Zarah- Best Friend

BEST FRIEND
by Zarah S Peterson

Supplies:
Bazzill white (and black, if you prefer to mat the photo twice "manually". I matted mine in Photoshop.)
Patterned paper (misc. manufacturers)
A journaling spot from MME (Abbey Road), packaging from Prima  and a printed tag from a top I bought
Lace
Staplers
Raindots, bling and Glossy Accents (by Ranger )
A headlines set by Doodlebug
Alphas by Making Memories and October Afternoon
Black and white pens

How to:
For this LO I simply placed the photo to see how big the papers needed to be (the photo's not standard size). I used scraps too, and this is agreat way to get a nice-looking LO from scraps and re-purposed items.

1. Cut and tear the patterned papers. Make one smaller than the other. You only need a tiny piece of the pink - just enough for the sticking-out-pieces and a little strip to fasten on the back of the yellow paper.
2. Place the prima packaging, the lace (staple that one down) and the journaling spot. Adhere the photo. Cut the clothes tag and place that under the photo, sticking out on either side.
3. Add title and journaling. I opted for just name & date. No special story - just a photo I love.
4. Place the bling, raindots and the dots of Glossy Accents.
5. Draw highlights on the title & the heart (that one's on the headlines set).
Done!

Zarah- Love Forever

LOVE FOREVER

By: Zarah S Peterson


Supplies:
3 wallet size photos, matted on white cardstock, or matted before printing
white cardstock from Bazzill
Patterned paper: Backside of Everyday Favourite Shirt/MME, a strip of a green paper (Boo to You) from My Mind's Eye, Mulberry Road/Fancy Pants , a strip of Lizzie Geometric Flower for the peek through at the top, Ruby Polkadot Stripe/Making Memories  and a piece of Abbey Road/My Mind's Eye (front and back) for the circles.

I used a scalloped Bazzill as a template for the scallops on the Mulberry Road paper and a Whirleybird/Friends Forever by MME as a template for the shaped papers. (I cut one the same size, and one just inside that).

There's also a journaling spot from My Mind's Eye as photo mat on the middle photo.

Tools: Edge scraper/scissors, Fiskars edge punch

Alphas: Thickers from American Crafts and letter stickers from a Doodlebug Inc headlines.

Embellishments: buttons, glossy accents (or other glue that dries transparent), fluid chalk/ink for the edges, a brown pen for the faux stitching, a month-spot, a "cherish-plate", pins, lace, brads, a piece of lace, a piece of ribbon, string, a cardboard button, white flowers, raindots and a shiny heart from the local toy store.

How to:

1. Shape cut the two papers. One slightly smaller. (Rough up & ink all edges if desired.) Mount them on top of the Bazzill, and push them to the right. The bottom paper stuck out a little, which I cut off. Rough up the Bazzill and tear one bit open. Add a piece of paper underneath the tear.

2. Trace the scallops on the blue paper & cut that out. Tear the lower edge. Mount on top of the two shape cut papers. Punch out the scallops on the green paper and add that. (Rough up & ink all edges if desired.)

Adhere the lace and the ribbon on top. Fasten with brads for extra secutiry & a nice finish.

3. Mount the photo on the journalingspot and then add them all to the layout.

4. Embellish with die cut or hand cut circles, flowers and buttons. Add pins, the title and a written journaling spot (I used a piece of a journalingspot that I cut as a circle and then tore a piece off of.)

Add the pins, raindots and glossy accent dots.

5. You're done! :D

Zarah - I love you

I LOVE YOU
By: Zarah S Peterson


Supplies:
Bazzill Cardstock White (and black if you want to frame your photo like mine and don't want to do it in Photoshop)

Patterned papers: Fancy Pants/Kewl Splendid Paper, Making Memories/Big Dot Poolside Paperie, Fancy Pants Free Spirit Passion Paper, Making Memories Funky Vintage 12x12 Lizzie Geometric Flower, Making Memories Funky Vintage 12x12 Ruby Baroque and Making Memories Ledger Combo Pattern Paper
Embellishments: Making Memories Baby Blue Wovenlabels, ribbon from Making Memories Trim Card Poolside Paperie, a piece of a journaling spot, various mixed Prima Marketing flowers and leaves, lace & ribbon from the local sewing store, pins, bling, thickers by American Crafts and a no-name sheet, Rub on Expressions from Doodlebug Design Inc and staples.

