definition of bargello - "a style of piecework in which fabric is first sewn in horizontal strips, then cut and arranged in vertical steps to produce undulating designs"
for this tutorial i am showing you how easy it is to recycle and re-use your scraps of patterned papers to create something totally new. bargello is traditionally a sewing thing but it just goes to show once again that crafts do overlap and we can find inspiration everywhere.

i used my bargello bird cage on the layout above as an example of the technique. remember that you can dress up your bargello elements with anything from glitter glue to dimensional glaze.

some diamantes added to the dots on the ball

close-up detail of the bargello effect on the bird cage with its different strips of patterned papers

and a close-up of the photo

and here is how you get the faux bargello effect
step 1
cut several strips of patterned papers and plain card stock. keep the strips the same width and the same length.

step 2
add some double sided tape to a piece of plain white card stock from side to side. adhere the patterned paper strips from side to side - remember to keep them flush to each other.

step 3
turn your card stock over and add another layout of double sided tape to the back. when you die-cut your bargello element it will have the double sided tape at the back and you won't have to add glue. this makes working with fine detailed elements much easier because you avoid the mess of adding an adhesive.

step 4
now die-cut your element out of your piece of card stock. the finished look is that of multiple designs and colours on a single design with little effort.

TIP - even the tiniest of scraps can be turned into a work of art to use on your cards, scrapbook layouts and even ATCs. think flowers, butterflies and borders.
I hope you like this technique and will try your hand at it. Since i am such a big hoarder of my little scraps, i have to find different ways of using them creatively.

to learn how i made the elements on this card, check back tomorrow to see a tutorial I have put together for scrapbook challenges. I had so much fun with the elements on my layout i continued and made this card as well- i rather like it, hope you do too. check back tomorrow ...

the challenge is up over at scrap and stamp Saturday...and this week it's a wonderful sketch by fellow design team member Pamela - a stunner. head on over to the site to check out the sketch as well as the other design team member's samples.

i love what i do for a living, each and everyday i get to play and this is what this layout is all about. the joy that my dream job brings me. some close-ups include - another variety on the every so popular flag theme. i printed the letters on the computer, cut them out and folded them over before cutting the little "v" parts. i first adhered them to the layout and then added the sewing and little blings.

ribbon folded softly and adhered using double sided tape

and stamping with my new girls' paperie stamp set. the bodice was coloured with scattered straw distress ink and then glazed

part of my dream job is doing some good for the community and the world. as little as it may be i try. today we had our Organ Donor Foundation scrap day in JHB. i designed a layout for the event that i will share a little later this coming week. i think the day was a huge success and quite a bit of money was raised for the foundation through the ticket sales and raffles. it does feel good giving back and especially when you can do it through something you love so much. i saw so many familiar faces, customers and friends today - and the best part i made a whole bunch of new friends as well. scrapping really does heal and bring people together! hope you have a fabulous Saturday.

supplies: Cardstock by Fabscraps. Patterned paper by Kaisercraft and handmade. Stamps by Girls' Paperie. Ink by Ranger Industries. Rub-on by Kaisercraft. Pebble by Prima. Other Ribbon, diamantes, dimensional glaze, embroidery thread and title by cricut.

today was a good day....my week long headache seemed to have taken a backseat and some of my worries seem to have dissipated a bit as well. i got the concept proof today of of my new book! this is the part of publishing that i absolutely LOVE! and it reminded me again today why i have chosen the path in life i have. I may not have ended up where i intended but i think i have gone where i intended to be instead. i get goose bumps with excitement as i think of the whole process that lies ahead this coming month or two as we proof read and check and double check and triple check and make changes and go to print! i have realized again - unless you have been in publishing before you have no clue what it really takes to get it all together, and if you have never done a full days work on a photo shoot you can't judge people by their cover, and prepared loads of copy and seen a baby through to the final wet ink stage...you can't judge people - what i am trying to get across is that most people think you sit on your ass and do very little work!
so as i enter into my favourite time of the creative process, i also enter late nights and early mornings, proof reading until the letters start jumping around and you can't focus up to the point where you want to throw up! ...and then i realise how much I love publishing!! and always will until my last breath.

from yesterdays first card came this second one...using some girls' paperie scraps, an Eiffel tower stamp and some of those little paper roses.

torn edge with some MME lush peeking out behind

and the paper roses with some glitter glue on the edges just for some glam

supplies: Patterned paper by Girls' Paperie & MME. Stamp by Cavallini. Ink by Tsukineko. Glitter glue by Ranger Industries. Other Paper roses, clear embossing powder, pearls, embroidery thread.