happiness: a bella blvd challenge layout

we have lots of great stuff going on this week on the bella blvd blog. first off, we have a special week-long guest designer joining us. shannon tidwell! i've been a long time fan of her work, mostly at 2peas and for KI memories. it's been a lot of fun working so closely with her on this feature. she's heading up a week long challenge feature, where we have a different challenge every day this week. shannon has created lots of layouts for the challenges, and then our design team is playing along as well.

today's challenge is to use patterned papers from at least 4 different collections. that's actually really easy for me. i've always loved picking and choosing patterned papers from lots of different collections, and using them together on one layout. so i decided to double the challenge for myself. i choose patterned papers from EIGHT different collections for this layout.

the great thing about bella blvd papers, is that they have such great tone-on-tone patterns. this makes mixing papers easy to do. and you'll find so many of the same colors and shades, in many of the collections. when i was looking for a green patterned paper for this layout, i ended up with about 5 different choices, from 5 different collections, all of which would have worked. same with the aqua, or red, etc.

i thought it would be fun to do another sunburst on my layout. it's such a great way to use lots of patterned papers, and it looks super cool too! but, these sunburst do take a lot of work and thinking. lol! i snapped a few quick photos, while i was creating mine, to let you peek at my process. keep in mind, this is just the way i do them. doesn't mean it's the best way ;)

the word "happiness" from the sunshine & happiness chipboard set, was the starting point for this layout. when i went to choose my papers, i used these colors to make my choices.

and here's the final papers that i decided on. like i said, there were lots of choices for each color. i just made sure to have a good mix of patterns. chevron, polka dots, plaid, etc.

i knew i wanted my sunburst to go across the top of the page. so i cut a piece of white cardstock to the same size that i wanted my sunburst to be. i believe this is 4.5x12 inches. usually, you'll want to have something placed over the center of the sunburst. a photo, an accent, etc. my intention was to put my title over the center, and i knew i was going to use a large circle to add my title too.

so i arranged the circle template over where i knew i would be putting it, and then traced around it, onto the white cardstock. i made a pencil mark in the center of the circle, along the edge of the paper. then i used my ruler to draw the lines out ... from that center pencil mark, to the outside edge of the paper. i varied the size of the bursts, making some thinner and some wider.

since i was going to be placing a large circle over the center of the sunburst, i knew i didn't need the bursts to go all the way to the middle. if more of the bursts would have shown, and i had something smaller being placed over the center, i would have traced the lines further in. if that makes sense. after drawing all my lines, i numbered each burst, so that i could easily keep track of where they go. otherwise, it's like a puzzle, getting them back together. then cut them all apart, using your paper trimmer.

i then used each burst, as a template, to cut out my patterned papers. i used just a tiny bit of removeable adhesive, to stick the template piece to the backside of the patterned paper, and then cut them out. i won't lie. i spent FOREVER getting a color combo and arrangement that i liked. several of these bursts, i cut out numerous times, from different papers, trying to get the right look.

then i adhered each piece to a 12x12 sheet of white cardstock. this is just the piece that i'm building my entire layout on. i started with the two orange corner pieces, and then worked my way in. on a few other projects, where i have created sunbursts, i have machine stitched along each burst. which takes FOREVER. so i skipped that on this layout.

and here you can see where i placed my large circle, over the center of the sunburst. i used my circle cutters, to cut two different circles, slightly varying in size. the top piece is an embossed white cardstock, and the bottom is a text paper. i adhered the layered circles to the layout using pop dots.

in my journaling, i mention "all my girls". i should clarify that only two of these are technically "my girls". the other four are previous daycare girls of mine. i've always lovingly called almost all of my daycare kids "mine". i used a photo template from kerri bradford studio, to create my photo collage.

i used my favorite grid patterned paper for the bottom part of my page. i really need to get more of it, because i'm down to my last sheet. the text paper along the left side, is the same paper that i used as the bottom circle on my title piece. the text is mostly red, which i thought was good, since i only used one piece of red paper on my sunburst. plus, lots of the words in the text are printed in other colors. most of which are the other fun colors that i used. it was meant to be used.

