Build a Doily...

 
Hi Friends!  As you are reading this we are touring our nation's capital, enjoying the sights and visiting some family!  Today is Smithsonian day and the kids are so excited!  But, enough about that, and on to what you came for...

Unless you've been under a paper crafting rock, you've probably noticed a current trend.  Doilies.  There are tons of beautiful products out there with doilies!  Patterned papers, rub-ons, actual doilies, and stamps!  Now...Papertrey may not have a doily stamp set, but I bet you've got plenty of things in your Papertrey collection that will let you build your own.  So, welcome to...

The Build-a-Doily Workshop! 

It may just be the most fun you've ever had stamping. 

If you love to build patterns and love using your stamps in unique ways then you will have a blast playing around with this technique.  I know I did!

All of the doilies in the photo above were created using some of you favorite, most basic Papertrey sets. 

Some sets that I found to have great doily-building potential are...

The Borders and Corners sets: Circles, Ovals, Squares, and Rectangles.  Besides all of the great frames, there are tiny stamps in these sets that work great as "fillers" for those pretty details in your doilies.
Mini Scrapbook Series: Tabs: this set is almost a must for creating the scallops around your doilies!
Simply Stationery:  The pretty circles and elements have great doily potential!
Giga Guidlines:  These make gorgeous centers for your doilies
Guidlines and Guidelines II:  These make great centers for smaller doilies
Spooky Sweets II:  I know...halloween, who woulda thought?  But that pretty circle frame in just perfect for a doily center!
Boxes, Bags and Tags:  Another great basic set that has some great smaller, decorative elements.

And I'm sure you will come up with a gazzillion more sets that have great elements for building and embellishing your doilies.  I would recommend stamping your doilies onto scratch paper, experimenting with different designs and combinations.  Then keep them to use as a sort of formula for recreating them later, labeling them with the stamp sets you used to create them. You could put together a whole collection of different designs!

Let's get started, shall we? 

I'm going to show you step-by-step how to recreate one of the doilies...and I'll give you some ideas for creating more.  But really....it'll be up to you to dig through your stash and come up with your own unique combinations!  Fun!

For this first doily, I started with a circle frame from Borders and Corners {Circles}

I then stamped the center with an image fromGiga Guidelines.

I started creating the scallops around the outside using one of the tabs from Mini Scrapbook Series: Tabs.  Start by stamping the scallops directly above the four points of the Giga Guidelines image.  This will help to make sure that your scallops are spaced evenly.

Now go back and fill in the rest of the scallops.  They may overlap a bit, but that's ok...it adds to the lacy look of the image.

Now I went back and stamped a second row of scallops, stamping each one over the "dip" in the previous row.

Now's the time to start adding all of the little details.  I used this pretty little stamp from Boxes, Bags, and Tags and stamped it in each scallop of the outer row.

Adding more details, I used this small three-circle element from Borders and Corners {Circle} in each scallop in the inside row.

More details....it's starting to look really lacy and pretty now...I added the small flower image, also from Borders and Corners {Circle} in the scallop dips along the outside row.

Almost done...one last little detail...some more of the small three-circle images around the inside Giga Guideline image, just to fill in some of the empty spaces. 

Wasn't that fun? 

Here are a few more ideas...

How about oval doilies?  This one uses Borders and Corners {Oval}, Simply Stationery, Guidelines II, Trendy Tabs, and many of the same "filler" images I used in the photos above.

And here's another round doily using the pretty flourished frame from Spooky Sweets II

Now for a project using one of the doilies.  You can cut them out or you could use them as backgrounds.  I chose to cut one out and use it as the focal point of my card.

I would LOVE to see your doilies if you decide to try this out!  There are so many different stamps and combinations that each one could be as unique as snowflakes!  If you make some, be sure to leave a link in the comments section!  If there's enough interest maybe I could put together a sort of formula book.  Let me know what you think! 

Enjoy!

 

 Thanks so Much Card
Stamps:  Spooky Sweets II, Mini Scrapbook Series: Tabs, Giga Guidelines, Borders and Corners {Circle}, Mega Mixed Messages,Background Basics: Tin Types
Ink: Pure Poppy, Fresh Snow
Cardstock:  Vintage Cream, Simply Chartreuse
Other: LIbrary Ledger patterned paper, Aqua Mist Satin ribbon, White vintage button, Poppy Baker's Twine, Simply Chartreuse felt, Beautiful Blooms flower die, Cuttlebug tag die, Rick Rack Border die, vintage lace
  

Comments

[Alli Miles]

Brilliant Betsy!!

[Vanessa Menhorn]

Wow, Betsy, this is fabulous!!! I love doilies and your idea is brilliant! Off to check if I have a scallop stamp...or I'll cut a circle stamp! Thanks for this inspiration!!

[Diana Albright]

this is absolutely gorgeous and something i would never have thought of! can't wait to give it a try!

[Sabrina]

Wow! A lot of accuracy involved in this work! What a fantastic idea!

[Eveline van Heijst]

What lovely doilies. And what a great idea. Your card is beautiful.
Eveline.

[Natalie E]

That is pure genius!! Absolutely awesome idea, and great project at the end (like usual!)

[Cassandra]

You are brilliant Betsy! No wonder so many people want you on their Design Team. I have to say your doilies are much nicer than the stamps I've seen.

[Ruby 2 Shoes]

WOW! I think they are FABULOUS! What beauties! I love the idea of your formula book too!

[Shannon Laux]

wow this is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing!

[Cam]

You are a creative genius!

[Wahinelei]

Brilliant!! Im totally looking at my older sets in a new light!

[CamillaBK]

Ohhh they are great....
I almost hope for a sunday with lots of rain so I can sit inside and make these without feeling guilty of not being out enjoying the late summer days!

[Judy]

stunning,absolutely stunning. Doilies were a huge part of home decorating when I grew up - this workshop is just to fun!!! Thank you Betsy.

[Jennifer K]

Genius idea and stunning results! Thanks so much for sharing that idea with us - now I'll have to check my sets to see what I can use to make a doily.

[chriss blagrave]

Wow! These are lovely and so, so clever!

[see mary stamp]

These are gorgeous. A formula book (for the less inventive like me) would be most helpful. Thanks for the tutorial. Hope you and your family are having a wonderful and relaxing vacation.

[June]

OMG, how lovely!!!! I'll have to start digging through my sets. I have the circles and ovals.

[Corinne]

je suis conquise!!
bravo encore et encore
ton blog est un peur bonheur
bises de la France

[Sue Ann]

Wow ....... there really is not else I can say other then you are a Paper and Scissors SUPERHERO~

[Diane Cooper]

So pretty!!!! I am having trouble using my guidelines stamps- this is a much better way for me to love them!!! (instead of trying to line them up!!!!!)
Diane

[Tracy M]

Wow - very pretty - never would've given a thought to combining all those different stamps. Thanks for sharing!

[kim]

Beautiful!

[Melisa Hunter]

Such gorgeous doilies! Love to visit your blog to get inspired. Thanks for sharing!

[Denise]

Awesome idea and so unique! Love that each one is an individual one-of-a-kind masterpiece! Brilliant! Thanks so much.

[Christine]

Wow Gorgeous! I can't wait to go home from work tonight and see what's what stamps I have in my closet and try and make one for myself. Thanks so much for sharing and walking us thru the steps.