Arlene and Lisa share their designer tips, from saving paper to decorating with chalk and creating balance. Check out this month’s layouts for ideas that are sure to please.

Natalie & Mattie
By Lisa Dattola

	A tip from Lisa: Save money by using your paper carefully. Cut the large mat (behind the teal patterned paper) from the edge of your black paper, then remove the center for the photo mat. This will leave you just enough black to mat your journaling blocks.
		Supplies: patterned Paper Pizazz®: teal words, teal texture: Mixing Words & Textured Papers specialty Paper Pizazz®: ivory vellum (available by the sheet) solid Paper Pizazz®: black: Teresa’s Handpicked Solid Muted Papers black eyelets: Metal Eyelets: Paper Wishes /Magic Scraps black pony beads: Westrim® Crafts teal fiber: Magic Scraps Jewel Fibers Glue Dots™

Instructions:

1. Glue the photos onto black, 1/8” – 1/4” apart in a rectangular shape. Trim the paper around the outside edge of the photos leaving a 1/8” border. Mat the entire piece onto teal textured paper with a 7/8” border. Mat again on black with a 1/16” border. Center on the teal words paper, 3/4” from the top edge.
2. Journal the title onto ivory vellum. Mat on textured paper with a 1/8” border. Mat again on black with a 1/16” border. Repeat for the journaling block. Glue the title at an angle to the upper left corner of the paper overlapping the photos. Glue the journaling centered on the bottom of the page overlapping the photos.
3. Attach two eyelets on each side of the matted photo piece, one 1 1/2” from the page’s top edge and one 1 3/4” from the bottom edge. Cut two 11” strands of fiber. String three beads onto each strand. Thread one strand through the eyelets on each side of the page. Glue the ends to the back of the paper and secure beads to front with Glue Dots™.
   

Gone Fishing
By Arlene Peterson

	Arlene chalked this background paper to coordinate the tan from the tags with the green background. She also tore and crumpled the ivory vellum before chalking it to add a rustic effect to this outdoorsy page.
		Supplies: patterned Paper Pizazz®: paisley, leather: Mixing Masculine Papers specialty Paper Pizazz®: pastel tan vellum solid Paper Pizazz®: brown: Teresa’s Handpicked Solid Muted Papers Cut-Outs™: fishing tags: Tag Art #3 green fibers: Artsy Additions™ Green 3-D Collection rust, tan, green decorating chalks: Craf-T Glue Dots™

Instructions:

1. Tear a 1” strip from the bottom of the green leather paper, then tear the upper left hand corner 4 1/2” in from the top diagonally to the left side. Chalk the torn edges as well as the rest of the paper with rust, then glue to the paisley paper. Cut out the tags and mat on the brown solid paper; trim close the edge. Mat the large photo on brown, then tan vellum and tear edges, leaving 3/4” all around. Fold the edges in toward the photo, tearing and bending. Chalk the edges with green, tan and rust. Mat on brown and trim close to the edge. Cut a two-inch square from the tan vellum and brown paper, cut in half on the diagonal to form two triangles. Tear the outside edges, fold and chalk. Mat on brown and glue behind the photo as shown.
2. Computer journal on vellum and chalk around the edges. Mat on brown and trim close to the edge.
3. Add fibers to tag and around the photo frames. Cut out fish and attach with Glue Dots™ to photo frame as shown.

Life’s Journey
By Arlene Peterson

	Pulling the fibers through different elements on this page creates continuity and balance with the horizontal layout. The fibers also give the page texture and dimension, while maintaining the heritage theme.
		Supplies: patterned Paper Pizazz®: brown diamonds (available by the sheet); tan leather: Leather Papers (also available by the sheet) solid Paper Pizazz®: rust: Teresa’s Handpicked Solid Jewel Papers Cut-Outs™: travel tags: Tag Art #3 alphabet tiles: Brown Alphabet Tiles: (available by the sheet) brown fibers: Artsy Additions™ Tan 3-D Collection 1/4” hole punch: Fiskars foam tape Glue Dots™

Instructions:

1. To make the top section of the page, tear a 5” by 12” section of tan leather paper; attach to the top of brown diamonds, leaving the torn edge unglued for now. Cut out alphabet tiles and mat on rust, trimming close to the edge. Arrange at top of page with foam tape as shown. Cut out travel tags mat on rust and trim close to edge. Punch a hole through the top of each tag and pull fibers through. Attach under alphabet tiles with Glue Dots™.
2. Crop and mat photos on rust paper, trimming close to edge. Mat on tan leather, tear edges, leaving 1/4” around. Punch holes in top corners of photos and in tan leather above center of photo. Cut two pieces of fiber approximately 6” each, thread a piece of fiber through holes on each photo and knot ends to secure.
3. Journal on the tan leather and trim to size. Mat on rust paper, trimming close to edge. Mat on tan leather and tear edges to 1/4”. Punch holes on each end and pull a 4 1/2” piece of fiber through each side.