Hi everyone,
I don’t know why it took me so long to blog again, it really isn’t that difficult seeing as I can talk the hind legs off a donkey…  And now that I’m my own boss, I have a bit more time to make things to inspire you.  I’m getting paid to create, and blog, how cool is that!  I actually have a lot of stuff I’ve made and photographed that I’ve never shared on my blog.  So here I am back again already, with another project and tip to help you in your own creative journey!

This notepad is a relatively big one – A5 size.  More often, I decorate smaller note pads and other items to give away as gifts to my workshop hostesses. I picked up this notepad (undecorated of course!) in a clearance sale.  I can’t remember how much it was as it was a while back, but I know I was pretty thrilled at the time to see the potential in a plain old pack of paper.  Score!  (Yes, it doesn’t take much to get me excited – a cheap pack of notepads and I can be dancing around in the aisle!)

Anyway, I made this notepad as part of a team gift swap at my team leader’s house in December.  I had a lot of fun making it, but I must admit that initially when I looked at the Play Date Designer Series Paper, while loving the bright colours, the sheer “busy-ness” of this particular sheet had me a little stumped.  Yikes!  How do you work with paper that has so many bright colours and so much detail, without your finished project looking like something out of a 70’s movie?

Well, after a little bit of fiddling, I was happy with my design and there are two tips I can give you for how I work with very bright and detailed patterns.

1. Just use a little bit.  Less is more!  Just use a narrow strip on your card or layout, on a plain background in one of the colours in the paper.  Don’t overcrowd the project with too many embellishments and make sure the colours match (Stampin’ Up! is famous for coordinating colours of papers and inks with embellishments, by the way!).  That softens the impact on the eye and it won’t be so “in your face”.
If you have the Play Date DSP, you could cut out individual squares from this sheet and mount them onto slightly larger squares and use those as your focal point rather than using the paper as the background.  Hmm, that might be an idea for a future project to share with you!

2. Do as I did here.  Use lots of the detailed paper, but add a large area of “white space” with your focal point.  In my example it really is white, but it could be a soft colour, too.  Just a nice big patch of a single colour, as the eye will naturally be drawn to this calm place.  And then your focal image(s) placed in this white space will really pop, as they won’t drown in the clutter of your background patterns.

I know some of you like to know what else I’ve used so here’s a little recipe for this project:
Stamps: Funky Four (super cute!), Apple Blossoms (Hostess Level 2)
Colours: Real Red, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, So Saffron
DSP: Play Date
Other: Square Scallop die from the Summer Mini catalogue (love it!), Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Big Shot Machine, Old Olive 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Did you like this gift?  I’m currently taking workshop bookings and have spaces available during Feb and March if you’re interested.  Not only will you receive a free copy of the current catalogue (worth $15.95) and a lovingly hand-made gift from me (priceless!), but you and your friends will each have the chance to earn FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp sets with orders of $120 in product and you’ll earn extra set(s) with a qualifying workshop total.  So check your diaries (if you have one, if not, do check out my previous post here!) and let me know when would suit you! 

Workshops take around 2 hours and can be held at my place or yours, whichever you prefer!  You provide the guests and some light refreshments (I’m talking a bottle of juice and a pack of biscuits here, not a 3-course meal) and let me do the rest!  I’m now working very flexible hours – so with a bit of planning in my new diary and a little child care negotiation with my very supportive hubby, I can do weekdays, week nights or weekends. Have car will travel, too… you don’t need to be in Auckland to book me for a workshop! 

If you have any questions about workshops or you have other tips for how to create with detailed patterns and not ruin your eyes looking at them, do post a comment or click here to email me and share!

But wait, there’s more…I’m having a Sale-A-Bration launch party here next week, Tuesday 25th, the day it opens, at 7-9pm.  Yippee, I can’t wait!  Check my sidebar for more details and email me to reserve your place!

Happy stamping!