How to:
1. Mat your photos on black and then white CS.
Cut your Free Spirit Passion paper into a wide strip and tear of the lower edge. Rough up egdes & ink if desired.
Mat it onto the Lizzie Geometric Flower, and make it stick out to the right and below. Tear that edge too. Rough up & ink edges.
2. Cut a piece of the Kewl Splendid paper that fits your photos. Tear the lower edge and rough up & ink edges if you want the shabbier look. Tear strips of the Ruby Baroque, ink them & mount them underneath - one with each side showing.
3. Cut circles from the Big Dot Poolside-paper to make the scallops. Rough up & ink if desired.
4. Add the ribbons and the flowers. Cut a small piece of the Ledger Combo into small scallops. Add that to the strips of ribbon. Mount all the papers & the photos.
5. Adhere the flowers & bling. Add the soft woven label, the title and the rubon.
6. Rough up the edges of the LO and ink, if desired.

You're done! :D

Zarah - Halloween Card Set

Halloween Card Set

By: Zarah S Peterson

Supplies:

Bazzill Cardstock

Patterned paper: My Mind's Eye/Boo! To You (Haunted Trees & Creepy Crawlers - front & backsides)

Alphas: American Crafts thckers and small alphas by Making Memories

Glossy Accents by Ranger

Pens

How to:
Fold your card bases into 3 4x6 cards. You can get 3 of these from one sheet of Bazzill, by top folding one strip of 12x4, and backfolding two pieces that are 6x8.
Cut & tear your PP into strips and pieces. Mount them.
Add Glossy Accents to the details you want to pop, ie the spider (and its web) and the owl+tree.
Adhere the text.
Voila! Super quick and super cute - you're ready for Halloween!
:)

Zarah - Sunshine

Sunshine

By: Zarah S Peterson

Supplies:

Bazzill Cardstock, white (My photo is framed in Photoshop, but you can also choose to mat it on black cardstock)

Patterned papers: Making Memories Ledger Combo Pattern Paper, Daisy D's Colonial Paisley, Fancy Pants Kewl Splendid Paper, Fancy Pants Mulberry Road Romance Paper

Paint: Making Memories Springtime - Sky paint, Making Memories In Bloom - Cornflower paint and crackle medium

Embellishments: Junkitz Halloween Painted Book Platez Cream/Green, ribbon from Making Memories Trim Card Poolside Paperie, a journalingspot, lace, staples, home made pins, Glossy Accents from Ranger, misc flowers, bling, ink, pen
Other: Making Memories Craft Knife for cutwork, a Prima Marketing-bling backside, Fiskars scallop punch

How To:
Paint the Prima backside with the Cornflower paint, then the crackle medium and top with the sky paint. Let dry.
Cut one piece of the Ledger combo paper and rough up the edges. Ink them if you want to. Adhere the photo on top. Also cut a strip of the Mulberry Road Romance paper & scallop one edge. Rough up & ink if desired.
Cut a piece of the Kewl Splendid paper (backside used) and, again, rough up & ink if wanted.
Mount the papers as shown on LO.
Ink edges of Bazzill and adhere the patterned paper stack & photo to it.
Now, take out your craft knife and the Colonial Paisleypaper. Cut out details.
Add the ribbon (with a knot on the lower piece), the journaling spot and the lace. Staple down.
Add bookplate and stick the cutout inside it. Glue down. Then stick small alpha pieces inside to show date of picture. Add flower, bling and pins.
Lastly, stick your title down.
I usually put mine on the upper edge of a ruler to get a straight edge, and to be able to move it around to see where it fits best, then I stick it down.
Add Glossy Accents to the cutout details.

