Bella Blvd Studio Blog

Fabulous friend by Kim Watson

Do you have 'leftovers' from various collections on your craft table?

Well I always do, so this week's challenge of using 3 or more collections together, came at the perfect time for me. This page is the result.

Fabulous Friends by Kim Watson

The theory behind this type of design is simple. 

1. Have a specific page theme to guide your pattern & embellishment choices.
2. Choose a base to hold the design; I selected a white Chevies Clear Cuts sheet.
3. Decide on a color palette; I chose pink, orange, yellow with aqua highlights.
4. Collect leftover paper strips & stickers that comply with points 1., 2. and 3.
5. Get crafty :D

 

As you can see, the Bella 'philosophy' of having standard color palettes really helps the 'mixing' process. Look how well the patterns from the different collections coordinate together. 

These are the collections I used:

1. Plaids & Dotty
2. Mom Life
3. Oh My Stars
4. She Blooms

 

The strips trimmed from short to long, create a colorful mat for my photo, this makes for an eye catching focal point. Did you notice how I have varied the heights of each piece? The stepped effect allows one to slip embellishments in between the layers in an organic manner, as well as giving the page dimension. Don't you love the way the resulting shadows add super visual interest?

 

Earlier I mentioned using aqua as a highlight color....I did so using one of my fave embellishments, a big Felt Bow with support from appropriate Word Salad sentiment stickers. The blue acts as visual anchors & helps one to visually move around the page. 

So no matter the theme of your project, Bella Blvd has the perfect combination of products to make your crafting process a seamless one. I hope you are inspired to 'bust your stash' using this timeless idea.

Have an awesome day further.

Hugs XOXO

 

Moms Life, Oh My Stars, She Blooms, Plaids & Dotty Collection, Word Salad Booklet, Puffy Stickers, Bella Bows, Acrylic Words, Chevies Clear Cuts

Monthly Illustrated Faith Round Up

Happy Tuesday friends. Today we are bringing you some inspiration from our friends over at Illustrated Faith and their blog.

This past month has had their team busily documenting their faith in a variety of beautiful ways and we wanted to share their inspiring creations with you.

 

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Teen Topic: Forgiveness

Illustrated Faith Delight in His Day Cardstock Stickers, Clear Cut Pads; Illustrated Faith Wordfetti Stickers;Illustrated Faith Criss Cross Washi Tape; Illustrated Faith Date It Stamp, Book It Stamp; Illustrated Faith Black Eyed Pea Ink Pad; Illustrated Faith Be Bold Bible Mat. 

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Worth the Wait | Small Beginnings

 Illustrated Faith Precision Pen Pack; Illustrated Faith Seeds of Refuge Washi Tape;Illustrated Faith Eve's Mix Cute Clips;Illustrated Faith She Blooms Mixed Enamel Hearts.

  

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Memory Keeping: Faith Edition | In Quiet Times

 
Illustrated Faith Bright & Brave Collection Kit, Paper Pieces;Illustrated Faith Bananas For You Alphas;Illustrated Faith Black Eyed Pea Ink Pad; Illustrated Faith Criss Cross Washi Tape;Illustrated Faith His Promise Stickers; Bella Blvd Puffy Stars/Black. 

 

 

Make sure to head to the Illustrated Faith blog to check out the full articles and many, many more!

Currently: Digital Scrapbook Layout by Marla Thrall

Happy Wednesday, friends! It's Marla here and I'm excited to share a Pinterest inspired page with you today. Lately, I've been trying to take time each month to write a little list of my favorites. This "currently" list is easy to scrap and perfectly captures each month. 

I found this lovely layout by Jennifer Haggerty and decided it needed to be scrap lifted:

Here's my finished page: 

When I first start a layout, I pick out a picture (or two) and then find elements and papers to match it. I fell in love with this feather paper and knew it needed to be included. I layered complementary elements around (and behind) the picture. 

