Framed!!!

Well I have been framed at the Cricut MB and people call me "The Enabler" but guess after reading this you might think  the term "Crazy"  is more applicable and you may even be justified in thinking that

This is Pam from TheBugBytes . Go grab some coffee and maybe a Donut or sandwich too as this post is exceedingly long..

My project for today is (clearing my throat and nervously just getting the dreaded  word out in a whisper!  )  Layout from sentimental.

So knowing that this maybe just the 5th or 6th layout be kind to me.Well even if the layout sucks and you want to do this   just take the time to read this because I have tried a new technique - making your own customized woodenized frame - and even if the layout doesn't appeal at least you might use the technique (Btw if you like all these emoticons and want to use them on your own blog - it is as easy as posting with firefox after downloading and installing greasemonkey.)
Ok without further adieu. Here is my layout. Except for the title which is from graphically speaking, the border in the pattern paper using Martha Stewart lace punch, the ribbons, lace , pearls and the flower embellishments all the cuts are from sentimental

Yes! That Includes the Frame!!!
It looks like wood doesn't it?
In a way it is .  So Mya not copper or gold!   but a wooden texture got by using wood filler - the drying sandable kind - on chipboard  and then sanding, staining and sealing it.  Ok my secret is now out. .
Very easy process. Not time consuming in the sense you do not need to  labor over it. But the process to dry in between stages does take time.  So plan to give 2-3 days time before you want your  layout finished.

Materials I have used
I have listed  almost all important material

• 2 sheets - chipboard - .022 thickness acid free (I get mine form uline or in small amount - ckresales)
• cream color cardstock 2 - 3 - sheets
• DCWV stack - shimmer and old world
• antique linen distress ink - Tim Holtz
• sakura white souffle pen for feather texture
• ancient glass embossing liquid by Plaid (found at Micheals)
• lace and ribbon
• some flower buttons
• some tiny cream color ribbon roses
• Martha stewart lace punch
• cutter's, scissors
• blister pack - plastic (which I always save after freeing out the cartridges)
• gold foil pen
• glue - pop darts, glue dots, zipdry and zig

• Cartridges - graphically speaking (only for the title) and sentimental

and of course for my technique

• a drying sandable wood filler. Be careful if you get a  wood putty for most of that is nice to roll out but does not dry . (I have used Elmer's wood filler - walmart)

• a wood stain - color of your choice ( I used Red Mahagony miniwax)

• a sealant - Be careful about this too. Read the instructions on the stain in the shop itself and get the recommended stain.  I have used the polyurethane as it clearly said that for Red mahogony I have to avoid polycrylic and use this one. Also choose a finish. I have chosen satin but you can also choose glossy.

• A plastic palette knife and foam brush )
• texturisers like toothpick, Q tip with cotton removed etc.

• Rags and some water.

 Now for putting the layout together. Note you do not need the gypsy or CDS at all as there is no weld in this layout. But neverthless for sizing I like to use one of them as  it also allows me to alter some  images according to my needs.

Here are the videos

Part 1



Part 2



And here are the images from the gypsy file.
Note: I have modified the layers a bit from these images to include the ink bottle 3rd layer (you can find it in shadow layer as the color of the shadow is the same) and I have added a circle (from sentimental) to the lens shadow so that you need not search around for a circle punch

page 1 -" layoutdonotcut" - Do not Cut. As this is just the layout sketch

 Page 2 -  "framecut2"- cut 2 pieces with chipboard (if you are trying my technique). Retain the inside oval template. It will come handy in cutting your photo. I have cut mine going a quarter inch inside

page 3 - "frameshadow" -  the mat which the frame and photo sits on which is the shadow feature of the frame. I have used cream colored card stock and distressed it with antique linen tim holtz ink.

page 4 - "accesories". I cut all using cream colored cardstock and again aged it with distress ink except the feather. Then played around with some images using liquid glass embossing, inking, drawing with pens etc


















page 5 - "shadows" - I cut this with the shimmer DCWV cardstock - a deep winish brown color. This color is also used as the base on which you can put the lace edge punched cardstock from Old world .

page 6 - tag layer which I cut with a leftover cardstock which coordinated well with these.

