Bella Blvd Studio Blog

Layouts On Wednesdays

Today we have not only a few free-for-all layouts to share with you, but also a short little tutorial from one of our layout designers as well. Enjoy!

“A Little Bit Of Heaven”, by Sheri Reguly.

I love summer, and everything wonderful associated with it! We’ve been experiencing a very chilly spring in my parts of the woods, so I can’t help but dream of warmer temperatures, and sunshiny days. I couldn’t resist scrapbooking this sweet beach photo of my daughter that was taken a few years back. I choose my papers and embellishments based on the colors in my photo, as well as to reflect on the topic of my journaling.

Supplies:
Love And Marriage: May Eighteenth; Sand & Surf: Borders, Just Write Journaling Stickers, Alpha+Bits Stickers; Engaged At Last: Alpha+Bits Stickers; Sunshine & Happiness: Alpha+Bits Stickers; Sophisticates: Short Stories; Flags: Summer

“Cherry Berry Love”, by Malika Kelly.

This layout started out as an 8.5x11 layout (sometimes I like to mix things up in my albums). I had 3 small photos, all of the same image, but just with different finishes and I didn't think I need that much space to scrap them. As I was creating my layout, I felt a little cramped and that I needed to expand a bit. I pulled out a 12x12 sheet of the Sophisticates line in a coordinating color, added some ink drops and let my journaling strips spill over the edge and easily turned this in to a 12x12 layout. Sometimes it is easy to start small and turn it in to something bigger as you go!

Supplies:
Kiss Me: Love Notes, Borders & Cute Cuts; Freestyle Sophisticates: Freestyle McIntosh; Baby Boy: Momma's Boy; Sienna Chipboard Alphas: Pickle Juice; High Five Alpha Stickers: Pink-Red, Green; Designer Tape: Gray Dot; Button Market: Red Flowers, Pickle Squares 

"Love That Awesome Hair", by Becki Adams.

I love the new collections from Bella because once again they are so versatile. Even though these collections are centered around engagement and marriage they also have great "b" sides that can be used in so many different ways. I chose to use them for a baby layout.

Supplies:
Love and Marriage: May Eighteenth, Smokeys in Love, Turner Hall Ballroom, Esther Fleming Floral, Chipboard Icons; Kiss Me: Alpha+Bits Stickers; High Five Alpha Stickers: Gulf, Pink-Red; Designer Tape: 12 mm Combo, Chevron Combo; Feathers: Cotton Candy 

“So Many of My Smiles”, by Gina Lideros.

I had these bright cheerful photos that I took of my daughter at a park several years ago and I wanted to create a colorful background to match. I love Bella's new designer tapes, the palette is so happy & bright and looks great paired with the new feathers. I also created a fun colorful title out of designer tapes by first cutting my title using my Silhouette Cameo, and then layering strips of designer tapes on strips of paper and adhering behind the title.

Step 1:  To create the clouds for this page I first trimmed several pieces of white cardstock just a little bit larger than the punch that I intended on using.

Step 2: I layered strips of Bella Blvd designer tapes on my cut pieces.

Step 3: Then I punched out the clouds and layered them on my page. I even save one of the cloud negatives and adhered it to my page. These make such cute embellishments.

Supplies:
Freestyle Sophisticates: Freestyle Banana; Designer Tapes: Polka Dot Combo, Chevron Combo, Gray Dot, Hot Pink Dot, Yellow Chevron; Feathers: Gulf, Ice; Button Market: Stars, Orange Stars, Masculine Mix

Bella Blvd Fabric Style: A Table Runner Tutorial

Riley Blake Designs markets our fabrics under Stephanie Hunt as the designer. When purchasing or searching the Riley Blake website it's actually easier & more efficient to find the Bella Blvd fabrics under "Stephanie Hunt" as the artist.

Spring Table Runner, design by Kathy Frye.

