Hello!  Today on the blog, we have Today’s Tutorial.  I love to add embellishments to my projects for color, texture, and visual interest.  Sometimes I have a clear vision of how I want my project to look, but I don’t always have a pre-made embellishment to go with that vision.  So, I thought I would show you my process of how I decide on what kind of embellishments to use, and how I use what I have on hand to make my own.

First off, I decided on a photo I want to use on my layout.  I loved this picture of my family flying kites.  It had a cool angle and perspective, and the blue sky background was so beautiful.   I went with a very large photo for my layout, because the images that I wanted to focus on were small.  The larger the photo, the better it was to see my family and the kites.

Because the photo I decided to use was about kite flying, I knew right away that I wanted to use some sort of kite embellishment on my page.  Unfortunately I didn’t have anything like that, so I decided to make my own.  I had taken some close-up shots of the kites we were flying, so I wanted to use one of those shapes.

The kite with the flames had and easier shape so replicate, but I loved the tail of the other.  So I thought I would combine the two.

So I got my basic design set up, and left space where I want my kite embellishment to be.  I then measured the area, leaving a little room for space on each side.  So now I knew how large the kite should be.

I cut out a kite shape from patterned paper and added a crease down the center so that I could pop the sides up later to give the kite some dimension.  I found a dimensional sticker from the Soiree collection that I thought would work for my kite frame.   So I carefully pulled it apart.

I added the stickers to the kite and trimmed the excess.

Then I added some twine to the back for the tail.

I placed the kite , and then I was ready to finish the layout.  (Details are so important.  That’s what really makes your embellishment/project special.  Don’t forget them.)

Here is the finished project:

(Noticed, I covered up the fence that was in the photo with some more embellishments.)

Pink Paislee supplies used:

• Hometown Summer – Green Acres 00452
• Hometown Summer – Summer Fun 00454
• Hometown Summer – Sunnyside Lane 00456
• Hometown Summer – Neighborhood Pool 00457
• Hometown Summer – Expressions Alphabet 00467
• Hometown Summer – Punchouts 00463
• Hometown Summer – Border Stickers 00466
• Daily Junque – Ephemera 00493
• Daily Junque – Clear Stamps 00491
• Daily Junque – Twine 00499
• Soiree – Dimensional Stickers 00476
• Sweetness – Glitter Sticker Alphabets 00386

Here is one more example of an embellishment I made to fit my project:

I did the same thing on this layout as I did for the kite layout.  I chose an easy hat shape to use for the base of my title .  See the purple hat in the photo on the left?  That was my guide.

Now I know you are not going to run out and make a kite for your next project, but maybe my little tutorial will show you that you don’t have to be limited to the pre-made embellishments you have on hand, or that you don’t have to go buy something new to finish your next project.  Use your photos as cues, and get crafty. 

I hope that helps you out the next time you can’t find exactly what you are looking for.

Thanks so much for stopping by!