Featured Design Team Member: Lisa Novogrodski

Lisa Novogrodski
Design Team Coordinator

 Hello Everyone! My name is Lisa Novogrodski and I have been scrapping for several years now. My style has evolved from not knowing what I was doing to a heavily embellished shabby chic genre. I love layering, textures, flowers, stamps and of course everyone who has seen my work knows I adore my punches! I have grown artistically over the last few years and currently design for Berry Bleu, Scraps of Darkness and Heartfelt Creations.

I am nearing the end of my second term with Berry Bleu and have been so honored to have joined the team when Marivic first set out to expand her etsy shop of beautiful vintage tags. During my time here I have used the tags in a variety of ways from scrapbook pages and altered art showing how versatile they are and how easily they fit into a project. One thing I have never done is altered the tag itself, changing any of the special embellishments that Marivic includes when she creates these beauties. 

Being a designer, it's our job to make the products we are given our own in most cases. This month I thought I would share a project where I did change up a bit from the tag and incorporate it with my work from Heartfelt Creations to demonstrate once again how unique and versatile these tags can be!

I  took a cardboard book shaped box that you find in any department store or craft store that you would use to store supplies or trinkets. I altered the front and back using a tag from Berry Bleu and Heartfelt Creations stamps.

This is the front cover of the book:

Here is a close up:

I lifted some of beautiful embellishments up so I could add the Decorative Chateau Gate Die over the vintage photo on the tag. I also removed the sweet flowers on the tag and tucked them away for another day so I could add a flower created with my Heartfelt Creations stamps and share a tutorial with you on how to do that.

In addition to the embossed flower technique I also created the hinges on the book and the books binding with a masking tape technique. Here is a close up of the binding.

I would like to share another tutorial on this technique. I love the texture and endless possibilities this masking tape technique offers.

I hope you enjoyed these tutorials and give them a try to add your own unique personality to your projects.

Before signing off I would like to share a few of my favorite layouts for 2011!!!!

I would like to thank Marivic for the honor of having me on her design team for two terms! I have so enjoyed my time here at Berry Bleu and am so thrilled to have a feature here this month and the opportunity to share my work with you all!

xo~ Lisa

Tutorial from Emma

HOW TO MAKE A CUSTOMISED STENCIL

Have you ever used a stencil or template in your project, if so do you love the effects you can create using them? In this tutorial we will look at how to create your very own unique re-usable stencil so that you can customise and add some extra points of interest to your projects.

Materials needed:
12X12 plastic stencil sheeting
Craft Knife
Ruler
Marker Pen
Photocopied Image of design

Step 1:
Mark your 12"x 12" border on the plastic sheeting; this acts as a guide for your overall size of template.

Step 2:
You could draw your design directly onto the sheeting or create a design in a photo-editing programme like Photoshop or PSE. If you choose this option, print out your image and use that as your design guide just as I have here.

Step 3:
When you are happy with your design align it underneath your plastic sheeting making sure the image remains confined within the outlined 12X12 border. Tape it along with the sheeting to your cutting mat to prevent it from moving then begin the careful cutting process.

Hope you find this tutorial a fun way to add that little extra something to your layouts and projects.
Happy stencilling!
Em Stafrace
©2011

Here is what Emma made with the stencil:

And an extra bonus from Emma: Thank you EMMA!!

Visit Emma's blog by clicking HERE

Guest DT Members for January

Welcome to our Guest DT members for January. We are so pleased to have these talented ladies designing for us this month. They all have different styles so I hope you enjoy looking at these pictures as much as I have. make sure you visit their blogs, they would love to hear from you.

Thank you ladies!!

Bellaidea

My name is Agnieszka but in the scrapbooking world I go by Bellaidea.
Together with my husband - I'm still dating him - we're taking care of our two treasures - a Girl and a Boy.
I love travelling, taking photos, oranges and African bush aroma, cheesecake with real vanilla, Pavlova dessert, old; books, pictures and houses, doillies, trips with friends to Italy, evenings by the fireplace, milk chocolate from Lindl, mystery perfumes, nut ice-creams, reading books to my children(no matter they can read by themselves), audiobooks during long distance drives, praising people for their talent and creativity and meeting with other nice ladies for a cup of coffee.
I scrapbook for many reasons-to preserve memories, to make my kids remember I always care about them, to have MY time when I need it, to keep in touch with all my scrap-friend all over the work.
My style is eclectic, part of romantic, touch of whimsy, lace, chipbords, doillies, torned corners, fussy cutting etc but never forget the most important is the photo and a story. Sometimes I hide my journaling when it`s very personal...
I design my favourite 12×12 Lo's for several websites. It satisfies me strongly. I`m very happy about invitation to Berry 71 Bleu .It`s a pleasure to have contact and chat to Marivic!
I love challenges and I often take part in them. Sometimes the effects are really surprising.
I cordially invite you to my blog, where you can find out what I'm doing at late night when my family members're sleeping.
Check Bellaidea's Blog HERE

