6 x 6 Celebration - Part 3

Hello .... and welcome to the 3rd and final part of my celebration of love for 6x6 paper pads ... I did mention I love them didn't I? ... Yes I thought so!!

Today's project is a cute little mini book project. I wasn't sure what size of book I was going to make until I saw this one by Jen Gallacher.  I used the cut-apart journalling cards from the 12 x 12 sheet in the Everyday Eclectic collection kit as the base and added in some more pages by cutting a few of the 6x6 designs down.  These double sided papers are ideal for mini books and the quality means they are pretty sturdy too.

 

I used lots of punched shapes throughout the book and I also used up lots of odds and ends from my stash such as sticky ribbons and buttons.

This minibook is about a scrapbooking retreat I went to last year and contains some of my favourite photos from the weekend.

This book is a lasting memory of some of the classes I attended and the projects I made!

I used up lots of odd gems, stickers and brads in the book too - mini books are great stash busters.

I used several different coloured mini-alphabets too similar to these.

  These teeny letters are great to use with mini books and as subtitles or for long titles etc.

I like being able to hang bits off the edges of the pages and make it really eclectic.  Try to mirror facing pages with matching off the page elements to keep continuity through your book.

I used pop dots, twine and lots of ribbons for added interest and texture.

I made a little pocket on the inside of the back page to hold the photos that I wasn't so keen on but still told part of the story.

The back page is made of strips of the different papers which looks great with the strips of different ribbons on the single book ring. Also a great way to use up all those scraps and off cuts!

Here are some close ups so you can really see how perfectly the smaller scale on the 6x6 pads works for these little projects.  Lots of lovely layered circular embellishments again and some on trend pennants.

A layered rosette for some dimension which are so easy to make from 6 x 6 papers.

Punched borders work really well on mini books and again the smaller scale makes it easy on the eye.

Little windmills are another embellishment that work so well with 6 x 6 papers - the miniaturised patterns and double sided designs are just perfect.

Mini punched butterflies make the most of every single tiny scrap of the papers and work so well with the denser patterns.  

Layering up different shaped embellishments really gives a sense of dimension without creating too much height in this kind of project.  The other fab thing about the 6x6 papers is that you can run a sheet through your die-cutting machine without having to cut it down to fit - saving time and less waste!!

I hope you can see why I love the versatility of the 6x6 paper pads and I hope that you have enjoyed this little series and seen a few ideas for using your own pads.  

If you have been inspired by anything you've seen in this post, the first part or in Part 2 then we'd love to come and see!

Want to win a prize????  

Well, all you have to do is leave a comment on any of the "6 x 6 Celebration" posts with a link to your own 6 x 6 project and  link up to the S J Crafts blog from your blog post and you'll be entered to win!

Our favourite project will be chosen to win a little prize!!

Your blog post must be dated on or after 24 August (ie the start of this series!)

Closing date for entry is Sunday 16th September!!  Good Luck!!

Lisa-Jane

x

6 x 6 Celebration - Part 2

I hope your Bank Holiday weekend has been good so far!

If you are back for Part 2 of my 6 x 6 celebration, thanks so much for coming back. If you missed Part 1 ... don't worry you can catch up on that right here!

So on to today's 6 x 6 projects ...
again, for most of these projects I have used the Everyday Eclectic collection from Echo Park.

The 6x6 pads are great for making your own embellishments and layering up different sized shapes.  They are perfect to use with punches and diecutting systems because, as mentioned in the Part 1, the scaled down patterns are ideal for smaller shapes.  Layering with different patterns is a breeze when you have a ready coordinated pad.  On this layout, I have used 6 different coordinating patterns on the embellishments but there is no way I would cut into 6 different whole sheets of 12x12.  The chances of me finding 6 coordinating scraps of sufficient size is always a frustrating task too!

I've used a circle, a scalloped circle and a pinked circle and then popped a little embellishment on the top. I inked all the edges in black soot distress ink and made a title with some coordinating stickers.  I like the white space allowing the photo to do the talking, but with the little spots of colour along the circles.

Circles have always been popular but more recently manufacturers are designing papers with layered circles. I tried to create something similar using overlapping circles. I made a similar layout recently in this post using scalloped circles in rows. I used 5 different patterned papers for my circles on my "First Swimming Lesson" layout. I wouldn't have  been brave enough to cut into that many 12 x 12 complete sheets and it would have looked very different with the larger scale prints too.  The 6x6 pads work really well for pieced designs. As well as circles you could try hexagons, or perhaps a quilt design with squares or chevrons with triangles like this tutorial on the EP Blog.