Next, I worked on the title. I decided to use two different alphas to add a little bit of interest. Of course, I always make sure to apply a drop shadow to give my digital pages that paper look that I love! 

I always leave the journaling for very last- mostly because I find it the hardest part of making a page. Of course, the journaling is usually one of my favorite things to look at later so it's important that I make time to include it. 

For this layout, I decided to use hearts as bullet points to each item on my little list. They are just so fun. 

I love how this layout turned out! It's bright, colorful, and pretty! Plus- a picture of me and journaling about my life is included. As a new mom, a lot of my scrapbooks is focused on my little boy. I know it's important to include parts of myself from time to time. 

Do you ever scrapbook yourself? Have you made a "currently" page lately? 

Supplies:

IF She Blooms Digital Bundle

Addison Digital Bundle

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To see all of our Digital Products and to purchase, head over to our retail Digital Shop, located on the Bella Blvd website. To learn how to use the Digital Shop, check out our how-to video here.

 

 

Pinterest Inspired With Missy

{Image credit: Alisa Burke}

Hey there! Missy back again, and I’m excited to be sharing another fun Pinterest-inspired layout today. Pinterest is such a great place to find ideas for your projects. As soon as I came across this fun DIY image, I was immediately drawn to the fun wonky oval shapes, the bright colors mixed with black & white, and the design created by the placement of the rocks. I knew this would make a really fun background design for a layout.

“Free Spirit”, by Missy Whidden.

So I pulled out lots of black & white papers from Just Add Color and Color Chaos and did some mix and matching with bright colored papers from Illustrated Faith Whatever is Lovely, She Blooms and Fresh Market. I even used some Clear Cuts & Invisibles. I drew the crooked ovals in Silhouette Studio and cut them on my Cameo on white cardstock. I traced, cut and adhered all the papers to the ovals and then arranged them like they were in the photo.

I did a bit of layering behind the photo since I wanted the focus to be on the ovals. The photo stands out since it’s black & white, and it also pops against the bright colors. I used a few stickers to overlap onto the photo and then added some tangled thread for added color and texture.

Making these ovals was a lot of fun! I tried to mimic the ovals in the photo as best as I could. I combined patterned papers with some of the black & white Clear Cuts and Invisibles. They look awesome on white cardstock. After the ovals were done and glued down, I machine stitched with black thread through some of them. On some of them I added word or phrase stickers and some punched hearts with tangled thread. I went small on the title and used some Tiny Text alphas.

My daughter isn’t super girly, but I felt like this layout just needed a little bow. I don’t tend to use them a lot, but I loved how this one looked on top of the photo. I did a little bit of watercoloring behind the photo in blues, yellows and pinks to match the papers and the Pinterest photo. I like to have it peeking out from behind the photo.

I know I’ve said this several times, but I love how so many of the Bella collections can be mixed and matched. So many different looks can be achieved this way, and I was able to pull so many pieces from so many lines. I also punched small circles from one of the Clear Cuts. They are so versatile; they can be punched, ran through a die cutting machine, hand cut…lots of possibilities.

Here’s one last close-up of the ovals. My favorite part of this layout is that I would never have thought to use messy ovals as a background design until I saw this on Pinterest. I love how it turned out, and I love that it’s an idea I’ve never tried. I love how the phrase stickers look and how the watercolor enhances all those fun colors.

I hope you give Pinterest a try if you haven’t already. I completely surprised myself with this design. It’s fun to try something fun and different! Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Color Chaos: Oreo Black Strandz, Daily Details, Words of Wisdom, Treasures & Text; Fresh Market: Freshly Squeezed, Whole Lotta Seeds, Treasures & Text; Just Add Color: Passcode; IF She Blooms: Take Root Pink, Bloom Script, Art Prints, Treasures & Text; IF Whatever is Lovely: 3x4s; Sweet Sweet Spring: To Dye For; Clear Cuts: Star Student Typewriter; Invisibles: Click Click, Amore; Tiny Text Alpha Stickers: Black, Bold & Beautiful; IF Enamel Hearts: Bananas For You, She Blooms Mix; Cute Clips: Rainy Day

My Sixteen-Year-Old Self With Gail

“Sixteen”, by Gail Lindner.

