Paper Tearing Technique

December's Creative kit from My Creative Scrapbook is full of beautiful winter papers from Crate Paper. I had so much fun working with the papers and the pieces - there are so many pieces - in this kit. This month I wanted to share a technique I used on several of my layouts. I hope you like it! If you've never torn paper for a layout you are missing out - especially when you are creating winter layouts. It adds a fun look and it is super easy to do. Amazingly, I've talked to several people who are unsure of how to do it and make it look good. First, let me say it is TORN paper so it really can't be wrong - right? I personally tear paper in short sections. Depending on the look I want to achieve I either tear the paper towards me or away. Check out the differences:

Here I tore the paper away from me. The paper still looks the same along the tear line. Here I tore the paper towards me. Can you see the difference? The paper is white along the tear line.

This is the method I chose to use on my December Creative kit layouts. I think the white part gives a kind of snow capped looked. For my Winter Wishes layout I tore my paper into 3 pieces (per page). I added diamond stickles to the torn parts for an added sparkle. Once the stickles was dry I added the pieces to my layout.

On my Winter Snuggles layout I started out watering down my paper strips using a small spray bottle. Once the paper was pretty wet I tore the paper towards me in small sections as well. This time I also tore little sections further open as well. I finished by curling the torn paper up. At this point I let my paper dry over night. You could also use a heat gun to dry the paper. It will be stiff once it is dry. I added ink to the papers when they were dry and then created my layout.

I also tore the pattern paper on the dashing through the snow layout. For this particular layout I used a pencil and ruler to draw a line from corner to corner of the 12x12 paper. I used the line as a guide as I tore across the paper. I didn't want it to follow the line perfectly but I did want to make sure I was on track to make it to the other corner when I finished tearing. After I tore the paper I placed it on the cardstock. I placed adhesive along the torn edge and then slide in the "snowball" looking ribbon along the edge. I hope you like it!

A little gift for a a scrappy lover a little gift for you!

Here is a special message from MCS owner, Pam Rangel: Hi girls, Happy Holidays from My Creative Scrapbook. We are so excited to bring you these Fantastic New kits. We know how long your holiday shopping list can be so we have two items just for you. 1.) Give a kit as a gift and receive a gift for yourself promotion, see blog for details or e-mail us . 2.) FREE Gift for you in your January kit shipment. You have worked hard this holiday season and you deserve a gift just for you. So we are sending you a Holiday gift in your January box. How Fun! Thank you for your continued support of our kit club, we are so lucky to have such wonderful customers. We love putting these kits together for you. Happy holidays to you and your family Hugs Pam Rangel Owner www.MyCreativeScrapbook.com

December My Creative Scrapbook Kit Reveal

Hi Everyone, It's December 5th and that means it's time to reveal the My Creative Scrapbook kits for the month of December. This month the kits are full of Christmas Cheer. It is my favorite month for kits every year. I'd design with everyone one of them if I had the time! Here is the December Main kit - a mixture of Simple Stories and Echo Park.

The Limited Edition kit this month features Pink Paislee Snow Village. The Gold pieces really jazz up this kit but it is still something that even I would love to use with my three sons.

As always, my good friend, Kristin, makes me drool over the album kit. I love the album but I promise you - you have to check out the layout she made with the kit. It is my favorite layout this month! The album kit features Echo Park. Check it out!

I thought I'd also share the "Spot light on your life" project life kit this month. I love it too!

As always, I save my favorite for last! The Creative kit this month features Crate Paper. I LOVED this kit. It was hard to choose what photos I was going to work with because I had so many great photos that coordinated with the papers. In the end, I used up almost every last scrap of paper and have few embellishments left - maybe enough for a card or two. Check out this kit!

Now for my layouts - there are several: There are so many amazing layouts to view so be sure to visit the design team gallery at www.mycreativescrapbook.com. Lastly, be sure to check out the subscription special going on for Christmas while you are at the site. You will love it. Merry Christmas, Joan