Train Tracks Border Punch

Ho, ho, ho! Happy Holidays! I hope that all of you had a very Merry Christmas! And I’m hoping that we all have a much better New Year!

As you might know, I’m a founding member of Creative Life Scrapbooking. We are a group of eight Creative Memories advisors who for the past five years have shared tons of scrapbooking ideas on Facebook. Weekly we share for #BorderMakerMonday and #FeaturedProjectFriday. We also host quarterly Blog Hops which you’ve seen here on Karyn Crops, and we also host PJ Party virtual crops.

Our next PJ Party virtual crop will be on Friday, January 29th, and we invite you to join us! As we enter our 6th year of hosting PJ Parties, we will be moving the format to Zoom where you’ll be able to interact with us and see step by step demonstrations on how to make six featured scrapbook layouts. We’ll also share two more bonus layouts, photos and printable handouts in a private Facebook group for the PJ Party. For more information and to register, please click here.

As a Christmas gift to our followers, Creative Life Scrapbooking is currently running a 12 Days of Christmas (#CLS12Days) feature on our Facebook page. Each day from December 25th through January 5th, we are sharing a new holiday layout. Joining the 8 CLS team members are 4 very special guest designers. Below is the layout that I created and shared on December 25th for the 1st Day of Christmas.

I used the Christmas Spirit Paper, Embellishments and Stickers from Creative Memories to create my layout. With images of Santa, elves and reindeer, this is a super fun Christmas collection! The Christmas Spirit Embellishments and Laser Cut Border Embellishments are especially cute!

To Make My Layout:

1. Cut hollow frames from two sheets of Crimson Cardstock leaving a 1″ edge.
2. Cut wood patterned paper to 11-3/4″ x 11-1/2″, and adhere to the Crimson Cardstock frames.
3. From designer paper, cut squares that measure: 3″x3″, 4″x4″, 5″x5″, 6″x6″ and 7″x7″.
4. From White Cardstock, cut squares that measure: 3-1/4″ x 3-1/4″, 4-1/4″ x 4-1/4″, 5-1/4″ x 5-1/4″, 6-1/4″ x 6-1/4″ and 7-1/4″ x 7-1/4″.
5. From the top center of each square, cut diagonally to the bottom right and left corners to create triangles.
6. Use the Custom Cutting System with the largest Oval Pattern and Red Blade on the outside edge to cut a sloping edge on the bottoms of the triangle pieces. Adhere the patterned triangles to the cardstock triangles.
7. Cut a 3″x3″ square from Brown Cardstock, and trim into a triangle to make the tree trunk.
8. Assemble tree using Foam Squares to adhere the layers.
9. Use the Train Tracks Border Punch to punch a piece from Brown Cardstock, and trim with scissors to create a small step ladder. Or create a small ladder using small strips of cardstock.
10. From Crimson Cardstock, cut the following pieces: 4-1/4″ x 6-1/4″, 12″ x 6-1/4″, (2) 4-1/4″ x 1-1/4″, and (2) 12″ x 1-1/4″.
11. From music print paper, cut the following pieces: (2) 4″x1″, (2) 11-3/4″ x 1″. Adhere to the Crimson Cardstock strips.
12. Assemble and adhere pieces on layout as shown.
13. Using scissors, fussy cut the scroll piece journaling box from a variety mat. Cut in half and adhere as shown.
14. Add embellishments and stickers using Foam Squares as shown.

Below is another layout that I recently shared to Creative Life Scrapbooking for #BorderMakerMonday. I used the Original Border Maker System from Creative Memories to jazz up a simple Christmas tree made from strips of paper. I also used the Songbirds Border Punch to add a few partridges in my pear tree! This is a fun layout that assembles quickly. To top off my tree, I added a hand-tied paper bow. The designer paper and embellishments are from the Merry Blooms collection from our Black Friday Promotion.

To Make My Layout:

1. Cut a 3/8” x 10-1/2” strip from Rich Brown Cardstock to use as the tree trunk.
2. Cut strips from a variety of designer paper in varying widths and heights. My strips from top down are: 2-1/2” x ½”; 3-1/2” x ½”; 4-1/4” x 6/8”; 5” x ½”; 5-1/2” x 6/8”; and 6” x ½”.
3. Punch borders using border punches and the Original Border Maker System with a variety of border maker cartridges. My borders are: Songbirds Border Punch 3-1/2”; Christmas Stockings Chain 5-1/2; and Ruffle Trim 6”.
4. Add a star with a Foam Square.
5. Wrap a very thin 1/16” strip of cardstock, around two of your fingers to make loops. Using another thin strip of paper, carefully tie a knot in the center. Pull as tight as you can without tearing your paper. You will have better results with thinner paper. Adhere the bow with a Foam Square.
6. My photo mats are 4-1/4” x 4-1/4” and 4-1/4” x 6-1/4”.

My last layout for today is one that I shared with my own private Facebook group, Karyn’s Croppers. On Karyn’s Croppers, I share info about Creative Memories products, specials and my own events. Earlier in the month, I held a virtual class to assemble the Under the Tree Tag Kit from CM. I also taught how to use the tags to make the layout below. Please join Karyn’s Croppers on Facebook if you would like to participate in my events and see more scrapbooking ideas.

The adorable tags and twine are part of the Under the Tree Tag Kit that is still available to purchase through my Creative Memories website link. The sheet of background paper is from the Merry Blooms Paper that was a promotional item for our Black Friday special. My bow is constructed from Scarlet Cardstock.