i ended up with all of these oddly shaped scraps of patterned paper, from cutting out my bursts. the day i created this layout, i had bought this tiny flower punch. i picked it up, after i realized i had no small flower punches, and recently, i had the need for one. since it was on my desk, i just decided to use it. i punched these little flowers out of each of the six papers i used on the sunburst. i adhered them along the text strip of paper, and then added little silver accents to the centers. i finished embellishing the layout with lots of little word stickers, in my six coordinating colors, and a few chipboard clouds.

make sure and stop by the bella blvd blog all week long, to check in on the fun. there is a TON of inspiration going on, with LOADS of new projects being shared. and we want YOU to join in on our challenges too. we're inviting you to play along, and then upload your projects showing your take on any or all of the challenges. you can link your layout at the end of each post this week. we're giving one lucky participate a prize package worth $100! but to be entered in the random drawing, you have to participate. for each project you create and link on our posts, your name will be entered in the drawing. so the more you create, the more chances you have to win. have fun, and good luck!

Comments

[Becky Williams]

This is my new favorite page from you! What a a cute layout!!! LOVE the sunburst at the top of the page and the flowers down the side :)

[Shannon]

Absolutely love this layout!!!!

[Michelle]

This is very cool, Laura!!! I love the sun burst!!

[April W]

I am SO in love with this page Laura! Just fabulous...

[Banu H]

Beautiful layout. The sunburst is so cool. Thanks for the tutorial. I might just have to CASE this idea.

[Kim Thomas]

Adorable layout! So sunny and happy P:)

[Brenda]

Love this layout! Thanks for showing your sunburst process it actually made lots of sense and I'm going to try it.

[Sandra A]

Love it! It's such a bright and cheery layout. I love how you "needed" a flower punch. And you were right; made the perfect addition to this layout.

[amy tangerine]

so fun and happy - love this to pieces!!

[Shir Benovich]

Cool! Love the colors! The happiness "jumps" of this layout! Love it!

[Diana Waite]

oh MY! This is SOOO fun--I seriously LOVE this!! Thanks for the how to--very fun!

[Lisa]

love everything about this layout! so bright and cheerful!

[dawn]

Laura you are soooo awesome!! I looooove this layout. Just this morning my creative mind was saying Laura hasn't had a challenge in awhile and it would be great to have one. Well here you are putting out a challenge!! Have to admit this will be a tricky one for me, not good at mixing up patterns and papers!! Will give it a shot though. Guess what else I've been creating with?? Rainbows and rainbow colors of all kinds. So this post makes me verrrrry happy.

This is my new favorite of yours now, is there anything you can't do. Thank you for always inspiring me and sharing just what I need at that moment.

I did say you were AWESOME right??!!!

p.s. thank you for sharing how you did this, wounld nver have figured it out.

[Lisa Beeman]

GREAT layout! Thanks for showing your steps in achieving this look, I really want to try this!

[Felicia Young]

Awesome layout! Love it! I have a question laura, where did you get your desk at in scrap room? I have been looking for something like it and it looks like Ikea. Thanks!

[Kathy Martin]

This is a fabulous design to showcase the Sunshine & Happiness collection! Thanks for the tutorial on your sun! :)

[Carol B]

This is so awesome!

Carol B
ciaoitalia2007(at)gmail(dot)com

[McCoko]

Love the layout! it is fabulous. Where do you get your grid paper from. I have been looking all over for 12x12 grid paper since scenic route went out of business!

[Linda Barber]

Love! I've been wondering the best way to make a sunburst... THANKS! :)

[susan weinroth]

this is AMAAAAAAAZING laura! so in love with it :)

[LisaE]

Fantastic layout!

[Sara Rossi]

This is truly FANTASTIC!!! I especially like that you included "how" to do this since I would have to re-read this several times to get it! HA!!

[Denise]

I just read about how to do this on another blog who creditted you with the original post! Small world. I follow the Bella Blog and so your name is super familiar to me. I won a couple things close together and so corresponded a couple times..... ANYways! Thanks for a great tutorial. Amazing how something like that looks so cool but then just seems so hard to do. You made it look easy.... so I am going to try it! Thanks!