Yet, About Sharing!

After thinking over classes with my UDD box full of goodies, I realized that the happiness sharing could still be extended! So, I prepared 4 very special Scrap Kits enough for 4 different single page Projects and shared among 4 very talented and close Brazilian scrap designers. Today's post is about one of them: Juliana, known as JuGG. She is a great painter and as her family owns an elementary school in Brasilia, she has always been in contact with papers, festivities, children. Not long ago she jumped into Scrapbooking with all her passion and effort. Her work is known for reach details, flowers and blings. These days she teaches almost everyday at ScrapHappy and has taken a spot at few Blogs as Guest Designer. So, here is the work JuGG has made with her "Vroom" Kit. The cute chubby baby on the picture is Pedro, her son. One can also see Juliana's work at her Blog: http://www.scrapstuffed.blogspot.com/
Scrap Hugs and Kisses, Julia Saddi

What is life about?

What is life about if not sharing with the special close ones and sharing to help the ones in need? As so, when my box full of beautiful Upsy Daisy goodies arrived at my home I already started thinking I should work out a way of sharing and why not to say, also, a way to start working out Upsy Daisy Trade Mark in Brazil. At that same day, I planned a special class at the store I teach twice a month and announced to the regular basis students. At classes, we worked with sketches, no ready to glance project, so that every work would be kind of different. We mainly used A Walk in the Park and Man About Town Collections. Each student took home a Layout and a card, as well as left at the store a second card made specially for a Social Project that I am working on. I am the one wearing grey and the other one is Daniela, one of my students. On our hands you can see Daniela's and Claire's works. Well, you will here from me every day of this week, so, for today, this is it! :D Scrap Hugs and Kisses , Julia Saddi

"Snow at the Beach" and "Angel" layouts

I am very excited to post my first blog entry for Upsy Daisy Designs!  What you can't afford to miss with the releases from Upsy Daisy Designs are the great selection of patterned papers that coordinate so well with each other, but still allow you to show your own style in your scrapbook layouts. 

"Snow at the Beach"  12x12 Layout 

Below, I utilized the "Hot Chocolate" collection to create a layout with somewhat difficult photos to scrap.  The pictures are actually from a Caribbean island, Disney style!   We went on a Disney Cruise last time my husband came back from Afghanistan in 2005.   It was December, so at Disney's private island, we were at first surprised to see "snow" and huge Christmas decorations, but of course, that is what you should expect from Disney, right?

It was actually windy that day, so Kayla had a little red jacket on over her swim suit, which turned out perfect for a Christmas color-themed photo.  The decorations had a lot of pink in them as well, which made the Upsy Daisy Designs "Hot Chocolate" papers so perfect for these photos!  I also utilized a clear journaling stamp from the UDD "My Guy" set, and beautiful jeweled brads from UDD ("Bebe Girl").   And yes, that is flocking on the title that I cut with my die cut machine!  I love to mix patterns, so that is what I did for the little accents around the page.  Hope you like it!

UDD Products Used:
#UDD0151. Cocoa
#UDD0150. Cinnamon Stick
#UDD0152. Dash Away
#UDD210. My Guy Clear Stamps
#EMB002. Bebe-Girl Jewel Brads
#EMB004. Man About Town Brads

"Angel" 12x12 Layout

For my second layout, I was thrilled to use the Upsy Daisy Designs "Spirit" collection!  RED is my favorite color, so I love it when I can use it somewhere in my layouts.  When I first saw this angelic paper in the "Spirit" collection, I thought of the perfect photo I had from when my daughter, Kayla, was three.  This picture was actually taken on her third birthday.  She received a "ballerina" dress-up outfit, and in this photo, she really does look like an angel.

I edited this picture in Photoshop (I use CS3, but I believe you can do the same thing in Photoshop Elements).  First, I created a background layer that was black, and then I carefully erased the photo layer all around Kayla to get rid of a distracting background.  I used a softer brush for the erasing, with some more intricate parts using a little "harder" brush.  I also used a lighting filter so that her face would really "light up".   

