I'm back with another 'using your scraps' post and video. I know in my heart of hearts once I stick that package of scraps away, no matter how good my intentions, it usually stays tucked away. New stuff arrives, new projects take over my crafty space and all those fun bits and pieces of leftovers often stay just that way, as leftovers. So before I cleaned up my crafty mess from making the Metropolitan Girl mini I decided to turn all those scraps into cards. You know once I begin it's like my own personal challenge just how many cards can I make. Well today's grand number hit 15!! Not too shabby for just the leftovers huh?
When I start on a marathon card session like this I like to have my card bases cut, this time they are all A2 sized cards 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I also gathered some solid color Artisan Paper, the 6x6 paper pad of the Metropolitan Girl and all the scraps from the collection, Distress Inks, Glimmer Mists, Stamps, Embossing Powders, you name it what ever I thought I might need I assembled within a hands reach. By having everything close I know I'll keep on keepin' on until the last scrap is done or I finally say ENOUGH!
Several of the cards have tuck in spots that I can insert money or a gift card, whatever the occasion might call for. Most of the card bases use Artisan Paper from The Country Craft Creations store (links below). I did pull out some odd colors like the yellow and peach for a few cards. Anything in the stash is fair game when you're making projects like this.
Since this paper is super retro it gave me a chance to use a couple of stamps sets that have just been tucked away screaming at me to take them out and play with them. A Wendi Vechi stamp set called Gossiping About Art and a Dyan Reaverley Dylusions set called Say It How It Is. If you like your sentiments to have a little spunk then these two sets would be perfect to add to your stamp collection. I've had mine a while so I'm not sure about their availability.
Check out today's video, it will show you not only the outsides but the insides as well, I like to finish most insides with a little something. These aren't super involved cards, they are more playful, fun ones that basically use up all the leftover scraps. So dig in your crafty cupboards and pull out a bag of scraps (I know you have some) and make yourself a set of fun scrapped cards today.
I was so excited when I was selected to participate in the first Match Up for Canvas Corp for 2017. Teaming with TCW (The Crafters Workshop) was such a perfect match! Of course this is lots of mixed media product and I must say I'd take everything out, drool a little and then put it all back. I did this for several weeks so afraid I didn't know how or what to do. Finally I said enough and just started playing. How silly I've been, maybe you're feeling the same way? This mixed media stuff looks fun but I don't know how! Please don't feel that way. There is no right and wrong, there are no set rules, the mixed media police won't come yank you out of your craft room if things don't go as you perfectly wanted. It's a process and as with all processes, especially new ones, there is also a learning curve as to what works well with what. How fast things dry, what create mud and what stays true to color. Lots of stuff but if you're like I was and don't take the leap you'll never realize a whole fantastic area of crafting that's just waiting for you to get your fingers inky and your craft space excited!
I'm only going to share this one photo with with you. I'd really like for you to visit me on the video below so I can share the process of my six cards with you. I can tell you I'm totally head over heels in love with TCW shimmering Gold Gesso, you may begin to see it on everything, I loved the way it played so nice with Tattered Angels Glimmermists. So stay tuned I'll have more fun projects to share with you and entice you to start playing too.
Links to Canvas Corp Brands, TCW and the supplies I used from both will be directly below the video.
For those of you that know me, and follow my blog or YouTube, you'll know I keep procrastinating about art journaling. I had created one page last year, with high hopes of doing so many more. It's such a foreign medium to me and I guess as I've also said before I must think the Art Journal police are going to pound down the craft door, haul away all my stuff and ban me from creating if I don't do everything exactly just so. What a crock, who am I kidding? I can do it, I just have to remember it's all a learning process you don't start out learning to read by picking the fattest novel off the shelf you learn with baby steps, 'See Spot Run, See Spot Jump' for those of you young ones out there we really did learn to read stuff like this, way back in the olden days.
When Canvas Corp and TCW, The Crafters Workshop, decided to do a Match-Up to see how their products played with one another I was super excited to find out I'd been asked to participate. Well super excited until the box arrived, that's not true either, I was still super excited. I took all the products out, TCW sent Gel Medium and Gessos in Black, Gold and Clear along with a Texture Paste and the most fabulous assortment of stencils. Of course the super generous Canvas Corp sent their own array of Glimmer Mists, papers, bits and bobs like clothes pins, cord and mini envelopes, burlap and canvas so many things how can a crafty girl choose. Here take a look for yourself.
