One for the Ladies of Summer?

That might be the first thing that comes to mind when you see Graphic 45's new line called 'On the Boardwalk.' As with anything that Graphic 45 designs and sells, I fall in love usually before I even see it up close! The title is usually enough for me! I am so into all the vintage paper, ephemera and other goodies available in our paper crafting world. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM YUM! So of course when Lisa asked me if I wanted to use one of the recent CHA releases, it was all I could do to not scream and jump up and down. Well, I did. How is it that paper makes me so happy?!

I have to say the one thing I was bit challenged on was what photos I was going to use. I can guarantee you my girlfriends wouldn't want pictures of them hanging out on the beach floating around (as beautiful as each one is!) I do have pictures from an annual outing we have in Newport, but I kind-of used them in my last project. Then it dawned on me - they don't have to be summer! We had just had a mid-winter girls weekend in Newport, so why not use those! I hadn't even planned the pictures, they just happened to be of us down by the water hanging out! I know we're all guilty of seeing paper that we want, and you can picture the perfect outing... so you gather your family, dress them in the 'appropriate colors' and shoot away. My projects will show you that you might just have the perfect pictures in your stash already!

Without further 'chatter'... the first lay-out was my take on Frances' sketch from March: 

Along the bottom I bunched and stitched some lace ribbon to add a vintage 'girlie' affect! I also made a rose using some of the papers. If you've been on my blog, you will know that I love Tim Holtz and the tags that he designs each December. On the last day of 2009 he made these gorgeous grunge paper roses. I've adapted it so that  I can use cardstock patterned paper to match whatever project I'm working on. They're so much fun to make and really quite easy. Oh... and the WOW factor.... :)!

The next project was my favorite! I had so much fun working on this project. I had a set of old Cosmo Cricket Lacing cards that I had never used. These are something that anyone can make by cutting chipboard to 5 x 7 and making your own design. I think of it as a take on banners. To make mine I picked 4 pictures that I sized down to about 3.5 x 3.5. Then I had fun layering the paper, the tags and the border die cuts. I 'laced' them together with some satin ribbon and on each end I tied a ribbon so that I can hang it.

 
   

 

I had time before I met the girls so I took a drive and shot some pictures of some of my favorite spots in Southeastern RI. This second lay-out has a few of those pictures using some of the scraps I had leftover. I included a journaling spot by cutting a longer one in half and layering it. I like how it came out! I also wanted to try some of the flowers that Kathy had created in her lay-out! How fun!

Here is a close-up of the journaling spot that I made:

 

Finally I made a card! It was one of my best friends birthdays and I thought these papers would be perfect to make a card for her! I added some distress stickles around the edge of the umbrella for a little dimension:

Comments

[Kathy]

Ashley, your projects are gorgeous!! I especially love the project you did with the lacing cards.. it's a must try!

[Frances]

Ashley!! I love all of the layering and vintage theme of your projects. I too am in love with the lacing...stunning.

[Lynn Kopas]

Gorgeous work with the Graphic 45 Collection Ashley !! Totally LOVE the vintage look !!