{A Flair for Buttons}

A Roundup of Reasons

Hi there. Ashli here with you today! 

I think we all agree that FLAIR is the best. In fact, most of my pages include it. As I looked back at some of my more recent layouts, this got me thinking...

...thinking about all the reasons why I might decide to put FLAIR on a page. So, I thought a roundup of these pages, along with the reason the FLAIR ended up on them, might be in order. Agreed?

Great! Let's get started...

BALANCE:

That's right. Nothing balances elements on a page quite like a FLAIR badge can. With the variety of colors and looks to be chosen from, the possibilities are endless when you need just that one final touch to complete a cohesive design...

In the following layout, the photo is dominating the upper left-hand side of the page. A simple FLAIR badge, punctuates the lower right-hand quadrant of the page:

In this next layout, I have added the fun and whimsical element of that black and white horse sticker, but I didn't want it to detract from the photo. A simple addition of the chalkboard flair, creates visual balance with the dark color and helps draw the eye back up to the area of the photo:

TEXTURE:

The unique texture of FLAIR badges can add just a certain something to a page like nothing else can. While the badges are metal on the backside, they don't tend to have that look from the front. But, they are shiny. They are larger than an enamel dot, sparkle just enough, but not too much if you are not into blingy things. I really could go on and on...

Take this next layout, for instance. I have a lot going on with the pattern, the mixed media and all the photos. The FLAIR adds just the right shiny touch to help break up all of the organic elements of this page, while still contrasting the grid design nicely:

 

I used a healthy dose of modeling paste on the following page. This allows for a wonderfully rustic and handmade quality. Therefore, the FLAIR adds the perfect amount of sparkle without overpowering the mixed media work:

WHIMSY:

One of my favorite things about FLAIR is that someone else designed it. Don't get me wrong, it would be fabulous to actually create some FLAIR of my own... However, the adorable and unexpected designs can add just the right amount of whimsy to a page without having to over think it. Let's explore that a little more...

For this page below, I am obviously scrapping an event based around the landscape of the Grand Canyon. However, i'm not sure that if I had simply cut a circle and drawn clouds on it, that the same fun and whimsical effect would have been achieved. Having this cute badge full of graphic clouds was the perfect solution:

This next layout is whimsical in it's own right. But, take a look at the FLAIR used in the bottom left corner. Not only does it pull in the black and white in my title, but I am positive that if I had simply written the word "capture" in my own handwriting, it would not have had the same impact on the overall design:

BECAUSE I CAN:

Well, yes... let's be honest... sometimes I just have to include a FLAIR badge on my page because I can. They are most fabulous and come in so many styles and colors that I am of the humble opinion that you really just can't go wrong! And, most of the "because I can" layouts tend to have elements of the aforementioned reasons...

Like this one. The FLAIR certainly helps to echo the design of the page as well as the colors, but I will say that I mostly put them on the page because I had them and love them and wanted them on the page. I'd say that's reason enough, yes?

And finally...

See that green leaf flair on this page? Well, I'm sure you have guess it by now... it matches my colors, and works well in contrast with the grid. But, it is indeed mostly on the page because I could and I wanted to!

 

I hope you have enjoyed this little Roundup of Reasons for FLAIR. Be sure to head on over to our ETSY SHOP to grab some FLAIR that you will just *have* to include on your next project!

See you soon!

Just A Touch

Do you ever try to step out of your perverbial box and change up your scrappy style? This past weekend I challenged myself to do just that.  Rather than using all sorts of layers and embellishments I decided to keep the layout simple.  The strategy was a good one for the photo of my hubby I had chosen to work with too (it's a headshot for his work's website).

I love how just a touch a flair can be all you really need to finish a layout.

This next layout was created using a sketch for Creative Scrappers and is more my typical style. 

I love to cluster my emelishments, and often chose a piece of flair as my focal peice and layer, and work everything else in around it.

Clean and simple or layered with several embellishmets; flair can always complete the look you're going for.

The Etsy shop is once again open for business, now that Shelley has returned from her break in the glorious California sun.  You can find both sets that I used in the shop here and here.

Just saw these in the shop today.  

They make me wish Summer was right around the corner.

Just You

Happy Saturday! Els here today. I hope you're all enjoying your weekend so far. I have a layout to share with you today. Black and white is usually not my go-to color combination, but I wanted to challenge myself this time since that's the combo in my picture. I added touches of red to add extra interest.

So of course I went looking for a bunch of flair in the same color scheme too. This grey linen chevron one fitted perfect on this globe stamp from Freckled Fawn.

The #selfie flair is from the Instalove 3 set, a beautiful colorful set. The red one from the Document 2 set has been in my stash for a long time, waiting for a good place to be used. And this layout was the perfect one.

Thanks for stopping by here today!! Have a great weekend!

Els.

Gamer & ouch! get up!

Mary-Ann here to share 2 layouts with you today.  The Etsy store may be on vacation for a couple days but creating with flair never stops!  I recently asked for two specific flair.  Epic Fail and a pair of headphones.  Both, perfect for what I had in mind for my next layouts.  

 

My first is Gamer.  He is too cool for school wearing a skull bandana, a Wreck-it Ralph t-shirt and kid sized headphones, which aid in his selective hearing.  I created this layout using Studio Calico's Sugar Rush kit, OhDeerMeKit by Feckled Fawn and the perfect flair!

 

 

 

My second layout for today is Ouch! Get up!  

 

Told you the flair I requested was perfect!  Disclaimer:  my son was not hurt during this event.  Matter of fact, I said wait, let me get my camera!  He got up saying, "Mom, I am glad you made me wear my helmet!"  This was the perfect opportunity to throw out there that I DO know everything!

