NEW CUT FILES | Good Things

Even though it's probably just my imagination, it feels like fall is just around the corner.  But since it's still been in the mid 90's here, it's probably just wishful thinking.  My favorite thing about scrapbooking, is that it can be any season you want!  I broke out one of my new fall collections, Again and Again from Pink Paislee, to use with the NEW Geometric Frames Cut File.  And I have to tell you, that this layout makes me all kinds of happy!

I went with a white cardstock background, so I could cut the Geometric Frames cut file from the wood grain patterned paper in the Again and Again collection.  I placed the cut file on my background paper and used liquid adhesive to adhere it.  Then I took the center of one of the frames, and used it as a template to cut the same shape from other papers in the collection.  I placed each shape inside the frames, and tried to vary the placement to keep similar patterns and colors from being side by side.

I cropped my photo into the same shape and used my paper trimmer to keep a white border around the photo.  I love the black & white photo on this layout, because the colors would have clashed, if I had left it in color.   I decided to keep the embellishing around the photo very simple.  I used a phrase sticker that says "smile" and an epoxy chevron piece.  The contrast of the black & white photo helps it to stand out, so I didn't really need a lot of embellishments around it to draw attention to it.

I always love to use stickers and ephemera from my collections, and the center of each of the geometric frames was a perfect spot for embellishing.  I used dimensional foam behind most of the embellishments to give them a bit of separation from the patterned paper beneath them.  

You can find the Geometric Frames cut file in The Cut Shoppe store, along with three other NEW Designs!!  Don't forget to stop by and check them out!

NEW CUT FILES | Back to School Bash

Can you believe it's already time for back to school??!!  You're either ready to get those kids back with their teachers, or hoping to hang on to summer days a little bit longer.  We homeschool, so mine are with me 24/7!  HA!  Since we homeschool, I don't always have the usual school photos, but I just had to use the NEW School Days cut file.  Thankfully, we had the chance to help out on one of our church campuses last weekend with a backpack giveaway for kids in the community, and I made sure to snap a couple of photos.

When I sat down to work on the layout, I remembered having a kit from Freckled Fawn, that I bought last year that would work perfectly for a school themed layout.  All of my patterned papers are from the kit, and I love the way the burst patterned paper looks behind the backpack cut file.  Since I had cut the cut file from white cardstock and had such a bold paper backing it, I wanted something subtle behind it, but not solid white.  You can imagine how excited I was to have the fun notebook paper to use for my background!

Even though the papers from the Freckled Fawn kit worked with the school theme, most of the embellishments did not.  So I decided to dip into my Pinkfresh Studio Office Hours collection.  I looked for pieces that would coordinate with the colors in the burst paper and found quite a bit.  I created a photo cluster on the right hand side with some of the embellishments and then made another embellishment cluster on the left hand side, that included my journaling.

I needed something for my title, and had these black and white Thickers in my stash.  They work great with any collections, and I love the contrast with the bright colors.  The spacing worked out perfectly to add the title on the lower portion of the backpack.  

I hope you'll stop by The Cut Shoppe store and pick up the School Days cut file.  And while you're there, make sure you check out our other new designs that are now available!

 

FREEBIE FRIYAY | Too Cool for School

Happy August friends!  It's time for this month's FREEBIE FRIYAY Cut File, Too Cool for School.  Can you believe it's almost time for school to start again??!!  This Cut File is perfect for documenting previous school photos or saving for this year's upcoming photos.  You can find Too Cool for School by visiting The Cut Shoppe store and checking out our Free Designs section.  And don't forget, that our FREE Cut Files are always FREE, so you can download them anytime.

I wanted to use the Cut File for a layout in my Traveler's Notebook.  To make it work with the TN size, I turned it for a vertical title and cut it from one of the patterned papers in the Pink Paislee Whimsical collection.  Since I almost always back my cut files, I changed things up this time and left it open.  I really liked the way the outline looked against the white background.

Make sure you stop by The Cut Shoppe store to pick up Too Cool for School!   You can also check out all of our other FREE Designs while you're there and make sure you take a look at our New Designs!

