I have a fun blog hop for you today and it is something a little bit different!  My friends have gone a little fan girl over Kiwi Lane and their designer templates.  Basically they are plastic templates that you can use to help design your projects by layering them on your base paper to decide what you want it to look like before you actually cut into your paper!  So, when I was offered the chance to play with a set and participate in this blog hop, I jumped at the chance.

Wanna see what I made?

Aren’t they cute?!  I swear these pictures make me smile every time I look at them. 🙂

So, what am I showing off her in this layout besides my cuties?  Three things that are really fun to play with:

1. The 12” Borders Clara Lane templates from Kiwi Lane.

   See all those waves – I totally traced them and, yes, cut them out.  But don’t they add some nice whimsy to the page? I actually started out this page by laying out a few of the templates on a piece of designer paper to get an idea for how I wanted to put it together:
   

   Then I just had to pick my papers, trace, and cut.
   

2. Perfect Pennants Stamps from Stampin’ Up

   Have I mentioned how much I love the sentiments from this set?  Plus I had to use the border/pennant element stamps to add a little bit of something extra next to the photos.
   

   And even the heart next to my favorite little guy!
   
   (psst – I even used my rotary stamp to date the page!)

3. Watercolor Wonder designer paper from Stampin’ Up!

   This is one of those sets of paper that I kept thinking was really pretty, but never actually got to cutting into it…. well, fixed that problem!  I loved the colors and decided to go for it on this page.

   And while you can’t see as much of them on the first page, I figured I decided I wanted to do something with the remaining “scraps” of paper that was left over after I cut out my waves for layout 1 and so I whipped together layout 2!

I just took my leftover designer paper and thought it would make a great edge to a scrapbook page.  I layered them together – Don’t Gasp! – I’ll admit, I cut off the bottom two layers so I could save a ton of the paper for future projects, but I liked the pattern on top for a background for my page.  Then I layered all the waves over another piece of patterned paper (Soft Sky pattern from the paper stacks) to complete the look.

Here are a few of my favorite touches I wanted to show you up close on this one:

• Wood starburst accent from the Essentials Wooden Elements
• Mix and match Washi Tape adding some pop behind my photo
• Some Natural trim ribbon
• And if you look REALLY CLOSE, you can see my faux stitching I did along the edge of the wave.  It is actually pretty subtle on the final page in person as well, but gives just a little extra something.

So, what do you think? Fun, right?

What I loved, I was able to pull these two layouts together in ONE naptime!  Yup, the first layout took me more of the time, but then the second one using the scraps just came together. I think I have the fun templates and the cute paper patterns to thank for that.

Want to Win a $25 Gift Certificate to Kiwi Lane?

You will see some amazing talent on this blog hop, so check everyone out and share the love by leaving a comment on each stop.  The hop runs through 11:59 PM MST on Sunday FEBRUARY 9TH.  A random winner from ONE of the participating blogs (including the Kiwi Lane blog), will be given a $25 gift certificate to the Kiwi Lane Shop, for leaving a comment and will be announced on the Kiwi Lane blog on Thursday, FEBRUARY 13TH.

Blog Line Up:

Kiwi Lane
Charissa Miller
Claire Spielman
Lissa Mitchell
Kristy MacKeen
Gail Owens
Arin Flynn
Holly Gagnon
Jennifer Blomquist  <—YOU ARE HERE
Christine Meyer

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come back as I share card, scrapbook, and 3D projects regularly each week!  Or join the conversation with me over on Facebook. 🙂

Happy Hopping!

Stampin’ Supplies Used

Stamps – Perfect Pennants, Remember This rotary stamp
Ink – Summer Starfruit, So Saffron, Smoky Slate, Markers (Basic Grey, Summer Starfruit, Pacific Point)
Paper – Watercolor Wonder designer paper, So Saffron cs, Whisper White cs
Accessories – Summer Starfruit Striped Grosgrain ribbon, Decorative Label Punch, 1-3/4” Circle punch, Pennant framelits, Subtles Candy Dots, Sponge Daubers, Clara Lane (by Kiwi Lane)

Stampin’ Supplies Used

Stamps – a Round Array
Ink – Marina Mist, Marker (Sahara Sand)
Paper – Watercolor Wonder designer paper, Subtles designer paper stack (Soft Sky), Whisper White cs, Smoky Slate cs
Accessories – Natural Trim ribbon, Essentials Wooden Accents, Watercolor Wonder Washi tape, Gingham Garden Washi tape, Epic Day washi tape, 7/8” Scallop circle punch, glue dots, Thickers stickers