Happy to BE ME by Marivic

Hi Everyone! Can you believe it? it is almost September! Where did the time go?

I hope you had a great summer....I don't do a lot of scrapbook LO/pages anymore. I think I just needed to back away from it. I like all sorts of craft but I just don't want to do paper crafting...I want to try all sorts of things and just try different mediums. 

I love flowers...I love the real flowers, the artificial ones that we use for crafting or decor and the ones that are handmade. I had been trying different sorts of flowers to make, from fabric to papers. I love making my own flowers. There are so many great items that one can upcycle..maybe an old floral pillow case, or you daughter's old dress...you just have to be creative with it. 

Today, I will show you how I made fabric flowers using our sponsor's products. Faber-Castell makes this amazing gelatos and gel sticks. This is how I made my fabric flowers. I actually just learned to use my sewing machine...thank God for my husband..His mom got me a sewing machine a couple of years ago and it has been sitting in the closet since then. So my husband figured it out for me....how to start with threading the bobbin, etc and he showed me how it works. Mind you, he doesn't know how to sew but he is good with tinkering...He's heaven sent! I don't read directions/manual anymore, I just have him open the box and he teaches me how to use it. He know how to use the cameo silhouette better that I could...So sad on my part, as long as he is here to figure it out for me then I am in good hands...that's why I love my husband so so much (just in case he decides to read this post)..Well, I do! And I am lucky to have him as a husband...

Enough already...before I start getting mushy here....

Here is what I made....

First cut a 4 inch template or use any size you would like.

If you want a perfect circle, you can google a circle template, print it and cut away.

For this flower, I cut 16 circles using a white cotton fabric (old white shirt will do)

I used orange Faber-Castell gel sticks and yellow gelato.

I applied color to the fabric and brushed it with water, I used a lot of water to achieve the color I want.

from lighter to dark.

I just wiped the excess water with the fabric which gave the 2-tone effect.

Let it dry..

Cut the fabric in half

fold it in half and stitch away. You can hand-stitch too if you want.

Once you are done, separate each petal and turn it inside out so the stitching is inside.

I used ten petals for the bottom part of my flower. I alternated the colors between yellow and orange to lighter peach. 

Hand stitch the top part of the petal using running stitch and slowly pull the thread to make a pleated petal. Make sure you have a matching thread and that your thread is long enough to stitch the petals.

Once you are done stitch it close. 

You don't have to use 10 petals, you can use less or whatever you think will look good. I used 6 petals for the top part of  the flower.

I stitched the top to the bottom part. Cut a small felt circle to cover the bottom part. Depending on what you want to use it for, this is the time to add a pin or a clip if you want to use as brooch or hair clip. 

You can add a button, pearls, jewel, or brad for the center.

My usual model (my daughter was at school when I made this). So

I had to find a replacement model...

This is Luci Loo...I think she did a great job modeling..

What do you think?

I made this page using the same flower technique but with different colors of Faber-Castell gelatos.

I also used the gelato to alter my background page. I thinned the gelato by using Faber-Castell gesso. 

I stamped the page randomly using Glitz roller stamp and Susan Carrilo butterfly stamp.

I followed Norma's Challenge for August. Getting creative with Textile...I used the same effect for the trim using the flower technique. I machine stitched to add pleats.

The paper roses were handmade as well. Unfortunately I can't give you the tutorial for that one. It is my friend's rose template as respect for him, I will honor his request not to share the template publicly. 

I also used Scrapiniec Chipboard on the background. And for papers, I used Inkido collection. 

I also used Glitz whatnot's and Kaisercraft die cuts.

I'd like to thank our sponsors this month and to all of you that continue to join our challenges.

Thank you for your support...

Our Sponsors:

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft

Blog:  http://designmemorycraft.typepad.com/design-memory-craft/

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft is a leading manufacturer specializing in high quality art supplies including pens, color pencils and watercolor pencils for art, crafts, scrapbooking and papercrafting.

Working with the MIX & MATCH products from Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft makes designing with COLOR simple. Simply choose a color set that inspires you, choose a medium and Mix & Match as you create. The color coordinated palettes give you the freedom to design your project knowing the colors will work beautifully together. Perfect for all your design, memory and craft projects!

Sign up for the Faber-Castell Newsletter to be the first to know about new products, giveaways and events!

 A special thanks to Scrapiniec Die-Cut Chipboard for sponsoring the Berry71Bleu Design Team, who will be sharing projects with their chipboard for the next several months.

 

Scrapiniec is the first Polish manufacturer of laser die-cut chipboard products for use in scrapbooking. They satisfy even the most unusual individual orders and are characterized by reliability, high quality and friendly customer service.

 

Papercraft Scandinavia designs high quality stamps, patterned paper, lace, flowers and much more in a romantic vintage style for scrapbooking, cardmaking and other crafts.

http://www.papercraftscandinavia.com/

http://www.inkido.blogspot.com/

August Guest Designer Helen Hapsi

Today we would like to welcome the winner of our July Challenge 

and our guest designer for August, Helen Hapsi.

Hello everyone!

 My name is Helen Hapsi, I am from Greece and I live in my hometown Chalkida with my husband and my 2 year old son. At this little corner of earth I call home I have a small apartment with a desk overflowing with things that many would say is just garbage….but not to my eyes.