NEW CUT FILES | Weekend Getaway

Hi everyone!  It's NEW Cut File day, and I'm still over here scrapping summer photos!  I like to scrap photos from the current season, and we have so many cut files that are perfect for summer projects.  There are four great Cut Files that have been added to The Cut Shoppe store, and some will work great for summer projects and some will work great for everyday projects.  I used the NEW Photo Album Cut File...which is great for everyday projects...but I paired it with my summer photos!

  

I went into my Crate Paper stash for this layout and pulled out the Oasis collection.  I still have a ton of it, and I thought it would be fun with this Cut File.  I cut the Photo Album Cut File from one of the patterned papers.  I typically use white cardstock for my Cut Files, but I thought I would change it up for this layout.  Once the Cut File was finished cutting, I backed it with different papers from the Oasis 6x6 paper pad, and placed it on a white cardstock background.

It's been a really long time since I've used 5 photos on a layout...I rarely even do 2 photos on one layout these days.  But I decided to go with 5 for this layout.  I had some fun beach photos and since there are five of us, it worked out to use a photo in each of the frames.  I changed my photos to black & white, because I wanted the look to be consistent and I always love the graphic look of black & white.  I didn't change the original size of the Cut File, so my photos are sized to around 1.75x1.75 to fit inside the frames.

When I got ready to embellish, I chose some of the gold embellishments from the collection.  I love the look of the gold embellishments, but they are always a BIG pain to photograph!!  This time, I tried photographing my layout inside, under my light stands and with some magical editing in PhotoShop, it turned out okay.  I also wanted to bring in some more black to the layout, to complement the photos.   I chose 3 black phrases from the chipboard sheet and sticker sheet to complete the layout.

Make sure you visit The Cut Shoppe store to pick up the Photo Album Cut File!  You can use it in so many different ways and on multiple projects.  And while you're there, make sure you check out all of the other designs that are available today!

 

NEW!! LET'S CUT CLASS!

We are so excited to launch a NEW class in The Cut Shoppe store today!  Let's Cut Class is great whether you're a beginner with your Silhouette Cameo, or whether you've been using it for a while.  

INTRODUCTORY PRICE:  $10.00 JULY 15TH - JULY 19TH

PRICE INCREASES TO $12.00 JULY 20TH

LET'S CUT CLASS INCLUDES:

*4 Exclusive Cut File Designs & 2 Print & Cut Designs
(Cut Files available as PNG, DXF and SVG)
*5 Exclusive PDF Lessons
*5 Exclusive Inspiration Projects by Ashley Horton
*5 Exclusive Instructional Videos
*5 Exclusive Sketches
*Access to private Facebook Group
*Email access to me

Die Cut Machine Tutorials included in videos are done with Silhouette Studio.

You can access the instructional videos, by clicking the video links in the Lesson PDF.

Make sure you visit The Cut Shoppe store and pick up Let's Cut Class at the introductory price!  And we would love to see what you're creating for the class, so tag us on Instagram @thecutshoppe and use the hashtag #tcsletscutclass, when you're posting your projects!

NEW CUT FILES | This Is Us

New Cut Files are in The Cut Shoppe store and there are lots of awesome designs to choose from!  I decided to use the This Is Us cut file for my layout.  We took a selfie on Easter, that I've wanted to use on a layout, and this seemed to be the perfect cut file to go along with it.

I cut the design from White card stock (one of my go-to looks) and backed the words of the cut file with papers from the Pink Paislee Indigo & Ivy collection.  I love how the colors in the collection coordinated with the photo.  After backing the letters, I decided to leave the heart shapes unbacked.  I liked the contrast of the White hearts on the wood grain background.

Since the cut file covered a lot of the background, I created three clusters to make a visual triangle on the layout.  I started with my photo and adhered it with dimensional foam to pop it off the page.  Then I placed some embellishments from the Indigo & Ivy collection around the photo.

I finished the layout with two other embellishment clusters at the top and bottom of the page.  And I added a few wood veneer hearts from the collection to the center of some of the die cut hearts.  Lastly, I brought in some of the beautiful rub-ons that are included in the Indigo & Ivy collection.

I hope you'll take some time today to visit The Cut Shoppe store to check out all of the fun,  new designs!

 

FREEBIE FRIYAY | BEACH VACATION

It's FREEBIE FRIYAY, and this month we have the Beach Vacation Cut File!  This cut file is great for the title of your layout and perfect for backing with your favorite patterned papers.  You can find Beach Vacation by visiting The Cut Shoppe store and checking out our Free Designs section.  And don't forget, that are FREE Cut Files are always FREE, so you can download them anytime.

