Crate Paper

Crate Petite: Birthday Mini Album in a Box - Stephanie Bryan

It is often said that good things come in small packages. We happen to think there is some truth to this well-known statement considering how precious this mini album is! Other examples of pintsized cuteness? A downsized card or a small tag adorned with tiny embellishments. There is definitely so much that can still be accomplished when working on a smaller scale. Our lovely CP Gal, Stephanie Bryan, is sharing a petite mini album in a customized box—it's perfect for our first installment of Crate Petite.

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I've always been a fan of anything 'mini'. I love mini journals and especially, mini layouts! It's fun to change things up every once in a while and work with a smaller palette. It gives you a new perspective of your supplies and keeps things fun and interesting.

My daughter recently turned five and in honor of her birthday, I wanted to put together several mini layouts using some recent photos of her. Working on a smaller scale is great and the mini layouts can be used in so many different ways. You could add several to one layout; you could add a few to your Project Life album or you could assemble them into a mini book. I decided to create a sweet little box to hold my mini layouts. We'll get to that soon, but first let me show you how easy it is to create a mini layout.

I always start by determining the size of my mini layouts. Since I'm a traditional 12" x 12" scrapbooker, I usually like to stick with a square size. Today, I'm using 4" x 4". Once that's decided, I trim several pieces of white cardstock to 4" x 4". These will be the base for all of my mini layouts. I also hand select and print my images. Since I'm going with a square canvas, I decided to print my images 'square', but I varied the size to add more dimension and interest to my mini pages.

Next, is the fun part! I grab my favorite Crate papers and supplies and start assembling layers on my white cardstock. There are no rules here - play around and see what looks best. I typically like to alternate my layers between bold and neutral patterns for a clean, balanced look.

I also like to add embellishments and move them around before adhering them down. Here's where I try to keep my pops of color similar throughout each of the layouts. On the card above, you can see that I added a pinkish-red button to my canvas. This color is also on a few of the other layouts giving way to a more cohesive appearance.

Here's a look at my mini layouts all together! You'll probably notice that a few of them have only embellishments. I find that this allows the photos to 'pop' and keeps the mini pages from being too busy and overwhelming. The larger 4" x 4" photos are adorned with frames or overlays for a fun, playful look!

It's important to have fun in developing your pages and to add bold pops of color. The bolder the color, the more eye-catching your pages will be. With mine, the pop of pinkish-red is the perfect contrast to the subtle greens and pinks.

After finishing my layouts, I went back and forth about how to display them. I wanted to keep them in something that could be left out and looked at during her birthday party, but I preferred something other than a traditional mini album. I found an unfinished wooden box in my craft room and thought it suitable for holding the pages.

Because the box was unfinished, I applied a quick coat of white acrylic paint. To jazz up the outside, I pulled my Styleboard gold rub-ons and applied one directly to the box.

These rub-ons are oh so pretty and adhered magically to the painted box just like they would paper. The gold is shiny and almost looks embossed!

The only thing left to do was to add my mini layouts to the box. Super fun and totally easy - the little pages are perfect for my sweet girl's birthday party!

Nerd Love - Pi Day and Mad Science: CP Gal Jill Sprott

Crate Paper's Boy's Rule collection is chock-full of gadgets fit for celebrating nerd love. From gaming gadgets to pixelated robots, Boy's Rule makes it super fun and easy to capture your Jedi fanatic's most treasured memories. To help us feature these cool collection, we've enlisted a couple of our CP Gals to document their real life 'nerd love' stories. First up to share her 'nerdfolk' adventures is CP Gal, Jill Sprott.

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 "Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can't-control-yourself love it....When people call nerds, mostly what they're saying is "you like stuff", which is just not a good insult at all. Like, "You are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness."- John Green

The members of my family adopt the moniker of "nerd" proudly. If we were a house on Game of Thrones, we'd be House Nerd. Our drawers are filled with t-shirts bearing images of the Millennium Falcon and Pac Man and words like "NASA" and "Bazinga!" We gather around excitedly as a family each week to watch Cosmos. There are more books in our home than any other kind of object, and there are not nearly enough shelves to contain them all. We actually do sing along to Dr.Horrible's Sing-along Blog. Our computers have names.

