Scrapbookgraphics - Bohemian Peddler by Krista Mettler & Jessica Bolton

Title                           Bohemian Peddler
Designer                    Krista Mettler
Released                   March 2007
Price                         $8.50
Cost Per Item            @12c

Site Blurb "What is the result when two quirky-at-heart Studio Girls team up? Bohemian Peddler!

Bohemian Peddler is an artistic collaboration between Krista Mettler and Jessica Bolton. The kit is chock full of grungy, distressed papers, vintage ephemera, and shabby, colorful, unique elements. Vivid hues, eccentric details, and a decidedly bohemian feel permeate the entire kit.

Included in Bohemian Peddler are:

• -14 textured vibrant papers (blue wood, bohemian floral, diagonal stripes, faded floral, green wood, gray & white dots, multi dots on wood, blue medallions, brown scratched, funky burlap, funky strips, grungy suns, salmon medallions, salmon patter
• -a complete lower case alpha (with all numbers and select punctuation)
• -cool fibers, ribbon & trims (tied bow ribbon, plain green trim, blue fringe trim, brown fringe trim, laced ribbon with eyelets, blue knotted fiber, green knotted fiber, taupe knotted fiber, ribbon & eyelet knotted corner, a double-stitch strip)
• -an assortment of journaling options (lined note paper, taupe long skinny tag, blue long skinny tag, green long skinny tag, painted tag, unlined note paper, vintage paper frame, doll journaling spot stamp, frame journaling spot stamp, fancy stamped black journaling spot [ABR files and PNGS of the stamps are included])
• -a bunch of floral goodies (blue layered flower, orange layered flower, white layered flower, huge cardboard layered flower, huge burlap layered flower, huge scale layered flower; four different vintage paper leaves [use the green trim as a flower stem!])
• -a funky selection of buttons (big red battered button, pearl with gold rim button, jeweled button, cream with black rim button, as well as three tied up buttons)
• -unique fasteners (pearl stick pin, green clip, enameled square brad, large silver eyelet) -five word arts (1 paper scrap word art, 4 stamped & doodled word arts [the stamped word arts are included in PNG and ABR formats])
• -2 frames (metal heart, curled up plain white frame)
• -a peddler's wagon full of quirky, fun elements (2 doilies, butterfly clip, floral sticker, knotted and folder tape measure, 2 bead strings, 2 antique decorated metal pieces, 1 muffin tin).

An excellent site blurb which details exactly what is in the kit.  This is backed up with brilliant support from the Studio Girls blog.  The entry detailing this kit is superb.  It features expanded pictures of the kit and a money off voucher, so if you are thinking of buying this kit pass by the blog, have a good look round and pick up the voucher code,

Papers


 

The first thing that I have to say about these papers is about the textures.  They are so rich.  They have a "brass rubbing"- type look.  The gold and blue edging on one of the papers looks embossed - admit it, you were tempted to reach out and stroke your screen!  The blending and brushwork is beautiful.  The more I cast a critical eye over these kits I review, the more I am impressed by the skill of the designers who submit their work for sale.

The papers all have a dirty and distressed work, which totally fits in with the theme of the kit and the idea that these papers have been rattling around in the back of a peddler's caravan.  There is a good mix of colors and the designers aren't afraid of mixing in some strong colors.  The distressing mutes these without losing any of the impact.  The sun paper is very attractive, as is the stylised leaves and flowers on the white background.  There is a baroque feel to the patterns which coupled with the colours, gives the kit an earthy, warm feel.

Elements

I could wax lyrical about these elements, but I will cut to the chase.  The muffin pan!  At first I crinkled my nose and thought, "A muffin pan?  What is that all about?"  However, the more I looked at it and thought about it, the more amused I was and started thinking, "A muffin pan!  Genius!".  The Studio Girls are having a bit of fun with it too, with a contest (there are also some links to add ons within the designers' blogs) on the Studio Girls blog.

The elements are well thought out.  The inclusion of abr files is a generous touch by the designers which increases the versatility of this kit and allows you to make your own coordinating papers or adapt the papers supplied.

I have been staring for ages at the element preview picture - there is so much to look at, and I keep finding new things.  Good luck when you are trying to pick one for your LO!  As someone who is always looking for new ways to join papers to each other, I love the lacing.  Place that over a picture and a paper and it will look great.  The unusual elements - measuring tape, butterfly, hair clip - aren't as "out there" as the muffin pan and will fit in on a wide range of LOs.  The lace doilies are intricate and are also used well in the flowers.  I nearly missed the stitching at the bottom, and with the colour that the designers have chosen for it the stitching wont be lost on the kit papers.  It's bold and suitably old fashioned looking for a peddler's kit.  The close-up on the ribbons shows the stitching detail which is lost in the shop preview.   Another part of this kit that makes me want to reach out and touch my PC screen.

One sentence               Excellent textures and beautiful colours, coupled with a mix of fun and functional elements, make this Bohemian Peddler a welcome visit from an old friend.