The Constant Scrapper

If I'm not scrapbooking I'm thinking about scrapbooking!

one-page layouts

Silhouette tutorial: How to add crochet to the edge of page elements

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Our17th_Daquila-Pardo

To add the lovely crocheted detail around the circles on this page about our 17th anniversary, I turned to my Sihouette Cameo.

I wanted to create a really special look for this photo of us on our 17th anniversary, so I decided to crochet around the edges of all the circles. Crazy, I know! But it’s really not that hard, and I just love the soft, feminine look. I thought a tutorial would be helpful to any of you who want to try this on your own layout.

The tutorial

For me, it almost always starts with a sketch. In this case I chose to use this circle-filled Paper Camellia sketch. If you want to base the shapes you will crochet upon a sketch then you need to start by placing the sketch image in the Silhouette design software:

Step 1: Open sketch in software

Step 1: Go to File :: Open :: Folder holding your sketch :: Open sketch. Size the image to fit the 12×12 Cameo mat in the Silhouette software.

Start drawing the shape(s) to be crocheted:

Step 2: Draw the shape

Step 2: Use the ellipse tool to draw a circle and adjust it to match the size of the circle on the sketch.

Copy/paste the first shape and reduce it:

Step 3: Make a second smaller shape

Step 3: Select the circle and CTRL + C to copy then CTRL + F to paste on top of the first circle. Use the scale tool to reduce the top circle by 0.25 inches.

Turn to the rhinestone tool to create holes around the edge of the shape:

Step 4: Use the rhinestone tool

Step 4: Step 4: Rhinestone tool settings: Rhinestone Effect = Edge; Rhinestone Size = 6ss; Rhinestone Spacing = 0.112

Cut out the shape(s) and crochet!

Step 5: Cut and crochet

Step 5: Follow these steps for each of the shapes you want to crochet around. Cut on your paper of choice and crochet using crochet thread and a size 7/1.65 mm hook.

Product/technique notes

The patterned paper I used is from Crate Paper’s “Close Knit” 6×6 paper pad. I also used my Silhouette to design and cut my title.

I really hope you will try this technique on a page of your own (and that it’s fun for you)! If you do, will you leave a comment with a link to your page because I would LOVE to see it.

Halloween 1975: Divvying up the loot

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Loot_Daquila-Pardo

It was Halloween night in 1975, and my brother and I had just come home from haunting our neighbors for treats.

I remember quite well donning that homemade gypsy costume. I loved getting to wear the huge black hoop earrings (well before I had pierced ears) and head scarf. And what little girl doesn’t yearn for the opportunity to wear gobs of makeup? Unfortunately, I can’t remember where my mom came up with that flowered dress I was wearing, although I know that many of my costumes over the years came straight out of the depths of her closet.

Phil looks like he must have already downed some candy by the time this photo was taken because I’m pretty sure that red blotchy area around his mouth started out as a full set of red clown lips. And who doesn’t love a clown with a practical streak who wears a stocking cap on a cold Ohio Halloween night?

But as I was working on scrapping this memory, one thing that really stood out to me was the packs of candy cigarettes on the table. Can you believe people gave those away to children and that parents didn’t think it was a problem to let their kids “smoke” them? The good old days!

Product/technique notes

I crafted this layout based on this great PageMaps sketch created exclusively for Back Porch Memories and am entering it into their November guest designer contest. My products came from quite a variety of companies: The papers are from KI Memories and Fancy Pants, and the stickers and other embellishments are from American Crafts, Bella Boulevard and Studio G. I really love the added detail provided by that Martha Stewart punch-around-the-page spider web.
08aug_BackPorch2014_12x12

Reminder:

Don’t miss out on participating in my Blogtoberfest sketch contest for a great holiday-themed prize package!

Blogtoberfest sketch contest

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I’m quite excited to announce my first sketch contest! I hope you’ll join me in some scrapping fun and that this sketch will inspire you to create a layout then come back to share it with me for the opportunity to win the prize shown below.

