Bella Blvd Studio Blog

4 Mini Layouts = One big layout

Hi there Bella Blvd Fans! Christine joining you today with my twist on the 4 Mini Layouts challenge. I was all in on the idea of 4 mini layouts but as I began creating I had an idea: What if I made 4 layouts that came together to make one big layout??? Could I do it? Would they look awful together? Could I make it cohesive somehow? Let's take a look at how it came together!

I love to incorporate black with pops of color into my layouts and a lot of the Bella Blvd collections make this possible. Squeeze the Day is no exception - it's got lots of little black accents including papers and embellishments.  

The bright, fun, and colorful themes within this collection make it work so easily for SO many different themes. Even silly mom/daughter selfies.  My first mini layout used the various greens from the collection.

Now that you have seen two of the minis you can see a little more of my approach! I used two triangles - one black for each mini and one color.  Then I built my embellishments and titles around those colors and white. 

All the colors of Bella Blvd work so well together but another aspect to that is that the colors in the same family work great too! So for the pink mini page I was able to use pieces in the cotton candy, peep, and punch pink to create!

Another fun aspect to the Squeeze the Day collection is ALL of the different fruits in it! If it's a favorite, it's in there!

The Ciao Chip might just be my favorite part of this collection!

Although I say that and let's be real here - I sure do love all the gorgeous patterned papers as well (even when I am frazzled and glue them down sideways ;)

The heart hugs are also a nice addition to all of the Bella Blvd collections!  

Let's see how I did with getting these four mini pages to come together to make one!

Look at that! Couldn't be more fun and cheery and with a little planning it came together to make a big layout perfectly!

I have a whole process video up on my YouTube Channel as well that you can check out here! Thanks so much for joining me today!

Squeeze the Day & Acrylic Words

Hello Bella Blvd Friends! It is Leanne here today and I am excited to share with you my latest scrappy project from Squeeze the Day.

This week the design team has been looking at different ways to use the Bella Blvd Acrylic Words. The Squeeze the Day collection is so beautiful and bright I really wanted the words I used as my title, to pop on the page.

To recreate this layout, start with selecting paint colours in a similar rainbow palette to the ephemera icons. I used yellow, orange, pink and purple with splashes of white. Layer the acrylic word title at the bottom of this rainbow.

To attach the acrylic words, place a glue dot strategically behind the wider areas of the sentiment and adhere directly to the cardstock base. The acrylic words used on this page are from Be You, Be Brave Words and New & Sweet Words. Don't be afraid to separate sentiments to create your own unique title.

Once you have your photo/s in place, build interest and layers around it with all the fun ephemera now available.

Obviously I focused on playing with the watermelon features, as it was my son's fruit of choice in my photo.

Complete the layout by adding twine to the tags and fill any awkward spaces with the new epoxy stickers from the Squeeze the Day collection. Thanks for visiting..x

 

 

Squeeze the Day: Patterned Paper - Fruit Salad; Ephemera Icons, Epoxy Icons, Ephemera Words, Hearts Epoxy; Acrylic Words: Be You, Be Brave, New & Sweet; Puffy Star Stickers: Oreo Mix Puffy Stars.

 

 

Acrylic Words- Mix It Up!

Hello & Happy Saturday! 

Today I am sharing a layout featuring Acrylic Words. There are so many to choose from and as I browsed through my stash, I selfishly thought of words that I would use to describe myself which were Fearless, Happy and Strong. Typically the layouts that I put together do not feature me, but to be honest, I was on a roll using the Let's Go On An Adventure line and wanted to put pictures of me on that pretty floral patterned paper.

I really like how the title pops off the page with the Acrylic Words. They were so easy to work with, I simply removed them from the package and added some tacky glue to adhere them to my page. They already come with glue dots, but I wanted a solid layer of glue so they stay put forever!

If you're like me and prefer to add dimension to your layouts, the Acrylic Words are an easy way to do that! 

