Miss Fancy Pants

Fancy This: Making Fancy Pants Templates

Have you noticed how many super cute designs are on Fancy Pants’ papers?  There are so many images that totally inspire me! Like this one:

This is one of the many awesome and adorable die-cuts that comes in the It’s The Little Things: Design Embellishments. See how cute that rainbow is? And how about the whole stamp design? I love them. I let this one die cut inspire my whole layout that I am sharing with you today. And along the way I am going to share some easy ways of making your own templates for paper-piecing or making your own die cut paper.

Fancy Pants Supplies:
It’s The Little Things: Four Birds patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Honeysuckle patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Cards patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Headed South patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Strips patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Humming Bird patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Pecking Order patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Bird Cage patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Spring Fever patterned paper
It’s The Little Things: Design Embellishments
 
Other supplies:
adhesive
pen for journaling and outlining
floss for added stitches
printer/scanner for template technique
scissors
 
 
Instructions:
First I created my base for my layout using three pieces of patterned paper and my own template based off the die cut I shared with you above. 
 
Here’s how I created my template for my own die cut paper. I took a picture of my die cut. You could also scan it. Then in my photo-editing program, I enlarge it to a size of 12 x 12. You don’t need to worry about the quality of the image because you are simply using it for a template. I made mine black and white to save my color ink. Most printers also have an option to print at a lesser quality. Now, if you have a 12 x 12 printer then you are one lucky gal and can just print it. I had to print it on 4 sheets of paper and then quickly piece it together to make mine 12 x 12. 
 


 
Then I cut my template out and picked the paper I was going to use with it.
 

 
I laid my template over a sheet of It’s The Little Things: Honeysuckle patterned paper and drew with a pencil and then cut. If you are brave then you can just hold the two together and cut, skipping the pencil. 
 
So I now had this:
 
 
I layered my handmade die cut paper on top of a 12 x 12 piece of It’s The Little Things: Four Birds patterned paper.  **tip: when layering a piece of 12 x 12 paper behind everything, knowing all of the center will be covered, why not save your paper and cut the center out first.**  Then I added a 9.75 x 9.5 piece of It’s The Little Things: Cards patterned paper.


Next I wanted to do some paper piecing on my layout. I loved the rainbow on die cut, so I again created a template with my earlier image. Take your scanned or photographed image and enlarge it to the size you want. Again, don’t worry about quality of time image because you are just going to use it as a template. I suggest printing a couple of your image, because you may cut into parts and it’s nice to have a back up. 

 
I simply held my printed template over my paper and cut with scissors through both.  My top was cut out of the It’s The Little Things: Humming Bird patterned paper. The next level was cut out of It’s The Little Things: Pecking Order patterned paper. And the bottom level was cut out of It’s The Little Things: Bird Cage patterned paper. The cloud was cut out of It’s The Little Things: Spring Fever patterned paper. 

 
I then layered a 5 x 9 piece of It’s The Little Things: Headed South patterned paper and my assembled rainbow along with my photos. 

 
I added a 9 x 2.5 piece of It’s The Little Things: Strips patterned paper and several different die cuts from It’s The Little Things: Design Embellishments. I also decided to outline the rainbow to make it stand out more and added a little bit of hand-stitching. 


I hope I have inspired you to get a little creative today! I have done this technique with birds and owls and other things as well. You can see one project I did using the "This Girl" Kraft Kuts collection on my blog here. And Fancy Pants has so many cute designs to inspire you. If you try this technique, please share your project with us! 

-Pamela Young

 

Pocket Chick Pick: Vicky Varvadouka

I chose Vicky Varvadouka's layout, because I had thought that there might be various possibilities if I did this layout as a scraplift. Her layout is just beautiful! Her design has a very good balance. I also love the harmony of the embellishments and the vintage look.

Catch A Falling Star by Vicky Varvadouka

I distressed the edges of my papers as she had done. And, I painted the paper of the back ground with white acrylic paints. It became a great muted accent. I also added the flowers cut out from some It's The Little Things papers and the lovely embellishments to the layout. I took care not to destroy the beautiful balance. The spring layout was completed!

Spring Field by Yuka Hino

Thanks for the inspiration, Vicky!