After I was pleased with the look, I scanned in the angel from the Upsy Daisy Designs "Spirit - Peace" paper.  I then used the Photoshop "magic wand" selection tool to select just the wings from the paper scan, and dragged them in to my picture.  I then played with filters and opacity, and also changed the size and rotated the wings a bit to make the look how I had pictured it in my mind.  I had to erase some parts of the wings, as this was my top layer, and I wanted the wings to look really subtle. (Because my daughter is not really an angel in heaven, but to me, an angel here on earth! :)

After the photo looked right I printed it and matted it on the red "Spirit-Love" paper, making sure to keep the beautiful white snowflake pattern on the mat. Next, I used a larger piece of more of an off-white patterned paper (also from the Spirit line), and I printed my quote right onto the patterned paper.  I used a few different fonts and text colors to highlight appropriate words in Photoshop CS3, and then I printed it on a plain "practice" piece of paper to see if it lined up correctly.

After printing the quote, I went to carefully cutting out the angel from the patterned paper.  I used a "fingertip" blade which I think works really well on a self-healing mat.   Then I used the S-shaped filigree UDD clear stamp from the "My Guy" set to stamp a border in white ink across the top of the red paper.

I finished by highlighting some of the angel and paper designs with whit, gold, and silver pens, as well as pink soufflé markers, used a UDD rub-on near the angel's horn, and scattered a few clear star jewels around the text.  I used some pop dots under the top angel wing and the horn, and added a few more embellishments, including a "love" circle stamp and heart shaped rub on... also from UDD, with embossing powder.  I matted it all on a piece of patterned cardstock from the UDD "Hot Chocolate" line (I just love scallops!!)... and that's about it!  This is one of my favorite layouts!

UDD products used:
#UDD0158. Love
#UDD0159. Peace (front and back)
#UDD0153. Frosted
#UDD208. Chic Bebe Clear Stamps (LOVE circle stamp)
#UDD210. My Guy Clear Stamps
#UDD185. Baby Love Rub Ons
#EMB004. Man About Town Brads

I know this is a long post, but I hope you get some helpful tips for your layouts!  Upsy Daisy Designs paper can be hard to find here in the U.S., so ask your local store to carry it or order some online...you won't be sorry with the quality, double-sided cardstock and patterns that are available... as well as the clear stamps, rub-ons, and beautiful brads!

Hark frame

Hi all!

I'm so excited that I get to post my very first entry here in the blog as one of the newest member of the DT.

Anyways, I was given the assignment to use one of our great Christmas collection for my project and I chose the Spirit collection. I love the colors and the patterns are great to use for backgrounds but also there's fun prints that you can cut up to make your own embellishments.

Hark the Angel frame


The idea to make this frame really started with the "joy" paper. I love the image of the angel with wings and trumpet!

Here's a little peek of the process.....

First I gathered my supplies. I love, love, love Upsy Daisy's double sided pattern papers. I get more designs and inspirations from a collection. I got my frame from my local store and the best part...it only cost me a buck!


Next I primered my frame with white paint. This will give my edges a clean finished look.


Third, I measured my frame and cut out pattern paper to go on top of the frame. I used a liquid adhesive to adhere the paper.


Fourth, I made a couple of strips of paper to create a border and sewn a ruffled ribbon onto it before adhering the whole border onto my frame.


Fifth, I added some leaves, a stamped circle to house my angel and then the angel. I created some subtle texture to the angel by spraying it with glimmer mist before adhering with a dimensional adhesive.


Then I gathered some fun Upsy Daisy rubons and made my frame title. I made some mistakes while transfering all my letters (my fault and not because of the product) so I covered my booboo's with brads.


Finished it off with a ribbon to hang my frame. I used my husband's industrial stapler for this, but I'm sure you can use a small nail or glue gun for it too.


So there you have it. A quick project that you can make for yourself or can even be a great homemade gift for the holidays.

Take care everyone.

Products used:
#UDD0158. Love
#UDD157. Joy
#UDD0160. Play
#UDD208. Chic Bebe (stamp)
#UDD0082. Oodles of Doodles - Alphas
#EMB003. Its a Girl Thing

Colour Me Happy

As you may have noticed, during October we have been focusing on the wonderful CUPCAKE and BEBE  lines.

I find myself sometimes being subconsciously steered into a set theme for my cards and layouts because of the name for a certain paperline...and sometimes that may prevent me from seeing the true potential a paper design has.

Take for example the BeBe line - you would automatically think Newborns, Babies, Children - right? And the first thing I created was indeed a little gift card holder for a new baby.