You're done! :D

Zarah - Glädjefnatt

GLÄDJEFNATT
by Zarah S Peterson

First of all - the title is in Swedish & it's a word game that cannot be translated, so I'm not even gonna try. I'd just confuse you! Just take my word for this: It's quite funny and rather cute too, if I may say so myself... ;)

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock, white (My photos are done with a black edge. If yours are not, I suggest that you mount them onto black Bazzill to make them pop.)
Patterned paper from My Mind's Eye, Abbey Road/Whirlybird (for the shape), and Blossom, plus Lucky Me/Just the Girls
Rub on Expressions from Doodlebug Design Inc
Random mixed alphas, from Doodlebug
Random mixed Prima Marketing flowers and leaves (some no-name ones as well)
Bling, a black pen, ribbon, pins and some black stickles from Ranger (to make all the letters look the same. They had pretty different levels of glossiness)

How to:
1. Use the shaped Friends Forever paper to create the shape on the Illuminate-paper. The green paper is its backside, and the pink is the backside of the Garden Party-paper. There are two strips from the Blossom/Floating Flowers paper - both the front and the back.
2. Cut and tear the papers to fit your photos. Mount them and add some interest by adding an outline here, and some faux stitching there. (It's all up to where you like it best.)
3. Add your photos, run down the text to Bazzill strips and add the journaling & title too.
4. Scatter flowers around the page in a somewhat triangular shape, for balance. Make sure you use the direction of the photos to get the accents right. (Like - in these photos, Maria is looking to the right - so I left some space to the right and added the flowers to pull the attention in the same direction she was looking.)
5. Add centres, bling and stickle up the title.
6. You're done! Thanks for following along! :D

Thanks to Maria who's the cutest model ever. ♥

Zarah - Unconditional Love

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
by: Zarah S Peterson

Supplies:
Bazzill, black and white

Patterned papers from Basic Grey/Indian Summer (Goosberry for the solid, and Milkweed for all the cutout details)
Matching Indian Summer Element stickers

"Love" and the hearts are from a Doodlebug Design Inc "Headlines"

The text strips are a rubon quote (Expressions) from Doodlebug Designs Inc that I cut apart, taking out the words "heart" and "love"

Other: Black ink, bling swirls from Prima Marketing, Glossy Accents from Ranger, flowers & leaves from Prima Marketing, yellow bling-stones, a black pen (for turning the brown lace black), a white pen for the highlights & small alpha letter stickers.

How to:
1. Cut the Gooseberry-paper into an 8x8' piece and rough up the edges with an edge scraper or scissors. Don't worry if it rips - it just adds to the look. Ink the edges with black ink. Mount onto a piece of black Bazzill and rough up those edges too. Place it on the white Bazzill, and tilt it if you want.
Don't glue this piece down all the way, just yet. Keep the edges free.

2. Mount your photo onto black Bazzill. Mine is framed, using Photoshop, but just mounting it makes it pop too. :) Either rough these edges as well, or just don't. I wen't with "don't", this time. Glue it down, and take your element stickers. Cut out a portion of the brown lace. Paint it black and stick it down beneath the photo.

3. Bring out your trusty craft knife. Mine's frm Making Memories, and rocks. Cut out flowers, leaves and other details you like from the Milkweed paper. Stick them all underneath the patterned paper to get them exactly where you want it. Also, pop out the round tree element and the three smaller tabs from the Elements sheet. Mount the round one onto black Bazzill and rough up the edges.

4. Glue down all the cutouts, and stick one Prima flower underneath the paper, in the upper left corner. Put a smaller flower on top. Add all the bling swirls, elements and flowers. Add bling and leaves.

5. Rub the expressions onto white Bazzill strips, forming the journaling. Takle out the words "heart" and "love" and replace them with a heart and the word love from stickers. Glue the journaling & title down. Put "unconditional" at the upper edge of the patterner square, where it's visible but doesn't draw too much attention.

6. Add Glossy Accents to some of the cutout details. Make a few dots, scattered around the page - as well as three "portions" of yellow bling, triangularly formed around the page.

You're done!

Ps. I'd like to thank my friend Linda, for letting me "borrow" her son for this layout. He's really a sweet, sweet boy and tantrums like these aren't common. (Poor baby REALLY wanted to try the new swing set - not have dinner!) That's why I thought it was rather cute and decided to scrap it. Isn't he adorable?

Zarah - Basic Grey X-mas cards (Show Info!)

Christmas cards - the easy way

By: Zarah S Peterson

How to do it:

1. Cut your 12x12’ patterned papers down to two strips that are both 2x12 and two strips that are 4x12.
   Cut these strips into 3 4x2’s, 2 6x2’s, 3 4x4’s and 2 6x4’s.
   (Meaning cut one of each width into half and one of each width into 3 equal bits of 4 inch wide.)
   If you’d only use 2 patterned papers that’d give you material enough for 4 large cards and 6 small ones.
   I’ve used 5 coordinated patterned papers – which amounts to 10 large (6x4) cards and 15 small (4x4’) ones. A slightly wonky image of the cutting scheme can be found above.
   