Completed size: 15.5” x 43.5”
Featuring a combination of fabrics from the Sunny Happy Skies and Puppy Parks collections by Bella Blvd

Supplies and Cutting Directions
Please read all directions first.  All seams are 1/4" 

3/8 yd - Green (SHS) tone on tone floral – cut (3) pieces 12.5” squares

3/4 yd – Aqua, Green, Black (PP) stripe  - cut (3) pieces 2.5” x width of fabric (borders), cut (1) piece 16” x width of fabric (back), and cut (6) squares 2.5” (pieced sashing)

1/4 yd – Green Grid (PP) – appliquéd leaves and cut (6) squares 2.5” (pieced sashing)

1/3 yd – Aqua Lace (SHS) - appliquéd flowers and cut (6) squares 2.5” (pieced sashing)

1/4 yd – Yellow Grid (PP) – appliquéd flower centers and cut (6) pieces 2.5” (pieced sashing)

3/8 yd - Tan Burlap – cut (3) squares 11” (pull a burlap thread both directions in a corner, then cut in the ‘gap” between the threads. Repeat to get the gap in the opposite corner, measuring 11” over. Pull a thread 11” down from the first mark, to get an 11” sq.)

15.” x 43”   Fusible Fleece

1 yd - Fusible Product for appliqué

Threads to match fabrics for appliqué

Tear away stabilizer for behind appliqué

Piecing and Appliqué Directions

Trace the flower 3 times onto the paper side of the fusible product. Cut around the flowers (not on the traced line, cut a little bigger), fuse the shape to the back of the Aqua Lace fabric (follow the manufacturer’s directions). Now cut the flowers out on the traced line. 

Trace the flower center 3 times, fuse to the back of the Yellow Grid fabric, cut out.

Trace the leaves, 2 or 3 of each leaf, fuse to the back of the Green Grid fabric, and cut them out.

Fringe the burlap squares, about 3/4 inch on each side.

Layer burlap square on a Green 12.5” square, centering the burlap. Pin. Using matching thread, do a regular zig-zag stitch around the burlap square, stitching at the start of the fringe. This will secure the burlap to the fabric, and also prevent more fringing. Repeat for other 2 squares.

Center and fuse the flowers and leaves on the burlap, be sure to tuck the rounded leaf ends under the flowers. Center the flower center and fuse.

Pin a square of stabilizer behind the green fabric before appliquéing. To appliqué, use a satin stitch (very close zip-zag) and match your thread color to the appliqué pieces. Secure your stitches at the beginning and end. Or use the appliqué method of your choice. The pieces do not have to be reversed. Appliqué the leaves first.

When appliquéing the flower petals, stitch over the leave stitching ends, securing them again.

Appliqué the flower centers last, stitch over the ends of the flower petal stitching, securing them also. Remove the stabilizer.

{back view of the block after the appliqué is finished}

Piece a variety of the 2.5” squares together to make a sashing piece – 2.5” wide x 12.5” long. Make 2 of these sashing pieces. Press the seam allowances all the same direction.

Sew a pieced sashing strip to a flower block, (right sides together), press the seam allowance away from the sashing strip. Repeat, so that the 2 sashing strips are in between the 3 flower blocks.

Measure the length of the table runner, using that measurement, cut 2 of the border strips to that measurement. Sew the 2 long border pieces to the center of the table runner. Press seams towards the borders. Now measure the width of the table runner, cut the 2 short borders to that measurement. Sew the 2 short borders and press seams. Press the table runner.

Finishing

The backing fabric piece will be a little short, so add another piece of leftover fabric to the end, making it the same size as the finished front.

Fuse the Fusible Fleece piece to the wrong side of the backing fabric (follow the manufactures directions). It should be just a tiny bit smaller than the back, to reduce the bulk in the seams.

Layer the table runner front with the back /fusible fleece piece – right sides together. Pin the sides. Sew around all 4 sides, leave a 6” opening on a short side for turning. Trim the corners. Turn the table runner right side out. Press the edges. Hand sew the opening closed. Quilt as desired!

You can download and print full instructions, supply list, and flower pattern for this fun project right HERE.  