 

 

gulp!  Look at those wooden dots by MME.

 

 

 

Since my layout was greens and blues, I used some of the Fresh Cut tape strips by Basic Grey and layered them and added embelishments to the top.  I think it helps pop my arrow flair!  Sometimes with older chipboard letters, they tend to loose their stick.  I reinforce mine with stitching.  The random pieces that do not fit under the stitching get a dab of glue.  For the vellum, what better way to attach than an extended reach stapler from Staples or Tim's Tiny Attacher if is close enough to the edge.  Hope you are inspired to create with some flair on your next layout.  

 

Mary-Ann Maldonado

Related articles

 

And they call it Puppy Love

After my recent move, I had the chance to set up my scrapbook room again.  I went through a major purge and reorganization (thanks to Pinterest).  I found that I had a lot of 'kits' that I had made up with the intention of making a layout but never got that far.

So when I booked a weekend retreat away, those were the first things I grabbed.  I found a hidden stash of {flair} in most of the bags.  It felt great to make something after 4 long months.  This was one of the first layouts that came out of that crafty weekend.

I mixed several of my favorite things on this layout.  Flair, hand-stitching and twine.

The shop is closed while Shelly is on vacation  but when it reopens, grab some dog or cat flair to add to those special pages about your 4-legged friends.

You can view more flair layouts on my personal blog and shop for flair in the Etsy shop when it reopens.

Getting Crafty

Happy Valentine's Day friends!

I am not traditionaly a crafty person, but I did want to make a little something for a couple of special girls in my life. 

Because these are not for kids, I decided to skip the romantic sentiment and go a different direction.  I pulled out my Silhouette and got to work cutting out a couple of candy holder baskets.

Add a little distress ink, some brads, and a little sentiment cut from scraps, top with a couple of cute Valentine's themed flair buttons and I was all set to bless a couple of friends with a little something sweet today.

Have you used our products to enhance your Valentine's gifts this week?  Be sure to link us up on social media so we can see.  You never know you may just see your work featured here on our blog.  You can tag us on Twitter and/or Instagram with #aflairforbuttons.

Thanks for stopping by today, and have a fabulous weekend, whatever your plans.

Hey Cupcake flair...LOVE

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you had a fabulous weekend! I did a little scrapping, which always makes for a good weekend in my book! :)

I dug into my Hey Cupcake flair again and created my most favorite, in the history of ever, layout! Looking at it just makes me HAPPY!

Want to see?!

It features a photo of my honey and I from a year ago. I had already done a layout about the story of the photo, so I thought I would scrap it...just for fun!

Here are a few close-ups for you...

The Hey Cupcake flair is super versatile, perfect for valentines, layouts about love and birthdays too!

You can pick up the Hey Cupcake flair set, and lots of other super cute "love" sets in the {a flair for buttons} shop!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a fabulous week!

You. Me. Oui.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. So it's time to get to work on some surprises for those special people in our lives. I wanted to share a more masculine Valentine's card with you today. I pulled out a bunch of heart flairs, but eventually chose for this one with the potty people from the Cork 2 set.

I chose a few masculine patterned papers and of course had to add ink splatters and masking tape. The sentiment matched very well with the flair, and gives this card a witty touch.

Thanks for stopping by again today!

Els.

Outside

We have been battleing snow and extreme cold weather here in the Northeast.  Not quite as bad as some of you but I refuse to venture outside unless I have to at this point. My feet are always freezing (ask my husband!)  I complain in the summer too cause its too hot!  So, with being cooped up, I was able to create using some of my brand spankin new flair!  Aren't they bright and cheery?

I thought I would pay homage to a time when we could be outside and not freeze to death!

 

 

 

Oh, I also got new lighting to help take better pictures of my flair!  Check these out, REALLY inexpensive.   Since it is so dreary out, I have been having them on for lighting my workspace too.  I had no idea how dull my room lights were!

Be sure to stop over to the STORE and pick up flair for your next project.  If you like the sets I used, you can find them HERE!

Mary-Ann

MY LIFE WORDS 2

 

SHERBET ARROW 1

Getting Messy - with Flair!

Hi everyone! Leslie here today to share not one, but 2 layouts I created.

I had the urge to get messy with paints, inks & mists the other day
so I went to town.  It's so fun just doing whatever you want on a layout
with these mediums - because honestly? You can't mess up. I mean you can...
but those mess ups tend to lead to...happy accidents.
Adding to your happy accidents is the PERFECT flair.
Case in point...
My first layout:
"The World Is Your Oyster"

this layout started out by me just taking a sponge brush and painting 2 different
turquoise colors in the middle of my page. Very messy, right? But fun!

Next I added some inks and let them drip down my page by holding my page
upright. next I simply added some drops from my mists by opening the bottle,
allowing drips to land on my page. Some I kept like that...
others, well...that's where I got a little "experiment" happy.
I have a tiny spray mist bottle I keep on my desk. I decided on these drips
to spray and see what happens. I got a little excited to see it expand and kept it like
that.

For the random "polka dots" on the page - I used a paint dauber.

here's a few more closer shots:

I used the following flair (to match my turquoise theme) for this layout:
Numbers & Letters Flair 2
Relax Flair
Tell Your Story Flair 2

 

and on my 2nd layout: 
"hi, my name is Lilly & I am a bird chaser"



I did the EXACT same process as above - just using darker, richer
turquoise tones. 




I used the following flair for this layout:
Hashtag Summer Flair
Document 1 Flair

here's a few more closer shots:







Thanks for stopping by today! Don't forget...

Visit A Flair For Buttons Etsy shop for all your flair needs!
Shelley has EVERYTHING. You'll have a blast shopping.

~Leslie