2. Now, cut your Bazzill into card bases. The way I do that, is that I chose a paper that’s not very depending on the way the fibres run, to be folded neatly. Canvas is great for this, for example.
   I cut the paper once at 4’ which leaves me a nice 8x12 piece that cuts down the middle (at 6’) to make two bookfold cards. Each Bazzill makes 3 6x4 cards.
   For the smaller ones I start the same way, by cutting away a 4x12-strip and then I cut the 8x12 piece that’s left at 4 and 8, leaving me three 4x8 pieces that folds into three 4x4 cards.
   (The bigger piece, I usually just mark down at 8’ and then I cut strips for journaling from the spare 4’.)
3. Mount the patterned papers as desired. As you can see, you can just glue down them down the way they are and make neat cards by decorating them with stickers – for example these nice ones from Bazzill that match the card bases nicely.
   Remember that you can turn the papers and card bases to give some variation!
   Both of the bigger card folds can be used either lying or standing up – and the smaller one can also be used either way.
4. If desired: add your own touch!
   You can, for example, chose to add some extra flair to the cards if you would like. Some ink on the edges, maybe some Bazzill to frame the thinner stip as well (makes it sturdier too) and maybe some pop-up dots to give dimension?
   You can also frame your motifs by adding more than one mat - maybe even different colours?
   Or add faux stitching, drawn edges, stickles/bling, glossy accents and much more. There's tons of fun things to try!
   I’ve also trimmed my 4x6 pieces slightly to make the card base show.
5. You’re done! In just a matter of minutes, you’ve managed to prepare a whole bunch of X-mas cards and I’m sure that will be a nice relief when the time comes to start thinking about sending them. (Because if you’re anything like me – you’re usually up all night making cards last minute – wrecking your brain to come up with ways to use the papers you already have – because you don’t have time to order – and that’s gonna look nice. Now, you won’t have to worry! Have some gingerbread. You did GREAT!)

Materials used:

Bazzill cardstock: red, green and lots of white

Basic Grey Wreath/Sugar Cookie, Gingerbread/Orange Peel, Yuletide/Wintermint, Tidings/Wintermint (all from the Fruitcake line) and Snowfall Pear (from the Dasher line)

Bazzill Chip toppers - Christmas

Super cute Studio G stamps - email the store for a list and images of these cuties!

I've also used: Pens and pencils, stickles, Glossy Accents, staplers, lace & ribbons, pins, 3d-foam dots, bling/pearls, flowers & leaves.

SHOW INFO:

Now, if you'd like to see these cuties IRL (and of course you do!) and you're near Cardiff, well... You're in LUCK! Scrapbook Outlet Online are attending the ICHF - International Craft and Hobby Fair in Cardiff this weekend!
Not "only" will you be able to admire Zarah's handiwork up close and personal - there will be other hands on examples of X-mas items by our DT and there will, of course, be a LOT of bargains waiting to be made...

Have fun - we'll see you in Cardiff, I hope!!

Zarah - Always Play

Always Play
by: Zarah S Peterson


Supplies used:
Bazzill, white
Patterned paper from My Mind's Eye - the Abbey Road collection
Tiny Alphabet letters from Making Memories
"always" is from a Doodlebug Headlines set
"play" are mixed letters from sets where I only had a few letters left. Random manufacturers.
Prima flowers & leaves
Bling

How to:
1. Cut your photos into desired size & shape.
2. Cut the dotted paper (Whirlybird/Blossom) into shape by tracing the outline of the Whirlybird/Friends Forever-paper. Place it at the back. Rough up the edges with scissors, edge scrapers or sanding block, for instance.
3. Cut and tear the other papers into desired size and shape. (I'm sorry I can't give you any measurements. I used odd sized photos and just cut the papers where I thought it looked good. No measuring at att here.)
Rough up all the edges.
4. Line up the photos where you want them and draw some thin lines with an eraseable pencil, to see what parts of the pattern would be lying under the photos. Cut out the shapes and designs you want to be on top.
I use my amazing Making Memories craft knife to this kind of work. It's precise and very comfortable to hold, even if you cut a lot. :)
5. Use a edge punch or craft knife to create a nice border strip of one of the patterned papers. Place it under the photos.
6. Fit the photos in under the cut out parts, and glue it all down.
7. Add the title, and date/place. Embellish as desired.
8. Glue down all the patterned papers to the Bazzill, and rough up the edges.
8. You're done! Hope you like it. :)