Valentines Day Altered Projects

If you are looking for some fun project ideas for Valentines Day, then you are in the right place! Our Altered Project Designers have been busy creating a great assortment of projects, both big and small, for decorating and giving away to those we love.

Valentines Decor Set, by Wendy Antenucci.

I wanted to create a few projects for around the house for Valentine's so I began looking around for some inspiration.

Valentines Subway Art Canvas, by Wendy Antenucci.

My first piece I decided on was the Subway Art piece that I downloaded from the Silhouette site. I chose to turn my canvas around to give a shadow box feel because I love the feel of banners and wanted to create some to drape around the art piece. Once I finished gluing all of the individual letters down for the subway art I added my heart banners, outlined my words and added a clay bird I had made.

Supplies:
Sophisticates: Sprinkles & Lace Punch; Kiss Me: Bouquet Kisses, Love Notes, Alpha+Bits Stickers; Designer Tape: Teal Stripe

Valentines Topiary, by Wendy Antenucci.

For my second project, I began to make some roses for a topiary. For this topiary, using a 5" styrofoam ball, I used 9 sheets of paper and cut my flowers out at 2 1/2" each. I used hot glue to hold each flower quickly and easily.  

Supplies:
Sophisticates: Sprinkles & Lace Punch, Sprinkles & Lace Ice; Lovey Dovey: Love Is In The Air; Kiss Me: Bouquet Kisses, Love Notes, Borders; Birthday Girl: Dancing Queen; Ciao Chip Everyday Elements: Clouds

Valentines Candy Jar, by Wendy Antenucci.

My final piece of decor was a candy jar to hold my favorite treat - m&m's! I knew I wanted to use the cute mustache and lips from the Kiss Me collection and pinwheels are always fun touches. With the addition of a doily and a few pieces from the various Bella collection we have an adorable candy jar that I might decide to share with my kids - not quite sure about that one yet!

Supplies:
Kiss Me: Love Notes, Borders & Cute Cuts, Alpha+Bits Stickers; Ciao Chip Everyday Elements: Stars & Hearts; Crochet Flowers: Juniper; Button Market: Hot Pink Flowers

Embossed Pillow Boxes, by Jennifer Edwardson.

These clear pillow boxes that come in different sizes are fabulous. I love a pillow box for everything from candies to gift cards. And these clear boxes can be used for anything and can be embossed using your favorite embossing template too.  

I used a couple of different circle patterned embossing folders and added some great papers, stickers and designer tape as well. A crochet flower mixed with a few precision cut flowers worked well on the box filled with chocolate kisses! These fun pillow boxes combined with Kiss Me are perfect for Valentine's Day. I can't wait to share them with the people I love :)

Supplies: 
Kiss Me: Flutter, Love Notes, Borders & Cute Cuts, Alpha+Bits Stickers, Just Write Journaling Stickers; Crochet Flowers: Dahlia; Designer Tape: Hot Pink Dot, Piggy Pink Stripe, Punch Chevron; Miniatures: Baby Boy

Embossed Glassine Bags, by Jennifer Edwardson.

I absolutely LOVE these glassine bags. They are super fun on their own, but they’re even more fun when they are embossed. I ran them through my Big Shot, using a different embossing folder for each one.

Using the borders, I created a folded over 'top' for each and embellished the bags using different stickers on each. Filled with Valentine's candies, they're ready to give to a few special people on February 14^th.

Supplies: 
Kiss Me: Love Notes, Borders & Cute Cuts, Alpha+Bits Stickers, Just Write Journaling Stickers

Candy Boxes, by Jennifer Edwardson.

I am a sucker for cute little boxes and these were no exception. I cut the patterned papers to size, sanded the edges and adhered them on all sides and the top.

For the larger box (4 x 4"), I added a sentiment sticker on top with some hearts, both precision cut and ciao chip too. I LOVE the new hot pink dot desinger tape and ribbon folded it back and forth at the edge of the lid. A love flag tucked into the hearts made it complete.