I recently came across a photo of myself when I was sixteen years old. Immediately I was inspired to create a layout with it! So I took a photo of my photo (just using my phone camera) and quickly and easily edited it and cropped it to square, ready to print out and add to a layout.

I couldn’t go past using the She Blooms collection from Illustrated Faith first because I love the color scheme in that collection and secondly because the whole feeling of the collection perfectly matched the idea of a layout about my younger self.

With sentiments such as ‘bloom’, ‘shine’ and ‘blessed’ it was just so perfect! I started by cutting some blocks of my favourite patterns and layering them all around my photo. These layers are then perfect for tucking in extra details such as tabs and die cuts.

The eye is immediately drawn to the centre cluster containing my photo but I did balance out all that white space with the bold pattern strip across the top of my layout and a few mist splatters around my center cluster.

I typed up my journaling and added it to the bottom of the layout. It was actually quite tricky to put into words some retrospective words of wisdom to 16-year-old me! In fact, I might even go back and write a longer “letter” to myself and tuck it behind my layout! I hope you can read my words in the photo below.

So I would love to know . . . what would you tell your sixteen-year-old self?

Supplies:
IF She Blooms: BW Floral Stripe, Take Root Pink, Blossom Script, 3x4s, Paper Pieces, Chipboard Icons, Treasures & Text; IF Enamel Hearts: Oh My Heavens Mix; IF Homespun Stickers: Black Eyed Peas

Bella Blvd & Illustrated Faith With Laurie

Happy Sunday Bella fans! Laurie here. With school starting soon here, I am definitely in planning mode! In fact, I have been so busy planning that I have missed out on really just enjoying the last few moments of summer. That all changed the other day. My oldest son and I were talking and he shared something so moving with me. He thanked me for encouraging him throughout the years and proceeded to show me a basket that he has stored in his closet. It was full of all of the cards and notes that I have given to him throughout the years. He said he particularly appreciated the ones that I slipped into his backpack or lunch bag during especially difficult times. I have to tell you, my heart was in my throat! It motivated me to not only slow down and really enjoy time with my kids but also renewed my commitment to share handmade encouragement with the ones closest to my heart!

I gathered up some of my favorite Bella and Illustrated Faith supplies and sat down to make some quick little "Lunch Box Notes". All but one of the cards are smaller than average, which is ideal for tucking into backpacks!

"By Grace Alone" card, by Laurie Schmidlin.

This first card features one of my favorite Bella stamp sets, Blessings or Lesson! It came in one of the Illustrated Faith kits and I just can't get enough of those gorgeous flowers! I embossed the flower image using white embossing powder and then added some watercolor to them. For the background, I layered some of the IF She Blooms papers (including the Take Root Clear Cut). I embellished the card with some ribbon, Enamel Hearts, and a Cardstock Sticker sentiment.

Supplies:
IF She Blooms: 3 x 4s, Take Root Pink, Take Root Clear Cut; IF Enamel Hearts: She Blooms Mix; Enamel DooDads: Oreo Black; IF Cardstock Stickers: Say It Black & White; IF Clear Stamps: Blessings or Lesson

"Made In His Image" card, by Laurie Schmidlin. 

Creating little lunchbox notes is the perfect way to use up small scraps! I had these paper bits from the Molly collection in my stash and thought they would be prefect to bring a little sunshine to my daughter's day! Along with the paper and borders from the Molly collection, I added a camera and sentiment from the IF Die Cut Prompts as well as an Enamel Heart.