I'd take all this luscious stuff out, even open some of the jars and peek inside, spritz some of the Glimer Mists, run my fingers over all the different textured papers and then I'd carefully put everything back wondering all the time how I was going to know what to do with all these things. Paper, glue, scissors, they go way back with me, I create a lot with them but the other stuff well it's newer, more intimidating, more 'you silly woman what are you going to make with this' feelings.
Finally after a couple of weeks I had a big self talk and told my inner crafty child, the one that kept saying 'I don't know how' 'maybe I'll fail' 'maybe my crafty friends will thing I shouldn't have tried this', well inner crafty child and I got a few things straightened out during that talk. I realized I can do this, it may not be the quality and expertise that many of the YouTubers I follow make. BUT, it will be a start, it will show the learning process for after all if I have this much trepidation trying something new there must be other crafters out there with their own crafty inner child telling them the same negative stuff, 'you don't know how' and 'you can't do it'.
I'm telling you right now, banish that nasty little inner child and the annoying little voice that keeps telling you you can't, banish them from your crafty space, better still banish them from your life. Because my crafty friends, I found out I can do it and so can you.
This post may be featured on a Match-Up write up for Canvas Corp and TCW so I'm only going to share a sneak peek of my page. Check out my video, and yes I left all the goobers and do overs in so you can see I perservered, I stayed the course, I plugged on, well really I got mad and said I'm gonna do it or else. And the jist of the tale is I ended up with an art journal page I don't mind saying I created. After I've done many more mixed media projects I'm sure I'll look back and think wow you were really at the beginning 'See Spot Run' stage then weren't you. How else my crafty friends do we get to that huge novel on the shelf if we don't start and learn at the beginning. It's all a fabulous, crafty adventure in learning something new. Maybe we'll love it and embrace it more or maybe we'll say I don't think this is for me, doesn't matter, what matters is we gave it our best shot!
This is a tell it from the heart blog post, I am anticipating having a lot more of these as this New Year moves forward, I hope you enjoy my little rants and raves and can relate to my feelings. It's just like with everything in life, we always assume we are so unique, that no one else has our fears or insecurities until something is said and then darn it all we find out we aren't unique at all that there are many many many of us all feeling the same way but too skittish to say it aloud. At the bottom of this post, under the video link, I'll post links to both stores and links to the products I used to create my art journal page, oh by the way I named it Fly With Confidence, that about sums it all up in a nutshell. Happy crafting everyone, I so appreciate all of you that stop by to see what I'm doing, that view my videos and leave me such fabulous comments. Patti
Oh one more thing, if you're wondering what I wrote on my page, I don't mind sharing -
Metropolitan Girl by Carta Bella is a fun, zippy paper collection featuring some really snappy ladies and thoughts. Today I'm sharing a 6" x 8" horizontal mini album for the Country Craft Creations Design Team. There will be a walk though video at the bottom of this post and all supplies will be linked there as well. Be sure and stop by Country Craft Creations to see all the fabulous paper lines available. Don't forget to join Scrapbookers of Country Craft Creations Facebook Group, where you will be amazed at the abundance of fantastic free tutorials, crafters sharing their expertise and a never ending opportunity to learn something new. What more could a crafty person ask for?
This mini just lent itself to being horizontal, you'll see why in just a moment. I wrapped the basic structure in black cardstock and then used the designer paper skyline for the front and back. Black tulle hides under the front, over the spine and under the back cover joining together at the bottom to form a bow closure. Front, back and spine were adorned with fussy cut images and chipboard pieces altering the heights to give dimension.
I cheated on the spine and added a piece of Authentique Spectrum cardstock. These stripes just sealed the deal. I used Wink of Stella over all of the spine, in real life it takes on a sparkle that spot on for a Metropolitan Girl. The chipboard here is actually the top packaging of the chipboard pieces, when I craft nothing is off limits. I did have to eliminate the designers name with the addition of the Taxi sign. So stinkin' cute especially with the high heels balancing on top.
This is the bottom portion of the skyscape that was used for the front cover, fitting it should finish out the back as well. I took one of the chipboard pieces 'Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful', covered it in clear Wink of Stella and then covered that with Crystal 3D Lacquer. When all was dry I tucked some black tulle behind and add ribbons of black seam binding.
The book consists of 4 pages which layer in graduations one atop the other. To get the book to lie flat like this I used 1/2" gussets between each page. I also used a combination of red, blue and cream for the page construction using the Country Craft Creations Artisan Paper Sampler pack. I LOVE this paper!!! you can score and fold and not have any cracking, a big plus in my book.