The sketch

This sketch is simple and celebratory, with room for one 4×6 photo (or two 4x3s) and a banner running down the side. If you make a layout based on this sketch, please link it up at the end of this post by October 31st and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a great prize that’s perfect for the upcoming holiday season.
TheConstantScrapper_Sketch04

My sample

My sample page is all about celebrating this fabulous photo of my dad as a boy. He’s showing off his muscles with his dad by his side. What a gem! I used papers from Echo Park and a banner from BasicGrey.

DadWithDad1940s_Daquila-Pardo

I followed this Constant Scrapper sketch to create a layout celebrating a wonderful black-and-white photo of my dad as a boy with his father.

The prize

Are you thinking about documenting your holiday fun this December? Well this prize package includes holiday-themed items to get your project going! Or you could use this kit to create your Christmas cards. Either way, it’s a fun, color-coordinated collection of yummy supplies.

TheConstantScrapperDocumentingDecemberGiveaway

This sketch contest prize package includes: 6x6 Hot Cocoa paper pad, glittered dimensional stars, rub-ons, page pockets, fabric labels, ribbon, Christmas phrases stamp, washi tape and a clear stamp set!

Enter the contest

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I welcome all to participate, no matter from where you hail. However, with international shipping rates what they are, an international winner will receive a gift card instead of the pictured prize package.

Using stitching on a layout as more than just decoration

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BonVoyage_Daquila-Pardo

Say bon voyage to boring layouts with hand stitching!

Stitching on scrapbook pages is used all the time—I use it all the time—to accent and decorate. It’s a beautiful way to highlight a portion of your design and makes a page more special. But it needn’t always be relegated to the embellishment category on our layouts. In the case of today’s page, you can see that it provides much of the meaning, too.

I wanted to leave as much of my background map paper on show as possible, but I didn’t want my page to be too simple, lest it turn out boring. As I thought about all the trips my mom has taken over the years during her summer breaks from teaching, it hit me that the design needed a fanciful flight pattern to complete the look and the message. And stitching was the perfect way to do that! I doodled a quick curlicue path with pencil, pierced holes along the route and stitched it with hot pink embroidery floss to match my mom’s shirt.

Celebrate Blogtoberfest with me all month!

This October I celebrate four years of scrapbook blogging! And that makes me feel like having a little party, so I’m hosting Blogtoberfest. Sorry, you’ll have to supply your own beer and brats, but I’ll bring the paper-crafting inspiration:

  • sketches
  • tutorials
  • product reviews
  • free cut files
  • a giveaway: I’ll reveal the details a little later

“Roll out the paper.
We’ll have a barrel of fun!”

I do hope you’ll join me often this month and help me celebrate the good things that scrapbooking brings to our lives.

Product/technique notes

The travel-themed patterned papers I used are from Jillibean Soup’s “Sightseeing Stew” collection, and the others are older scraps from my stash. The airplane is a foam Thickers sticker.

Altering my family chili recipe for our vegetarian lifestyle

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DaquiliV2_Daquila-Pardo

Come celebrate Blogtoberfest with me all month!

As today is World Vegetarian Day, the kickoff to Vegetarian Awareness Month, I created a layout to celebrate one of my family’s favorite meat-centric recipes that I have changed to accommodate our vegetarian diet.

When I made my mom’s chili for my college friend, Jim, he loved it and dubbed it “Daquili” (for my maiden name, Daquila). I’ve made it ever since—very often in the colder months. But when we took on a vegetarian diet a few years ago I couldn’t give up on my chili. So I’ve recreated it without meat, and now we call it Daquili v. 2!

Celebrate Blogtoberfest with me all month!

This October I celebrate four years of scrapbook blogging! And that makes me feel like having a little party, so I’m hosting Blogtoberfest. Sorry, you’ll have to supply your own beer and brats, but I’ll bring the paper-crafting inspiration:

  • sketches
  • tutorials
  • product reviews
  • free cut files
  • a giveaway: I’ll reveal the details a little later

“Roll out the paper.
We’ll have a barrel of fun!”

I do hope you’ll join me often this month and help me celebrate the good things that scrapbooking brings to our lives.