As you might imagine, my scrapbook albums include a great deal of evidence documenting the nerd culture that my family celebrates and perpetuates.

The Crate Paper "Boy's Rule" collection, which I used in mass quantities here, could just as well have been named "Nerds Rule", since it offers equal opportunities to scrapbook male and female nerdfolk alike. Here, I created a layout about my daughter, who dressed as an exaggerated form of herself last Halloween -- that is, a kid who is mad for science went as a mad scientist.

I let a piece of "Race Track" patterned paper guide the design. First, I placed the photo on the layout according to the rule of thirds, and then arranged clusters of accents in a circle, following the lines of the patterned paper.

I incorporated a variety of cardstock and vellum die-cuts, as well as wood veneer and resin shapes in bright hues, creating a sense of colorful and organized chaos to represent the mind of a nerd.

Although at first glance, the placement of the items may seem random, there is a kind of order present -- the clusters are thematic, representing my daughter's interests, such as video games, music and science.

At the center of the circle, a journaling card (pulled from the "Oh Darling" collection), unites the various parts of the circle, explaining their connection.

The members of my family may be individually and uniquely geeks and nerds (and, in some cases, dweebs and dorks) in our own ways, but we also honor our nerdiness together as a family. For instance, we recently celebrated Pi Day together.

To reinforce the "pi" at the heart of Pi Day, I repeated the concept of "pi" throughout the layout, in it's numerical and symbol forms. I began with the background, misting over a stencil that I created by repeating the pi symbol in a cut file and running a piece of cardstock through my die-cut machine. I then used the stencil as a mask, misting over the subtle pattern on a sheet of "Zap" paper from the "Boys Rule" collection lightly with a cream-colored mist.

I then gathered together various frames from the "Boys Rule" and "Styleboard" collections to house the photos, accents, and journaling on the layout.

In some cases, I placed items over the frames instead of under them, adding pop-dots to give them an extra boost.

Aside from it's symbol, another way that pi is noted is 3.14 and this version of pi appears prominently on the layout within one of the frames. First, I trimmed a bunch of threes, ones, and fours from a sheet of "Boys Rule" vellum "Numbers" paper, and adhered them to a piece of yellow patterned cardstock, grouping them by number. I then stitched across the numbers for a cohesive, textured effect. Over the frame, I used number stickers to emphasize "3.14" even further.

The inspiration for the colors on my layout may be found in the sweet centers of the pies that we ate during our Pi Day celebration. I worked in lots of cream (based on our macadamia nut cream pie) and gold (based on our golden apple pie).

As a finishing touch, I added a die-cut piece of pi (har har) that I reserved when I created my die-cut stencil.

So there you have it -- evidence that I am, in fact, part of a tribe of very proud nerds. If you aren't quite sure whether you are one of us, there is a pretty easy test. Think back to the first time you set eyes on the "Boys Rule" collection. If you gasped or your pulse quickened or you suddenly felt at one with the force, then you are most definitely a nerd.

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As promised, here's some insight into the Crate Paper GRAB BAG giveaway winner! Jennifer was randomly selected based on her comment from last week. After reading your  opinions about the color, it seems that many of you still love to incorporate the pretty hue—especially now that spring is just around the corner. We're happy to hear the news!

Congratulations to Jennifer Schroeder! You've won yourself a bag of Oh Darling product.

'I am definitely more of a bold pink hue kind of gal. I love to wear it, share it, and pair it! My closet is saturated with pink. I love making gifts that include pink. AND, I pair it with gold, teal, and white when I design my layouts! Yum yum! Pink is a hue I can use any time of the year. CP thanks for the chance to win! CP is one of my favorite lines to work with!"

– Posted by: Jennifer Schroeder | March 24, 2014 at 02:20 PM

Please send your info to cpblog@cratepaper.com – thanks for chiming in!

If you didn't win this round, don't despair – we'll have another grab bag opportunity with more great CP Prizes in the near future. Have a crafty weekend!