Each page has swing outs created from the border strips of shop fronts. I snipped each strip into two pieces and backed them leaving a small solid border around. I also only glued the backing to the bottom and sides to create extra pockets for photos and tuck ins. These stay closed with hidden magnets.
When flipped out you have places to write journaling or place your photos.
This is the back of the first page. I created a cluster pocket using 5 different elements. You can easily slip a 5 1/4" x 4 3/4" tag behind. I did use a lot of Crystal 3D Lacquer and clear Wink of Stella on my elements. Backing them with the navy blue solid helps them pop and adding dimension to some elements gives them a much better visual look.
Here's page two, again backed, this time with navy blue and open for photos, tags, or whatever extras you'd want to stick inside the extra pockets. The small photo shows how the flips look when opened. This time I added some stickers and chipboard on the inside to hold the photo mat in place.
The back side of page two has a pocket to hold larger photos or the little tuck in I have here. I dyed the ribbon strip with Tattered Angels Simply Sheer Matte in Red Rose, it was originally white with black dots. Since my papers were a cream base the white just jumped out of you. When you purchase elements, ribbons, flowers etc in white or cream you then always have the option to change the color to match your color scheme with mists or dyes.
Page three is my Uptown page. Such fun papers to play with they have that retro vibe to them. On the inside strips of this one I used a strip from the sticker sheet across the bottom flaps, added the striped paper across the middle top which I only glued on the 3 sides and punched with an EK Success Deco Scallop, I was going for an awning look here. You have so many options to choose from the stickers, chipboard and ephemera pieces.
This is one of my favorite pages, probably it's that striking red and blue combo. I love the chipboard sentiment she's standing on. The blue strip creates a belly band to slide the folded red mat under. Since I'd already used the chipboard piece of this gal I made her again by fussy cutting her from the paper and backing with the solid red.
The last page finishes off the strips of shoppes. The base page is cream again this time. I really like alternating the base page color.
I wanted to show you the inside mat on this page. I took one of the sentiments and cut it from the frame (it's tucked inside one of the pockets on the above pages). I used the frame here and left the top and side open. I slid a small mat under the sides and this will eventually be the home to the photo. If I could have found my acetate sheets, I've packed them in such a good place I can't find them now, I would have backed the frame with acetate, I think that gives a much more finished look. Once the photo is attached it won't matter.
Here's the flip outs on the last page, this time I matted the shoppes with the red, you can't go wrong with that. A couple of stickers and the flaps are done. I had to share the perfume bottle on the right.
One thing I preach over and over is to always allow ample drying time when you are using a large amount of Crystal 3D Laquer or Glossy Accents. Well what did I do but set something right into the goo before it had dried. There was no way to smooth it out and it would have been a total loss, sniff sniff. So I decided to see what would happen if I took my heat gun to it. The result was this crinkly perfume bottle! Perfect so another goober salvaged!
Here's the back of the last page. Under the fussy cut lady are several magnets so she snaps shut and holds whatever you decided to put underneath snugly.
When I glued my pages to the hinges I left the right sides open so I'd have room for a pocket to slide my mats in. I used an EK Success Border Edge punch called Flower Burst for the pull. Because there will be a lot of strain on the pulls coming in and out of the pockets I punched and cut another flower burst and glued it directly over top of the first one. With double strength the pulls should hold up well.
Finally we are to the inside back covered adorned delightfully with this chipboard dress. I added a black seam binding sash to the waist to go with the black bows on the top sticker. So there you have it my horizontal flip mini. I hope you like it and perhaps will give it a go yourself. This is a fun retro paper collection to work with. Happy Crafting everyone, enjoy the process and have fun.
Links to the store and mini album measurements will be directly below the supply list.
Melissa Beatrice Adler, Mel to those of us in the Crafty world, has organized a collaboration among crafters called Operation Valentines 2017. It's a group effort to provide children in local hospitals (in the Portland Oregon area) with Valentines. Many of these kids are fighting daily struggles and this kind act will give them a sense of normalcy. Crafters from all over are making sets of six Valentines and mailing them off to Mel. She and her sister will deliver them to Doernbechers Children's Hospital early in February. This is the second year they've done that and the response has been outstanding. If you really hustle you could get cards made and mailed in time to reach the deadline. Checkout Mel's Facebook page Operation Valentines 2017 and her YouTube video which explains it all.
