Getting back to normal!

Hello, Crafters.

I hope you've had a great weekend. 

After having had the pleasure of hubby at home for the last five days, today he's back at work and we get back to our normal routine!

Yesterday I shared my photograph frame project on a Facebook group that was set up for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators. 

In my post, I acknowledged that the inspiration for the easel part of the photograph frame was from an US demo called Meg Loven. 

Meg saw my post and she shared another project she makes, which she calls a sampler. 

You may remember the Telford Sampler I shared here a couple of years ago. 

Meg's sampler is very similar but on a smaller scale.

I watched Meg's video and decided to give it a try.

I wanted to stay with the Carols of Christmas Bundle, which is currently on pre-release. 

I chose to use some Merry Little Christmas Designer Series Paper (DSP) which, like the Carols of Christmas Bundle, is part of the much bigger Merry Little Christmas Suite.

I chose to do 1 3/8" squares - Meg used 1 1/2" squares - which meant I had to reduce the overall size of my board to 5 5/8" (Meg's was 6"). 

I wasn't sure whether or not I should make my double square taller than double to allow for the gap between two regular squares. 

I decided to add a row of stars in the gap I had leftover! 

I think it worked well, although next time I make one of these, I'll add the extra length to the double square, or width if I decide to use it horizontally instead of vertically!

I'm really pleased with my sampler, and can see this idea being used for other projects. 

For example, different patterned squares around a much larger base, would make a great photograph frame. 

My project from yesterday's video would work well if the size was increased. 

I can also see this idea making a lovely calendar, either with the calendar in the centre of the sampler, or with extra space added at the bottom to take the calendar. 

These are extra products I used but haven't already mentioned:-

Photograph 1: the little stars below the top left hand side square, are Gold Foil cut outs are from the moon and stars die. 
 

Photographs 2, 4 and 9: Old Olive and Real Red Inks, Gold Foil and 1/8" Hand Held Circle Punch.

Photograph 3: the Gold Foil cut outs are from the moon and stars die.

Photograph 5: stars as photograph 1,  plus Basic Black Cardstock, and the Ruffled 3D Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

Photograph 6 - 7: Old Olive Ink and Real Red Marker Pen.

Photograph 8: Olive Green Cardstock, Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate, and Gold Foil. 

Photograph 10: if I remember correctly, the cardboard I used for the easel support, came with a specialty DSP.

As I said on yesterday's blog, many thanks for the inspiration Meg Loven!

I hope you've enjoyed today's project, because I certainly enjoyed making it!

Until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB.