Marriage of Convenience

Several months ago many of you shared in my construction of a mini album I made for young friend who's graduating from High School This year.  You can see the complete blog post here - Prima Engraver Masculine Mini.

Then again a couple of weeks ago I shared a tag I'd completed for 

Papercrafter 45's Tag Challenge, that was lots of fun!

Well today I'd like to share how I've married the two together to 

finish off the mini and find a perfect home for my tag.

Looks as if the two of them were meant to be, don't you think?

I've made a few changes from the original tag, 

I added the Tim Holtz Stencil numbers, 

taken away the wooden number 5 

and added a few more gears here and there.

I thought the zero needed a little zing.

Thanks for coming by today, I hope you liked the way I married these two together.

                                                                                                                                   Patti

Papercrafter45 Tag Challenge

I'm not sure if you're familiar with Papercrafer45?  She's a fantastic YouTuber who shares her creative talent with all of us.  In January she offered us a challenge to create a tag from a kit of goodies she would supply.  You simply needed to submit your name and email to her and she'd decide on 12 crafters to receive her challenge tag supplies.  Well I was one of them!!!

I got my bag of goodies and had until the 13th of February, yep today, to submit two photos of my tag to her and she'd present them via YouTube to all her subbies.

This is what she sent us

And these were the rules - Each participant received a Challenge Kit containing the supplies shown above.  You were to create using your own style and design but you had to use a minimum of 2 items from the kit on your tag.  The only additions I added to those supplied were the cogs and gears that I'd cut from my Cricut, and some metal ones I had in my crafty drawers and I swapped the black clothespin out for a natural colored one.

This is what I created

You can also check out her Pinterest Board to see the other eleven creations.  It's always amazing that crafters can be given the same set of supplies and instructions and each come up with a totally different take on it, isn't that the absolute fun of creating???

I don't know if Papercrafter45 and her trusty companion Sock Monkey are planning any more of these challenge during the year but if they do add your name to the list and see if you're selected to receive a kit!  It's super fun and you'll enjoy seeing how the others use the same supplies you have.

Check out Papercrafter45's YouTube channel and be inspired by all the fantastic tutorials she shares. She and Sock Monkey have a fantastic way of presenting information in a clear, concise, easy to understand way!

Shortly I'll be showing you what I did with my tag so keep a look out!

Here's the video showcasing each submission 

Graphic 45 Bird Song Mini Album with Bead Binding

Oh how beautiful is this paper line, and so outside my norm.
Amazing how as I worked with the paper
I began to love it more and more.

There are six pages, each page separated by black beads.
The beads are strung from cord through the back and
tie in the front securing the book together.
(See links to how I learned this type of binding
at the end of this post)
Large mat inserts pop into each side pocket.

It took a bit to remember how to make a fan
which now becomes an easy way to hold my
folded photo holder in place.

Here the blue butterfly mat tucks under the strip on the
left once pulled out it reveals other photo mats behind.
The two girls are intertwined together and glued
along the right edge and bottom to form a pocket.

Each two page spread is matted with the same background
papers.   The front and back insides are also matted alike

I tried my hand at lots of fussy cutting.  In this case the birds
in the top right act as a stopper to hold the mat from moving about

The circle alphabet is from a previous Graphic 45 Collection
The birds come untucked from the little flap
to hold photos or jouranling

All six book pages are standard 8.5"x11" paper folded gatefold
style.  Over the top matting is placed to about 1/8th inch of the edge
then the decorative elements are added

The center folds up and down behind the umbrellas

Don't you think the twig branch works well over the windows.
Lots of cut out flowers.  Behind the windows the larger
photo mat tucks in quite nicely

Here on the left is a Waterfall, you can check my YouTube

Playlist under Page Insert and Tutorials for a link to how

I made it.

I drew the lanterns on black paper and then paper pieced
them from the collection, added cording and a back piece
to sandwich it together for strength.

Check out my video to see all the pages and many more photos.

I used ideas for the bead binding from
Laura at Following the Paper Trail 
and Debbie Hemsworth

SVG cuts (Pagoda and Symbol) were from
The Frugal Crafter

Graphic 45 - 'Leftovers' Box and Cards

One of the greatest things in working with Graphic 45 papers
are the huge amount of images to play with.
I'd already finished my Date Book but had so many wonderful pieces left
I decided to decoupage a used 2# See's Chocolate box
with some of the paper's 'leftovers'

I used a Tim Holtz Library pull here.
The feet are actually the wood on wood mount stamps that
I had saved when converting them to cling.
I used Vintage Photo to stain them.

