Shabby Chic Clusters

I have a couple Valentine's Day projects coming up, so I am shifting to a more shabby chic style - - probably for the next few meets, as I want to get started on a Marie Antoinette journal after these projects finish.

Please feel free to work in whatever style you like, but that is the style I will be demoing. These ideas can be applied to clusters, tags, pockets, and junk journal covers. Some people take a more simple approach to clusters than I do; I like doing spepcific layouts and designs for my clusters. That is the part that is fun to me :) I will add a coile photos in this psot that show the designs I feel insied to try (from pinterest). But I do actually have quite a collection of shabby chic ephemera already built up; some may end up in my Marie Antoinette book potentially. So I can show those at the meet.

If you want to play along, here are some suggested supplies. You can use almost anything for clusters, but my suggestions below are specific to shabby chic style ... but you can do whatever stye works out for your current projects. You can use paper, fabric or a combo ... but fabric and lace definitley help wtih the shabby chic vibe.

• Scraps of neutral papers, pinks, pastel colors, or book text
• Scraps of fabric in pastel and neutral colors
• Lace - - same color palette; use what you have ... but my preference is to use crocheted soft laces that drape nice. I have a good collectiodn, but I also find things like this at the thrift store by repurposing lace tops, skirts, table linens, and curtains
• Focal images of your choosing - - these can be on paper, light cardstick, or fabric (I often print digital focals on cotton sheets designed to go through my printer)
• Wool felt - - this is specialty and I have a lot ... and really only applies if you plan on sewing; I use mine to make qulited hearts on my clusters
• Ribbons or ruffles
• Frames or die-cuts
• Flowers, appliques, charms, etc
• Cheesecloth or something for texture
• Doily scraps (paper or crocheted) are also good