For the smaller box (3 x 3"), I did the same with the patterned paper and covered all the sides but for the top I layered pieces of patterned paper using 3D foam and then wrapped the box closed with some twine. I added a couple of sentiment stickers to finish it off. Completely ready to fill with candies and give for Valentine's Day.

Supplies:
Kiss Me: Bouquet Kisses, Mustache Love, Love Notes, Flutter, True Love, Borders & Cute Cuts, Alpha+Bits Stickers, Just Write Journaling Stickers; Sophisticates: Sprinkles & Lace Punch; Flags: Love; Miniatures: Card Sentiments; Crochet Flowers: Dahlia; Ciao Chip Elements: Stars & Hearts; Designer Tape: Hot Pink Dot

Chocolate Vase, by Jennifer Edwardson.

Kiss me is the perfect collection for Valentine's Day and I love that it is not completely red & pink. Love the blue and brown and mustaches too. I love a bouquet of flowers, but I love a bouquet of chocolate even more :) I added candy sticks to the back of my favorite chocolate hearts and got to work making it all look pretty.

The cute cuts are some of my favorite pieces of every Bella release and I made full use of them for decorating these pieces. I even cut a few shapes from the borders too. A few border strips and twine around the vase with krinkle cut paper inside to hold the chocolate flowers in place and it is ready to give for Valentine's Day (or keep – I haven't decided yet ;))

Supplies:
Kiss Me: Bouquet Kisses, Mustache Love, Love Notes, Flutter, Borders & Cute Cuts, Alpha+Bits
Stickers

Paper Fortune Cookies, by Jennifer Edwardson.

These are so fun and super quick and easy to personalize for any occasion. I created my own 'fortunes' to add inside with message such as 'can I take you out for a milkshake?' and 'you make my heart skip a beat'. Decorate them a little or a lot. However you choose to use them they're sure to be a hit!

Start with pattered paper circles, fold in half and pinch in the center of the fold.

Open to fold the opposite edges. Run a small line of glue along half of the circle as shown (making sure to not add too much glue or your cookie won't fold) and tuck your fortune in side as shown.

Keep closed with a few mini clothespins until your glue dries.

Once dry, gently push in the center of the bottom as shown. This should fold in quite easily as this was your original 'pinch' of the paper.

As you push the center of the bottom, gently pull the open edges together to form your cookie shape. Add a glue dot or quick dry glue where the paper tocuhes on the inside of the cookie and set aside to dry.

Embellish as desired and enjoy!

Supplies:
Freestyle Sophisticates: Freestyle McIntosh, Freestyle Peep, Freestyle Cotton Candy; Button Market: Pink Flowers; Kiss Me: Alpha+Bits Stickers, Just Write Journaling Stickers; Ciao Chip Versatile Elements: Stars & Hearts; Miniatures: Family, Card Sentiments

Designer Tutorials: Creating Peek-A-Boo Cards & Punched Accents Using Designer Tape

We're back to share two more simple tutorials from some of our design team members. I love when I see some of our designers re-creating a fun technique or design on several projects, yet each time it still looks fresh and new. So I asked a few designers to put together tutorials, to show us just how easy it is to get similiar looks for our own projects!

"Just Popping In" card, by Gretchen McElveen.

Hi! Gretchen here! Today I want to walk you through an easy way to make a cute “peek-a-boo” birthday card! In addition to the basics (adhesive, scissors, paper trimmer, etc.), all you will need is your favorite Bella Blvd birthday products (specifically the Birthday Boy Cute Cuts, Borders, and other patterned papers of your choice), a sheet of kraft cardstock to be the base of your card, a scrap of cardstock that matches the birthday papers, a scalloped circle punch, and a circle punch slightly smaller than the scalloped circle punch.

Step 1: Make the base of your card. I started with a card measuring 7” tall x 4” wide made out of kraft cardstock. This will fit just right inside a legal envelope! Then I layered 3 different patterned papers onto the front of the card.

