Use Up The Unexpected

Have you ever noticed how pretty and nice some of the packaging is that comes with your scrapbooking supplies? I have this drawer that I keep random bits of things, and I often put some packaging in there. I also keep some of it right handy, on a muffin tin right beside where my workspace is.

On your next layout: use a scrapbooking product’s packaging.

I've had this paper backing (it was in a button package from Amercian Crafts) for a few months now, and always really liked the pink colour and the little dots on it. When I went to scrapbook Nicole's bridal shower, my first thought was to use pink on it. I was rooting around in the muffin tin to see what kind of bits could be used on this layout (I took a hair flower clip apart to use the teal tulle off the back of it), and found this American Crafts button backing that came in the package. I knew it would work perfectly on this layout; immediately I tucked it in behind the teal paper, hiding the lable, and thought it would be nice for my title to sit on top of.

So, here's the tulle/fishnet that I originally had on a hair clip. I thought it was perfect, and didn't want to create another one, and have to wait for the paint to dry (that's how I made it that teal colour). I'm always okay with using bits of other things to add to another project I'm working on. And you'll probably see the flower on a layout in the future.

With having my title on an angle in the a lower corner and having the same coloured pearls in the upper corner on the opposite side of the page, I really feel that it draws the eye accross the layout.

When I was at Walmart, I debated if I wanted my main photo in black and white. I'm really happy that I did get rid of the colour, I think that the colours of my flowery card against the colours of Nicole's shirt would have been too much, and really overwhelming with the colours I had used on the layout.

I'm really loving my spray inks right now, and originally felt that the teal paper was kind of boring when the layout was first laid out. After spraying it with a teal ink, that paper is part of the overall apperance, not just sitting there with nothing going on; I love the texture that it creates with the little drops. And the shimmer/glitter is perfect on this layout!

Paige was talking on her blog about how much she hates glitter (on this post).They get everywhere and are a nuisance. When I put this layout into the page protector, the static electricity was causing the sparkles to be everywhere on the layout. I took it out, and decided to use an embossing liquid to keep them in place on the butterfly. I was a bit worried that it wasn't going to dry completely clear, but thankfully it did - and this fixed my issue perfectly. (I also really like how it and the black Thickers have a glossy finish to them, and the flourishes aren't, they have just the sparkly matt finish.)

Journaling says: Nicole's evening bridal shower was relaxed, laid-back & fun - just like the kind of bride she'll be in Mexico.

Get out that cute packaging and use it up! Leave a comment with a link, and let's see what direction your product took you.