Let's Go On An Adventure Collection: Morning Meadow, Balloon Ride, Fairy Garden, Ephemera Icons.

 Acrylic Words: Fearless, Happy, Strong.

Heart Hugs: Give Thanks

 

 

 

Acrylic Word Magnets

Hello, Bella Blvd. friends! Tessa Buys here with a fun way to use your acrylic words off the page!

I always love a good, inspiring message placed somewhere that I will see it often. The "embrace" and "today" acrylic words were just the phrase I needed on my magnetic chalkboard in my craft room. I had so much fun turning them into magnets that I chose a couple of other words, too: "gratitude" and "grace". I can always use more of both of those!

To make your own acrylic word magnets, you'll need magnets (I used 6mm nickel-covered disc magnets that I purchased online), as well as E6000 adhesive. Squeeze a small amount of glue onto a scratch piece of paper. Using a toothpick, add a small amount of glue to the back of a magnet and onto the back of the acrylic word. Secure the magnet to the word and let it sit. Tip #1: Let the glue set for several minutes, then put on your magnet board for a full 24 hours before moving again. Tip #2: Do not get another magnet close to the magnet you just adhered - they will snap together and you'll have to re-glue!

Some of the Bella Blvd. words are thicker, which means you can hide the entire magnet, but others are thinner. You can see the difference here. "Today" is thick enough that the magnets are not visible from the front, but "embrace" is not. You could try smaller magnets, but they'll be more difficult to work with and not as strong. I don't mind seeing a little bit of magnet show - I don't notice it at all when the magnets are securing something to my board, anyway.

I suggest using several magnets across the back of each word for stability and more functionality. For decoration, pull out some favorite Bella Blvd. die cuts and embellish your magnet board.

If you need an uplifting message on your magnet board, consider your Bella Blvd acrylic words. They are a pretty touch to my crafting space and I know you'll enjoy them, too. Happy creating! 

Acrylic Words: "embrace" "today" "gratitude" "grace"; Make Your Mark Paper Pieces

Summer Vibes | Erica Thompson

I am loving the summer sun and all the pool time we have been getting! Perfect memories to document with the brand new Squeeze the Day collection. The colors and images are so darn sweet! This week we are having fun with acrylics and I knew the Splish Spash piece was the perfect fit with my layout today! I cut my cut file out on some white cardstock and used the new Squeeze the Day 6x6 paper pad to back the file. I love the smaller scale of these paper pads and they are just perfect for cut files!

I almost always purchase 6x6 paper pads because they are perfect for so many things! I of coarse started with a white background...it is just my go to! I sprinkled on some mists from Shimmerz that matched the collection and then popped up the cut file. I pulled out all the coordinating embellishments from Squeeze the Day! Yes you will want to pick them all up because they are all fabulous! Oh and did you know Bella released brand new products with this collection! Yep! The 6x6 pads are just the beginning! This collection is packed with some amazing stuff people!

I added some ephemera pieces around my layout and also pulled out some black tiny heart stickers from the Florence alpha sheet. Did you know these alpha sheets had hearts on them? Well now you do and you will love them! To finish up my layout I matted it on one of the new Bella Besties and added my journaling with my WRMK typewriter!

Here is a look at my completed layout using the new Squeeze the Day collection!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Check back tomorrow for more inspiration.

Squeeze the Day 6x6 paper pad, Ephemera Icons, Ephemera Words, Acrylic Word Splish Splash, Florence Alpha Black, Squeeze the Day Ciao Chip, Squeeze the Day Doohickey

Fun in the Sun Summer Scrapbooking Layout

Hi everyone! Heather Leopard is here with a fun in the sun summer scrapbooking layout that is an outcome of a happy accident.

So here's the layout featuring my youngest and one of her besties at the water park. Any guess what my happy accident was? I wanted to use an acrylic sentiment on the page and while I was looking for the perfect word, I noticed the pennants that are part of the Splash Zone collection. I struggle with using the pennants so I decided to face my fear head on and feature them in my design along with my acrylic word. "play" (love is chipboard).  