Step 2: Using a circle punch (mine is 1 ½”), punch a circle in the middle from the right side of the card. Just punch as far as your circle punch will reach! My punch is not centered perfectly and I don’t care! This is a fun, playful card so if it is off-center it will only be more fun!

Step 3: Now use that same circle punch to punch a piece of cardstock to match your card (I used orange).

Step 4: Then using a scalloped circle punch slightly bigger than the circle punch (mine is 1 7/8), punch around the circle that you just punched.

You will create a fun little shape that looks like this.

Step 5: Now adhere the scalloped circle around the circle that you punched in the card.

Step 6: Now move onto the inside of the card for a bit! Cut the cute hippo out of the sheet of Cute Cuts from the Birthday Boy line. Cut out one of the presents while you are at it and a small hat and a “happy birthday to you” from the Borders sheet. Now adhere the hippo inside the card so that it can peek out of the circle on the front of the card.

Step 7: Then adhere the present with foam adhesive to the left of the hippo. Give the hippo a hat by adhering above his head with foam adhesive! Cut up the “happy birthday to you” from the Borders sheet and adhere it to the inside of the card also. 

Now go back and finish the outside of the card. Add some tape around 3 sides and type out a sentiment to add above and below the punched circle. Add stickers as desired to embellish. Then you are done!

Supplies:
Birthday Boy: Borders, Cute Cuts, Just a Note, Toadilly Cool, Streamers, Alpha + Bits Stickers
Designer Tapes: Orange Stripe

"Happy Birthday To You" card, by Gretchen McElveen.

Here is another card I made using the same "peekaboo" technique. This is a more girly card and I used square punches instead circles. But I couldn't resist using that cute hippo again! thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Birthday Girl: Borders, Dancing Queen, Cute Cuts, Sugar Rush, Celebrate, Alpha+Bits Stickers

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"Big Girl Birthday Wish", by Katherine McElvain.

For my daughter’s birthday layout I wanted to create some streamers as the main embellishment. I love the look I have been seeing on many design blogs of circles and little pieces floating on a line of string.

Step 1: To create the circles for this page I layered the Bella Blvd designer tape on a piece of vellum.

Step 2: Then I punched out the circles in two different sizes. Super easy, but super fun.

To decorate the layout I draped my bakers twine across the page where I thought it would look best. I decorated the twine by alternating my striped circles with coordinating buttons, spacing them out to look randomly placed. Added a title with those great new Sienna Alphas, a little splatter here and there, and call it complete!

Supplies:
Birthday Girl: Icons, Alpha+Bits Stickers; High Five Alpha Stickers: Pink-Red; Sienna Chipboard Alphas: Punch; Ciao Chip Elements: Borders; Designer Tape: Teal Stripe, Pink Stripe, Pickle Juice Dot, Pickle Juice Chevron, Yellow Chevron, Gulf Dot, Pink Chevron; Button Market: Purple Flowers, Fruit Punch, Pink Flowers, Aqua Flowers, Hot Pink Flowers

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"Celebrate" card, by Kathy Martin.

I love the Bella Blvd. Designer Tapes! With their bright colors and fun patterns, I like to use them to make die cut embellishments. It’s really easy too.

Just add strips of your favorite Designer Tape to clear vellum and then run through your die cutter as you would any other paper. This technique also works with digital cutters and punches. You can create pinwheels, rosettes and titles for scrapbook pages too.

Supplies:
Thankful: Turkey Tracks; Birthday Girl: Alpha+Bits Stickers; Designer Tape: Piggy Pink Stripe, Pickle Juice Chevron, Yellow Chevron; Flags: Girl; Button Market: Stars

"True Love" card, by Kathy Martin.

Supplies:
Designer Tape: Piggy Pink Stripe, Pickle Juice Chevron, Orange Stripe, Yellow Chevron, Teal Stripe; Flags: Love; Button Market: Pink Flowers

Designer Tutorials: Creating Sunburst Backgrounds

Welcome back for our second day of sharing some simple tutorials from some of our design team members. I love when I see some of our designers re-creating a fun technique or design on several projects, yet each time it still looks fresh and new. So I asked a few designers to put together tutorials, to show us just how easy it is to get similiar looks for our own projects!

