Carnival Release: Hybrid Frame Project & Freebie Brag Book Page

For just 24 hours you can enter to win a copy of this kit!!!  Head over to Adori Graphics...but HURRY!

It's release time again at Adorible Digital Designs, and the new kit Carnival is full of wonderful elements like two banners, buttons, flowers, ribbon & string, bead scatter, tickets, and my personal favorite - several shapes and frames using the vintage looking book page.  There's also a complete alphabet and beautifully patterned paper with coordinating solids.  It's great for all those trips to the fairs, amusement parks, and the circus.  Here are just some of the goodies below:

I used it to try out a new way of decoupaging my favorite inexpensive wooden frames, that I pick up for just a dollar and are great for achieving many different looks.  This time instead of a layering scrapbook paper and embellishments, I created the whole thing digitally.  Then it was just print and decoupage onto my frame.

It's a great way to use your digital kits to create customized party favors or gifts for your friends and family.  Instead of "Memories" you could add each receipient's name or the place the photo was taken.  You'll only need to make minor text adjustments for each person so making several at one time is quick and easy.

If you'd like to do a similar project I have some helpful suggestions:

1. Measure, measure, measure!!!  I had to print my design out three times to get spacing correctly.
2. After printing out your image, trim and hold over your frame with the photo backing removed, by a light source to check for spacing.
3. Wait until your paper is completely dry before attempting decoupage with a wet adhesive, I like Mod Podge, to avoid the image running. 
4. Apply only a THIN layer of Mod Podge to the frame before carefully laying down your paper.
5. Quickly smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles, you can use your fingers, brayer, and even an old plastic credit or gift card.
6. Use sandpaper to smooth your edges and give the project a distressed, aged look.
7. Upgrade your paper to premium presntation paper or ultra premium presentation paper, I found slightly thicker paper easier to use for this application.  It's also good to have onhand for printing out card designs that do not have to be then mounted on something else for stability.

A Limited Time FREEBIE!

It would be hard to share the image I used for the frame because it's sized pretty specifically for the ones I use that I'm not sure everyone has access to.  So I modified the design and created a brag book freebie for you! Image is also linked.  (Link Expired)  Please respect Adorible Digital Designs term's of use and enjoy for your own personal use only

You can visit each member of the Adorible Digital Designs Team and get a Brag Book Page at each stop.  These will only be available for free, for a limited time, so make sure you hop on by and snag each one!  Links will work for one week!  

If you're following along the train, you should've come from Amanda & Millie Designs and your next stop is Larissa at Life, Scrap, Bake.  If you get lost, head to Louise's site for the full schedule. Don't forget to also join us at the new digi scrap forum Digiscrap Nation!

Update 4/25: I hope you enjoyed participating in the blog train. For anyone who come on board a little late and missed the freebies, you can purchase the items in store from today.  Make sure you get your freebies next time by joining our blog train from 9th May...remember, the freebies will only be up for one week before being added to the store, so be quick!

Before you go, I also want to share a layout I did, using those frames I mentioned at the start of the post.  Carnival has more vintage, shabby chic, eclectic look than my normal style and I had so much fun using it!  I've even taken some of the elements in my layout to create a cluster that will be available for purchase in a set along with clusters the other Design Team members made.  A preview of the cluster pack  is below, it's also being released today at Adorible Digital Designs.

If you've never worked with clusters before they are a great time savers!  You get a layered look without all the work, it's easy to add your photos and quickly make up a page, with most of the design work done for you!

Shared At: Craft-O-Maniac, Making the World Cuter, Sew Can Do, Keeping It Simple, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Embellishing Life, Skip to My Lou, and my own linky party A Crafty Soiree.  Have you joined us lately, c'mon we'd love to have you!

Disclaimer: As a member of the Adorible Digital Designs Team, I receive access to kits in return for making promotional items.