How to create the curved left edge of your layout
If you have a template trace it onto your patterned blue paper with the splats on. Then adhere it to orange cardstock and cut a 5mm border so that the orange peeks out from underneath.
Trace a second shape onto a darker patterned paper and trim it smaller – adhere this piece on top of the first traced shape 7cm from the left edge – add machine or hand sewing to finish it off.
**I used a large circle to create my shaped border, if you don’t have a large circle here’s how you create it – cut a 13cm wide strip of patterned paper. Make a mark in the middle 9cm in from the left edge and 15cm down from the top – now draw a curved line from the top right edge towards the middle 9cm mark and then out towards the bottom right hand
corner – cut and ink the edges.

2. Once you have created your left curved edge, adhere it flush to the left edge of your layout.
3. Matt your photos. I matted the four photos on the left hand side all on one piece of cardstock and trimmed around the
edge. Adhere the photos 5.3cm from the bottom edge and flush in the middle.
4. Adhere the remainder of your photos on the right hand side of your layout with a 2mm spacing from the left edge.
5. Cut a piece of the graffiti paper 14cm wide and ink the edges. Adhere this strip next to the photos on the right hand side with a small spacing between the paper and the matted photos.
6. Cut a 2cm wide strip from the graph paper, ink the edges and adhere it flush with the graffiti paper strip on the right side of it.
7. Trim a 5mm wide strip of orange cardstock and adhere it to the right
8. Trim a barcode strip off of your patterned paper and adhere it next to the orange cardstock strip.
9. Adhere a Project Life card on the right side of your layout 7cm from the bottom edge and on the graffiti paper panel.
10. Add your sewing. I added a creative border sewing on the graph paper strip by using the squares as a guide to pierce holes. See how I sew my arrow shape on the following page.
11. Cut two flags from paper scraps measuring about 5cmx2cm, ink the edges and adhere them 7cm from the bottom
edge on the left page.
12. Stamp five circles on acetate using a foam circle stamp and Silver StazOn ink pad. Leave the circles to dry thoroughly
and then cut them out using your scissors. Warning: Do not try punching them - some punched will jam and break
permanently if you try to punch acetate.
13. Position the circles on your layout and make a hole using your paper piercer. Adhere the circle onto the page using
brads instead of an adhesive that will show through. Trim off the overlapping parts of the circles on the edges.
14. Stamp orange stars onto scrap paper as well as the word awesome. Trim the stars and adhere them using foam tape. Fold the awesome stamped ticket over and adhere with a brad and adhesive. Add your title and any other boy embellishments you want to. Add additional machine sewing and diamanté to finish it off. Remember your journaling!

I used hand sewing on my layout because I love the texture and dimension it adds. But I also love machine stitching and have no problem combining the two together on a single layout. Here I used a
variegated green silk thread to sew with my machine - it runs from white to light green to dark green and adds so much interest. I also did some sewing through my title stickers to make sure they are permanent - this works really well when stickers aren’t that sticky anymore.

Project Life cards from the kits ranges are perfect to use on your layouts. These cards offers you a place to add journaling, extra photos like a decorative photo matt and acts as a powerful and instant decorative element on your layout. I use themed project life cards on my layouts all the time - the thinking has been done already and often they only need a small amount of dressing up to act as a really cool element. And when I am done I can also use them in my PL albums for everyday memories.