Challenge 15 - Paper Piecing!

For this challenge, we're revisiting an older technique - paper piecing. A good way to create a custom embellishment or two for your pages. And it's not just for those cute tear bears, either. Use a pre-made pattern or make one of your own, you can find many free patterns on the net. Trace a design, enlarge a dingbat, or use a picture from your child's coloring book.

Link your creations here by Sunday night, April 6th for a chance to win a RAK.

Here's what the team did:

Jen used cardstock to create these cute monsters accents.

Deborah used a variety of patterned paper to create these spaceships. She found pictures of wall-art for boys on the internet and used them as templates.

Alicia made these adorable Easter bunny and chick accents.

Becky made butterfly accents that reinforce her layout theme.

So get those scissors out and show us your creations!

Challenge 14 Slideshow -- Stringing Beads!

Another round of great layouts -- and great use of beads! Here are your layouts! We'll be back this afternoon with our next challenge.

and the winner for this challenge is Debra Lynn - aka Nado! Please send us your address and congrats!

How did you find us?

Hello, everyone. There are still a few days to get those beads strung, but in the meantime, please do us a favor...

We want to know how you found Method Playground. Was is a friend? A website? The bagger at the grocery store?

Leave us a comment letting us know how you heard about us and I will randomly choose one lucky poster to win a little RAK. You have until 3/26 at midnight to leave your comments. Thanks!

Challenge 14 - Stringing Beads

I don't know about you, but I got a little carried away buying beads last fall for our 4th challenge with Ali Edwards. So, let's put those extra beads to good use. Your challenge is to use beads on your layout -- but -- you must string them. You can use any size bead you'd like. String them with thread, fibers, wire, ribbon - whatever works for you. You can make shapes with your beads, as Jen and I did, use them to frame a journaling box like Becky, or as part of a design like Alicia.

Just post your creations here by Sunday, March 23rd. And the RAK for this challenge is a Spoonful of Sugar kit from Studio Calico. So pull out those beads and get stringing!

Here's what the team did:

Jen used her beads to embellish her blocks of Love, Elsie patterned paper.

Becky used Queen & Co. beads to make both a rectangular journaling box and to outline shapes in her patterned paper.

I used wire to string my beads and shaped them into circular elements.

Alicia used daisy beads and strung them through Maya Roads ribbon, making a lovely vine with flowers.

Challenge 13 slideshow

The response to this challenge was so terrific!!!
We are so grateful to everyone who participated...

Here is the slideshow!

And the receivers of RAK's are:

Kelly A

Alicia (Gumpgirl)

Megan A

Sharie

Candice Reszko


Please email us your addresses!
And thanks for playing!
B-

Challenge 13: Use Hand Cutting On Your Layout!

Use Hand Cutting on your Layout! This is one of my very favorite techniques, something that I have done from my earliest scrappy days! I love hand cutting (some people call it fussy cutting) and use it in a lot of my projects, whether it is altered art, mini-albums, cards or layouts. So the challenge is to take a piece of patterned,stamped, rub-ons, or digital printed paper and hand cut an image out and use it in your project. This is a great technique for digital scrapping also, so play along if you are digi-rific!

There will be a few "raks" for this one, Teresa Collins donated some of her papers and I will also be giving away a gift card to PcLayers! So there is something for everyone in this challenge!
In my project, I hand cut around the waves and surfboards from the "Boardwalk" collection that Teresa designed. I liked the waves overlapping, and didn't tack them down so they would add a little visual interest that way!

Alicia hand cut out the flowers and bird from American Craft paper! Such a darling whimsical touch for that stunning picture!


Jen cut out the bird, gorgeous! But what really catches my eye is the detail cuts in the Scenic Route leaves with the same colored paper as the bird behind the cut outs! Clever!
Deb cut out the Heidi Grace flocked paper for that extra pop of green, and it is flocked, adding an extra element of visual and textural interest!

So get out that exacto knife and put in a fresh blade, grab your favorite small scissor or make a new layer in your digital editing program and start masking or erasing! We want to see it all!

Don't forget there are a few things to give away this time around...

Thanks for playing!

Challenge 12 Winner

Thanks to everyone who participated in the No Photo challenge. I loved the diversity of the entries we received. Some used lots of memorabilia, some kept it simple, but all were fun and unique.

The winner this week, however, is GRETA. I not only loved the design of the layout, I loved how she took this photo-less opportunity to tell such a touching story. If you have not read her journaling, do so.

Congrats, Greta. Email us and I will get a little RAK out to you.

Check back later today for the next challenge. It was a fun one to do, and I think you will all enjoy it!