CP Adorn - Vellum Die-Cuts: CP Gal Katie Ehmann

We're introducing some new features this week as we switch things around to make room for fresh content. Today's feature, CP Adorn, offers some great ideas for using our newest products! This month, we're paying close attention to Crate Paper's Vellum Die-Cuts. Available as a set, they're a soft and airy alternative to our other die-cut designs and come in a variety of styles and themes. Each of our latest collections includes its very own matching set! CP Gal, Katie Ehmann, is working with all 3 sets today!

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Oh vellum, how I love thee! Ultra versatile, in oh-so-cute shapes, prints and sizes, Crate's vellum die-cuts provide the sweetest touches to projects! I've crafted three different layouts to show just how diverse these lovelies can be.

In my first, I focused on using the vellum shapes from Maggie Holmes' Styleboard collection as the main attraction on a page highlighting an older, but adorable photo of my youngest daughter. I gathered a variety of circles, hearts and butterflies and arranged them in a cascade across a sheet of white vellum. I layered the shapes and machine stitched them to my page. The "sweet" sentiment offered the ideal piece for my title work, which I positioned directly on my photo. I love the softness the vellum adds to my project!

For my second, I selected two vellum frames from the Oh Darling line to draw attention to my girls walking on the beach. I machine sewed the frames right on my photos, and chose to leave my images in 4" x 6", instead of trimming them down to the size of the frames. Tucked behind my photos, vellum doilies offer subtle embellishment, around which I wrote my journaling. Stapled and stitched hearts and balloons completed my page.

For my third and final project, I picked a variety of vellum strips, tiny stars and the awesome rocket ship cut from Boy's Rule. Having two little girls, it isn't often that I get to use cool, boy themed items, so I decided to create a boy page for my favorite boy in my life––my husband! I used the vellum strips to create my title work on the right side of my page, alternating each strip with one word from my title. The large vellum "Love You" led the way! The scattered stars provide just the right amount of detail, without being cluttered, and the rocket really couldn't be any cuter!

Thanks so much for joining me today, CP fans! I do hope you've found inspiration to use vellum die-cuts on your next project!

 

Pretty Things - Gold, Emerald & Pink: CP Gal Adrienne Alvis

Whether it's a favorite embellishment, a color combination, or a photograph, pretty things always make me smile and put me in a creative mood. Today I'm showcasing some of my favorite pretty things using the gorgeous color combination of pink, emerald and gold.

I created two layouts using this color combo; one using more subtle tones and softer accents, and the other with more bold colors and design graphics. This first layout was inspired by my daughter and her friend playing at the park on the first warm, sunny day that we had last week. They couldn't resist dressing up and wearing their new spring clothes to show off for each other!

I often like to hide my journaling somewhere on my layouts, so I created a flap using one of the Styleboard die-cut vellum shapes and a cardstock die-cut ephemera journaling tag by sewing along the top of the vellum shape so it lifts up like a flap.

I handwrote my journaling onto the die-cut tag and really like the see-through effect the vellum piece gives my writing, making it more an interactive element on my page. I also layered a pink vellum butterfly, an emerald green resin bow from the Oh Darling collection, and a few other embellishments to pull in my color scheme.

I layered an emerald green photo frame from the Styleboard collection on top of the photo of my daughter and her friend sitting on the slide at the park. 

I used a mixture of foam Thickers and letter stickers from the Styleboard and Oh Darling collections for my title 'Two Pretty Girls at the Park'. I placed my title in a vertical arrangement down the center of my page and next to my photo, utilizing the space between the loose grid design I created.

I incorporated more pink onto my page by adding some ink splotches and making small circles using the cap from my spray ink bottle. I simply rimmed the edges of the plastic cap with pink spray ink and pressed it down onto my page around the ink splotches. The circles remind me of bubbles that someone seems to always be blowing at the park!

I also added a few rub-ons and sentiment stickers from the Styleboard collection as well as a gold sparkle photo frame to incorporate the gold from the lovely color combination.

For my next layout, I wanted to create a more bold, graphic design using the pink, emerald and gold color scheme.