Supplies:
Molly: Selfie, Borders; IF Enamel Hearts: She Blooms Mix; IF Die Cut Prompts: Encouragement

"Let's Do This" card, by Laurie Schmidlin.

This next card is the only full sized (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") card that I made. I combined elements from the Max collection with some more IF Die Cut Prompts. I mounted them all on a kraft background that I had already painted with white acrylic paint. For embellishment, I sprinkled on some Enamel DooDads stars.

Supplies:
Max: Sketchbook, Shark Attack; Enamel DooDads: Oreo Black; IF Die Cut Prompts: Pop Culture Go

"But. First. God." card, by Laurie Schmidlin. 

My final mini card consists of more paper scraps (again from the Max collection) and an IF Die Cut Prompt as the focal image. I really didn't want to take attention away from the focal image, so I kept the design simple. Simple in design, but hopefully it will have a lasting impact.  

Supplies:
IF Die Cut Prompts: Pop Culture; Max: Rock Star; Enamel Dots: Oreo Black

Digital Day Designs With Megan

"Back 2 School" digital layout, by Megan Klauer.

Hi everyone! Megan here today to share a new digital layout I did using the new IF She Blooms Collection. In our district the older & younger kids ride two different bus times, so that means all three kids no longer ride the same bus route. No more morning photos with the bus of all three together (sad face). Although to be honest my boys are very thankful for that. LOL! So, in oder to catch a few of them all together we do a quick photoshoot the evening before.

I began my layout with a basic white background, then added the photos. The group photo is sized to a 5x7 and the smaller three to approx. 3x4

Using the selection tool, I cut & pasted pieces from many different patterned papers. Just as you would if you cut strips of papers and layered them behind the photos. 

The title work letters actually came from the Let's Go Collection. With the exception of the number 2, I kept the colors the same and then blended nicely with the IF papers. 

The stars in the IF embellishments were a must for the back to school themed page & I love how the black pops.

I finished the page off by layering a couple of pattern papers below the white background and added my journaling in my favorite typewriter font. Do you traditionally take First Day of School photos?

Digital Supplies:
IF She Blooms Collection Bundle; Let's Go Collection Bundle

You can view and purchase all of our available digital products in our Digital Shop, located on the Bella Blvd website.

Scrapping With Sketches

We thought it would be fun to bring back our sketch feature here and there, as sketches are still such a widely popular tool in scrapbooking. We shared the sketch with two of our Creative Team designers, to see how they would put it to use. Feel free to give this sketch a try and as always, we'd love to see what you do with it!

When I see a sketch I immediately start thinking about what cool techniques I could incorporate into it! As I don’t have to think about the actual layout design, I always try to add something a bit extra to place my own “stamp” on it.

With this awesome sketch incorporating three photos, I did stick to the main design but changed a few of the details to suit my style.

"Happy Boy", by Gail Lindner.

Firstly, with the title block: instead of adding my title and journaling on a square of cardstock, I used watercolour to roughly paint in the fourth square. Then I could add my title, journaling and a couple of embellishments right on top! I love how the watercolour block looks like water to suite the theme of the photos!

I switched the background from pattern (as in the sketch) to white cardstock and used a patterned paper border instead. I added another layer of patterned paper behind this instead of a border of scallops. So same number of layers but different types!

And for one final detail, because the photos had a small strip of washi on the top of then, I thought I would leave my actual photo “loose” on the page so I could easily lift them up to reveal more photos underneath! The washi acts like a hinge of sorts.

I loved creating using this sketch and the layout came together in no time at all! I hope I’ve inspired you to look at sketches a little differently and think about trying some fun techniques the next time you use one!

Supplies:
IF She Blooms: BW Floral Strip, Treasures & Text; Star Student: Art Journal; IF Whatever Is Lovely: Admirable; Cute Baby Boy: Chipboard Icons, Washi Tape; Color Chaos: Treasures & Text; IF Enamel Hearts: Oh My Heavens, Bananas For You; Tiny Text: Bold & Beautiful

Bella Blvd & Illustrated Faith With Jamie

Spiritual Journal, by Jamie Pate.

