Hello Pebbles Friends! It’s Leanne here today, sharing some quick and easy ideas on how to make Project Life Filler cards in under 30 minutes! I’m sure we all struggle at times with project managing and hoping we can document every moment! Sometimes our projects can take days, weeks even and we sometimes lose our momentum. I know this is an occurrence that I come face to face with throughout the year on a semi-regular basis, but my simple method for overcoming a limited mojo, is giving myself a time limit to create in. A half hour of creative play is all it takes to burst the bubble and push forward to complete creative projects.

Project Life filler cards are one of the easiest projects to play with. If you are not a Pocket Page enthusiast however, these 3×4 cards can be converted into regular gift giving cards.

Where to Start..

I generally gather my supplies before any project and look at the colours and patterns available for suitability. I wanted to create a pocket page about an art exhibition I saw with my children, which involved uncaged birds. The new Patio Party by Jen Hadfield is just divine and ideal for my pocket page spread.

 

The next step is to select photos that will help maintain the focus of the story without losing impact from the pretty papers! Once I have my base layout design, using three photos, three blank pieces of cardstock and three pieces of patterned paper, I am ready to start building up my layers.

Go-to design..

When creating PL cards, I love to use basic elements with a twist. The simplest form of design involves a 3×4 cardstock base and  3×4 sized patterned paper.

1. Ensure patterned paper and cardstock are the same width.
2. Trim the patterned paper on the diagonal.
3. Adhere the patterned paper to the cardstock. For extra effect, add a row of machine stitching.
4. Layer the PL filler card with a cut apart sentiment from the same collection to maintain a cohesive look.

This PL card took approximately five minutes to create from start to finish! The next stage takes the same amount of time and you can create two from three pieces of cardstock or patterned paper.

1. Trim both cardstock and patterned paper to size – 3×4.
2. Measure one third down from the top of the cut apart card with a journaling sentiment and trim.
3. Adhere the larger piece of the journaling sentiment card to the patterned paper and machine stitch close to the top of the sentiment.
4. Add a thin strip of contrasting patterned paper beneath the smaller journaling card sentiment when attached to the cardstock. Machine stitch at both the top and bottom of the patterned paper.

Assessing the overall design..

After I have created a few PL filler cards, I like to slip them back into the over all design, to see where I can add extra elements or create a visual triangle for the entire spread.

On the previously created filler card, I wanted to link the visual element of woodgrain from one of the patterned papers used below it in the spread. I selected the woodgrain arrow, not only because it’s really cute and a colour match, but the sentiment is perfect for my story! I love it when little details come together like this!

Building layers with journaling..

To complete my pocket page spread I now need to just add my story. Remember, the object of starting this project was to complete it in under 30 minutes. The title card also falls under this category. I didn’t even break out any die cutting tools, but just used a pair of scissors and started freestyle cutting.

1. Create a focal point for the title to sit on. Repeating the use of similar patterned paper strips used in other PL cards forms a cohesive appearance. Plus it is also easy to use what is already sitting on your desk.
2. Freestyle cut the title.
3. Machine stitch the title into place on the patterned paper base.
4. To draw the eye towards the title work, add a paper punched heart to represent the negative spaces in alphas.

Five minute journaling..

The final cardstock base has been set aside specifically as a journaling card. However, to have a unified feel to the overall spread, coordinating paper strips have been added to the top of the card before typing the journaling.

1. Add thin paper strips to the top of the card. They don’t need to be even or perfectly aligned.
2. Machine stitch directly across the top of each paper strip.
3. Run your card through the typewriter or hand write the story.
4. Stamp a simple sentiment or word at the bottom of the card to reinforce the story.

Finally lay out the spread as it will be displayed in the pocket page. Add any extra embellishments to suit the documentation process then sit back and admire the work you’ve just complete in under 30 minutes!

One pocket page spread has now been completed using three cardstock bases, three pieces of patterned paper and three photos. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Thanks for visiting the Pebbles Inc blog today..x

 

Supplies:

Patio Life Patio Party Patterned Paper 732866

From Me To You Patio Party Patterned Paper 732960

Backyard Blooms Patio Party Patterned Paper 732904

Citrus Sweet Patio Party Patterned Paper 732868

Welcome Mat Patio Party Patterned Paper 732869

Wood Veneer Layered Stickers Patio Party 733778