I used a larger photo that I printed in black and white of my daughter spinning on the merry-go-round. I typed and printed my journaling from my computer and cut it into strips and placed it in the white space of my photo on the right.

I layered a gold sentiment cardstock sticker and gold vellum heart, both from the Styleboard collection, on top of a pink circular die-cut piece and placed it on top of a floral die-cut accent. I altered the color of the foam Thickers using some black acrylic paint to make the 'Spring' sentiment pop from my title.

I used my Silhouette to cut out a bunch of tiny triangles from white cardstock and then layered it on top of a bright emerald cardstock piece. I placed several bright pink accents such as the transparent heart from the Styleboard collection and a few gold embellishments under my photo to draw the eye around my page. Finally, I added a strip of the kraft cardstock with small gold polka dots at the bottom using my sewing machine and some black thread to finish the layout.

I hope I've inspired you to try out the lovely pink, emerald and gold color scheme for your next project. Whether you use these colors as an accent or bring them out front and center, they're bound to make your next project pop!

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CP Supplies: Oh Darling & Styleboard | CP Gal Blog: Adrienne Alvis

Boys Rule Challenge - First Ride Winner!

The one and only Boy's Rule Challenge has reached an end! After reviewing each of the project entries, we narrowed down the selection to just one winner and a spectacular set of runners-up. First up is the GRAND PRIZE PROJECT from Gina Moretti...

GINA MORETTI
Location: Julian, California

A very special congratulations to Gina Moretti! Her '1st Ride' layout is our grand prize winner! We are delighted by the story of her little nephew riding his tiny motorcycle with pride. The activity and memories pair well with the new Boy's Rule collection. Thank you for sharing, Gina!

Let's not forget to recognize these oh-so-beautiful projects from today's runners-up! They all caught our attention after much oohing and ahhing. Many THANKS to this talented group and everyone who participated in the challenge. We hope to bring you another challenge in the very near future!

JODIE KING
Location: Queensland, Australia | Blog: Jodie King
 

LEIGH PENNER
Location: Morden, Manitoba, Canada | Blog: Leigh Penner

BEATRICE LAWSON
Location: Oakville, Ontario | Blog: Beatrice Lawson

ANITA BOWNDS
Location: Queensland, Australia | Blog: Anita Bownds

FLEUR SMITH

RACHAEL FRITSCH
Location: Mississippi, USA

VANESSA MENHORN
Location: Germany | Blog: Vanessa Menhorn

HENNY TANUWIJAYA
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

 

Grab Bag Giveaway & Sweet as Sugar Layout by Stephanie Bryan

 Accompanying every outstanding Crate Paper collection is the occasional Grab Bag Giveaway! If you've been desiring the sweetness of Crate's Oh Darling collection, today is your chance to WIN a fun prize pack filled with patterned papers and embellishments. Surely you've been oohing and ahhing over this collection, so enter to win the bows, blossoms and so much more! 

To enter the giveaway, tell us your thoughts about the color pink! Do you like the popular spring hue? What do you love to pair it with?

Winner will be announced Friday, March 28th. We look forward to reading your responses! Good luck Crate fans!

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{STEPHANIE BRYAN}

My sweet girl is one of my favorite subjects to document. She's as sweet as sugar and capturing her current age and personality is just so much fun. It seems like she changes day to day and I'm so thankful to have these "everyday" photos and moments recorded.

I typically gravitate towards larger photos on a page, but I had a few smaller photos of my daughter sitting on my table and I decided the two of them combined would make the perfect page. Sometimes it's fun to "think outside of the box" and make what you have available work on a layout.

I used a chipboard piece and a layered embellishment from the Oh Darling collection to complete my grid. I wanted a layered look on my page in general and the pre-layered embellishments that are included in the new collections are most ideal for achieving that look!

As a continuation of the layered look, I added a piece of trimmed patterned paper and a tag under my photos and grid pieces. These simple additions give depth and dimension to my page. Because of their subtly, you may not notice them at first glance, but they are there to help draw your eye to the photos and grid.

I also added several coordinating paper layers under and around my photos for more pops of color. I alternated between a bold pattern/color and a more neutral pattern/color to keep my paper layers from being too overwhelming.

