Graphic 45 and Scrapbook Steals Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Graphic 45 and Scrapbook Steals Blog Hop! I am so happy to take part in this amazing event! I have been working with Graphic 45 since the spring of 2010 and they never cease to amaze me with their products or the other companies they team with!

Graphic 45 is an award-winning scrapbook and paper crafting company owned and operated by a mother (Diane Schultz) and her two daughters (Aimee Filimoehala and Charee Filimoehala). Together they create vintage inspired crafting products that capture the flamboyant style of the 1920's and 30's.

ScrapbookSteals.com is the place where crafters of all levels get hooked up with the latest scrapbook steal at an unbelievable price. At Scrapbook Steals you will have access to hot scrapbooking supplies every day, at up to 80% off the retail price.

You can grab yourself some HOT Graphic 45 papers at a STEAL! Scrapbook Steals is currently offering Graphic 45 Communique and Playtimes Past Collections.

Leave a comment on each of the listed blogs for a chance to win this FANTASTIC prize package. Valued at over $40!

Graphic 45 Blog

Arlene

Clare

Laura

Jim

Gloria - YOU ARE HERE!

ScrapbookSteals Blog
ScrapbookSteals website

To get the party started, I have made a page layout using the Communique Collection. This was the very first Graphic 45 collection I saw and fell in love, instantly! It has remained in my top three favorite papers! (I may have to grab some for myself before Scrapbook Steals runs out!)

This layout shows photos of the ladies in my California craft group. There are nine of us who live within 30 minutes of each other, plus two more ladies who live in other parts of California. The nine of us who live locally get together once a month for craft time. Some of us meet yearly at a mountain retreat for 4 days of crafting (plus eating, laughing, talking, and more eating!). We also try to attend various Expos, trade shows, classes, and such. Some of us are in the craft business, either on design teams, running a business, or teaching. It is an amazing and creative group of women!

I knew I wanted to share these photos when I found out I was to use the Graphic 45 Communique papers. The mountain retreat where we all meet is very rustic and there is a barn next to the house that has all sorts of antique items. All of us are crazy about the "old junk" we see there. This paper is perfect!

To start with, I used a craft knife to cut some slits into the A Fine Specimen paper. I then tore, rolled, and inked the paper to create holes. I trimmed images from the Party Line paper and mounted them behind each hole. Then, I trimmed the printed paper and mounted it to black cardstock to form my page background.

I used some images trimmed from the Postage and Typography papers to create interest at the bottom of the page. I added "found" items and flowers to create a feminine, but antique feel.

I like to use foam tape to raise items on the page. It also allows me to bend and wrinkle items for more dimension. A trick I use when doing collage art is that everything must touch at least one other thing on the page. I missed a bit because my title does not quite touch the photo on the top right of the layout. However, it is close enough, and your eye should flow around the page since every other element is touching. There is nothing "floating" in space. Your eye can start with the title and flow in a clockwise circle around the layout.

My favorite part of the Communique Collection is the black, cream, and red color scheme. It's my favorite set of colors to work with.

I hope you enjoyed my project today. Make sure to visit the Graphic 45 Blog and the Scrapbook Steals Blog today for more inspiration!

Be sure to eave a comment to be entered into the drawing! To see a project with the NEW Graphic 45 A Ladies' Diary Collection, click HERE.

Graphic 45 Papers: Communique: A Fine Specimen, Classy Correspondence, Communique, Party Line, Postage, Typography
Cardstock: American Crafts black; Stampin' Up Very Vanilla
Chipboard Alphabet: Imaginarium Designs
Ink: Clearsnap Colorbox Graphic 45 Decades Antiquing Ink: Photogenic, Triumphant Red; Copic Marker Black
Wood branch: Prima Decorative Wood Embellishment
Flowers and leaves: Prima Laraine Black Tie; Wild Orchid Crafts red and cream roses
Metal Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology clock, pen nib, film strip; 7 Gypsies gear; Sky Blue Pink light bulbs; vintage key 
Adhesive: Scotch 3M tape; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares; white glue