Day 64: Candy Land Title and Cards

I wanted to place the title "Candy Land" on the first page of my two-page layout, and at first I thought about using some colorful primary alphabet stickers I had in my stash; but then I decided I would really like the title to use the same letters that are on the Candy Land game itself.  I wanted to work on this layout now, and not have to search the internet and then wait to receive something in the mail days from now, or run to area scrapbook stores to see if they had a Candy Land title.  So, I copied the letters on the cover of the game box, reduced the size, printed them out  on white card stock from Georgia Pacific using my HP Printer, and then fussy-cut them for the title.*  I ran the letters through my Xyron adhesive machine. I punched out nine 1.25 inch squares with a punch from EK Success using Real Red paper from Stampin' Up! and attached the letters to the squares. Then I punched out nine 1.375 inch white squares with a punch from EK Success on card stock from Georgia Pacific and attached those to the back of the smaller red squares.  I edged the squares in Real Red ink from Stampin' Up! to make it look like there was another layer of red beneath the white.  I thought there was not enough contrast between the white squares and the white background paper, but I did not have the next larger size square punch, so this was my quick fix.  However, that still didn't give me enough contrast.  I really wanted a red title strip to go underneath the letters, but the only red paper I had was 8.5x 11 inches and my scrapbook pages are 12 x 12 inches.  I have seen where people paint or ink acetate plastic, so I decided to do that. I have a stash of acetate plastic I have collected from product boxes, so I found a piece that was longer than 12 inches, and cut it to the dimensions I needed to make a title strip for my page (1.75 inches wide by 12 inches long).  I inked the acetate plastic with Blazing Red StazOn Ink by Tuskineko and left it to dry overnight. (StazOn ink is permanent on plastic or other slick surfaces, but drying time varies depending on what you are inking, so leaving it to dry overnight was a precaution so I would not smudge the ink.)

I began critiquing the second page and decided that the two matted photos, one embellishment from Jolee's and my journaling block were not enough, and that the page needed more. I decided to copy some of the playing cards and print them out and mat them and then lined them up down either side of my photos.

Satisfied with my progress, I decided to leave this and come back to complete the assembly of the pages tomorrow.

*Advice on cutting out the letters A and D:  to cut out the middle of the letter D: there is a slight separation where the D starts and stops at the top left of the D.  Using scissors with a very small, fine blade, cut along that separation and then cut out the center part of the D, following the inside of the D until you get back to the beginning.   Advice on cutting out the letter A:  make two copies for each A; then cut out the crossbar of the A on one copy and set aside; then cut through the crossbar on the second copy, following the lowercase "n" or upside down "u" shape; glue the crossbar on top of the "n"/ upside down "u" shape.