paper: Creating Paper Pattern Windows: a scrapbooking tutorial with Jennifer Gallacher | pretty paper. true stories. {and scrapbooking classes with cupcakes.}

Today I am delighted to welcome the ever-talented and ever-gracious Jen Gallacher to share a tutorial with one of her favourite scrapbooking techniques. Jen always inspires me, through both her work and her beautiful personality, and I hope she has the same effect on you. -Shimelle

Right now the art of layering is super hot. I especially love it when designers layer patterned paper behind a die cut shape or a “window” in a sheet of paper. I wanted to give this technique a little twist. Inspired by a sheet of perforated paper from Jenni Bowlin Designs, I knew that I could remove a few of the rectangles to create a “peek-a-boo” effect. Today I’d love to share with you how I achieved this look.

Step 1: Gather Supplies
Determine what patterned paper you’d like to peek through from the back of the Jenni Bowlin paper. I suggest using 6×6 paper pads as the prints are typically a smaller scale than a full sheet of 12×12 paper. You will also need a kraft knife and a cutting mat to protect your work surface.

Step 2: Cut Out the Paper Rectangles
Place the patterned paper on the cutting mat. Using the craft knife, carefully cut around the perforated edge of the kraft patterned paper.

Step 3: Determine Paper
Place the patterned paper you’ve selected behind the open windows to determine placement of the paper.

Step 4: Trace a Rectangle
Use a pencil to trace a slightly larger rectangle onto the patterned paper. 1/8” to 1/4” wider than the window will suffice.

Step 5: Tape Down Patterned Paper
Using decorative tape, adhere each rectangle from the patterned papers onto the back side of the kraft patterned paper.

Step 6: Check the Paper Placement
Turn over the kraft sheet of paper to ensure the placement of the patterned paper is to your liking. Adjust as needed.

You can use this same technique for die cut backgrounds. You can fussy cut any shape printed on paper and then layer a second paper behind. As you’re adding layers to your layouts, don’t neglect the opportunity to layer beneath as well.

Jennifer Gallacher has been a part of the paper crafting industry since late 1997. Over the past 16 years, she has served as a Design Team member for several manufacturers. In addition to working with manufacturing design teams, Jennifer served as the Contributing Editor for Scrapbook Trends Magazine, the Creative Editor for the Create Idea Book series, followed by the Assistant Editor for both Cricut Magazine and the Cricut Idea Books. Currently Jennifer serves as a Garden Girl for Two Peas In a Bucket and the Marketing Coordinator and Managing Editor for Echo Park Paper Co.. Jennifer enjoys photography, stamping; and of course, scrapbooking. As the mother of three children, she finds she has a lot to keep her busy and many memories to share. When she isn’t busy designing, writing, teaching, or editing she’s hanging out with her family because making memories is even sweeter than documenting them! You can find Jennifer’s work on her blog In-site-full or through her gallery at Two Peas In a Bucket here.

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04 February 2013

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