The journalling cards are from the Everyday Eclectic 12x12 collection pack as are some of the stickers and alphabets.  The blue photo mat is also from the 12 x 12 collection - sometimes it works really well to use both sizes on the same layout.  The edges are inked in faded jeans distress ink to emphasis the layers.

I often turn to my 6x6 pads when I want to cut my own title or make my own flowers.  The difference in scale is perfect for creating your own lettering because sometimes the larger prints can make them difficult to read or the pattern gets lost.  Creating coordinating embellishments with the smaller scale alongside larger panels of the full sized sheets really helps to bring a layout together and adds a sense of cohesion.  You don't need to cut into a full sheet to make your embellishments and the smaller scale patterns look better on the smaller pieces - its a win/win situation!!

For this 8.5x11 layout I have mixed up the sizes and used the 6x6 pads for my flowers by layering up different sizes using the Tim Holtz tattered floral die.  I hand cut the CHEF title using a chipboard alphabet as a stencil, and of course I inked all the edges, this time using my vintage photo ink pad.

The sharp eyed among you have probably spotted the trimmings from the quadrant style layout I showed you in Part 1.  The eclectic strip borders work so well with these smaller patterns.  Nothing gets wasted in my craft room and some of these trimmings are actually the top edge of the pad with the hole punched in it because with Echo Park Papers you get the design right up to the gummed edge!

I added a sprinkling of gems and called it done.  I adore the colours in this layout which perfectly matched her cute apron and chefs hat.  I'd forgotten how much I like to hand cut things like this - its a perfect thing to do alongside the children or in front of the television!!

I hope I have given you lots of inspiration for using 6 x 6 paper pads but I've still got more ideas to share in part 3 so be sure to come back for that.

If you feel inspired to make a layout or maybe a card using 6 x 6 papers please do leave a link in the comments so the S J Crafts Design Team can pop by and see.

Also, in Part 3 there will be news of a little prize - so why not go dig out those 6 x 6 pads and make something with them!!

Lisa-Jane

x

6 x 6 Celebration - Part 1

Hello, Lisa-Jane here today!

Have I ever told you how much I love 6x6 paper pads? If you already follow my blog you will know I'm rather fond of them. I LOVE them! A lot!

Many people don't realise that these pads are not just quarter sheets but a scaled down version of the 12x12 design.  This makes an incredible difference to how easy they are to use in so many projects and it also makes bolder patterns easier on the eye and less intimidating than on the larger scale.  The miniaturised design gives a denser pattern making them ideal for making coordinating embellishments and die cutting smaller items.

6 x 6 papers with matching 12 x 12 to show scaled down designs!

Cost wise it can work out a great investment too.  The Echo Park Everyday Eclectic Collection that I used contains 24 double sided sheets and is just £6.20!  You get all of the designs in the collection so you don't have to make tricky decisions on which sheets to buy and miss out on any of the gorgeous patterns.  

Cutting into a single sheet of 6x6 is much easier on the heart too - I find I don't squeal like I do when I cut a full sheet of 12x12!  I did all these projects using one pad plus bits from my stash and the coordinating stickers and I still have a few bits left so it is definitely worth it.  I also bought the 12 x 12 collection kit which I love too, and using them together with the 6x6 pad makes them go a LOT further so that's a great reason to purchase both sizes!

So lets have a look at some projects shall we?

One of my favourite ways of using 6x6 pads is in a quadrant design.  You have a ready made coordinating set so just choose 4 designs and you're good to go.  To make a background you can either go overlapping or straight on, and either edge to edge or with a small border as I have here.  I trimmed off half an inch from 2 edges of each piece and stuck them to the corner of a piece of cardstock that I wasn't keen on.  I trimmed the egdes off and I effectively had an 11 inch square of patterned paper.

I gutted a 10 inch square from the middle of a piece of white cardstock so that I could use the inner portion for a photo mat.  This might seem like a palaver but the patterned paper needs something to adhere to and I  don't like wasting cardstock that I know I will use when I have colours and bashed or marked pieces that I don't want on show.  I'm all for using everything and getting the most out of your stash!

Once you have your quadrant background you can build up your layers and embellishments any way you like.  I used a another design from the pad for this layout and then I turned to the 12x12 collection for the journalling card which I made into a pocket.  I also used a 12 x 12 sheet to make the scalloped border in the same pattern as the orange quadrant so that you get the contrast of the 2 patterns but with careful joining or strategically placed embellishments you can make a border from a 6x6 sheet too. Just cut two 6" borders and carefully place together to make a 12" length!