UDD Products used:
#UDD0163. Belle / Beau, #UDD185. Baby Love, #EMB007. Walk in the Park


But you have so many more options of using these papers, thanks to their very subtle and soft designs. For this picture of my nephew (who loves to paint), I thought the "boy" side of the BeBe paper line to be perfect. The green and blue compliment the colours in the picture.

UDD Products used:
#UDD0163. Belle / Beau;  #UDD0165. Layette;  #UDD0130. Stillness; #UDD187. Man About Town; #UDD185. Baby Love; #UDD0004. Doodle Bet


I leave you with a card I created with different papers and rub ons from the CUPCAKE line - again, the papers invite you to create something for a birthday but you can do so much more!

UDD Products used:
#UDD0137. Scrumptious; #UDD0136. Sweet; #UDD0133. Delectable; #MT2-011. Carter; #UDD190. Sweet Celebrations

Last but by no means least: Don't forget our FACEBOOK page, we are still having product giveaways going on!

It's that time of Year...

Oh yes it is!!!

Many of my friends are like me when it comes to Christmas cards.
We have the best of intentions of making our own cards every year, and dream of gasps of delight, fomr far and wide, as our nearest and dearest open up those creamy envelopes and feast their eyes on our glittery home-made creations.

Alas, like me, many of my friends get caught up in the necessities of everyday life, and before we know it, we barely have time to drive down to the store and pick up a box of pre-made cards.

But this year, it's gonna be different.
Armed with one of my favourite "Upsy Daisy" lines, I've gotten started.
And the best part?
I'm going to show you two beautiful cards I made using only a sheet and a half of paper.

"Hot Chocolate", a Christmas line from Upsy Daisy Designs, conjurs up images of steaming mugs of hot chocolate sipped before a roaring fire, with little peppermint flavoured stirring sticks on the side.


For my 2 cards I used "Frosted" and "Cinnamon Stick" from the line.




As you can see, both cards look very different from each other, and in fact, look as though loads of different patterned papers were used on them.
In fact, all I did was take advantage of the double-sided patterns, and with some creative trimming, I managed to get these two beauties.

So, tonight, why not get a head start on those Holiday cards.
Grabd a sheet or two of your favourite Upsy Daisy papers, and see how many cards you turn out.

P.S I still have scraps left over for at least another card, and maybe even a tag :)

New Bebe on the Block

I have several friends who have delivered gorgeous new babies in the past few weeks - so what better way to celebrate their arrival than scrapping a few projects?

The "older siblings" of these new babes should not be left out either - say hello to Olly who turned two the same week his little sister arrived...

Isn't he adorable? I just want to pinch his cheeks and squueze him all day long :)
For Olly's page I used the Boy side of the Bebe range of Upsy Daisy papers - cool baby blues and greens with some soft brown inking to give it depth.

My next Lo was loooooong overdue - my little Hannah's third birthday came and went in a flash and I have only just got the chance to scrap it. Doesn't life just flash by in the blink of an eye, sometimes?

Hannah is the original "girly girl" - you can't have enough pink, enough bling, enough sparkle, enough fairies and - in the case of her birthday - enough cupcakes, LOL.

The Upsy Daisy "Cupcake" paper range was perfect for the job:
Such gorgeous colours call for a happy, summery layout.
There are a couple of Tips you could take from either of these LO's to use with your Upsy Daisy papers:

* Crop your photo tightly around the face of your subject so that you make a real feature of their gorgeous eyes (and dimples!).

* Use Die Cut Lace cardstock upside down - that is, with the white showing rather than the right side. It makes for a delicate break-up of the background without being too "lacey" or "girly".

* Break up your page with a couple of journaling spots layered one over the other - it gives the impression of the page being more "full" without overloading it.

* Use your scallop punch to create strips of cardstock, then mount these on top of each other to create a "Cake" embellishment.

* Use the little cupcakes that are printed on the strip at the bottom of the Upsy Daisy papers - they are super cute embellishments!

* Use a template to mark a circle around your LO, then adhere double sided tape all around it. Place one end of a length of ribbon at the beginning of the circle and gently "pleat" it at one inch intervals. It takes a bit of time to perfect, but it's worth it - trust me!

Well, that's all from me for now - I hope there is something in there that helps you want to dive into the scrapping supplies. For me, it's going to be a busy few days and we are having enormous dust storms over here in Australia, so we are all trapped inside until they pass. Oh well, more time for scrapping!
Take care all,
Sares x