This picture from the IP booth at CHA summer, full of fantastic designers, inspired me (who is artistically challenged) to try my hand at doodling. I used the Chartreuse Dream embellishment doodles as a start for my own. Step by step, simple additions led to this detailed doodling, with minimal work. So don't be afraid to copy the designs of the very papers you work with, it can lead to cohesive pages with great flow! 
Doodle rub-ons allow even the artistically challenged to create great looking doodled layouts. In this layout by IP design team member Ursula Page, we see doodles accent coasters and journaling. Ursula combined her own handwritten journaling with Natalie, Maggie, and Seaver rub-ons from Gin-X. Awesome, Ursula!
There must be something in that northern air, because this layout by IP design team member (and Minnesota resident) Samuel Cole is certainly super cool! Using Chartreuse Dream's Retro Echo line, Sam cut thin rings to accent his circles, strips, and photo corners. With great color matching, and circles that could act as snowballs, Sam has certainly shown us that he is also super cool!
Chartreuse Dream by Annie Sung has the visual texture of sponge painting. This technique must have inspired IP design team member Ally Landy who inked her circles and then layered smaller coasters on top of them to create modern looking flowers. The stitching adds another great texture for the flower stems...and the buckle brings them all together! Note the torn paper which acts as a great frame for the photo. 
IP design team member Shelley Anderson has given us another reason to eat soup this fall to stay warm. She altered soup can lids, that can be used as ornaments, tags, or decoration. Worried about those sharp edges? Shelley says, "I know that you can get a can opener at Target or online that cuts the lids so that the cut sides aren't as sharp nowdays." I'm off to the grocery store to buy soup!
This layout feauturing "Dig It?" coaster circles mix comes from IP design team member Jane Hasty. The aquatic color scheme of the coasters match her photos and theme perfectly. Also to be noted, the smears of paint mimick the splashes in her photos and add extra "oomph." Thanks Jane, for reminding us that even though summertime is winding down, we can live vicariously through our photos until next June arrives!
Circle Mix coasters offer a variety of sizes and styles in a single sheet. IP design team member Jane Hasty shows us a simple way to use these coasters in this layout about her daughter, Emma. This custom border using Blue Cardigan's "Prints" circle coasters, stands out with her dotted outlines. Fabulous!
We finish this week off with a few layouts featuring our coaster buckles. The first comes from IP design team member Kim Kesti who says, "I painted the buckle then embellished it with buttons. Love how it turned out. This is one of my favorite photos of my Sophie." 
Proving that great things come in threes, IP design team member Donna Leslie blings up three coaster buckles in this layout about her gorgeous daughter Paige. 
Lastly, we have a bright and funky layout from IP design team member Jane Hasty. This layout featuring baby Charlotte, uses buckles woven with cotton art tape to draw our eyes to the photo. Jane also inked the edges of the buckles and paper to add dimension and texture to her coasters. Also note the rub-ons Jane added to her buttons to make a unique embellishment. 
Today we're featuring a layout created by your's truly, me! In this layout, I wanted to show you how you can take our Gin-X doodle rub-ons and use the actual letters and numbers in addition to the flowers, hearts and swirls to add a little whimsy to your project.
Other good characters to use from the set include the top of the exclaimation point, the numbers zero, six, eight, and nine as well as any letter that has a "curlicue" on it.
Today we have a submission from Wendy Gibson. Using Center City's East Village line, Wendy did a great two page layout. In her own words, "I think the "ribbon" flower on that layout is my favorite (on lower center with the peachy colored ribbon). You punch a large-ish circle then take a small rectangle punch and punch an even number of holes all around the edge about 1/8th to 1/4 inch in (running parallel to the edge of the circle) then thread small pieces of ribbon down through the holes on opposite sides of the circle. Add a button to the center. Makes for a very cute flower embellishment. It uses tools most of us have and uses up ribbon ends, try using a mix of patterned ribbon for a funky look." Thanks for sending it in, Wendy!
Loop 'em, hang 'em, slide 'em, love 'em. Coaster buckles have endless possibilities when paired with ribbon, cotton art tape, or even strips of paper. In this card by IP design team member Terri Davenport, we see a buckle used as a ribbon slide, doubling as a memento for a special occasion. "I used the buckles to help create a dinner placecard setting. After the event, the buckles can be removed and added to a scrapbook page of the event. It's an easy way to record who attended." What a great idea, Terri!
Today we're featuring this terriffic decorative birdhouse by IP Design Team member Chrys Rose. Chrys created this free standing piece of art using Gin-X's Party On collection and raw white coaster rings. 
IP design team member Sally Davidson demonstrates ways to use our coaster rings in this layout about her daughter. Placing a buckle arrow or stars in the rings make unique embellishments that pop off the page. She also embellished her rings to give them more charm. "I used rhinestones around one ring to give it a little bling." Also to be noted, the use of a coaster star as the dot for her "i" in Libby. 
Frames. Accents. Ornaments. Happiness. The new coaster rings from Gin-X have endless possibilities per sheet of over 20 concentric coasters. Today we have a project from IP design team member Dana Newsom, getting us in the spirit of Halloween. In her words, "It is a Halloween ornament/tag for my tree...yes i have a Halloween tree. it's my favorite holiday...I inked one of the rings until it was black. Put some Chloe's closet pattern paper behind it, then used rub-ons to spell out "fright night Halloween delight." I punched a hole at the top of the coaster to hang it, and used a sticker, buttons and wings to decorate it." 
Patricia Zouzounis from Flint, Michigan submitted this Sutton Place layout. The faux fishing line and fish scattered throughout the layout offer an aquatic take on this blue and black line. She teaches us to remember to take a chance with colors and give them your own spin. Thanks for the submission, Patricia!
For our last day focusing on star coasters, we have two layouts to feature. The first is by IP design team member Lisa Truesdell. "I love how the star coasters add a pop of color and energy to this otherwise simple page. I clustered groups of stars in three places to
And speaking of boys, we finish with a layout from our wonderful scrapping boy Samuel Cole. Stars fit the theme of his page perfectly, giving it the hip, young feel the pictures demand. Next week stay tuned for layouts and projects featuring our coaster rings, and a submission from a fellow reader!Imagination Project is a manufacturer of scrapbook products. Our scrapbook lines are:
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