Here's a look at what I made using the Valentine Combo pack from Authentique and an old Bo Bunny line called Head Over Heals.
I used a lot of Stickles on the cards so that there wouldn't be any loose glitter falling off in the Children's rooms. There are a list of do's and don't, nothing drastic, just things that wouldn't be appropriate for children in this type of hospital setting.
The heart balloons were die cut from an older Marianne Design Creatables called Heart Balloon (PP1401). I used them on all the cards and envelopes.
The cards are very simple but I'm sure they are going to bring lots of smiles to some boys and girls.
All card bases were cut with white to an A2 size 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Inside I cut another heart this time from an oldie but goodie from Spellbinders called Nested Hearts a Shapeabilities die (S4-296) The heart originally cut with a little knob at the top but I simply snipped it off and made the heart a more traditional look. The stamped sentiment is a Paper Source die that had been gifted to me.
Thanks everyone for stopping by, I do have a short video to share the cards. Please check out Mel's links and if you're too late to make cards for this year mark your calendars so you'll be all ready for 2018 because I'm sure she'll be doing it again. And lastly a HUGE thank you to Mel for taking this on, she will brighten the lives of so many young people with her generosity and compassion.
Right around the corner Valentine's Day will be popping up. It's such a fun Holiday and this year I wanted to create some sort of centerpiece and came up with this Mailbox. Sometimes I've got to tell you creating is just plain fun! This was one of those times.
At least 5, maybe 6, years ago I bought an oversized Valentine paper pad from Tuesday Morning. The inside covers had templates for cards and various projects. The mailbox was one of them. Doing this for Tammy Merrill's Design Team I wanted to be able to offer a similar template to viewers so they could make their own. Today, in this techy world, it's just an amazing time to find just about anything you're hunting for. I searched Pinterest and the Net for a 'Valentine Mailbox' and came up with a share from Brenda Quintana, it was on her Blogspt Qbee's Quest. I'll link to it at the bottom of this post. Brenda's is very similar to the one I had on my paper pad and really I used a combination of both to create my mailbox. It's such a simple quick project with such fun results.
The mailbox door is trimmed with lace and ribbon from my stash and accented with Double Dot Think Pink Jewels from Bo Bunny. I added a heart button to the top threading my narrow pink ribbon from the back to the outside so I can tie it to the top. (The top ribbon is again run through an inside glued button, I added an eyelet on the outside so the ribbon wouldn't tear the paper).
There's a template for the flag in the instructions, I simply covered both sides with paper from the collection. To dress it up I stacked a miniature red paper doily, a cut out Valentine word heart from the paper and a fussy cut piece of white paper (I used stamp scissors on the white paper to cut the heart mat so it would stand out from the words).
To hide the seam from where the back and sides of the pieces meet I took a piece of lace, a piece of pink ribbon and flat back pearls. Since the pearls were cream I used a blue Copic marker to switch them up to a blue that matches the paper. Whenever I can I always buy white and cream in embellishments and ribbon, you can then change it up to the color you're needing.
It made me extremely happy to use this heart on the inside of my mailbox door. Manuela (Bunny Bow) gifted me with several happy mails of laces she's made. They come all the way from Switzerland to my doorstep and I hoard them all! I have got to quit and start sharing, but it's hard I get them out and look at them, sigh, oooh and ahhh and then carefully put them back. This time I took out 3 hearts she'd made and used the one here. I love it, now my mailbox is extra special.
The base is 3 stacked and glued cores from packing tape that I saved from our move (well I saved about two dozen cores but who's counting????). I then wrapped them in the ombre pink from the paper and used another piece of ribbon for the bottom. I attached two strips of heavy duty Velcro to the top of the base and the bottom of the mailbox. By having it removable it will be easier to store and if I decided I want to just place the mailbox on the table without the base it's easy peasy.
I'll link to the store supplies below the video as well as links to Country Craft Creations and my own site, A Soul's Heartbeat. Please come and share a little more of your time with me on video and I'll share the process and lots more hints and ideas of why I did what. I so appreciate you spending your time with me!!!
Supplies from Country Craft Creations
Authentique Valention Combo Paper Pad - http://tinyurl.com/hc25zxh
Medium Weight Chipboard - http://tinyurl.com/zfc7wxj
Bo Bunny Double Dot Jewels - http://tinyurl.com/jfc3tcd
