Bo Bunny Designer Spotlight

During the month of August, Bo Bunny is hosting a Designer Spotlight series to let their fans get to know the design team a little better. Well, today it's my turn to be in the Designer Spotlight! If you're interested in reading a bit more about me and seeing some new projects featuring the new Summer CHA collections, please stop by the Bo Bunny BLOG today!

Here is a taste of what you'll find on the Bo Bunny Blog...

 A layout created using the newest Garden Girl Collection!

 Isn't that Owl to die for adorable!?  The beautiful flowers and bling are from ZVA Creative!

Here I used some of Bo Bunny's Clear/Acrylic chipboard letters and simply painted around the outer rim so they would stand out against the background.

I also created this layout using Bo Bunny's Garden Girl collection - how different the two projects look when you use the darker tones in this collection! Totally tried the 'paint splatter' technique - think it adds just enough 'umph' to an otherwise bare space? 

 The beautiful bling is again, from ZVA Creative, as are the wonderfully coordinating flowers.

Just loving the Bo Bunny Trinkets!!

Lastly, I thought I'd save a little treat especially for my blog!! I created this project using the new Sweet Tooth collection.

I simply altered some old Prima Packaging, filled with candy and voila!! (note: all candy has now been eaten - thank goodness I took photos sooner than later - LOL!)

Want to win some amazing prizes! All you need to do is leave a comment on the Bo Bunny BLOG today and at the end of the month there will be a giveaway for each Designer Spotlight! (Be sure to visit throughout the month as there are new designers featured each day!)

Want another chance to win?? Become a follower of my blog (if you aren't already) and leave a comment on this post by 12:00 PST tomorrow (August 17th) and I will randomly choose a winner to give away this Gabrielle prize pack...

Thanks so much for your visit today!! Good Luck

Graphic 45 Blog Hop Winners!!

Thank you so very much to everyone who participated in the Graphic 45 and Want2Scrap Blog hop this past week - such fun and such beautiful projects to see!

I'd like to announce the Graphic 45 winners of this week's blog hop!

Congratulations to: Manhatan Mandie who left a comment on my blog this week, and Patti Goodding Swartz who left a comment on the Graphic 45 Facebook page. Ladies, if you could please email Graphic 45 at Graphic 45 with your shipping information we will send out your prizes!
Don't forget, Want2Scrap will be announcing two random winners on their blog today too so you'll definitely want to check that out!
Enjoy your weekend!!

Graphic 45 Blog Hop!

Welcome! I am so glad you could join us for the Graphic 45 and Want2Scrap blog hop! The hop kicks off today, August 8th and runs until August 12th, 2011. 

From the Graphic 45 Team we have myself, Tara Orr and Laura Denison participating today and from the Want2Scrap Team, the featured designer is Elise Durenberger. Be sure to stop by each designers' blog, the Graphic 45 Blog and Want2Scrap blog for your chance to win a bunch of amazing goodies!

Want2Scrap and Graphic 45 will both be giving out two prizes. One prize on each of our blogs and one prize on each of our Facebook Pages. Want2Scrap will be giving out two $25 Gift Certificates and Graphic 45 will be giving out two prize packages valued over $25. For the blog prize winner, we will pick a random person who comments on one of the designers' blog posts. For the Facebook prize winner, we will pick a random person who leaves a comment on our Facebook fanpage.

Now, on to the good stuff!! For today's project I am delighted to show you a super-shabby chic mini album created with Want2Scrap's Gate Mini Album and adorned with the elegant Curtain Call Collection from Graphic 45.  In addition, I will be giving you a tutorial on how to transform your papers and embellishments into shabby chic treasures.

Shabby Chic Distressing Using a Whitewash
There are many different options to distress both your papers, photos and embellishments. I find my personal style is drawn to the shabby chic look which gives off a soft, worn look with a little bit of rustic appeal. I will offer a few tips and tricks today on a particular form of distressing - whitewashing.

Shabby Chic Style:
This style can be defined as one in which the elements give off an aged, tattered or comfy feel while maintaining its natural beauty. It often incorporates distressed and worn looking items, vintage items or heirlooms, antique tags and elements, buttons, layering (of papers and elements), muted and neutral colours, and things that seem to have a natural type of beauty.

Shabby Chic Elements:
I often include more than one of the following items: ribbon, lace, tulle, hemp, twine, burlap, cardboard, elements found in nature. In addition, photos converted to black and white or sepia often enhance the feel of this style as does stitching on your page.

Whitewash Technique:

Whitewashing is a substance used for whitening surfaces, consisting of a suspension of lime or whiting in water, often with other substances added. For my project, I decided to use the basic principal of whitewashing on my embellishments. For scrapbooking/paper crafting purposes acrylic paint (diluted or full strength) works perfectly fine to achieve that aged, shabby chic look.

I gathered all of my 'naked' chipboard pieces, metal embellishments, anything I thought I may add to my mini album and simply painted everything 'white' with acrylic paint.

Once dry, I distressed each piece even further by inking around each edge or contour with my distress ink.

The final result seemed almost 'rusted' to me which was exactly the look I was aiming for.

I then took the whitewash technique one step further. I decided, rather than distressing my project with a darker ink or torn edges, to use the white paint around the edges of my papers and other added embellishments for a softer, romantic look.

There is no rhyme or reason to the paint - sometimes the more messy and inaccurate the better it looks. Remember, your goal is to add character to your project and antique your page and embellishments.

Other Shabby Chic Techniques:

Sanding the edges of your photos, papers, alphas, etc with a piece of fine sandpaper - much like you would sand a piece of wood - until a desired, worn look is achieved.

Tearing the edges of your photos or papers

Inking the edges with distress ink. Dab your blending tool onto your ink pad and then rub in downward strokes onto the edges of your photos/embellishments/papers. I personally love Tim Holtz’ Distress Ink in “Vintage Photo”

Distressing the edges using your edge scraper. Go around the edges of your photo or papers for a worn look.

Thank you sooo much for stopping by today! Have fun and good luck!

Graphic 45 Supplies:

Curtain Call 12x12 Paper Pad
Curtain Call 8x8 Paper Pad
Metal Buttons
Metal Hinges
Metal Plates
Staples: Trim
Staples: Stickers, No.1 Sheet
Graphic 45 Packaging

Other Supplies:
Chipboard Gate Album by Want2Scrap
Chipboard "Filgrie" by Want2Scrap
Baby Bling (pearl) by Want2Scrap
Chipboard Clock, Gears, Paris Title, Fence, Swirl by Imaginarium Designs
Paris Postage and On Butterfly Wings Stamps by Hampton Art
Distress Ink in Vintage Photo by Ranger
Glossy Accents by Ranger
Film Strip Ribbon by Ranger
Adhesive Dots by ZVA Creative
Acrylic Pain in Warm White by DecoArt
Misc: Metal Clock Hands, Paper and Crochet Doilies