To create this layout, I measured the pennants and then drew some in my Silhouette design software. I sized them down and created 3 different sizes. I thought about laying them out across the page, making several rows of them but then I decided to put them in a large circle.

To create the perfect circle, I measured the length of the pennant and then cut a circle from the middle of the page so that the pennants would fit horizontally and vertically on the page.  Then, I started placing the felt and paper pennants around the perimeter of the circle.

Once the pennants were in place, I started thinking about what background I may want to use. I tried clouds, waves and plaids. It wasn't until I placed the large yellow plaid behind the circle that it dawned on me that I had created the perfect sun! Commence the happy accident dance!

I stitched the background and pennants to the page using my sewing machine and then I also stitched additional rays between the pennants because it felt like it was still missing something.

I then added the photo with layers of papers and embellishments in the lower left and then decided to extend the story up into the sun, finishing it off with some chipboard splashed at the top. And the finishing touch was the acrylic word, "play" on the layout.

I just love this happy accidental design and hope you do too.  

Splash Zone collection, Plaids & Dotty, Acrylic Word: Explore & Play, So In Love Chipboard, Pennants: Summer, Today; Bella Bows; DooDad Enamel Dots: Milk

Hip Hip Hooray Digital Layout by Tya

Hello and Welcome! It's Tya up on the blog today! This week we are sharing projects that feature the awesome Acrylic Word embellishments. I was so excited to see that many of our digital collections come with Acrylic Word files to use! I created this fun birthday-themed layout featuring the new "Wish Big Girl" digital collection.

 

 So when you get the digital file for the acrylic words they are flat, just like the normal type. By using just a few adjustments you can make the acrylic words seem a little more dimensional and real- looking. I've included an example below. 

To achieve the dimensional look, simply place your word on the layout. On the word, right-click the drag-down menu and look for the Blending Options menu. Open that and you will click on Drop Shadow and the Bevel and Emboss buttons. I played around with the slider bars on these menu options until I was happy with the end result. As you can see on my layout, the Hip Hip Hooray looks shadowed and a little dimensional and not flat. Just like a real acrylic word. So with just a few adjustments, you can make your digital embellishments look just like the real thing! It is so cool! 

I hope I have inspired you to play around with your digital embellishments and use those fun acrylic words that come in the collections. They really are a great focal point embellishment to any layout! Happy Crafting everyone! 

 

Wish Big Girl Collection Bundle

Acrylic Word Titles by Sarah

Good morning everyone!!

Sarah here today and I'm going to be sharing a layout with Bella Blvd's new Squeeze the Day collection!! I mean, this collection is so amazing and fresh! I just love it!!

Ok, not only do I love the new Squeeze the Day collection, with its bright colors and happy patterns, but I really have a thing for the Bella invisables! I think I may have one or two left, I love them added in as a layer on a layout. This one was a calendar, but you don't have to use it that way at all. I just love the way it adds more to the background.

 I started with a Bella Besties for my background. I knew I wanted to use the invisible on my background too, so I actually started building my layout on it, before ever sticking anything to my background paper. I figured that doing it this way, I would be able to build my layout and then decided on what color I wanted the background to be, what complimented my layout.

I started with my pictures. I had three for this layout, I just had to decide if I wanted them to go vertical or horizontal. I ended up deciding to have them go with them horizontal. I backed each photo with a different patterned paper and then decide I wanted a patterned paper running behind my photos. And I love rainbows! So I went with that, it had a lot of white and pops of all the colors in the collection, so anything from the collection would work!

Once I chose the rainbow picture, I popped two of my photos up on 3D foam and stuck them all down. Then came trying to decide what embellishments I was going to use. And if you haven't seen this collection, OH WOW are there a ton of ephemera pieces, stickers and all the epoxy pieces!! So for me it was hard not to use everything!!