My journaling is typed onto vellum for a softer, flowing effect. I love the transparency nature of vellum and how it allows you to still see the beautiful patterned papers underneath. I included a chipboard floral piece and the "sweetheart" banner to frame my photo and accent the journaling underneath.

Since my layout is 'all girl' and completely sweet, I attached a sweet ivory bow to the right of my journaling. This beautiful bow was originally on the Oh Darling Jute Garland, but I decided to use the bow as a single element on my page. The bows easily slip right off of the jute and are a nice finishing touch to any project. To adhere it into place, I used a small pop dot right underneath the know of the bow. Easy Peasy!

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CP Supplies: Oh Darling | CP Gal Blog: Stephanie Bryan

Glitter & Stripes Card Set + Bow Tutorial: CP Gal Melissa Phillips

Hello Crate Paper fans!  I'm so excited to share with you my first ever Crate Paper blog post.  It's a treat to be here with you!  Lucky me, I was assigned the theme of "Glitter & Stripes", and I couldn't be happier.  Both of these elements on their own have always been favorites of mine, but combined together, they are even more inspiring.

I turned to Crate Paper's Styleboard collection for my cards because I knew I'd find glitter and stripes in abundance.  For both of my cards, I began by using one of my very most favorite Crate Paper products, the Styleboard Doilies A2 Embossing Folder.  After running a block of vellum through my die cut machine with this embossing folder, I trimmed it to fit the front of my card base and adhered it in place.  You'll love this sweet embossing folder as it creates such a beautiful, subtle background.

 

I then attached a strip of Gold Foil on Kraft Decorative Tape across the bottom, another favorite product of mine.  Then it was time to start layering, something I have a hard time NOT doing...I love layers and dimension.  I used a Styleboard glittered die cut frame as my focal point, added a die cut Styleboard tag behind the frame, and then a couple of soft vellum die cuts layered over the tag and frame.  My next layer consists of a Styleboard Adhesive Badge layered over a vellum die that is just a bit larger than the badge, so you can see the tiny details circling from underneath.

 

To finish my card, I decided to try out the Styleboard Dies, ohhhh, I love these!  I couldn't wait to try my hand at the bow, so you can catch a peek at one here and another in my next card, and I've put together a quick tutorial for you showing how I assembled these.  They are truly irresistible.  The Styleboard 6x6 Paper Pad comes in so handy for cardmaking, and the small scraps left behind are just the right size for these bows.

Step 1:  Pick 3 coordinating patterns of paper to die cut.  I had a scrap of solid gold foil laying around, so I used that for the center of my bow.  Run each through your die cut machine.

Step 2:  Turn the loopy, die cut center bow, pattern side down, and apply a bit of adhesive to each end.  Fold both ends in, one at a time.  I chose to not flatten mine, so I didn't press down on my loops, but you certainly could depending on what look you were going for.

Step 3:  Attach the folded bow to the center of the bottom die cut.

Step 4:  Apply a bit of adhesive to the backside of the two stacked bows, and wrap the center strip around the center of the bows, securing it on the back.  That's it...instant cuteness!

Here's a card showing this die cut bow in action.  Once again I used my Styleboard Doilies Embossing Folder, but used white cardstock this time.  I attached a strip of patterned paper from the Styleboard 6x6 Paper Pad across the bottom of my card, and then adhered the embossed block of white cardstock.

Next came a Styleboard Cardstock Die cut ( I love the row of gold foil hearts down the side), followed by a striped Styleboard Die Cut Frame.  I then layered in a vellum die cut doily with a cardstock sticker attached to the center with dimensional adhesive.  I think that's one of the things that makes Crate Paper's collections so much fun to work with, the ability each gives you to layer different elements to create your very own look.

Last came a Stand Out Sticker with a sweet glittered butterfly to bring in the theme followed by an Embossed Cardstock Sticker.

My last project is a vellum pocket that holds a tag, which is actually one of the large cardstock die cuts that happens to fit right inside.  After die cutting my vellum, I ran it through my die cut machine with the Doilies Embossing Folder and then I assembled it.  I wrapped a strip of Kraft with Gold Foil Polka Dots Cardstock around the pocket next, and secured it on the backside.