"Summer Memories", by Laura Vegas.

I have made a few layouts and cards using partial sunbursts, but this was the first layout that I had made using a full page sunburst. I love the look of the sunburst background, and thought I would create the look of a second "layout" on top of the fun background, with my photo and journaling all together on a 9x9 piece of cardstock. Creating a sunburst background takes a little bit of time, but the resulting look is well worth it! Here's a little tutorial on how to create this look.

Step 1: For a full page sunburst background, you will want to start with a spare sheet of 12x12 cardstock. You will want to trace a circle in the area that you want the sunburst to "burst" out from. I traced my circle in the lower right section of the page.

Step 2: Using a ruler, or a straight edge, you will then draw lines from the circle all the way out to the edge of the paper. These do not have to be evenly spaced and there is really no wrong or right way to do this step. I usually start with the corner lines, and then work my way in.

I only trace my lines to the edge of my circle, since I don't cut my pieces to fit all the way together when they meet in that center point. I used to cut them all the way, but I always seemed to have ends overlapping and bulking up. I know that I will place something over that center point, so I'm ok with there being an empty space in that area.

Step 3: Once your lines all drawn out the way you want them, you will want to number the pieces so that you know the order they go in. Start in one corner, and number them going in a clockwise order. This is much easier then trying to fit them together later. Once they're numbered, you will want to cut all of the pieces apart.

You can see that I have cut off the ends, where the pieces meet in that center point. I will be placing something over this area of my layout, so know one needs to know my "bursts" didn't go all the way in.

Step 4: Start selecting your patterned paper and/or cardstock that you will use for each piece.

Step 5: For each "burst", you will want to flip over the patterned paper/cardstock that you chose, and lightly adhere the numbered template piece, number side down. By adhering the template piece to the BACK of your chosen paper, you don't have to worry about any leftover adhesive showing. But you have to remember to also flip the template piece over, and adhered it number side down, so that once you cut your piece and turn it over, your "burst" will be going in the right direction.

Step 6: As you trim each "burst", place it in the appropiate spot on your page. I use a sheet of cardstock to built the sunburst on, and adhere all of the pieces directly to it.

To adhere your "bursts", start with the corner pieces, and adhere them first. Then work your way in with the rest of the pieces. Don't worry if a piece or two have to overlap slightly. It's hard to get them cut so that they match up perfectly.

Step 7: If desired, you can machine stitch along the outside edges of each "burst", or even draw stitches with a pen. Or you can leave them just the way they are. Either way works!

Step 8: Make sure and SAVE your template pieces that you cut out from cardstock, so that you can use them over and over on additional layouts ;)

Supplies:
Sunshine & Happiness: Popsicle Kisses, Happy Clouds, Borders, Cute Cuts, Alpha+Bits Stickers, Just Write Journaling Stickers; Designer Tape: Yellow Chevron, Teal Stripe; Button Market: Fruit Punch, Aqua Flowers, Pickle Squares, Neutrals Mix

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“Destination Happiness”, by Loredana Buccaria.

Hi everyone! This is one of the most fun pages I have ever created with the amazing products of Bella Blvd! I love to mix many of the different collections and kinds of products. Finally I have created a background with a sunburst. I couldn't wait to do it. I have drawn it on a white sheet of paper and signed each part with a number in the way to know the sequence of the different pieces of paper. After I have chosen many different patterned papers and cut the pieces from each of them. Simply glue them on the white card stock. I have added the date and the name of the place in the picture and added many journaling spots as well. I played with tiny details as always I do and tada! What do you think? Enjoy!