-Yuka Hino

Product Spotlight: Printed and Flocked Transparencies

Do transparencies get you stumped? Not sure what to do them with them? Take a look at some of our Pocket Chicks' clever ideas for using our Printed and Flocked transparencies! You will be inspired, that's for sure!

In Search of Treasure by Trish Harwick
Trish says, "I am usually intimidated by transparencies ... How to use? How to attach? Make a clear layout? So, I usually put them away and pretend that I will pull them back out later ... but I when I saw the new Fancy Pants printed and flocked transparencies, I immediately knew what I wanted to do! I cut out the waves and sand section of the Beach Babe printed transparency and then tucked the photos into the 'waves'. Then I sewed across the transparency, embellished them with some glitter glue and then added the journaling. I really like the end result and am actually thinking about pulling out some of those hidden transparencies!"

Cute Friends by Guiseppa Gubler
Guiseppa says, "I thought it wold be fun to create a pocket window with the It's The Little Things flocked transparency. I love how these flowers peek out of the pocket...

... a fun way to to and a little dimension and originality to a layout or crafting project. Fancy Pants offers these fun transparencies with all of their collections!"

Bookmarks by Yuki Shimada
Yuki says, "I love flocked transparencies so much! They are one of my all time favorites!! They are so versatile and can give rich texture on any projects! I’d like to share some fun uses for them. First, bookmarks. I cut the transparency from the To The Moon flocked transparency, punched a hole, and tied ribbon. Done! I made those for my daughters who really love reading...


... I made another type of bookmark from the Beach Bum flocked transparency. All I have to do is cut!! My daughter uses them on her textbook and music score. The flocked part of the transparency creates friction that stops those items from slipping."

 

It's The Little Things mini album by Yuki Shimada
Yuki also explains, "I sometimes make a frame with transparencies and like to use it on my layout or inside of my mini album. This time, I cut the flocked transparency from It’s The Little Things and added some Glitter Cuts. I also used the center part of the frame which I cut out, as an index with rub-ons."

Splash Captain by Katja Schneider
Katja says, "For this Layout I have used the Flocked Transparency from the Beach Bum collection. This transparency is great for cutting small sections and using them as embellishment on a page or project. Even though it is a flower transparency it looks great on a Boy's Layout!"

-Amy Peterman

Fancy This: A Perfect Gift layout

When I think of spring, I think of flowers, birds, clear skies and all happy colors! I created a layout using It's The Little Things Collection which is just perfect for what I have in mind. You can re-create it too—just bring on all the yummy papers and embellishments and follow the instructions below!!!!

Fancy Pants Supplies:
It's The Little Things: Bird Cage patterned paper
It's The Little Things: Feathered patterned paper
It's The Little Things: Pecking Order patterned paper
It's The Little Things: Humming Bird patterned paper
It's The Little Things: Honey Suckle patterned paper
It's The Little Things: Gerber Daisey patterned paper
It's The Little Things: Headed South patterned paper
It's The Little Things: Element Stickers
It's The Little Things: Alpha Stickers
It's The Little Things: Journal Embellishments
It's The Little Things: Design Embellishments
It's The Little Things: Buttons
It's The Little Things: Brads
It's The Little Things: Chipboard Alphas
It's The Little Things: Chipboard Elements
It's The Little Things: Chipboard Banners
It's The Little Things: Trim Card

Other Supplies:
liquid pearls
distresser
gesso
bottle cap
ink
edge punchers
scraps of paper or cardstock for matting

Instructions:
1. Prepare these embellishments/cut-outs: the pattern cut-outs are from the Humming Bird paper, the photo corner from Sticker Elements (matted using a scrap of paper), the love playcard (dotted with Liquid Pearls and lightly inked) and the phrases from the Design Embellishments pack (lightly inked and also matted using paper/cardstock scraps).


2. Prepare your ribbon and paper strips: Cut the following: ribbon (8.5"), Feathered strip (8.5"x1"), Pecking Order strip (10.5"x1.5"), Honeysuckle strip (9"x3"), and Headed South strip (8.25"x1"). You may use your edge punchers if desired.


3. Prepare your base. I chose Gerber Daisey paper for my background. Using gesso and a bottle cap as stamp, make random circle images as shown.


4. Cut 8.5"x7.25" block of Bird Cage paper and distress its edges. Adhere to base as shown.


5. Layer your strips as shown.

 
6. Adhere photo and photo corner.


7. Cluster 1: layer and pile on all the goodness!!! The bird and cloud are from the Chipboard Elements, the yellow journal from the Journal Embellishments pack, the rest from the Design Embellishments pack. Adhere pattern cut-outs and button.


