Wednesday, March 6, 2013

add color, life and detail...

Embellishing...I love it.

It's the butter on the bread, the syrup on the pancake!

Embellishing gives your work life and color and adds detail and interest! Even in small doses, embellishments give a touch of flair. They finish off a piece of art which could otherwise be flat and uninteresting.

This was one of the layouts I made for my recent eBook called the Embellishing Handbook. Notice the title work, which I cut with my Silhouette Cameo and really loved the negative of the title, so I kept the negative sheet and backed it with a light colored patterned paper. I wanted to add color and life to the title, so I changed the O out with a square piece of paper to mimic a "home" and added stitching to the roof, a flower for dimension and tucked in a red stripe journaling card to draw your eye right to the detail. All of these embellishments together create interest to an otherwise flat, boring title!


I consider embellishments to be many things. Even the banners on this page are embellishing the page by adding color and life. They also add scale. Notice the little "together forever and always" saying, which is a small scale, the chevrons are medium in scale and the florals add a large scale pattern to the page. Embellishments have SO many different JOBS in our artwork. Scale, color and pattern are some of those jobs. Embellishing has a purpose!!

Would you like to learn more? I am giving away another copy of my Embellishing Handbook.

Leave a comment with your favorite way to embellish. I will draw a winner in a couple of days. Don't forget to leave your email addy, so I can contact you! I'm still looking for my You've Got Mail class winner - Lucy Newton. :) Do you know her? If so, please let her know I'm looking for her. :)

Embellish purposely!



49 comments:

Margie said...

No wonder you love it-you do it so well! Thank you for a chance to win and be inspired!

Donna Espiritu said...

I love your work and this page is really stunning! U inspire me a lot :) i love to flowers and little trinkets that hang and banners too. Thanks for the chance!!!

Christi said...

I'm terrible at embellishing! You make it look so easy. I usually stick to label stickers, brads or buttons and maybe a sticker or two.

SuZeq said...

Ohhhhhhhhhh you're so right. Embellishments are the frosting on the cupcake - WITH SPRINKLES. My favorite thing to embellish with are, without a doubt, a flower or two!
kosec@sbcglobal.net

Unknown said...

little labels and washi are my fav

floridagirl said...

I have been a fan of your work for a LONG time now...I would love to win a copy of your E-book - it would be like peeking into your creative brain!!

Elizabeth S. said...

I seem to struggle some with embellishments as what to use and where but I do love what they add to a project. I love your work and how you use them. I love to see what others use and try to use them myself.

Elizabeth S. said...

I seem to struggle some with embellishments as what to use and where but I do love what they add to a project. I love your work and how you use them. I love to see what others use and try to use them myself.

Karen Beldon said...

I LOVE this page!! Embellishing is my passion...I love brads, ribbon, buttons, stickers, jems, banners, die cuts....ALL OF IT! :)

Myoriah said...

I often embellish with butterflies. I do love using gems and ribbon. I have fun replacing a letter like you did with the word home with a shape. It is fun to see what I can do to turn a ho hum card into a Wow card.

Myoriah@hotmail.com

Mel said...

I use a lot of brads (because I have A TON) and also buttons, but I'm open to about anything...I really enjoy some of the vintage ephemera people use, but I never seem to get it quite right on my own pages. mehinkle@juno.com

Jennifer said...

Ribbon and pre-made embellishments are my usual embellishments. I would love to learn more tricks to your beautiful embellishment style!

Dana Kirby said...

I love all embellishment- premade, stickers, buttons, die cuts, ribbon...it is all good!
I love your page, so inspiring!

SheriE. said...

I always love your embellishing! I enjoy using ribbon and buttons and my Cameo. Oh, and my Tiny Tim (Tiny Attacher). sherikatinka at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I love how you embellish, and would love to get my hands on a copy of that ebook. Thanks for the chance!

Unknown said...

My favourite way to embellish is with buttons...all kinds of buttons. But I am not very good with embellishments and would love some more ideas, techniques and inspiration!

Jan said...

I use washi tape and pre made embellishments. I am loving sequins too.

Jessrose21 said...

I love all kinds of embellishments, but the easiest, and therefore my favorite, are self-adhesive half pearls. They are so elegant, come in different colors, and rarely look overdone. Crossing my fingers that I win your book! I sure could use your insight.

TenSGal said...

Oh, I love this....love the negative space for the title work you did. I've pinned this so I can easily oogle and ogle it later!
I love bling...anything bright and shiny...buttons are another favorite.
And thanks for the chance to win the book! How awesome!!!

Cheryl B. said...

I love this layout. Love the way the pictures are connected. I love to use ribbon and flowers. I would love to win your book and get lots of new ideas from you. Love anything you do , your style is awesome.

Cathy Weber said...

I'm making a wedding scrapbook for my daughter-in-law and I BADLY need help with embellishments to make my pages look more professional! I love your ideas and have them pinned! Thank you for the chance to win.

Anonymous said...

I usually stick to buttons, bling or brads...I definitely need help!! Love your creativity!

Cindy @ 1 mama cyn at gmail dot com

Lynne Phelps said...

Layering buttons with twine over punches is my stand-by, but I'd love to branch out and learn more from your eBook! My email is lynne dot phelps at gmail dot com

luvmymariners@gmail.com said...

Thank you for the opportunity to win your eBook. I like to emblish with die cuts/pop them up.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the chance to win! I have never met an embellishment I didn't like but my current faves are enamel dots, washi, and Mr Huey spray to spice things up!

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suzeyq said...

Love your layout. Would love a copy of your ebook too! Some great ideas for embellishing always come in handy!

Lisa's Creative Niche said...

My favorite way to embellish things right now is with sequins hehehe! I can't get enough!!! Thanks so much!

Betty Sue said...

Would love to win your ebook! Your work is so inspiring! Thanks for all you share!

Betty Sue said...

Would love to win your ebook! Your work is so inspiring! Thanks for all you share!

Betty Sue said...

Would love to win your ebook! Your work is so inspiring! Thanks for all you share!

katrynka said...

I love buttons, twine, ribbons and die cuts. I tend to stay away from anything too dimensional!

leeATcockrumDOTnet

Rebecca Ednie said...

My favorite way to embellish, hmmm, there are a lot of ways to answer that question. I guess my favorite way to embellish is to enhance what I have made without overwhelming it. I like to fill in areas that need some interest, and use pretties I've collected that I like that suit the theme and look I'm going for.

Unknown said...

I like to embellish with brads, ribbon, string, washi tape. Honestly, almost anything that will give the project "the wow" factor. I also love to layer. Really, enjoy your work and if I don't win the book, will definitely have to buy it.

bette.costa@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I like to embellish with brads, ribbon, string, washi tape. Honestly, almost anything that will give the project "the wow" factor. I also love to layer. Really, enjoy your work and if I don't win the book, will definitely have to buy it.

bette.costa@yahoo.com

Kathryn A said...

My favourite way to embellish is to use small pearls. I buy white ones and colour them when necessary with my Copic markers. I would love to have a copy of your book, however, as just pearls can be a bit boring...

Suzanne B. Webb said...

Embellishing is also one of my favorite things about creating a layout...my top fav. is to add embellished tags, banners and tabs. Love your work!

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The Mize of Texas said...

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danielle said...

just gorgeous! This is my first time at you blog and I must say it is lovely!
My favorite way to embellish is stitching I think.

Anonymous said...

I like to embellish with Machine stitching and loving the enamel dots too!