Of course, I haven't ditched my trimmings from the 6x6 papers - I  layered up a couple of little pennant style flags and added a couple of pins and gems.  The rest of those edge trimmings?  You'll see them again in another layout later. 

Of course, lots of people use 6x6 pads for card making and they are absolutely wonderful for that too, again because of their handy size.  I recently made matching tags and cards for my son's teachers for leaving presents.  I wouldn't want to cut into a 12x12 page for a single tag and a couple of little die cuts but using the 6x6 pads make great economical sense here and I can go to town with how many different designs I use.  The pink labels are the reverse of one of the other designs so everything stays perfectly coordinated.

I used pop dots to add dimension on the die cuts and inked all the edges with faded jeans distress ink.

So that's cards/tags and quadrants covered but there are many more ways to get the most from your 6x6 pads, which I'll cover in Parts 2 & 3, so I hope you'll come back for those!

Lisa-Jane

x

For The Record 2

A very Happy Saturday to everyone!!!

Just a very quick post (in between packing orders!) to let you know that Echo Park's gorgeous new collection For The record 2 has arrived!!

We have both the Documented kits

and the Tailored kits available

I've also restocked Everyday Eclectic kits

Watch out for more new goodies coming soon!!!

Enjoy your weekend!

So Happy Together Collection

Today's post is brought to you by Design team member Jo who has been creating with the gorgeous So Happy Together collection.

***  ***  ***

SO HAPPY!!! .... That's exactly how I felt when the So Happy Together range from Echo Park arrived on my door mat.  Having the perfect photos was also a bonus!

In the first layout I used criss cross paper as the base, Garden as a photo mount, a strip of Neighbour, small amounts of happy stripes and jot it down and finally patchwork.

I inked all of the edges in black to make them pop off the white cardstock.  The hexagons on the Patchwork paper were cut into patterns and everything was layered up.

I attached a couple of the stickers from the coordinating sheet using pop dots.

And finished the whole thing off with some stamping and washi tape.

Although I love the bright colours of these papers I know they're not everyone's cup of tea so I thought I would also do a layout to really highlight the B side of these papers.

I thought the B side of Diagonal Dot would make the perfect background for this picture.  I also used Garden, Jot It Down and Patchwork.  All of the edges were inked in brown and the two different sizes and fonts on the alpha sheet were perfect for the title.  To anchor the strips of paper in the diagonal corners I cut one of the flowers from the element stickers almost in half. The cute banner strip is also one of the element stickers.

This really is a great collection to work with whether you like bright, bold colours or if you prefer a more muted scheme.

Don't forget you can buy the whole collection on Special Offer, saving over £3.60 on the individual rrps!!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Jo x

UK Scrappers Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome! 

Today we are excited to be participating in the UK Scrappers Blog Hop. If you are following the hop you should have arrived here from Sir Stampalot!!  To be in with a chance of winning the UKS Blog Hop prizes you will need to comment on this post (and on all the blogs in the hop) and remember to mention your UKS user name in your comment. Finally be sure to reply in the UKS thread on the forum when you have completed the hop.

After your visit here hop on to That's Crafty and if you lose your way or you want to start at the beginning of the hop you can find the complete list here!

We are also offering 20% off all orders placed via our online shop with the code UKSBLOGHOP entered during checkout.  The code is valid right up until 11pm on Thursday 5th July.

Our project for you today is a fairly quick layout - it took me just over an hour (excluding drying time!) to complete! We'd love you to have a go too!!

"Summer Days" Layout

This is the kit of supplies that I gathered together:

2 x patterned papers - Try to pick one bold and and one more subtle pattern. My patterned papers are from Echo Park So Happy Together

1 x bazzill cardstock (12 x 12) (for your background) and 1 scrap of cardstock - (I didn't use the green on this layout in the end so just ignore that in the pic!)

A sheet of journalling cards (mine is "jot it down" by Echo Park)

Selection of Stickers - I picked out the alphas and stickers from Echo Park's Hello Summer and So Happy Together. I love how these two collections work so well together.

Stamp Set - My stamps are from My Minds Eye, Miss Caroline. You will need a stamp for the background and this set also has a "date" and "place" stamp but you can leave these out if you don't have them.