8. Cluster 2: The bird and cloud are from the Chipboard Elements while the ticket and playcard are from the Design Embellishments pack. Adhere cut-out, button and brad.


9. Add journaling and title.

 
Easy-peasy, right?  Hope you got inspired to play with FP's It's the Little Things Collection! Until next time!

-Janis Medina-Maghinay

Pocket Chick Pick: Zoe Nemburt

I really loved all the layering that Zoe did in her original layout, and I wanted to incorporate that in my own! I loved the central focus created by layering the large squares in the center of the page—and how it just draws you into the photo! Since I used a vertical/portrait oriented photo, I chose to rotate my take on the layout a little bit as well ...
Sweet As Sugar by Zoe Nemburt

Of course, I had to add my signature stitching, and my use of the chipboard birdcage echoes the glittercuts one in the original. I also chose to focus on the lighter colors in the same line of products, since my chosen photo is outdoors, of my sister and little niece in the cute dress we bought her for Christmas!

Baby Giggles by Leah Farqharson

Thanks for the inspiration, Zoe!

-Leah Farqharson

Product Spotlight: Chipboard Banners

Welcome to this week's Product Spotlight! Each of our newest collections has a coordinating set of adhesive-backed Chipboard Banners. Aren't they cute! Take a look at some of the projects our Pocket Chicks created using these sweet accents.

Wedding Day by Lisa Saunders
Lisa says, "I used the ‘To the Moon’ collection to record the recent Royal Wedding over here in the UK and how we as a family sat and watched it on the tv together. I was able to pick out the red and blue from the collection. The chipboard banners and stars from the same set have had their edges sanded down and inked slightly to give a distressed look ...

I love the 3d look that these give to a page and how they bring the page to life. I teamed these chipboard pieces up with some of the papers from the same range along with some of the doilees and also the alpha stickers. I really wanted my alpha stickers to stand out a little more so I added some glossy accents over each sticker which worked a treat."

 

Thanks! and Baby by Charity Hassel
Charity says, "For my thanks! card, I really wanted to use the banner pieces differently. I decided to use the cuved, scalloped shape banner pieces as a fun detail along the "ground" of my card. I used other bits and pieces from the banner chipboard as well—the little chipboard hearts come with the banner chipboard and made fun little leaves for my flowers. The centers of my flowers are round chipboard circles that came with the banner chipboard. I simply placed those round pieces of chipboard in the center of my Fancy Pants buttons.

The baby card was simple, but I love how the banner takes center stage on it! Simply add some chipboard letters to the centers of the banner pieces."

Mini Flags by Vicki Chrisman
Vicki explains, "I've been having fun creating these little banners on poles out of wood dowels and decorative ends I find at my local craft store. I hot glue the decorative ends onto the dowels and give them a quick coat of paint. Once they are dry, I just add my chipboard pieces. They look so cute stuck in with fresh flowers or plants, but I have also used them in gift bags, or cut the dowels shorter and used them on cupcakes ect. It's simple way to add a little fun!"

 
Hannah Journal by Lisa Andrews
Lisa says, "I love using banners on my layouts and projects and when I saw the new chipboard banners from Fancy Pants I was so excited. They are self adhesive which makes them so easy to add to projects. Plus, their chipboard alphas fit perfectly on the banner pieces. Love that!"

Aren't these fun? We hope you've been inspired today. Come back again on Friday for more inspiration with another Pocket Chick Pick!

-Amy Peterman

 

Fancy This: Spring layout

This spring season project shows your most beautiful seasonal photos. Using one of them, you’re going to design your own background and gather on the same project the photos that depict spring season the best to you.

Fancy Pants Supplies:
It's The Little Things: Strips pattern paper
It's The Little Things: Paper flowers
It's The Little Things: Brads
It's The Little Things: Chipboard Banners
It's The Little Things: Ribbon
To The Moon: Chipboard Alpha
To The Moon: Paper flowers
Beach Bum: Brads
Wishful Thinking: Heartfelt pattern paper

Instructions:
1. Print one of your photos on an A4 landscape vellum paper: it can be a bouquet or wild flowers or everything that means spring season to you.