I chose some of the pieces I wanted to use, set them aside and pulled out my acrylic words. This week we were to use acrylic words on out layout. Well I chose three different ones to use. It was super easy to chose the words for my title too. We were at the zoo in these pictures and we had do much fun while we were there. My youngest daughter got to to ride the carousel for the first time and oh did she love it, she didn't want to get off it! One of my other daughters wasn't so sure about it though and she held on for dear life. But it was all so much fun.

I picked where I wanted my title to go, I started from the top with the largest word and a white one, knowing that I had two white acrylic words and a green one, I decided to alternate them. So I placed them and started to embellish around my layout. I added a cluster up to the top left. I added some of the tags, epoxy fruit, ephemera heart and a sticker here and there. I did the same to the right of the photos and than down at the very bottom below the word play. Once I was happy with everything, I went through the Bella Besties, sliding different colors behind my invisible, until I chose the ice color. I adhered everything to the background paper and was done.

Bella Besties: Freehand Graph & Dot Ice

Squeeze the Day collection: Sweet skies patterned paper, 6x6 paper pad, ephemera words, ephemera icons, doohicky sticker sheet, epoxy icons

Invisibles calendar

Acrylic words: Explore, Play

Acrylic word-Wish big: Happy 

Acrylic Words with Kelly

Hello everyone! It's Kelly here today sharing a layout featuring acrylic words, and the brand new Squeeze the Day collection:

Acrylic words are great for quick and easy titles.... I love mixing and matching the fonts for interest. I have included 3 acrylic words on today's project.

I layered the word 'sweet' over my photo, as more of an embellishment....while the other two words sit at the bottom of my page for the title.

Acrylic words have so many great uses...and I love how easy they are to fit into projects.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Acrylic Words: Memories, Awesome, New&Sweet; Squeeze the Day: 6x6 paper pad, Doohickey, Ephemera Icons, Ciao Chip, Epoxy Hearts; Freehand Graph&Dot: White

Scrap-bust the Rainbow!

Hello, Bella Blvd friends! Tessa Buys here with a bright and happy layout brought to you by all those little scraps of pretty paper we can't seem to throw away.

Over the years, I've come to realize that even though I have the best intentions of using up all my scraps, it rarely happens. To be more conscientious of how much paper I waste, I developed a system. First, at the end of a project and before I sort scraps, I make cards or tags to use up the leftovers. At that point, if the scraps are too small to mat a photo, to the recycle bin it goes.

Second, I trim all pieces at least large enough to mat a photo into squares or rectangles. Funny shapes don't hold up well in my paper storage. The only exception to that rule is a paper that I may be fussy-cutting flowers from. If I don't have the time to fussy-cut them all, I will store the cut-into paper as is.

Third, I store the scraps with the full-size sheets I have from that collection in my paper storage containers. When I go to make another project, I always look at the scraps first.

For this page, I pulled rectangle scraps from several collections until I had all the colors of the rainbow. The different lengths didn't matter to me, but you could trim them to be uniform in size if you'd like. I tore the pieces to create an interesting edge, as well as to expose the white paper core and create some contrast to the bright colors.

I embellished with acrylic hearts, placing colors monochromatically. I also added alpha stickers to the hearts to spell out "I love u". It's really subtle, but a great detail up close. Word salad stickers in matching colors also add some interest and great sub-titles to my silly photo. 

The giant "sweet" acrylic word makes a great title. I love that it's white on top of all that bold color. My journaling frames out the page, as well as some drawn lines.

I didn't have to dig into any new product to create this page, and it feels good to use bits and pieces of past projects to create something completely new. I'd love to know how you store your scraps! Please share in the comments. And if you need to de-stash your scraps, give this layered and torn strip layout a try. Happy creating!

 

Acrylic Hearts; Florence Alphabet: Blueberry, Guacamole, Bell Pepper, Orange, Cotton Candy, McIntosh; Word Salad stickers; "Sweet" Acrylic Word; Bitty Bow clip.