3/4 x 9. Fold in half to create a 4 1/2 x 5 3/4 card.



2. Use your Get-It-Straight Laser Square to provide a guide line 2" from the top of the card and stamp the Ann Butler Designs triangles in a row across the card alternating point up, point down.





3. Then stamp each column of triangles using your Laser Square to get them straight. You can trim the bottom of your card if your stamps do not reach the edge.

4. Cut a strip of Lagoon card stock 4 1/2 x 3/4. Ink your edges with coordinating ink if desired and adhere just above the first row of triangles. Then cut the bow using the Artiste Cricut cartridge at 1". Ink edges, fold and secure with rhinestone brad.



5. To get the ink effect on the friendship stamp I just used my finger to place the coordinating inks from the triangles on the stamp. You could also use sponges to have less mess:) Stamp on the top of the card using your Laser Square to guide placement.

6. Finally, adhere the bow with Glue Dots, and you are done!

A simple, yet beautiful and colorful, card to brighten someone's day! Made quickly and easily with the awesome combination of Ann Butler Designs stamps and the Get-It-Straight Laser Square.

Be sure to follow the rest of the hop below to see more creative uses for the great stamps.....




and Check out this Great Sale going on now through
Monday May 6, 2013 at Midnight....