Zarah - October Afternoon Cards

OCTOBER AFTERNOON CARD-SET
by: Zarah S Peterson


Supplies:
White and brown Bazzill
October Afternoon papers, from the gorgeous Cherry Hill collection
Alphas from Mustard Moon
Flowers & leaves from Prima
Chipboard shapes from American Crafts. I've dressed them up with some Bazzil, OA-scraps and lots of 3d-glaze
Ribbon I got with my kit, as well as some lace & ribbon from my drawers
Scrappy Floss by Karen Foster
no name buttons and pins
Colured staplers
KaiserCrafts pearls & bling
A glitter heart from an alpabet by Making Memories
A brown Memory Marker-pen by American Crafts
A stamped arrow by American Crafts, the Thanks-set
Brown ink

Here's how they are made:
First, cut a piece of Bazzill unto 3 pieces. Two that are 6x8 (these should follow the paper's grain. You find out by slightly bending the paper. The way it bends easiest, is following the grain. That'll save you a lot of "broken" folds.) and one that is 12x4 (cut across the grains).
Fold them up into cards. If you decide to follow my example and make laying cards. you'll get two that open downwards and one that open in the side.

Now, cut the pattern paper into backgrounds. It's supposed to be slightly smaller than the card base, thus leaving a thin "frame" around the background.
After that,grab your scraps or cut up strips that will either run from the side (the very edge of the card) or a square/rectangle with the background showing around.
Add a ribbon to the lower side of the scrap piece. Staple it into place.

Embellish as desired and add a sentiment.
I've gone with real simple, no fuss sentiments like "Thank you", "Congrats", "Sorry", "Hugs" and "Coffee?".
(In Swedish, we say "Congrats" on birthdays as well so that's very handy!)
These papers and embellies, however, are amazing for puns like "You're the cherry on top", "Hello cupcake", "Apple of my eye" and so on. I'm sure you have lots more ideas! :)

Ps. If you run out of an essential black letter or two, like I did - just colour a brown one in with a black pen! Works like a charm. :)

Zarah- She's got the Look

She's got the look
By: Zarah S Peterson


SUPPLIES
Paper: Die Cuts With a View
Cardstock: Bazzill (white, black and scalloped pink)
Stamp: Heidi Swapp Word stamps (forever)
Alphas: Creative Imaginations and no-name foam alphas
Embellishments: Ribbon, Prima flowers & leaves (cut up bigger ones)
Digital: brushes from http://www.designerdigitals.com/
Miscellaneous: Glossy Accents by Ranger, bling & raindots, Pens, random pins from my drawer (handmade & no-name), Making Memories staplers, lace, a butterfly, white Staz-on, a bling heart & jump ring
Tools: Edge Scraper by MM

HOW TO
1. Cut strips from the striped paper - or from the papers you wish you mix up. But a piece of paper that goes behind them all and rough up the edges with an edge scraper or scissors.
Layer the papers and add the lace to the top. Staple it down.
2. Mat the photos twice. First on black Bazzill, and then on the scalloped pink. Make sure the scalloped edge is even. If you wish, cut away a small portion of the patterned paper that will run underneath the scallops, to make it less messy as the white Bazzill shows through all the way through the holes.
3. Glue down your papers and the pink ribbon. Staple the ribbon if needed.
4. Adhere the flowers diagonally. I've also added one slightly outside the line, because I wanted Anna to wear a flower in her hair. Add bling and other centers. Then add leaves. Also put some pins through the know of the ribbon.
4. Add your title and your journaling. Make sure the journaling strips fit under the photo and that your text will be visible. The easiest way is to put it in place and make small marks where the needle start and the page ends. That way you'll know how much space you have.
5. Stamp the text to the photo.
6. Add the pencil lines around the LO. If you want to, glue down the edges of the ribbon, making the ribbons arch upwards.
7. You're done! :D

Zarah- About a Boy

about a boy

By: Zarah S Peterson

SUPPLIES
Paper: Making memories/Just Chillin' plus a piece of Jennie Bowlin paper that I shape cut
Cardstock: Bazzill (white and brown)
Alphas: Basic Grey and Making Memories
Embellishments: Prima flower and swirl
Miscellaneous: Glossy Accents by Ranger, Pens, Making Memories staplers, lace, a no-name pearl heart, no-name leaves, Fluid Chalk

HOW TO
1. Cut three photos into a wallet size. Mat them onto white and then brown Bazzill.

