Last month I was totally honored to be asked to participate in today’s Scrapbook Steals Blog Hop. They were going to be featuring page design templates from Kiwi Lane Design Borders and, since I had never tried them out before, I thought it would be a blast to give it a go. Especially since I knew I would have all my new Spring Catalog goodies to play with too! The awesome thing is that these templates can be used with anything you have in your stash, so use them on old – new- thick – or thin!
Well, I have 3 projects for you today and hopefully you will get some new ideas for trying out border templates as well as catch a glimpse of some new Spring catalog (and Sale-a-Bration sneak peek!) items in my samples. 
1. The 12×12 Scrapbook Page
You may not think much of using a template for a 12×12 layout, but the neat (at least to me) part is that the templates I was given to use are the “Madison Avenue mini” templates, which means they are only 8” long!
What is a 12×12 purist to do??
Well, after careful investigation of my templates, I discovered that two of them fit together seamlessly to give me a 16” curve to do with as I pleased!
So I found an interesting curve line, used Post-it notes to tack down the templates, and traced away! I decided to cut out the vintage-y flower pattern from the Twitterpated designer paper… and what you can’t tell at all because of how I ended up placing my pictures, is that the curve lines exactly match at the top and the bottom of my page. I meant to do more with that but the matting for the photos got too big. Oops!
I loved the line though, and so I decided to ruffle some ribbon, following the curve at the top of the page. To achieve the look, I just ran some tape along the same path as the template that I used to trim my paper.
TIP – If you are going to do this, you really want to use Sticky Strip / red backed double sided tape. I tried using my ATG for the adhesive thinking that was really strong but in less than a week, the ruffles were popping up and off the page. So go for the tough stuff!! Go redline/Sticky Strip!
(psst – this may be one of the free ribbons coming available during sale-a-bration. ;)).
And since I wanted to do some journalling but thought a straight edged rectangle would look wrong in my curvy layout… I grabbed one of the templates I used for the top of the page and used the curve to cut my journalling block.
Psst – check out more SAB sneak peeks! (Button, stamps, punch!)
2. An 8×8 Layout
Since my templates were the mini version and 8” long, I decided “what the hey!” and figured I’d put together an 8×8 page. The curvy lines made me totally think of hills and so I thought it would be perfect for a park picture of my daughter Caitlin from this summer.
I couldn’t decide where to do my journalling so I, again, went with the whimsy and wrote it out following the curves of my hills.
And if you are curious, the background paper and the sun are all created out of the new Tea for Two designer series paper. The circle that is the middle of the sun is an element on one of the patterns, so I just cut out two circles and chopped one up into wedges – pizza style – to make the sun’s rays. I LOVE how it turned out!
3. A Card with Masking
Finally, I wanted to break out of the scrapbooking shell and use my templates in a totally different way. Since sets contain “A” and “B” pieces that are just a rectangle with the patterned line cut through the middle, that means you can just slide your A and B sides a little apart and make a cool area for masking!
I did my masking on grid paper so I could slide the templates down the same amount each time so I could make my own background pattern.
And speaking of backgrounds, can I share that this card was totally inspired by my 2012 Stampin’ Up! convention bag sitting on the floor across from me? Can you see the similarities?
So, my projects are simple compared to some of the amazing scrapbooking layouts you will see with these templates, but I love how easy they make a touch of whimsy in my projects! I will also admit that I get a lot of my scrapbooking ideas from Scrapbook Steal’s weekly MidWeek Mojo sketch challenges; but I didn’t realize how much mojo you can get from stacking and playing with these templates that give you lots of fun shapes and curves to work with!
Alright! So I’ve shared a lot with you today and I hope you enjoyed them!
Please, leave me a comment and let me know what you think of my projects and first foray into designing with border templates! Plus, Scrapbook Steals will be giving away a $20 gift certificate to one lucky commenter from across all of the blog hop sites.
And now, check out some of the other awesome ideas shared by some SUPER TALENTED ladies! Thanks again, Kerys, for the invitation and the chance to participate in the blog hop this month!
Go hop and be inspired!
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12×12 Scrapbook Page Supplies
Stamps: Pretty Petites (SAB), Ciao Baby, You’re Amazing
Ink: Basic Grey, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Versamark
Paper: Twitterpated designer series paper, First Edition specialty dsp, Basic Grey cs, Whisper White cs, Calypso Coral cs
Accessories: Sycamore Street ribbons & button pack (SAB), Petite curly label punch (SAB), Natural Trim ribbon, heat gun, white embossing powder, embossing buddy, glue dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Madison Ave mini Kiwi Lane Design border templates
8×8 Scrapbook Page Supplies
Ink: Lucky Limeade ink pad & marker (for journaling)
Paper: Tea for Two designer series paper, Lucky Limeade cs, Melon Mambo cs, Basic Grey cs
Accessories: Bitty Punch Pack, adhesive pearls, Sticky Strip, corner rounder punch, sponge dauber, Madison Ave mini Kiwi Lane Design border templates
Convention Bag Card Supplies
Stamps: Made For You
Ink: Basic Grey, Summer Starfruit
Paper: Whisper White cs, Vellum cs, Summer Starfruit cs
Accessories: Two-Tone Ribbon (Basic Grey/Basic Black), adhesive rhinestones, glue dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Madison Ave mini Kiwi Lane Design border templates
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And all the awesome free product and giveaways too!
Check out this video for a quick preview of what is inside the kit.
), here is what I would do:
I continue to be inspired, impressed, and amazed by the talent and enthusiasm they share with me regularly. Even the folks who are totally new to stamping get me excited with their excitement and joy from trying this new adventure.
From the Real Red polka dot dsp from the Polka Dot Parade pack, to the wrapped Cherry Cobbler bakers twine… and just a touch of bling in the corner. All adds up (I think) to a sweet little card that needs no sentiment at all.