I used the cut file with one of my favorite summer collections, Sunny Days from Crate Paper.  I love the contrast of my cut file being cut from White card stock, with all of the fun patterned papers.  And there are lots of spaces to embellish with this cut file.  You can layer over the letters or use the space on the sides of the word.

Make sure you stop by The Cut Shoppe store to pick up Beach Vacation!  And if you're planning to do a little shopping while you're there, don't forget about our 25% off sale that lasts through July 6th!

 

Star-Spangled 4th of July & Discount Code!!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY FRIENDS!!  We hope all of our US friends are having a great day...and if you're not one of our US friends, we hope you're having a great day too!  :)  In the spirit of the 4th of July a couple of our Design Team members created layouts to inspire your patriotic projects.  And make sure you check out the end of the post, for a Discount to The Cut Shoppe store!

JOANNA BANDELIN

  

ASHLEY HORTON

If you're heading over to the store to check out any patriotic themed cut files (or just any of your favorite designs), make sure you use our current Discount Code to save 25% off of your order today, through July 6th!! 

 

NEW CUT FILES | OBA Day

Since we're so close to the beach, we try to go often during the summer.  A few years ago, we decided to buy a boat and that makes it even more fun.  We went out last weekend, and I snapped some photos of our beach day.  The NEW Beach Life Cut File was perfect for the photo I wanted to use for my layout.

I have to admit, that this layout got off to a rocky start!  The pink polka dot patterned paper is not what I originally started out with.  I initially had another background paper from the Crate Paper Sunny Days collection, but after I had the entire layout finished, I decided I didn't like it.  HA!  Sometimes projects just don't go the way we want them to.  Thankfully, I was able to trim out my entire design from the first background paper and place it on the new one.

I already had my cut file, photo and embellishments in place, so I just adhered it all to the new background paper.  Then I decided I wanted some texture on the beach umbrella.  I used White embroidery floss to hand-stitch along all of the lines on the umbrella.  I love the tone on tone look of the White cardstock and White embroidery floss.

Once I finished the stitching, I felt like I needed something else above the beach umbrella.  The layout is bottom heavy, since my photo and embellishments are at the bottom of the page.  I decided to add the Sun + Shine Thickers above the umbrella and I included two hearts from the Sunny Days Chipboard sticker sheet.

You can find Beach Life in The Cut Shoppe store, along with three other NEW Cut Files!!  Make sure you stop by the store to check them out!!

 

NEW CUT FILES | I Love You This Much

I will admit, that I have a thing for large titles on my layouts.  If there's an opportunity to use one, I probably will.  And it just so happens, that there's an awesome large title cut file in today's NEW releases in The Cut Shoppe store.  I used the This Much cut file with the beautiful Pretty Little Studio Document Life collection, designed by one of our talented, former DT members, Heather Doolittle!

I wanted this layout to have a bright, graphic look.  I kept the cut file as large as I could and cut it from White cardstock.  Then I backed it with a rainbow patterned paper from the Document Life collection.  I love that it brings in all of the colors from the collection without being overpowering.  I kept contrast with the bright colors in the cut file, by using a Black & White subtle patterned paper for the background.

My photo is from a trip to NYC, earlier this year.  I thought it was perfect with the cut file, since it was a selfie of the whole family.  And since we were in Times Square, there were a lot of colors in the photo, so I changed it to black & white to make it coordinate better with the collection.  I created a border on each side of the photo with the fun, days of the week circle die cuts from Document Life.  Then for a pop of color, I placed a heart sticker at the bottom of each one.

I finished the layout by adding a few embellishments layered over the die cut.  I didn't want to cover up too much of the title, so I kept it pretty simple.  I had some cute epoxy flair from Scrappin Happy Studio, so I added the number 10 to the "O" in you, to represent that I love my family 10 out of 10!!  :)  Then I placed a second epoxy flair under the photo, with the fun camera design.  You can never have too much flair!  At the end of the layout, I debated  whether I should add some splatters of Color Shine, but decided to keep it clean, in the end.

I hope you'll head over to The Cut Shoppe Store and grab the This Much Cut File.  And you can also find our other awesome designs in the store today!!