It's a joy to me that a love for all things paper-related transcends from 12x12 scrapbook pages, to planning my days, to capturing the blur, and even to a spiritual journal. Happy Sunday to you. Jamie here. Taking some extra time to add embellishment and detail to this daily morning routine helps secure in my heart that which was brought to my soul.

A few months ago here at Bella Blvd I shared a post highlighting Illustrated Faith and a look into my spiritual journal. I have journaled since I was a young teenager and it continues now even strong than ever.

A three-ring planner binder has been put to use for this special to me journal. The pockets are utilized to hold journal cards, plus a vellum envelope of Illustrated Faith Paper Pieces Die Cuts. All handy and ready to be found on these pages.

Since a planner is home to this daily space of mine, I sort of follow along with a planner mentality. Because even our spiritual life needs a few goals.

Over pattern paper I added a thin coat of gesso. Letters found on the She Blooms Treasures and Text Sticker sheet create the title of this journal space. Right here on the dashboard is home to some goals to pay attention to everyday.

Monthly calendar pages are great for adding a little something or other everyday. I choose to write in the main verse of my morning's study. It's a joy to have all these words right here in one space.

As we creatives know, there is a certain therapy to adding color to the paper. I love to mix the Acrylic Paints with white and come up with different hues. This apricot was perfect.

Currently I am studying the book of Ruth. These pages reflect what the devotion is speaking to me. A brave woman who trusts in her God.

The 'apricot' paint and a stencil helped make marks on this page. Tiny Text letters and some hand lettering made the title.

The facing page was created simply by painting over the surface and then adding a cluster of Illustrated Faith embellishments. I love writing on the painted page. The texture just grabs on to the ink and allows the words to flow.

A spiritual journal is a 'safe' place to explore creative techniques as well as share a devotional heart on the page. It's a safe place to wander aimlessly for a little while. Perhaps helping us to be brave for the real world. Just like Ruth. I invite you to enjoy the same.

Supplies:
IF Whatever Is Lovely: Noble, Collection Kit Bonus Pattern; IF She Blooms: BW Floral Stripe, She Blooms, Treasures & Text, Paper Pieces; Color Chaos: Punch Strands; IF Enamel Hearts: Bless Her Heart Mix; Illustrated Faith: Books of the Bible Little Bits, Shanna’s Favorites Acrylic Paint, Just Believe Washi Tape, Cross Washi Tape, Date It Roller Stamp, Precision Pen

Digital Day Designs With Megan

"I Want To Be Like A Sunflower" digital layout, by Megan Klauer.

We came across a sea of beautiful gold while on a recent drive and upon realizing the entire field was sunflowers, we just had to pull over and take a photo. We are talking 70+ acres of beautiful golden raise of beauty. I sort of love sunflowers, can you tell?

It was a no brainer, the photo needed to be the entire background of my design. I edited out the power lines so they weren't distracting in the background.

My next step was to add a bold title and quote. I used the letters from the IF She Blooms collection. 

The pink wasn't the look I was wanting. So I merged the letters into one layer, selected them with the magic wand tool, then clicked onto the sunflower photo layer and deleted the letter outlines from the photo. By deleting the actual pink letter layer, it left the sunflower portion just showing in the white background layer. Sort of as if I would have fussy cut them out from a photo in traditional scrapbooking.

I then "slipped" a few different layers of pattered paper between the photo layer & the background layer. This created funky & unique lettering!

I also changed a bit of the coloring on the cloud paper to bring another pop of yellow.

Last, a few details at the top and then I finished off the quote with a fun font.

Digital Supplies:
IF She Blooms Collection Bundle, Cute Baby Boy Collection Bundle

You can view and purchase all of our available digital products in our Digital Shop, located on the Bella Blvd website.