2. Cut of a small strip of the medallion shaped paper. Add a torn strip and a scalloped strip of the striped paper to the outsides. Sew or draw faux stitching on the top and bottom. Also add a strip of the star paper to top and bottom. The bottom one torn if you like. Add interest to the edges by inking them.

3. Cut a piece of ledger or striped paper (or something like that. I used a piece of Jennie Bowlin's Country store) into an interesting shape. For this one, I re-used the backing of a JB-button packaging as the template but you can also find templates online. Add the shaped paper on top of the other papers, and staple the lace to it all.

4. Glue your photos down. Either make them all evenly spaced and straight. or tilt them up - it's a matter of taste.

5. Add the title, the flower (plus its center) and the bling.

6. Put names and date in the empty corner to the low right.

7. Voilà! You're done!

Zarah- Altered Bags

Gift Bags
by Zarah Peterson
SUPPLIES
Paper bags
Papers by Bazzill, October Afternoon, My Mind's Eye and Basic Grey.
Alphas by Pink Paislee, Making Memories and American Crafts.
Flowers from Prima Marketing.
Die cut leaves.
Also used: parts of an overlay, stickles, some black (nameless) gemstones, a Karen Foster loopy brad, Karen Foster scrappers floss, ink, an orange pen (for the frame around the tags), black & brown pens for the faux stitching, 3d-foam, raindots, liquid pearls of some kind (nameless kind from the local craft shop) and ribbon/lace.


HOW TO

To make this, just make fronts and backs for a regular paper bag. Cut Bazzill slightly bigger than the bag and glue them on.

Add patterned paper and embellish as desired.

I've made a few different ones for all occasions - the one with the key hole and the one with the key has a "window" into the bag, made from parts of overlays.

Key, star and keyhole are Ranger Grungeboard. The silver is UTEE (Ultra thick embossing powder) which gives it a very cool, vintage silver effect. I chose to let it not become smooth but instead opted for the grungy effect.

The gold is regular EP with clear UTEE on top. Again - I'm going with the grungy look.

The orange on the star is a mixture between American Crafts Zing EP and Rangers Distress EP (Spiced Marmalade) which gives it a neat, distressed look and the sparkle just highlights the uneven, crackled, bent surface below - which I found very cool.

The texts, as well as the calendar, the fancy frame around the "grattis-bag", the flourish & the scallop around the handle plus the star in the middle of the flower on that one, are all from 2 American Crafts stamp sets, "Thanks" and "Wedding". Masked out "again" on the stamp in one of the tags and instead, it just says "thanks. An easy way of adding some interest and changing your stamps up a little.


I'd love to see your bags, if you're inspired!! Link here, if you're making some, and I'll come over and check your blog! :)

Zarah- Mitt I Stan

Mitt I Stan
by Zarah Peterson

SUPPLIES
Cardstock:  White, and turquiose, scalloped Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye - Our Princess Fresh Flowers, Cousins Little Blossom / Blue Polka Dot, All Star Starburst / Green Deco Paper, Basic Grey - 12x12 Paper: Ice Cream Parlor
Flowers: Prima Marketing
Alphas: American Crafts and Making Memories
Miscellaneous: A Hambly overlay, lace, no-name Prima-knock-off-leaves & ditto flowers (the pointy ones), bling, pearls, staples, brown ink.

HOW TO
This layout is made partly from the scraps after making the wine bottle container, partly from fresh, uncut papers.

The yellow piece and the darker spotted one, are both small scraps, there's nothing underneath the overlapping paper. ;)
(A great way to use that favourite paper more than once, by the way!)
I framed the photo with a Hambly overlay and stapled that down using black MM staples.
I've also used green staples (MM) to keep the lace in place.
I've layered the flowers (Prima and no-name Prima knockoffs) and created the blinged centers by simply gluing smaller gems around a big one.
Gives you a lot of say-to to how you want your center to look, when it comes to colour and shapes (for example - you can surround a clear bling or a pearl with red heart shaped blings on a Valentines LO or card for someone you love).
All the edges are toughed up with my edge scraper, and inked with brown ink.