Agnieszka is nice enough to share the step-by-step photos on how she made this LO.

Here is what she made for the challenge. A shadow box.

Chantal

Hi my name is Chantal Vandenberg, I live in Australia and I am happily married to Jason and we have 2 totally gorgeous girls – Lucy (8) and Heidi (3).


I have now been scrapbooking for 3 years. I initially began scrapping as a fun way to preserve my family's memories, but now, it's all this and a whole lot more!

I love experimenting with new techniques as well as "thrashing" the trusty faves! I just enjoy the "ride" when creating a layout and, in a nutshell, I would describe my style as colourful, fun and funky!

I've been very fortunate to have been published lots of times in numerous magazines in Australia and worldwide. I still get really excited seeing my work in print!

I am extremely honoured to be asked to guest design here and I am really looking forward to sharing my creations with you all! :)

Emma

Gidday from Australia, my name is Emma. I have been scrap booking for nearly 9 years now. I am both a digital and traditional scrapbooker and absolutely love both disciplines.


I almost always nut out my overall design digitally before committing to scissors and glue, so I get the best of both worlds... a digi page and a traditional version. This process is what keeps me motivated and challenges me in working out how I can reproduce the digital elements and textures in the traditional format without having to rely solely on printing them.


I love a good cluster and a tight grouping of elements with lots of layering which I think comes from my former occupation as a Visual Marketer. I often make my own stencils and masking screens (a throw back from my Art School days, to enhance my pages. Combined, all these principles are my scrapping mantra.


If you would like to read more about my process and day to day life then pop in and say hello on my blog. I'd love to hear from you. Check out Emma's blog HERE.

Here is what Emma made for our challenge:

In a couple of days, Emma will share with us a tutorial..I hope you come back for that.

Thank you again to all our GDT this month..Well done ladies!!

January DT reveal

Feast your eyes on these....

Thanks to our DT team for such beautiful work of art!

Renea Harrison

Iris Uy

Aymee Gandy

Michelle Hodges

Jing van Opstal

Thank you again ladies for a job well done.

I will be adding new tags on my etsy shop soon, make sure you stop by and check it out..

Happy New Year..New Winner and New Challenge for January

Happy New Year everyone! I hope that you all had an amazing christmas and that you had the best time with your loved ones.

I know it's been awhile since we've posted on the blog. It was a very busy past couple of months for me. But I'm hoping now that the holidays are over, things should go back to normal slowly but surely.

Now for our new challenge: January theme is Vintage,(Shabby), or French Cottage style altered project.

January Challenge is to alter anything. You can do a LO, card, tag, box, or anything your heart desires that you think is alterable. You can add any elements you wish and use any media to alter your project.

In the sample challenge pictures below, an old chocolate box was used. It was covered with paper; the top cover was also embossed in gold then covered with lace fabric. Decorated with Berry71bleu tag, vintage rhinestone necklace, antique brooch, old chandelier crystal piece, and handmade flowers.

This challenge is open to anyone around the world and you can submit as many projects as you wish. Projects must be downloaded by February 5th on the blog's sidebar using Linky Tool. The winner will win a project kit from Berry71Bleu. if you have any questions, pls. address your email to berry71bleu@gmail.com.

This is the prize that you can win. This is a project kit which includes a box, an album, trims, buttons, glitter, stickles, brooches, flowers, rubber stamps, drawer pulls, Berry71bleu tag, vintage greeting cards, package of 6x6 paper, a tin box and skeleton keys.
So many things you can do with this kit.

I'd like to thank everyone that joined our December challenge and we're hoping that you can join us again for our altered project challenge this month. December's challenge winner is Stephanie from Switzerland with this project.

Congrats Stephanie!!!

Happy New Year and Best Wishes to all of you this 2012.