Next came two die cut frames, one large and one small and glittery gold.  Tucked inside the gold frame is a Styleboard cardstock sticker.

I then used a chipboard prize ribbon die and layered on a striped vellum circle followed by a chipboard doily die and ending with a Styleboard Badge.  Before I was satisfied and ready to attach this cluster to my pocket though, I cut two strips of Kraft and Gold Foil Decorative Tape, and attached them to the backside of the chipboard prize ribbon in order to bring in a bit more shine and definitely more stripes.

So, are you ready to go searching for glitter and stripes and make something today?  Hope so! Thanks for visiting.

>::<

CP Supplies: Styleboard | CP Gal Blog: Melissa Phillips

A Dash of Spring Inspiration: CP Gal Ashley Marcu

There is no better way to take a card from boring and bland to shiny and glam than with stripes and glitter! I have four fun cards to share with you today. I also thought it would be fun to share how I like to collect inspiration for watching trends and creating cards.

Before I sat down at my craft table I took a few minutes to collect several inspiring pictures in my newly created Pinterest board called Glitter and Stripes for Spring. When I create an inspiration board, I try to collect pictures that fit my theme from all different areas. These could include fashion, home decor, DIY projects and more. I pin a picture only if it inspires me and fits the theme. Once I've posted 20 or more pictures I head to my craft table full of ideas!

Photo Credit: Gymboree

First up, these adorable sparkly shoes. I was immediately reminded of my American Crafts Aqua Glitter Tape and the creamy neutrals found in the Styleboard collection.

I layered my card starting with sweet polka-dot paper and then added a few rows of glitter tape. When layering, I try to coordinate and balance colors as I go.

The tag included some soft aqua which coincides nicely with the yellow flower. And, the sentiment created with bright pink Thickers lends a fun pop of contrast.

Photo Credit: Flower Patch Farm Girl

Next, I loved the skinny stripes I found on this fun outfit. I was also drawn to the bright colors against a variety of neutrals.

For my card, I sprayed my card base with Mister Huey's Sunshine and Pretty Pink Color Mists. To create my colorful stripes, I cut a few stripes of patterned paper from the Styleboard collection and adhered them to my card.

I added some trendy gold glitter by using a frame from Styleboard and layered the fun color I saw in the picture using the records.

The sentiment not only reflects the fun attitude of the card, but also ties the stripes and embellishments together.

Photo Credit: Society 6

In this pin, I love how they highlighted one stripe with glitter! I couldn't wait to try this idea!

I started this card with the striped patterned paper panel and added the American Crafts Gold Glitter Tape. I placed a few embellishments on my card, but made sure the gold stripe was always the focus. I allowed it to peek above and through everything that had been added to the card..

There is no doubt what the star of this card is, but I love how the cork on the patterned paper, the bow and Thickers add texture and interest.

Photo Source: For Rent by Pizzazzerie

This picture inspired me in so many different ways. The masked gold stripes, the transparency of the glass and the colors, but what caught my eye for this particular card was the boldness of the stripes.

I cut my large stripes from patterned paper taking care to include the entire height of the camera. I varied the camera colors and positioned them horizontally to create casual movement.

The card was finished with a few fun coordinating elements from Styleboard; a perfectly sparkly gold frame and a stamped sentiment.

I hope you found some helpful tips in collecting and using inspiration as well as how to use your Crate Paper supplies to create fun stripes and glitter for Spring!

Project Supplies: Styleboard | CP Gal Blog: Ashley Marcu

 

A Hint of Sparkle and Bold Stripes: CP Gal Jina Jean

My scrapbook style is usually reserved for the creation of simple layouts with a little touch of cuteness and feminine details. Every now and then though, the creation process calls for something beyond the status quo; bold patterns and exaggerated textures. My favorite means of putting forth these two occasional necessities is glitter and stripes! Without a doubt, they always do the trick! So today, I'm very excited to show you how I incorporated the two elements on my layouts. Let's get started!

