An apple a day

Love this paper the moment I saw it but honestly, I

didn't know what to do with it.

I also whacked a strip off  the top to use on another page

that didn't quite make the cut.

Yunk Yunk.

Therefore, I whacked it down to 8.5x11 in order to use it as a page 

and it worked out perfectly.

 I also love the transparent mason jar.

I finally purchased some staz on - so no more smears.

And that apple I had FOREVER - in a chipboard ring

with other fruit that was just too cute to either use or break up.

Well....I wanted an apple.

 The apple had to sort of match the tags/tabs so

Using some really old enamel craftsmart paint I mixed
some red/orange and a bit o'white.

Love the tags too.

They make me swoon.

Okay so tell me does that apple paper rock with the photo or what.

Love - Studio Calico, inkadoo and technique tuesday stamps, 

unknown chipboard apple (and there'll be more fruit).

I'm on a roll with titles on the photo.

Does that happen to you?

You roll with a thing when you do "batch" layouts.

My take on making your own flairs tutorial

After checking out some online tutorials about homemade

 flair badges I decided to check it out for myself and relate my results.

I know you're excited.

I was.

Would you believe I had to buy a one-inch punch?

Isn't that crazy.

 I used my brand new one-inch punch and punched out 9 circles from some chipboard.
It was pretty thick chipboard - as I use them for my baby albums and
I like them sturdy.

 Glued 3 together to make the recommended thickness.

And then painted them gray.

As I made more due to some man-made disasters

I switched out to this less thick chipboard as the first one 

was threatening to break my punch.
I also decided to not paint them this time and honestly,
I'm okay with the "rustic" chipboard look.

 The less thicker chipboard with 3 glued still had the same thickness.

 I purchased some one-inch epoxy stickers at Hobby Lobby

 and I also had some glossy accents to test as well.

 I stamped some designs on regular pattern paper and used some

watercolors to make them pretty.

 Waited not so patiently for them to dry and added the expoxy sticker

and as you can see - it has the depth of a flair badge.

Below are my versions - I added die cuts, punched out labels too.

The one that says "its a girl" is glossy accent and really

you can't tell the difference.

The only fatal flaw is that you have to wait for it to dry.

Using a heat gun is disasterous and leaving it lay around can lead

to other types of catastrophes, such as laying stuff on top,

using a heat gun, and leaving your finger print as you poke it

to make sure its dry.

Just to name a few.

 The glossy accent was my 3rd try.

Just sayin.......

Above are my homemade flairs.

I will give this another whirl as I have some

other ideas in mind.

And below in a not so pretty photo - showing my badges

against the real deal.

They turned out pretty good and its nice to have the ability

to customize them.

As you will see below on a page.

The themed ones from Avacado Arts called my name -
actually screamed heritage.

As you know I adore heritage.
The black, grey, gold are lovely colors together
and they became the inspiration for this page.

 They are not as crisp as "real" flairs though the rustic-ness works well for this page.

Broke out my diecuts
And doesn't that photo make you swoon.
My great grandmother.

 And the doily.
Love the daintiness it brings.

I love how the badges worked out on this page, they really added flair.
yunk yunk.
If you give this awhirl, please share the results
I'd love to see them.

My great grandmother -as a young woman.
I have no idea how young - so I'm guessing maybe 20.
Its hard to tell back then.