To Create the Bow:

Most of the items that I used for these layouts can be purchased through my Creative Memories website link.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday season, and I hope to see you at our Creative Life Scrapbooking PJ Party virtual crop on January 29th!

Karyn

I had fun playing with my Creative Memories tools and the new Hello, Autumn Paper and Hello, Autumn Tone-on-Tone Paper to create a few fall borders. For my first layout, used the new Apple Chain Border Maker Cartridge and two of my favorite border punches – the Branch Border Punch and the Songbirds Border Punch to create a tree branch full of apples and black crows.

I hope that you were able to purchase the Branch Border Punch last year as it is no longer available. I love how the Branch Border Punch can be used to create borders for all four seasons of the year! If you search my blog, you’ll find several different ideas for using it. If you love the Songbirds Border Punch, I recommend purchasing it sooner than later as it’s been in our product line for about a year now. I also used the new Arch Frame Border Punch – which is quickly becoming a new favorite of mine.

I love how the new Arch Frame Border Punch can be used in many different ways! (Please view my video below.) I also love how it can more easily be used for masculine layouts than some of our other punches. The punch creates a shape that is similar to that of our Medallion Frame Chain Border Maker Cartridge, and borders created with these two tools can be used together for a nice affect.

Arch Frame Border Punch Demo Video

To Create My Layout:

1. Cut a 12″ x 2-1/2″ strip from Hello, Autumn Paper.
2. Use the Arch Frame Border Punch to punch a border from Crimson Cardstock. Use the Original Border Maker System with the Medallion Frame Chain Border Maker Cartridge to punch a border from Crimson Cardstock. Layer these pieces as shown, and adhere to a sheet of Hello, Autumn Tone-on-Tone Paper.
3. Cut two 12″ x 1/4″ strips from Crimson Cardstock, and adhere to the seams of the borders.
4. Use the Branch Border Punch to punch a border from Brown Cardstock.
5. Use the Original Border Maker System with the Apple Chain Border Maker Cartridge to punch borders from Crimson Cardstock and Hello, Autumn Tone-on-Tone Paper (dark green plaid). With scissors, cut out individual apples from both border pieces and layer.
6. Use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch birds from Black Cardstock.
7. Use the retired Leaf Trio Punch to punch leaves from Hello, Autumn Paper and Hello, Autumn Tone-on-Tone Paper. Crease the leaves slightly to create dimension.
8. Adhere the apples, birds and leaves to the border using Foam Squares to adhere some.
9. My photo mats are: 6-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ and 4-1/4″ x 6-1/4″, and the mat for my journaling box is 6-1/4″ x 1-3/4″. My journaling box is 1/8″ smaller than the mat is cut from the new White Lined Paper.
10. Use the Original Border Maker System with the Infinity Chain Border Maker Cartridge to punch a border from Crimson Cardstock. Adhere to the bottom of the layout.
11. Add a final embellishment of songbirds and leaves to the bottom corner. Add a title from the Hello, Autumn Stickers.

For my second layout, I paired the Apple Chain Border Maker Cartridge with the Train Tracks Border Punch to create a fall fence row against an autumn moon. Just for fun, I added a few more black crows to complete the border piece. The background paper is from the Hello, Autumn Tone-on-Tone Paper and the leaf patterned paper is from the Hello, Autumn Paper.

For this layout, I also used the Marigold Cardstock that was part of CM’s Cardstock Buffet this past spring. Once a quarter, CM offers a Cardstock Buffet of unique shades of cardstock that will coordinate with up-coming collections. I highly recommend purchasing this extra cardstock whenever it’s available.

To Create My Layout:

1. Cut a 12″ x 3/4″ strip of leave print paper, and adhere to the top of the page.
2. Cut a 12″ x 1/4″ strip of Crimson Cardstock and adhere over the seam of the leaf border and the background paper.
3. Use the Train Tracks Border Punch to punch a border from Brown Cardstock.
4. Use the Custom Cutting System and the largest Circle Cutting Pattern and the Red Blade on the inside edge to cut a circle from Marigold Cardstock.
5. Position the train track/fence piece about 1″ down from the crimson strip, and position the marigold circle behind it. Adhere the pieces.
6. Use the Original Border Maker System with the Apple Chain Border Maker Cartridge to punch borders from Leaf Green Cardstock, Crimson Cardstock and Marigold Cardstock. With scissors, cut off the leaves and stems from the crimson border and layer on top of the leaf green border. Use scissors to cut out individual marigold apples and adhere on top of crimson apples. Adhere apple border to the bottom of your fence piece.
7. Use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch birds from Black Cardstock. Adhere birds with Foam Squares.
8. Add a title from the Hello, Autumn Stickers with Foam Squares.
9. Cut a piece of leaf print paper to 11″ x 7-1/2″. Cut photo mats to 4-1/4″ x 6-1/4″ from Crimson Cardstock. Adhere pieces as shown.
10. Use the Hello, Autumn Journaling Template to trace a small apple piece from Marigold and Leaf Green Cardstocks. Cut out with scissors. Adhere with Foam Squares and add black songbirds.

Thanks so much for visiting with me today for Border Maker Monday with Creative Life Scrapbooking! Please note that Creative Memories is offering a promo beginning today at noon CT (Monday, September 21st) through September 29th at noon CT. With a $125 purchase, you’ll receive your choice of one of two FREE border punches! Please place your orders through my my Creative Memories website link.