Falling Snow Layout w/Michiko Kato

Hello Everyone - Michiko Kato with you to share in the holiday celebration (what remains of it, of course). Today, I've plans to introduce you to this adorable, non-traditional sized 9" x 9" layout that is excellent for both Christmas and Winter themed photos! I'm also going to show you how to make the poinsettia , too. It's very easy, so I encourage you to follow along to find out how it's made...

The Essentials: Photos {2.5" x 3.5"}, Peppermint Patterned Papers, Brads, Mini Patterned Paper Pad, Chipboard, and Accent Cuts. Also, Cardstock {white}, Wood Veneer {Studio Calico}, Medium Sized Paper Doily, Vellum Paper, Mist {White}, Imitation Flower Buds, Snowtex, Knife, Paper Piercer, Scotch Tape, Die Cuts {Leaves & Snowflakes}.

First, trim the following papers as noted above. As a mat for the photo, seperate the "Sew Brads" packaging from the plastic cover and slip the backing beneath it.

To create the snowflakes, trim them from both Peppermint's 12" x 12" and 6" x 6" "Snowglobe" patterned papers. You should have a nice variety to play with, so be slightly selective as to which ones you trim.

Now this is something slightly unique and fun, trim a triangle shape from the bottom of a Peppermint Accent Cut. Replicate it via vellum.

Set out the wood veneer houses on top a protected surface and daub them with Snow Tex. Snowtex is a great material for piling up and creating a snow-like effect. It's extremely soft and does eventually harden after contact with air. When applying the material, brush it onto the wood veneer "softly" because it's slightly squishy. Place a generous amount onto the roof of each house.

Now I'm going to show you how to go about making the pretty poinsetta! Prepare a total of six die-cut leaves. Fold each one in half. Gather a small cluster of the tiny buds and secure them together with either tape or wire. Apply glue to the stem of each leaf and position them around the tiny buds.

Daub a small amount of Snow Tex onto the buds. It should look like they've just been snowed on! Pretty, don't you think? Feel free to change the color of the bud and leaves to your liking to create whatever style poinsettia that best matches your layout.

Trim and position a pre-embossed white cardstock sheet onto a 12" x 12" light turquoise cardstock sheet. Paste them together and then follow it up with zig-zag stitching. Using a gentle "curve-like" motion, sew three lengthwise lines from the top, to the bottom of the layout. Start positioning the snowflakes onto the layout with both regular adhesive and pop dots.

Start coodinating and adhering down the other various elements. Note the placement of the doily, brads packaging, and "Fancy Buttons" accent card beneath the photo. To the left of the photo, and in a horizontal direction, adhere trimmed accent card and vellum banner.

So, how do you go about securing the poinsetta to your layout? It's simple, really. In the preferred location, punch a small hole, place the stems through it, and then secure it with either a strong adhesive (fold back the stems against the paper) or glue dots. Feel free to add leaves beneath and around the flower.

It's time to spray the layout with white mist. In doing so, cover and protect the areas of your layout where mist isn't desirable. Finally, apply the mist to the preferred locations.

Either die-cut or punch tiny snowflakes from vellum. Add them to your layout along with clear button centers.

Lastly, and as a final layer, give the layout an outer red frame using Peppermint's "Wintergreen" patterned paper. It's officially finished!

As a means of displaying it in my room, I visited the local Ikea and found this matching white frame for housing the layout. The two go together perfectly!

Thank-you for visiting with us today - Hope to see you next month as we debut fabulous ideas for Crate Paper's new "Paper Hearts" collection! Happy New Years!