2. Stick this vellum on a rather light colored paper so that it stands out—here, I used the Heartfelt paper from the Wishful Thinking collection. Then, cut some Strips paper and stick it at the top and at the bottom of the layout.

3. Organize three other photos (6 x 8 cm) and some flowers.

4. Add up the two last photos, the embellishments and the title.

5. Place a Chipboard banner under each photo.

To conclude, I’d like to say that the "It's the little Things" collection is truly perfect for your spring season photos. Just use it with all paper flowers from several collections and you’ll get a fresh and lively creation as a celebration to this season. You can also print portraits on a vellum paper and create a very creative, original and personalized background. The possibilities are various; just give power to your creativity!

-Bénédicte Raphalen

 

Pocket Chick Pick: Laurel Seabrook

I saw Laurel Seabrook's layout "Teenage Daughters" and fell in love with the different patterns and colors. I love the mixture of colors also, the yellow back ground paper just makes everything pop off the page.

Teenage Daughters by Laurel Seabrook

The little details she placed on her layout help add alot to the theme of the page. I was inspired to make a layout using the some of the same patterns of paper. Which I can't say enough how much I love the It's The Little Things line of papers from Fancy Pants.

Us by Amy Welch

Thank you for joining me today with my pocket chick picket. And thank you, Laurel for sharing your wonderful layout with us!

-Amy Welch

Creative Spaces Winner!

Hi, ladies! Thank you all for the kind comments on my space. I quickly want to tell you that NO—it is not that clean EVER ... but you know we have to pretend sometimes, right? Second, I wish I were always scrapbooking in here, but it's a lot of working on the computer creating new products, and not getting to use them as often as I'd like ... I know ... sad, right?  Third ... the back area that you don't see much of was my original scrap space that I had, but, when the kids weren't using their play area, I kind of decided to expand and take it over :) ... thus the larger space—and still room for the kids to join me, too! And, just for some insight, the center island is a bunch of the scrap cubicles that you can buy at the local scrapbook store or craft shoppe stacked on top of each other and placed side by side, then my sweet hubby painted two doors for me and placed them on top of the cubby's. Add a couple sheets of plexiglass for a flat surface for scrappin' and your done! Super easy, affordable and storage filled!

Now, without further ado ... the winner of the free issue is...

 

Gorgeous space! I'd love to see the whole issue, it looks just amazing.

Posted by: Krista Ritskes | May 10, 2011 at 07:12 AM

 

Congratulations Krista! Please send an email to: general@fancypantsdesigns.com with the following information:

1. Name of Contest (Creative Spaces Giveaway)
2. Your full name
3. Address where your prize should be sent

Thanks so much for joining us and be sure to take advantage of the free shipping code when you order the issue. Thanks to Megan and Creating Keepsakes for giving Fancy Pants Designs Fans (the best fans ever) the chance to participate!

-Jodi Sanford

Product Spotlight: Paper Flowers

Did you know each of our four Winter releases (It's The Little Things, Beach Bum, Beach Babe, and To The Moon) have coordinating Paper Flowers? This week, our Pocket Chicks, Greta, Kim and Jen, have come up with some neat ways to use these lovely little embellishments. Take a look...

Gift Box by Greta Hammond
Greta says, "Whenever I see these flowers, I always think of them clustered to make a fun presentation. For my project, I covered a small heart gift box and then used the flowers to adorn the top and make it special. I did lots of layering as well as adding pop dots to create lots of texture. They are an easy but elegant way to spruce up any project!"

Lazy Summer Days by Kim Watson
Kim says, "When working on a project I often discover design inspiration in the most unlikely places. Like my 'flower treatment' on this page for instance. I was determined to find a 'new' angle for my sweet little paper flowers, so whilst perusing florists websites for ideas for a friends wedding, I saw a beautiful flower 'tiara' where the daisies were interwoven with ribbons & beads into a crown shape for the brides hair. It immediately sparked the idea to create little bunched daisy shapes layering x2 colors together with pre-made stamens. The result is a 'tiara' of flowers to ground my photograph. Perfect for a fun summer page!"

Smile by Jen Martakis
Jen says, "I used the gorgeous It's The Little Things Paper Flowers as the main element(s) in this 4x8" card. They are absolutely perfect not only for layouts but other paper-crafting projects as well."

Come back again on Friday for another Pocket Chick Pick!

-Amy Peterman