I like to create things out of nothing by using objects seemingly unrelated and what gets me inspired to do so are my memories, my emotions, interesting photographs and of course all of you people who are scrapbooking and sharing your work on the internet. None of this would have happened if we hadn’t “met” each other to share our passion for creativity, our need to preserve memories and the will to become better at what we are doing.

I would like to thank Marivic for this amazing blog that keeps us connected, the Designer Team that voted for my layout, Heartfelt Creations for their generous gift and all of you who were patient enough to read my post!

This is my blog, hope you pay a visit !

http://ahandfullofhandicrafts.blogspot.gr/
 

This is the layout I made for my Guest Designer spot, decorated with different kinds of fabrics. The whole idea was to create a composition inspired by one of my favourite black & white Greek movies, it was a fun project ….I hope you like it!

Here are a few closeups:

Thanks for joining us this month Helen and sharing your beautiful layout!

A Mixed Media Canvas By Debbie

Hi, Debbie here with you today to share my project for Norma's August Challenge "Get Creative With Textiles."   Instead of creating a layout I decided to create a mixed media canvas.

I worked with papers from the DT sponsors Inkido, chipboard by Scrapiniec, 

along with various colors of gelatos by Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft.

I worked with a Prima mask and applied some modeling paste.  Once it was dry, I added some
Faber-Castell Design Memory Crafts gelatos in Guava, Chocolate, Butter Cream and Metallic Blueberry. Tucked underneath the right hand side of the picture is some lace which I colored with a mixture of Metallic Blueberry and Earl Grey gelatos.  After applying the gelatos I blended the colors with a sponge.

Here I painted a metal heart with some Faber-Castell Design Memory Crafts Gesso and then applied some Chocolate gelatos.  I also dabbed some of the chocolate gelatos on my flowers.

Here I added some tulle and strands of brown burlap.

I colored two pieces of Scrapiniec chipboard with gelatos.  One in chocolate and the other one a mixture of Metallic Blueberry and Earl Grey.

Our sponsor for this month's challenge is

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft

Blog:  http://designmemorycraft.typepad.com/design-memory-craft/

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft is a leading manufacturer specializing in high quality art supplies including pens, color pencils and watercolor pencils for art, crafts, scrapbooking and papercrafting.

Working with the MIX & MATCH products from Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft makes designing with COLOR simple. Simply choose a color set that inspires you, choose a medium and Mix & Match as you create. The color coordinated palettes give you the freedom to design your project knowing the colors will work beautifully together. Perfect for all your design, memory and craft projects!

Sign up for the Faber-Castell Newsletter to be the first to know about new products, giveaways and events!

  
Main Prize
 

Random Prize
 

 A special thanks to Scrapiniec Die-Cut Chipboard for sponsoring the Berry71Bleu Design Team, who will be sharing projects with their chipboard for the next several months.
 

Scrapiniec is the first Polish manufacturer of laser die-cut chipboard products for use in scrapbooking. They satisfy even the most unusual individual orders and are characterized by reliability, high quality and friendly customer service.

Our design team members received Inkido's Beautiful Memories Collection.

 

Papercraft Scandinavia designs high quality stamps, patterned paper, lace, flowers and much more in a romantic vintage style for scrapbooking, cardmaking and other crafts.

http://www.papercraftscandinavia.com/

http://www.inkido.blogspot.com/

Please read the Challenge Rules before linking up your project as they have recently changed!

There is plenty of time for you to join our challenge.  

Happy creating!

. . . Debbie

Adriana Bolzon-Guest Designer for August

Let's welcome Adriana...She is one of our invited Guest Designers for Berry71bleu

Hi my name is Adriana Bolzon. I live in Australia.

I am married to a wonderful man, and we have to a precious daughter.

I have been a devoted card-maker for many years and have been scrapbooking and paper crafting for over 11 years.  It is a hobby and my creative out let which I am totally passionate about. I am usually creating something everyday, I believe that preserving memories is important and people will always treasure handmade items.

My style is classic with a distressed vintage feel, with lots of attention to details.  I like experimenting and trying different techniques all the time. Another passion of mine is altered art pieces, turning everyday items into works of art.

I am currently on the Design Teams for Kaisercraft , Meg’s Garden, Cardabilities and Couture Creations. I have been published in many magazines around the world, and I am currently on the Designer Hall of Fame for “Australian Scrapbook Ideas” magazine.

I am so happy, excited and thrilled to be a Guest Designer here at “Berry71Bleu” this month. Thank you for inviting me. Your challenges are so inspiring and your current Design Team members are such very talented individuals. When I received my package from Marivic, I was so excited to play with some wonderful goodies, especially the Faber Castell’s Gelatos.

I created a layout and a canvas. Thanks again.

You can find my creations here on my blog:

 http://abinspirations.blogspot.com/

Here is Adriana's first project:

Here is my layout using your beautiful tag on the layout

your tag is so awesome just goes with everything you placed in the Kit  I received.

So here is my layout I used Crochet doilies and Velvet ribbons for the challenge

for the month of August.

I also used the Faber Castell gelatos with a stencil to create the leaves in the background of

my layout.

Thank you Adriana!! What a lovely page you made for us!!