Twine-Wrapped Photo Mat

In addition to a bunch of artwork, I'll also be sharing here and there some tutorials I created for the magazine that have been hiding out for awhile!  This is one of my favorite ones!  I hope you likey and get some fun ideas from it!  This fun tutorial was featured in the May 2012 issue of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.

Twine-Wrapped Photo Mat

I always like to add something special, usually with dimension, to my clean and simple layouts. Such a simple addition can add pizzazz to an otherwise flattened scrapbook page. Try adding some fun visual interest with twine and a flower embellishment.

Run Buddies by Maureen Esquillo-Kao Supplies Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket, October Afternoon; Sticker Alphabet: American Crafts, Making Memories; Chipboard Button: American Crafts; Mist: Lindy’s Stamp Gang, Maya Road; Heart Die: My Favorite Things; Flower Die: Sizzix; Other: Vellum, twine, cardstock

Supplies

Cardstock

Patterned Paper

Mist in 2 shades of the same color

Twine

2 Die-cut flowers (cut from vellum)

Button

Die-cut heart (from vellum)

Sticker letters (2 sizes)

Glue dots

Scissors

  

Step One:  Choose your background/base piece of cardstock, some patterned cardstock, and another coordinating color of cardstock.  Cut down the patterned paper to 7”x9” and the solid cardstock at 6”x8”.  Use the two cut pieces as photo mats for your photo.

Step Two:  Take two die-cut flowers cut from vellum and mist them in two different shades of the same color.  Take a die-cut heart cut from vellum and layer on top of the two die-cut flowers.  Use a pair of scissors to cut a small slit in the middle of the flower.  You will use this slit to string through your twine.

Cut a length of twine about 5 feet, 9 inches (long enough to wrap around your photo mat 3 times).  Go from under your flower and push through one end of twine.  Take your button and put the twine through one of the holes.  Note:  It is helpful to glue the die cut flowers to each other as well as the vellum heart so that this piece stays together much easier as you pull through the twine.

Step Three:  Take your flower, hold it with your left hand and position at the top left of your photo mat.  Take the other end with the right hand and wrap 3 times around the photo mat.  From underneath the flower, pull through the other side of the twine and string through the second hole of the button.  Tighten the twine so it fits snugly around your photo mat.

Step Four:  Tie the twine into a bow and trim the ends.  Use glue dots to secure the flower embellishment to the photo mat and the button to the rest of the flower.

Note:  This is how the flower looks up close.

Note:  This is how the back of your photo mat will look

Easy peasy huh?  The photo from this layout was taken during the Color Run in Seattle this year.  My daughter tagged along with me and it was so much fun!

If you ever create something with this tutorial, link up!  I'd love to see it!