Now that the file is done

 I first cut only  2 pieces of frame - page 2 with chipboard - as I mentioned 2 to 3 days before . I used the brown side up (mine is white on one side and brown on anther) so that if there is a peek through somewhere it can be easily camouflaged.
 I kept one piece aside for backing as I was sure the process will mess up and stain the back and I did not want to put that dirty back on the pattern paper.
Then I opened the wood filler and as it was too wet and liquidy I allowed it to set for about 10 mins and then applied on the chipbard. Warning ! the whole process is Messy. Protect your surface and for staining and sealing it is also recommended that you have open windows - so take it out in that stage.
I used a plastic palette knife, some water to smoothen and applied a thick layer rather like cake frosting  about 1/8th - 1/4 inch thick  depending on how smooth you want . Then allow it to set for 5 mins and then add texture. Mark deep groves because if you sand after drying you do  not want to loose the lines. When the stain settles insie the groove it looks dark and gives a lovely look. Keep fiddling to your liking. You have 1/2 an hour to play . After it set for 1/2 an hour I punched and got back the holes in the frame where it had filled up. You can do I anytime within that time frame (or maybe even more).
Then I allowed it to dry.
Watch the video part 1 to see the technique
Here is how my frame looks dried and unsanded

I did not sand it much as I did want an aged wood look. So I used a fine grain sander and sanded it just a little. You can also go back and keep adding more after all the filler is just wood crumbs mixed in glue. Just use water  to bond. and smoothen and play.
I then stained - 2 coats - each coat allowed to dry after removing excess with rag (outside the house - in the backyard)

and sealed

after it dried I added just a touch of gold foil to unify the design elements on the layout

Glued the 2nd piece at the back after this completely dried.

Well that's the new technique. Isn't it worth the time and effort.  Think of the possibilities. You can make lightweight wood out of any cricut cut and so customize it. 1 box of filler, stain and sealant go a long way. :)
 Now for the rest of the layout.
I just punched the side edges of the pattern paper from Old world with Martha Stewart punch so that it sat about half an inch lesser than the plain base.  Aged a lace and added it to this to form a Cruciform composition dividing the one piece rectangle of the pattern paper to make it visually interesting by dividing it unevenly.
Then I took the cream colored feather cutout which was the only piece undistressed. I took a white souffle sakura pan and drew white feathery lines. This when dry acts as a resist and then I applied the ink and attached it to the shadow cut

As for the inkpot I did cut out an extra piece (no the shadow but a main one) using the purple shimmer (same color as shadow) and cut the top and bottom so that just the word ink remained. The cream color cutout I cut hiding the ink word. I will modify my  file before sharing. Then I used gold foil and applied Antigue glass embossing liquid. and after drying - some places became green/blue - a happy accident as I liked the patina look it gave. I just added more gold foil over some places to cover up and left some as it is.

As for the lens. I punched the shadow with a circle punch and added plastic/blister pack material at the back to hold the glass finish and still remain transparent.

I also assembled the tag

pop darted the back of the cream mat on one side so that the  2 tags can slide in and out at and angle

Stuck it down , penned the title to pop up just a bit. added cut with scissors to cricut cut from sentimental as I liked the sentiment on it, pop darted the lens, ink and lens and added to layout. The lens while drying showed a crack as my son accidently dropped something on it while watching. I again liked this happy accident . I overlapped the transparent glass on the title a bit
And then added some flowers, flower buttons and pearls (left over from the purse from forever young last time around).
here are some close up views.

& my whole layout once again. Btw yes that little girl is me and that's my grandfather. That's why I decided to include the journal note ( cut out from another pattern paper) - Beginnings.

Whew! That was rather Lonnnnnnnnnn..........ggggggg wasn't it.
So I hope you enjoyed this project. As makeugirl217 says I love followers & comments. Do visit my blog TheBugBytes to see many projects one a whole lot of awesome designer's and the file for sharing can also be found there
Thanks for reading. See you again the next time...