Paint Dabber - I used Jenni Bowlin in speckled egg. 

Pink Gems - Mine are by Hero Arts. 

Washi Tape
Photograph- 1 x 6" x 4" Portrait

So, onto making the layout:

Choose your back ground cardstock (I used a sheet of kraft bazzill) and cut 2 panels from the patterned paper and scrap cardstock (or you could use another pattern instead of cardstock if you prefer). The sizes were approx 13cm x 17cm and 12cm x 16.5cm but if you are using a different size photo just adjust the sizes appropriately. 
Choose and cut out a journalling card from the 12 x 12 sheet.

Mat your photograph onto a piece of patterned paper (a more subtle pattern works better) and adhere to the other 2 panels. Don't put adhesive on the edges of the paper so you can slightly lift the corners to give some texture and also if you want to tuck anything under later.  

Position on your background cardstock (but don't stick it down just yet) and lightly mark with a pencil where your photo mat will be and then put it safely to one side whilst you apply the paint in the next step!

Stamp your background stamp using the paint dabber to apply paint to the stamp (instead of ink) and then take the lid off the bottle and dip a paintbrush into the paint and gently flick onto the cardstock. You might want to practice this on scrap card if you've not created paint splatters like this before!
Use you pencil marks to help you get the paint where you want it to show!

Once the paint is dry adhere your photo mat to the background and add a title. I used the "Summer" sticker and the small blue alphas so I could raise it with foam pads.

Choose a border sticker and tuck this under the bottom edge of the photo mat with a strip of washi tape to soften the edges a little. I tore the tape but you can cut it if you prefer a neater edge.

Apply paint to the date and place stamp and stamp onto journalling card. If you don't have stamps for this, handwrite them onto the card or you could journal onto the card instead.

Cut small strips of patterned paper and layer up on the top edge with a small piece of tape and add a punched butterfly (or a small embellishment). I used my Martha Stewart punch.

Add the journal card tucking it under the photo mat and tuck a small piece of border sticker and washi tape under the card.

Add few more stickers, raising some up on foam pads and scatter punched butterflies and gemstones to finish.

I hope you've enjoyed our step by step instructions and if you do make a layout using them do let us know if the comments so we can come and see!

So, if you're following the blog hop, your next stop is That's Crafty

That's for stopping by!

New Echo Park Collection!

It's been a busy morning here with deliveries!

I've just uploaded the gorgeous new collection from Echo Park!

So Happy Together is bright and fresh, with a colour palette of blues, pinks, orange, greens and yellow. 

With cute images of home, travel, sweet little birds and patterns of chevrons, hexagons, flowers, dots and stripes it's perfect for almost any layout.

Here's the papers, stickers and alphas:

And the other side of those beautiful papers:

You can see and buy the whole collection here!!

Also, we are now stocking the American Crafts Adhesive Runners in solid and Strip!!

  

Finally, don't forget to check out the bargains in our June Sale!!

Enjoy your day!!

Sarah x

New Stock Update!!

Lots of lovely new goodies have been arriving recently so I thought I'd give you all a quick update!!

NEW from American Crafts the beautiful Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Collection can be found here!

We have the very popular jar and camera stamp and the roller date stamp arrived and promptly sold out, but more are coming soon!  

                       

Do take a look at the co ordinating new Thickers Alphabets and the 6 x 6 pad too! 





NEW from ECHO PARK is not one but two new collections:

Paradise Beach and Sweet Days

  

Both collections are gorgeous and full of bright, fresh colours! The kits are in stock here!!

Just arrived this week .....

SMASH!! 

  

Keep an eye on the website for the Smash Folio Journals coming soon!! 

Along with more Smash Accessories!

 

I'm lovin' the pink one ..... or maybe the orange!!

 I love the way that Smash will work on scrapbook layouts as well as in the Smash folios the range was originally designed for. The tapes, journal pads and so many of the accessories can be used on 12 x 12 layouts too!

Some gorgeous Petaloo flowers are now in stock, different colours available!

    

Ranger have released a limited edition Spring distress ink pad set.

3 distress ink pads in brand new colours! 

These are flying off the shelves so if you want one grab it quick!!

Last but not least, there is Teresa Collins Sweet Afternoon, Echo Park's Hello Summer, My Minds Eye Nostalgia and On The Sunny Side and Prima Fairy Belle

We have the 6" x 6" pads for all these, which are perfect for card making!

        

Why not grab a cuppa (or ice cold drink!!) and browse all the new goodies here!