Zarah- Altered Bottle Holder

We have this tradition in my family. Every year, around X-mas and my dad's birthday, he says that he doesn't want anything at all. Every year, he means it a little less. You see, my sister and I both always get him a bottle of whiskey. We try to make it different kinds every time, because he's very happy about trying whiskeys and he's quite the collector. ;)

Now, as I'm not exactly the richest gal on the block, I can't afford some fancy schmancy kind of drink - but what I CAN do, is to package it in a way that'll defnitely make it stand out and be a treasured gift, still.

I've gone bargain shopping at Scrapbook Outlet Online for this - and you can find most everything in there!

Be sure to follow the links in the "supplies list."

Personalize Bottle Holder

by Zarah Peterson

SUPPLIES

Creative Imaginations Bare Elements rick wine container

My Mind's Eye - Our Princess Fresh Flowers
My Mind's Eye - Cousins Little Blossom / Blue Polka Dot Paper
My Mind's Eye - All Star Starburst / Green Deco Paper (I've used both sides of this paper)
My Mind's Eye - Sweet Baby Girl Hello Baby / Miss Sunshine Paper
My Mind's Eye - So Handsome Frame
My Mind's Eye - Boys Only Frame
Flowers from Prima Marketing
Wire words "Celebrate" from Making Memories
Alpha by Mustard Moon
Random stuff:
Miscellaneous: lace, ribbon, no-name Prima-knock-off-leaves, raindots, pearls, scrappers floss, eyelets, stars cut from a no-name felt ribbon, buttons, brown ink

HOW TO:
First, I removed the silk ribbon that was originally the closure. Nothing wrong with it, but it's hard to get the paper to stick around it.  Plus - I wanted to go with another colour scheme.

I cut strips of paper to overlap and cover the entire container. I left a small gap in the back to make sure it opens easily. This means that I've cut two pieces of each paper, trying to get the patterns to continue seamlessly as far as possible.

I've roughed the edges up with an edgescraper (and added ink to them), and I've made scallops by tracing a piece of Bazzill and cutting it out.

The yin-yang pieces on the top (and inside) are easily made by tracing the outlines.

When all the pieces were cut out, I mounted them on top of each other and stuck a piece of lace in there as well.

I added the papers to the container, and made sure there were no bubbles or crooked lines.

Then I added the overlay. I cut it in halves, diagonally, and glued it down. Then I inked the edges of the frame, cut that as well, and added that on top.

After this, I made holes for the ribbon to slide through, and added them.

The label for the bottle is made using scraps from the container. I punched holes for eyelets and there's a string in the back, holding it in place around the bottle. It can be easily moved (or removed) to reveal the original ettiquette underneath.

I spelled out "Whisky ´09" (meaning: he'll get a Scottish whiskey this year, not an Irish Whiskey... and ALL because I ran out of e's!! *grins*) as a tiny joke...

After this was all done, I added the embellishments and...

Voila!!

Your very own, personalized bottle holder!

Zarah- October Afternoon

This layout is about how the apple sometimes is VERY happy to be falling pretty close to the tree...

My mother was a very special person, and the journaling says:

"If all I ever succeed in, in life, is to be a bit like you... Then I've reached my goal!"

SUPPLIES
White and black (and a TINY bit of brown) Bazzill

October Afternoon papers, from the gorgeous Cherry Hill collection
Alphas from Musterd Moon and Making Memories
Grungeboard by Tim Holtz/Ranger
Flowers & leaves from Prima The black blower that I stamped on the cream Prima, is by American Crafts, the Thanks-set
Apple chipboard from American Crafts. I've altered it slightly, adding a small rose leaf that I cut up and a stem of brown Bazzill
Wing ghostshapes made with white ink on regular overlays, and the stamps are from Heidi Swapp
Other, random stuff from my drawers:
Scrappy Floss by Karen Foster, no name buttons and pins, black brads, red staplers, lace, black raindrop and one KaiserCraft pearl.


