Pretty as a Picture -
My friend Andrea Nash is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever known. With her Elizabeth Taylor/Suzanne Pleshette good looks, she attracts people instantly, but this beauty is not just skin-deep. Andi has a big heart, quick smile and a laugh (that sometimes turns into a snort) that just energizes any room she is in.
To top all this off, her voice is a powerful alto that brings solo power and harmony richness to the vocals of Sorghum Hill, the band that my husband has been a part of for too many years to count. I’m so lucky that they practice at my house, because I get to hear those sweet harmonies live more than anyone else in the world.
I snapped this photo of Andi at the Hemman Winery in Brazeau, Missouri. It’s always been one of my favorites. I hope she enjoys this tribute as much as I enjoy her friendship.
Using the KellyCraft™ products made this project come together quick and easy and I don’t have to second-guess my alignments! All the papers came from my scrap box, which means I don't know the manufacturers and many may be discontinued, for which I apologize.
Here’s how I made it:
Materials:
- Multi-Mat™
Cardstock: 12” x 12” Dark Orange and Striped Patterned Paper, 8 ½” x 11” Cream, Dark Orange
Paper: Green Patterned Floral Paper, 12" x 12"
Paper scrap patterned paper assortment in Autumn colors- tan, brown, gold, green and orange
- Dies: Tattered Florals, Tattered Leaves (Tim Holtz Alterations) and Flourish/Floral With
Leaves
QuicKutz Die Cut Alphabet
Photo
Glue Dots, medium and large
Double-stick Adhesive, 2" or doubled up 1"
Circle punches, assorted sizes, 1/2" to 1"
Computer and Printer
Directions:
Notes:
1. I did not use the powerful magnets that came with the Multi-Mat™ because I lost them during this photo shoot. I would have used them to hold my layout in place as soon as I put the background papers together to avoid having to make sure my papers were still in place every time I used the Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square. It's okay Candice - we are all only human! Hope those magnets show up soon lol!
2. I always use a lot of sponging in my work. I think the only pieces that weren't sponged were the background papers and the layers of the photo; that's because I forgot.
On a full sheet of dark orange 12” x 12” card stock, layer a piece of striped patterned card stock trimmed to 11" x 11".
Cut a piece of card stock 1/8" larger all around than the photo. Add an additional layer of patterned paper 1/8" larger all around than the photo, attaching only at the top and bottom with 2" double stick adhesive to create a pocket for the journaling tags. Attach the photo with double stick adhesive, centered and about 1 1/2" above the bottom edge.
Print small title block on cream card stock with computer and
printer (Font: Mistral). Trim out and layer onto green card stock
cut 1/8” larger all around than the small title block. Center and use the Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to line it up just over the bottom of the photo.
Cut three sets of flowers from scrap papers and card stock with Big Shot. Sponge all the flower edges with Walnut Ink and curl the edges. Layer smaller flowers onto larger flowers with medium Glue Dots. Punch copper card stock with circle punches for flower centers (the copper flower centers were created with a piece of copper paper texturized with a texture plate that was in my scrap box) and attach with Zip Dry adhesive.
Attach the center flower to the layout first using a large Glue Dot, place the right flower second and a little lower than the center one, then use the Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align the flowers on the left.
Cut printed postcards from paper stash paper or use cream card stock. Sponge the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Punch flowers with Sizzix Tattered Florals Die and attach them to the tag sides. Slip a tag in each side of the pocket created with the 2"double-stick tape.
Cut headline with
QuicKutz dies and use ZipDry Adhesive to attach it just above the small title block.
Cut four swirls from dark orange and green patterned paper and attach to both sides with Zip
Dry adhesive, using the KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser Square to get the swirls the same height from the bottom of the page on both sides. Add a couple of flowers from the Tattered Florals die.
Add dots randomly with Viva Décor Copper Pearl Pen to give this layout a little more pizzazz and that's it. Quick and easy, but it will be appreciated for a long time!
I think this would look great in a shadow box frame. It will also make a nice Christmas gift for Miss Andi! (Spoiler alert!)
The Multi-Mat and Get-It-Straight Laser Square is the perfect tool for making sure your layouts are perfectly straight! I matted this layout with several mats to share with you how easy this is to line everything ups and get it straight even when you distress the edges of your mats. The mat is magnetic and it comes with 4 magnets to hold your layout in place while you work on it. What made me happy is that I can still stick to my style even though it's distressed, mixed media and a little shabby!
2. Lineup your first mat on your background sheet using the Multi-Mat and Get-It-Straight Laser Square. Adhere to background paper.
3. Using the Get-It-Straight Laser Square and Jimbo Lojik Stamps, stamp your journaling onto a journaling card or paper of choice.
Lift the stamp and admire how straight the stamping is! 
5. I positioned the stamped journaling on my layout and adhered it. I layered some scraps around the journal tag.