Supplies:
All Inclusive: Bookin' On The Beach; Sunshine & Happiness: Popsicle Kisses, Cute Cuts, Happy Clouds, Alpha+Bits Stickers, Just Write Journaling Stickers; Baby Girl: Daddy's Girl, Cute Cuts; Spring Flings & Easter Things: Mom's Bouquet; Flags: Baby Boy; Crochet Flowers: Dahlia; High Five Alpha Stickers: Pink-Red

Designer Tutorials: Embossing On Chipboard Alphas & Creating Chevron Zig Zags

For the next few days, we are going to be sharing some simple tutorials from some of our design team members. I love when I see some of our designers re-creating a fun technique or design on several projects, yet each time it still looks fresh and new. So I asked a few designers to put together tutorials, to show us just how easy it is to get similiar looks for our own projects!

"Cookie Monster Voice", by Melissa Stinson.

Using a combination of border stamps and heat embossing has become one of my favorite ways to dress up my chipboard letters. Especially on this layout, where the title is such a huge part of the journaling and page design, I wanted the letters to have a little extra special something to help them stand out. And, not only did I embellish my chipboard alphas, but I also took extra photos to share my process with you!

Step 1: Punch out the letters for your title from their backing sheets. My letters popped out with the wax paper backig still attached, so I didn't have to worry about them sticking to the sheet of paper I placed underneath them to catch the extra embossing powder. Line up the letters as they'll be placed in the title so that the embossing will be in a continuous line across your title.

Step 2: Ink up a stamp (I like to use a border stamp since they're longer and can stamp more letters at one time) with Versamark or any sticky watermark type ink.

Step 3: Stamp on your letters, keeping them lined up as you go. If your title is longer than your stamp, just ink it up again and line up another impression next to it, just as if you were stamping on a long strip of paper.

Step 4: Sprinkle embossing powder (I find that it's best to use a contrasting color to give it the most "pop") over your letters, then tap off the excess and lay your letters out on a craft sheet (alternately you can hold each letter with a pair of tweezers as you heat it). 

Step 5: Use a heat tool to set the embossing powder on your letters, wait for them to cool, and then arrange on your page as desired!

Supplies:
Baby Girl: Daddy's Girl, Snuggly Safari, Pretty in Pink, Baby Cakes, Cute Cuts, Miniatures, Ciao Chip Icons; Baby Boy: Ciao Chip Icons; Ciao Chip Elements: Borders; Simply Simona Chipboard Alphabet: Brownie; Button Market: Fruit Punch, Feminine Mix

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"Lollipop Kid" by Becky Williams.

Hi! Becky Williams here with a quick tutorial for today. One of the biggest trends in scrapbooking right now is chevron stripes. You can find them everywhere and many people have created them in different ways. Today I will show you a very quick and easy way to make these cute zigzags like I've done on a few of my Bella Blvd assignments. 

Step 1: Gather some of your favorite Bella Blvd patterned papers and the pictures you would like to include on your page.

Step 2: Cut patterned paper to 1/4 inch x 12 inch strips and cut those strips into 4-inch long segments. You can vary the appearance of your chevron stripes by changing up the length and width of your strips. Experiment with different things to find a style that you like best. 

Step 3: Take two of the 4-inch strips of paper and join them squarely at the corner and adhere at the corner. Take another strip and add to the end going the opposite direction to make the peaks and valleys of the stripes. Once you've finished one stripe, adhere it to the base of your layout. 

Step 4: Add more stripes to your page by creating more strips as you did with the first one, lining the paper pieces up with your first stripe. You can keep each stripe one color or mix and match pieces as I did. 

Step 5: Once you've finished all of the stripes, add your pictures and embellish as desired. 

Supplies:
Family Dynamix: Quadrants; Birthday Boy: Eat Cake, Alpha+Bits Stickers; Birthday Girl: Borders, Celebrate, Miles of Smiles, Alpha+Bits Stickers; Thankful: Perfect Day, Borders; Designer Tape: Pickle Juice Chevron; Simply Simona Chipboard Alphas: Orange; Ciao Chip Elements: Stars and Hearts; High Five Alphabets: Black-White; Button Market: Hot Pink Flowers, Gulf Squares, Orange Stars

Bella Blossoms T-Shirt Tutorial

We always love to hear from our fans, and we especially love when you share with us the fun layouts and projects that you have created using Bella Blvd products. Last week, we got an email from designer Emily Pitts, who wanted to share with us a super cute project that her daughter created.

