Detailing Tips by Sandi Clarkson

My Creative Scrapbook design team member Sandi Clarkson is up today with some tips featuring our April Limited Edition Kit!

Here's Sandi:

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Hello, everyone! Sandi here with you today sharing a few design detailing tips using the My Creative Scrapbook April Limited Edition Kit featuring lots of great Crate Paper, Prima, Studio Calico and more! 

I thought a little bit of ruffled paper "lace" would look great on one of my pages and selected a neutral paper "scrap" from the kit along with one of my fave Martha Stewart vintage doily punches. 

I cut a strip about 1 and 1/2 inches wide and then used my punch along one of the long edges. 

Next I took a Distress Ink (Worn Lipstick) and inked the punched edges. 

Then I moistened the paper with a small mister of water.  If you don't have a mini-mister, any small bottle you have on hand  will work just fine.  At this point, you can either pleat your paper or "gather" it with your hands as I've tried to do.  Both ways look great! 

When that was done, I took one of my photos and put a strip of Tacky Tape at the bottom on the backside.  Then I lifted the protective red strip and attached my paper ruffle carefully.  I also placed some corrugated cardboard on the back of my photo to "lift" it off the page since the ruffle gives you some nice dimension under the photo. 

Turn your photo over and there is your lovely ruffle! These paper ruffles are also great for attaching to a small circle of paper and creating a lacy flower! 

This is how it looked when my layout was completely done. 

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While I'm here, I thought I'd share a few steps in how I prepared the alpha embellishments on my "Forever Friends" page. 

After preparing the basic edges of your layout, use molding paste and a flat spatula to add texture to your page where you plan to attach your alphas. 

This is how mine looked at that point. Dry with a heat gun or allow it  t dry naturally. 

Next add some Viva white crackle paint .. or whatever you have in your stash! Crackle paint needs to dry naturally for the best results, so you'll need to wait a few hours before moving on. I love the look this gave to my page, so it was totally worth the wait. I've also applied the Crackle paint to the edges of my layout as well as on a few of my other elements. 

Then sprinkle some mist drops in whatever color you like  or have on hand by removing the uptake nozzle from your bottle and flicking or tapping on it. 

Then begin adding your alphas in a random pattern, some going horizontally and some vertically. 

Spray out a bit of your mist if you want to alter the color of your letter as I did. Paint it on. 

After adding color, I used more of the crackle paint, this time on my alphas. After that dried a few hours, I added some Sno-Tex from my stash for a nice, frosty feel. The Sno-Tex has also been added to a corner of the page to complete the wintry feel. I know most of us are tired of the long Winter but I like using a Kit in slightly unexpected ways. 

And this is my completed page! 

Thanks for coming by today and letting me share. 

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Be sure to take a look at Sandi's beautiful work in our Design Team Gallery!

Here's the Limited Edition Kit:

We invite you to join us and experience the possibilities that our coordinated monthly kits offer. To purchase a kit, please visit our website, here.