Twine tips

If you've spent much time around this blog, you've probably noticed my affinity for baker's twine. I use it on everything from buttonholes to flower stems. Often, I combine my twine with another love: banners.

Here are a few ideas for working with twine on your projects:

1. Embrace color. The thing I love most about baker's twine is that you can get it in every color in the rainbow. Some manufacturers even sell an assortment of different colors in the same package. Using a coordinating color of twine gives that extra little "oomph" that really finishes off a project, so don't be afraid to branch out from the standard black and white or brown and white varieties. If in doubt, lay a few colors down on your project and stand back to see which one catches your eye.

2. Attach creatively. I've experimented with different adhesives, including dipping my length of twine into a wet adhesive before placing on the page. But I prefer to adhere the twine only at a few points on the page for a looser, more casual feel. Use a staple to fasten it to certain points. You can even work a couple of loops into the design. Another trick I use is rolling a glue dot between my fingers to make it really thin, then slipping it behind the twine to hold it in place.

3. Hang loose. Twine is relatively cheap compared to other scrapbook supplies, and you only use a few inches at a time. So be generous with your cuts and leave the ends a little longer. You can always trim them down, but having a little length allows them to lay freely on your project, like they're blowing in the wind.


What are some creative ways you've used twine on your projects? Leave me a link to your projects so I can check them out!

A little diversion

We interrupt this onslaught of holiday-themed red-and-greenery to bring you...

...Easter?!

Yes, I know I'm getting WAY ahead of myself by posting spring-themed projects. But Imaginisce just released a brand-new collection: Hippity Hop. After four weeks of December Dailies, cards, tags, ornaments and holiday-themed layouts, it was a welcome change to play with something pink and blue and springy.

The idea for this layout came from a sketch I saw on the October Afternoon blog. When I saw the birdcage die-cuts, I thought they'd look cute hanging along some twine. Then I added some patterned paper flags, a canvas Maya Road banner and an Epiphany Crafts heart. The twine is hanging from two iTop medium brads.

 

I've had the mini clothespins for a while, but kept forgetting to use them. They were the perfect size to clip on the photos.

One of my favorite things about this collection is the kites. I hand-cut some clouds to play into the kite scene on this layout.

Be sure to "hop" over to the Imaginisce blog each day this week to check out more projects with this fun, new collection -- and a chance to win it all!

Traditions

It's nice to see that I still have some blog followers after my little hiatus. Thanks for sticking around!
 
So in a few short weeks, Thanksgiving will be here. And for us, that means a trip north to our lake cabin. (Or as Avery calls it, "The Cabinet.") My in-laws come and stay there with us, and my Dad and stepmom live on the adjoining lot, so it's the one time of year that almost every member of our family -- both my side and Adam's side -- are all together in the same house.

I think this year will be our sixth Thanksgiving at the cabin, and that's significant because, for both of my kids (ages 7 and 5), every Thanksgiving they can remember was spent there.

Of course, there are other traditions that happen during our annual trip to the cabin -- traditions within the tradition -- and I finally got around to documenting one of them.

I used patterned paper and garland flags from the Apple Cider collection from Pretty Little Studio to add some color. (The only downside of visiting the cabin so late in the year is that we miss the leaves changing color. But on the upside, it also means it's usually cool enough to build a fire in the woodburning stove!)

Have you noticed that I use bakers twine on everything lately? I'm in love with the stuff. I can't help it.