My first plan of action was to create an arrangement of patterns constructed exclusively from glitter. To do this, I made a thinned down version of wet adhesive by mixing water and glue. It's the perfect medium when wanting to draw your own shapes for coordinating with glitter.

Once the adhesive was ready, with a dixie cup in hand, I stamped a series of circles on white cardstock.

I then poured various colors of glitter on each one and shook off the excess.

As an added bonus, I stamped out a second set of smaller circles using the bottom of the cup.

After my circles were completely dry, I added an assortment of other dainty accents such as sequins, gold leaves, butterflies, paper tape, a photo overlay and gold labels - all from the Styleboard collection.

On the second layout, I boldly poured the glue directly onto the cardstock.

When pouring the glue, I wasn't too afraid because I enjoy exploring the unknown and it's end result.

To counteract all that glitter, I used a bold striped paper from the Boys Rule collection. My favorite color combo when working with stripes is black & white. It feels chic and modern! I arranged them symmetrically just across from the glitter splatter. The two balance each other out because they're both intense and have an optimal level of texture.

These two techniques do a fine job of dressing up my not-so-simple layouts - consider giving them a try alongside your favorite Crate Paper goodies! A little bit of sparkle goes a long way!

>:<

Project Supplies: Styleboard & Boys Rule | CP Gal Blog: Jina Jean

Glitter & Stripes Make Everything Nice: CP Gal Wida Miller

We have great news - Crate Paper is offering an extension to those who haven't yet found the time to join March's 'Boys Rule Challenge'! Up for grabs is another full week to check out the challenge and it's prize offering. Remember, even our hand-selected runner-up's get a grab at an opportunity to show off their work and direct blog linkage. We're also throwing in two additional goodie bags for second and third place. The new challenge winner reveal date is Monday, March 24.

Entry Submission Email: cpblog@cratepaper.com

>:<

Stripes and Glitter go together like peanut butter and jelly. Ok maybe not officially, but definitely in the heart of this crafter. In deciding how to approach the subject, I went straight to Pinterest to see how people put these combinations together. I mean the possibilities are endless! My favorite was the classic black and white with GOLD glitter...It's not just for New Years people!

Luckily CP has the perfect striped paper in the Boys Rule collection, so I pulled it out and a nicely matched up photo of my daughter, Anya, in oversized glasses and got to work. I first started by offsetting the photo and adding some cut up words from one of the 12 x 12 Styleboard papers.

I thought I was done...but then, I just wanted to add a little stitching..and more papers..and some cork hearts.

WAIT. I forgot the glitter!

So then I adjusted here and there to accommodate the glitter pieces. I put three in to create the gold triangular design rule.

It helps me to take layouts in stages, which is how I usually work since I get interrupted by my four kids a lot! I try to keep in mind the aesthetic and mood that I want to create. The photo has my daughter looking very chic, and the layout details add to that effect.

I thought the layout looked pretty good, but while crafting with my blog pal, Danielle, she suggested I add these adorable vellum butterflies to my page and PRESTO, it broke up the stripes a bit and brought the eye up to the opposite side of the layout.

So, I asked myself, '"what would a card look like in 'card' format?" Using the same elements, I created this complimentary card. It conserves more white space, but is as prestine and pretty as it's sister layout.

For my next stripes and glitter combo, I took a less obvious approach. I punched out strips of paper from the Styleboard collection using a 1/4" punch and glued them down row-by-row. Then, I turned up the bottoms to create texture. I loved the look, but felt it was too busy. To break it up, I positioned a piece of white scrap paper in the bottom corner with my photo. 

The Styleboard glitter frame perfectly highlights the photo, along with various pieces from Styleboard's ephemera pack. I played with the placement for a bit and eventually settled on what you see here. The title is from Amy Tan at the Silhouette store.

After finishing the second layout, I thought, "Why not make a card with this layout too?"

I used a smaller 1" punch for this 4" x 6" card. The rose chipboard and gems are from the beautiful Oh Darling collection. I repeatedly moved the gems around until I found a perfect spot for each one.

>:<

Project Supplies: Styleboard & Oh Darling | Designer Blog: Wida Miller