 

While Emily was at Summer CHA, in Chicago, she was given a few packs of the Baby Blooms-A-Bella to take home and play with. Before Emily had a chance to use them on any layouts, her teenage daughter saw them and was inspired to use them on a T-shirt she had just purchased. We have invited her to join us on the blog today, to share her idea with everyone.  

 

We want to give a warm welcome to Annie! She is almost 17 years old, a junior in high school, an accomplished pianist, she loves Pinterest and doing her hair. Here is her fun tutorial, in her own words:

This shirt was so easy to put together. All it requires is a plain t-shirt, some Bella Baby Blooms-A-Bella, glue dots, and a needle and thread. All I did was lay out the flowers in a pattern I liked.

 

Then I transfered them carefully to the side. 

With a glue dot on the back to hold it in place, I stitched each flower to the t-shirt, a couple of stitches through the button. I removed the glue dot and move onto the next flower in the pattern. 

When I washed it. Turn it inside out and wash on gentle to reduce the fraying that naturally happens.

 

It was so easy to make this trendy shirt and I did for half the price that I'd pay at the store!

Thanks Annie, for sharing your fabulous idea! I love to see teenagers being inspired to do things creative and unique! And remember, we welcome you all to share your creations, using Bella products, with us. You can email us, with "Inbox Inspiration" in the subject line, to lauravegas.bellablvd@yahoo.com. You can also share you idea with us on the Bella Blvd Facebook page. You never know when we might email you, asking to share your idea with all of our readers and fans ;)

Cricut Circle Feature Week: Tuesday Tutorial

 

 

Today's Tuesday Tutorial is brought to us by Katherine McElvain.

 

The assignment was to use the Embossing Plus Tags, for the Cuttlebug machine. I made a group of tags to reference my inks and mists. Today I have a tutorial on making a set of tags as a reference index for your mists and inks. 

 

All you need in order to make a set of color wheel tags is your basic scrapbook supplies, inks, mists, some coordinating Bella Blvd paper,  Bella Fiori stamps, a Cuttlebug and the Cuttlebug Tags Embossing Plates/Shapes.

 

The Cuttlebug tags plate is perfect for this project because it not only lets you cut out a variety of tags, but embosses them at the same time. The first step was to choose the tag I wanted to use. I chose one of the larger tags that allowed enough room for me to write a label describing the color of each ink or mist. Then I ran flat white cardstock through the Cuttlebug using the plate.

 

After the tag is cut I did not remove it, but instead left it pinched in between the metal plates and pealed back the top clear layer to reveal my embossed tag and the plate which is now a screen to color my tag.

 

Holding the plate in place I sprayed my tag with glimmer mist.

 

After spraying the plate I lifted it up to reveal my pretty little tag! 

 

I cut a coordinating paper for the back side of the tag (the tab folds over to the front side) and sanded it to reveal the embossed pattern. I also cut out some tiny flowers form the Bella Blvd Family Dynamics Quadrants paper.

 

I adhered all the pieces together, and wrote the name of my mist on the tag to make a fancy little sample of my glimmer mist.

 

For the inks I chose a different tag to use, and sponged the ink through the template. Because sponged ink can appear as a different color than stamped ink, I used the Bella Fiori stamps to make a stamped sample on my tag as well. I again labeled it with the ink name and backed it with a Bella paper.

 

I put all my colorized tags on a ring and hooked them to my tote bag. With all the cut Bella paper they look good dangling from the back side as well as the front!

 

And now I have a cute little color reference to go to when I need to choose a mist or ink.

Thanks, Katherine, for a fabulous tutorial! We hope you'll stop back by later this afternoon, and then again this evening, for two more posts that are full of card inspiration!