HOW TO
The layout is basically just made with layers of the wonderful 8x8-papers from October Afternoon. With the squared one, I've cut it off beneath the apple-patterned paper and used the strip to make it seem longer than it really is.

All the edges are scraped with a pair of scissors, and then inked.

The dictionary print paper is torn on one edge, and scalloped on another. I've used a piece od scallop edges Bazzill to get that shape. I just traced, and then cut it out.

The tag is just a piece of white Bazzill that I've rounded the corners of, and stamped with a stamp from the Thanks-collection by American Crafts.

The arrow is simply a piece of a spinner from Cosmo Cricket. You can easily make your own by cutting one from Bazzill and mounting it on 3d-dots for height, adding a push-button to the center. (Or layer Bazzill to get faux chipboard.)

For the frame, I stamped a 3x3 Wedding Frame by American Crafts on a piece of overlay plastic, and cut it out.

I marked the text below with a green Memory Marker, that's also made by American Crafts.

The silver heart is just a raw piece of grungeboard with two layers of glue and "white" glitter by Making Memories.

Zarah- Scrap Within Reach

This mini album is pretty self explainatory, mostly. Just cut up some nice cardboard pieces to overlap, going slightly bigger with every flap (or use an existing one). The Window on the first page adds interest.
I made a pocket for inserting one or two photos (with one facing inwards) using regular, no-fuss plastic overlays from my local book store.
Make sure your holes are evenly spaced and that the binder-rings you've chose goes through the holes with ease.

Cover all the pages with matching papers.
I've kept it rather simple this time, and instead of using a lot of different papers with every page, I just used one and I've also used the same kinds of decoration for all the pages, to keep it looking harmonious.
I also added an envelope that I dressed up in prettier papers (because I didn't want it to get to bulky with embellishments, I decided to "embellish" with papers instead) , and one of the 3d-accents works as a great way of keeping that flap closed. Not to mention it's pretty!... ;)

The only thing you need to keep in mind is to make sure you're getting the papers to line up properly. You'll have to cut them differently depending on which way you intend it to be flipped open. (Believe me, I forget things like that. Luckily - ribbons are a great cover up for holes facing in the wrong direction... *grins*)

Now, what I've done is that I've pre-made this album for someone I don't even know. It's gonna travel down to South Africa and pause at an orphanage, before it'll be assigned to one of the girls there - and follow her when she gets adopted. I have no idea where it'll end up, so I've written texts and titles in English.
Hope both you all, and the future owners, like it!

Here's the shoppinglist:
Chipboard album (you can make your own, or buy one similar to mine here or here for instance. Those two can both be trimmed into the "waterfall effect" I have on mine.)
Patterned paper, coordinated. Mine are all from Scrap Within Reach and the beautiful line "Afternoon Tea Collection"
Calendar stamp from American Crafts
White Bazzill (and some green for the leaves)
Wire words "celebrate" from Making Memories
Chipboard fruits/berries etc My house by American Crafts
Flowers from "Teacer's Bouquet" by Imaginisce
Laura Ashley Pop-up stickers

Other items:
Alphas: no-name foam alpha, faux alpha-stickers (just type the word you want and print it. I usually press space between every letter to make sure there's room around the letters) and cut them into squares. To make them pop some more, I drew an outline with a pen.
Buttons, staples, lace and ribbon from my drawers.
Brown ink for the edges. Two brown and one black pen.
Home made pins. (Regular sewing needles with some pearls on them. I always add a drop of glue to the tip to make sure no one gets stung!)
Album rings

All About Zarah

Today we meet Zarah!

I work half time as a lunch lady in a local school. Lots of fun!

I'm married with my soulmate and longtime crush since 2007. We have two furry babies that go by the names of Anton & Bella (or "Little prince Rascally Boots" and "Miss Cuddles"...)

I made my first "real" LO in December 2006. Before that it was all fogure cut photos, stickers, "fun speech bubbles" and no clue what "acid free" meant. But that was fun too!!

I get my inspiration from everywhere! Interior design magazines, music, blogs, scrappy magazines, TV-commercials...

White cardstock, fluid chalk, thickers and my edge scraper are my must have items.

My typical style is vintage romantic/shabby chic probably! I like the vintage style and I am a huge fan of ephemera! My pages are usually filled with random trinkets, lace and looots of flowers. I tear, ink and edgescrape a lot. Those are probably my most used techniques!