Flying Unicorn

The CT will from time to time will create a project for you and share their thought processes during the creation.

I like to begin my creative process by selecting a photo first and then selecting my papers. For the layout I had a very definite idea in mind because I wanted to accentuate the photo of Father Christmas aka Santa Claus. This photo was taken in Verdun, France in the early 1950’s and I just fell in love with the picture the moment I saw it. The little girl was our French landlord’s daughter.

When I saw the Pion Christmas papers in the store, I was in scrapbook heaven as I knew those were the perfect papers for my photo.

Here is my finished LO and I want to take you through my process of how I build my layouts.

Supplies:

Patterned paper: Pion Waiting For Santa II collection: Borders, Christmas Flowers, Cut out Sheet, Santa is Coming, Tags, Angel

Letter stickers: Tattered Angels Irresistable Alphas – Rockin’ Renaissance

Stickles: Frosted Lace, Crystal

Chipboard: Dusty Attic snowflakes DA0501

Flowers: Flying Unicorn tiny roses, large flowers handmade with McGill Floriano & starburst punches, EK Success retro flower punch,

Ink/paint: Distress Victorian Velvet, Pumice Stone, Prima Branch Bark; Distress Picket Fence stain

Other: Victorian Flourish 1 from Scrappin w/ Sharon & Smokey Diecuts (was included in the July Flying Unicorn KOM); Martha Stewart scrolled hearts border punch

Lace from Hobby Lobby.

I had two initial thoughts about my layout. 1) I had to use the images of Father Christmas and 2) I had to use the poinsettia Christmas Flowers paper because it was sooooo gorgeous!

I like to add frames to my layouts as I think they give a finished look so I decided to use the Santa is Coming paper. I removed the center of the paper and distressed the inner and outer edges of the frame using the water distress technique.

For the water distress technique, first distress the edges with a distress tool, I used Prima's new Ingveld Bohmne rasper tool, then wet the edges of the paper, not soaking, just dampen with your fingertips and fold and crinkle the edge.


I just got a new tool, its a magnetic board from BasicGrey and I TOTALLY LOVE IT!! It allows me to lay out my LO and hold things down with tiny magnets so that I can put together the entire LO without glueing anything down.

In this photo I have the base paper, Angel, and the frame laid overtop. I wanted to really accent the inner frame so I inked with Victorian Velvet and touches of Prima Bark Branch.

Next I cut a 4" strip of paper from the Christmas Flowers and two scrolled hearts borders. The scrolled hearts are the flip side of the Christmas Flowers pp.



Then I cut two Santa images from the tags and cut out pages. I also cut the striped pp from the borders page and cut it into two 6" segments.



I want my layout to have an old world worn look so I distress the edges of the images and ink with Distress Pumice Stone. I also think some lace would add to the old work look so I cut two lengths of 10" lace.

I want to add some snowflakes to enhance the winter appeal of the layout so I chose two Dusty Attic chipboard pieces which I first stained with picket fence distress ink. (I would have used white paint but I don't have any with me - we are on a trip and I have limited scrappy supplies with me) After that dried I stickled with Frosted Lace and set that aside to dry.




Now its time to assemble all these random pieces! Remove the frame and first put down the 4" strip of paper and trimmed the edges so that it did not show from under the frame. Then I glued down the border strips and finally added the lace right at the edge of the 4" paper strip. Tuck in the two striped pieces so that they are just beyond the edge of the frame and behind the scrolled heart punch.



Now add the frame.




Now its time to place your photo. I like to mat my pictures as I think it helps to focus the attention on the photo. Also if your picture is going on a patterned paper, it really makes your photo look better to use a mat. I also used foam squares to pop up the photo and "lift" it a bit from the drawn images of Father Christmas.



One of my SBing weaknesses is titles, I can never think of a good one and I tend to forget to plan them into my LO. I am trying to think about the title before I finish the LO! Here I added it at the top because, I confess, that was the only place left to put it! I inked the letters with Pumice Stone and very lightly with Victorian Velvet. These letters have resist on them and I think they are perfect for this old worl look.

Now for the floral cluster. I used two beautiful victorian flourishes that came in my July KOM, I just stickled them all over with crystal stickles. I made three flowers and spaced them out over the flourishes and then filled in with the tiny mauve and white roses. I used pop dots to adhere the flowers so that they would stand above the photo. The last thing I did was adhere the snowflakes, again using pop dots for dimension. I think I will go back and add some crystal stickles to the snowflakes as I like the shimmer from the crystal stickles.

The very first photo in my above post is not supposed to be there. Sorry, just ignore it, I can't edit my post.

This is soo gorgeous and then some .. wow !

Wow, Miss Maggi Vacation, this is wonderful! I really liked the way you talked us through it. For newbies like me, it really helps to see the step by step on how you guys build those amazing layouts!

Thanks Bitsy!!! We will add more tuts here from time to time!!

Thanks Maggi, your tut is amazing.

Maggi love your tutorial!

I went back over this again, and I need to say, this is SO HELPFUL! I hope come soon!

love this!

Maggi the amazing--stunning layout and step by step process!

I just saw this..wonderful tutorial, gorgeous LO!!

I agree..Beautiful!

Beautiful Maggi.

Maggi, I thought I had left a comment .. this is so gorgeous! That floral cluster is the bomb!

Fantastic Dear

GORGEOUS DETAILS!! AMAZING!

GORGEOUS DETAILS!! AMAZING!

I learned alot watching your creative process unfold with this layout! Thanks!