Hi there everyone! It's Amy here today, and I'm thrilled to be bringing you the first installment of Crate's NEW blog feature: Crate Paper Product 5 Ways! Each month, one of our fabulous CP Girls will bring you inspiring ideas on using a singular Crate Paper product in 5 wonderfully creative ways, inspiring you to use your products to it's fullest potential! Today I wanted to feature my favorite new item from Crate Paper: Accent Cuts

What are Accents Cuts, you may ask? Well, they're one of the newest collective additions to Crate Papers' recent Winter introductions for 2011. I, for one, am in LOVE with these 12" x 12" sheets. Each of the four new collections has it's own sheet that includes 12-13 double sided "cards" (that makes 24-26 total) that, in my opinion are individual pieces of art! Most are the size of an ATC and are absolutely FULL of possibilities!

Neighborhood

Portrait

 

Emma's Shoppe

 

Toy Box

 

Journaling - This is probably the most obvious use for most of these cards. One way to mix it up though is to print directly onto the card. I do this my scanning my card. Printing the scan out on my printer. Then in my computer program (I used Adobe Illustrator CS5, but you can use your photo editing program or even Word for this) to type your journaling over your scanned image. Once it's sized how you like it, using double stick REMOVABLE tape, tape down your accent cut facing up directly onto your printed scan. Place your paper back into your printer (make sure you know which direction it needs to be fed) then print. Perfectly journaled accent cut!

(Products used are from the Neighborhood and Portrait Collection)

 

Customized Photo Frame - Many of the accent cuts have darling frames illustrated on them already. The one I used, even has a prompt that I thought would be perfect for an inset photo frame. Simply, with a very sharp craft cutting blade, cut out the interior of the frame you want to use and adhere your photo on the back side of the Accent Cut. To make it easy on yourself, leave a bit of a "border" on the interior of the frame without getting too close to the line. This adds an additional bit of "pop" to your image and also saves you from the frustration of getting it "perfect".

(Products used are from the Neighborhood Collection)

Centerpiece of a Framed Embellishment - So many of the Accent Cuts have simply gorgeous images on them. And there are dozens of frame options in the Crate Paper chipboard products. Why not create your own work of art by putting one of these petite images on center stage as an embellishment? Here I've chosen this beautiful floral illustration from one of the journaling accent cuts from the Emma's Shoppe Collection. Now this floral arrangement is front and center ready to draw the eye in on a layout or card.

(Products used are from the Emma's Shoppe Collection, Frame is from the Portrait Collection)

Centerpiece and Sentiment for a Greeting Card - Not all of the Accent Cuts are meant for journaling only. Many have large sentiments on them, perfect for using on a card or layout. Here I took my Accent Cut from the Portrait Collection and stitched around the perimeter with my sewing machine. Then I used a fine tipped glue pen and drew directly over the sentiment. Then I adhered black glitter onto the glue. Once dry, I brushed away the excess glitter with a soft fan brush, leaving a lovely more formal look to my card. Adding just a couple of extra steps to your Accent Cut can really draw attention to the sentiment, which is the real purpose of a greeting card.

(Products used are from the Portrait Collection)

 

Micro-Mini Album - I think Accent Cuts are the PERFECT solution to make a quick, easy and really adorable micro-mini album. I'm going to keep mine in my car, but these types of albums are great for your purse, a brag book for the grandparents, at your office, or where ever keeping a full size album simply isn't realistic. All the cards are 4" high and vary in 3 different, widths with most being 4" tall x 3" wide, the perfect ATC size. Plus, they are double sided so there's no need for coming up with layouts for each side, simply embellish and go!

For the mini that I made, shown here, I used 7 Accent Cuts all from the Emma's Shoppe Collection. On some of the "pages", I adhered photos of my daughter on one side of the card and embellished or journaled on the other. 

Here you can see how the cards work perfectly in this format. In the coming days I will be showing my entire mini over at my blog, so I hope you'll join me for that. For now, I hope I was able to provide you with some fun and new ideas on how to use these fabulous new Accent Cuts in your daily paper crafting. I know for me they are a new FAVORITE!! Thank-you so much for stopping by today!! Have a wonderful Day!

Comments

[MichelleGB]

This post is fabulous! Love these ideas!!!

[rkokes]

great ideas-love the mini book especially!

[Annette A.]

Awesome Post....I love all of these ideas but I really enjoyed the Mini Album...THAT WAS COOL.
THANKS FOR SHARING

Happy Thursday

[Kelly]

these are all seriously cute and lovely. i cannot wait until my order arrives. i ordered a couple of sheets with my two peas order but it takes so long to make the trip to canada. can't wait to play.
thanks for sharing.
kelly

[Suzanne Sergi]

What a wonderful post! Thank you for all the inspiring ideas!!!

[Lexi Bridges]

Great ideas Amy!!! Love this new feature!

[Sarah Martina]

LOVE this, Amy!!! I can't wait to try the scanning and printing idea! :) Genius! :)

[kimbo in fort worth]

Five Ways is a nice idea. Looking forward to what's coming next.

[NancyD]

Wow! Super informative post! I love the tip about scanning & printing... super useful.

[Kathy Martin]

You rock Amy! Theserojects are fabulous!

[Ai Yen]

Thanks for sharing. Love the Minibook - I', so inspired!