The cards are light on bulky embellishments so
they would fit nicely once the lid was closed on the box.

I wanted to add a little something to the box but 

still make it versatile to fit in a tight space

The solution is a removable Belly Band

made from burlap and secures to itself with velcro strips.  

You can see my video  

(the link is at the bottom of this post)

on how I made it and how it closes

I used the Tattered Floral dies to cut my flowers

from scraps (of course) misted them with LIndy's

to get the same old worldly look as the box

Next I made a dozen cards to fill my box 

Cards for all occasions, 

some with sentiments inside

some left blank to add the right personal touch

at the time they're sent.

 

This is one of my favorites.
I carefully cut around the baby and popped it up with a dimensional.

It just adds so much to the card

OK I couldn't resist!  Don't you just love this little guys expression?
Disgusted with the whole world!
I wondered how many young people hadn't
heard the word 'Drats' lol
(Inside reads: Sometimes life is hard, hang in there)

Graphic 45 File Folder Date Book

Working with A Place in Time paper collection
from Graphic 45 I decided to make a Date Book.
Some place where special days and moments could be
recorded and remembered.

I had a HUGE abundance of file folders we had purchased
for some long forgotten project. I thought these would
be perfect, each folder representing a month in my
Date Book.

Adding a folded tag/mat to slip in the side
pockets would give the opportunity to
add photos or memorabilia special
to that month.

Tucked in the back pocket I included
a check off Christmas list
attached by (can you guess what it is)
a hanger made from a Christmas ornament holder.

The front, spine and back were coated well with
Matte Medium to provide a strong surface to
last through many hands and many years.

To secure the book I added several ribbons
Which tie on the side

If you'd like to see a page by page view and many more
photos please check out my YouTube video below.

I will be making a tutorial on how I created this type of book,

so watch for it.

Graphic 45 Design Team 2013 Audition

You've caught me, I have decided to try out for the 2013 Graphic 45 Design Team and as part of my audition I am posting some of my favorite projects for their review.  Your encouraging comments are most welcome.  Links to prior blog posts or YouTube videos that go into more design detail will be under each project.  Thanks everyone for stopping by!  Patti

~ *~

This was such a fun project using the Halloween in Wonderland.

It's one of the few projects that I got to fill the book with

photos after I was done, a real treat.

 

 

YouTube Video
Blog Post

~ * ~

I need a place to stash a RAK and this little lunchbox provided
just the right space.  You can use up so many little bits
and pieces on a project like this.

 

Graphic 45 Pinterest Board
YouTube (be kind, lol, this was one of my first videos)

~ * ~

Little Darlings, such a fantastic baby line I've used it often.
This was for a baby shower and was sure a hit.
Having the box that houses the mini is such a fabulous idea.
The biggest problem is holding back on bling and baubles due to
size restraints with the box and the growth the photos will add.

YouTube 
Blog Post
Graphic 45 Pinterest Board

~ * ~
 

Loved making this mini for a friends wedding gift.
I cut the front gated scrollwork on my Cricut
and then tucked the gorgeous bride behind.
So much room for the wedding memories.
I find it amazing sometimes how many
photos can be placed in a 'mini'.

YouTube

Blog Post

~   * ~

I'm not a big fan of 3 ring binders but this had been sitting in my stash for so long
and I must admit I was very happy with the end result.
I was making this for a baby gift for someone that doesn't work
with all the flips, flaps, pages and tuck in's that we addicted crafters
tend to include.  So I kept it a little more manageable and I think
the construction lends itself to that.

  

 

YouTube
Blog Post 

~ * ~

There is no better paper line than Graphic 45 for creating cards,

Those images just scream, "Add Me" 

when I'm searching for supplies to use.

It's a great way to use up all the end pieces left over from larger projects.

Blog Post - Strut Your Stuff
                   Putting on the Ritz
               Applause

~ * ~


I have made many projects with
supplies other than
Graphic 45 and
have showcased just
a couple for review here.

This was hard, I made this mini for my Great Nephew and his new bride.
The hard part, I hadn't seen him in years and have never met her.
After a few emails back and forth I got a feel for what
she was like and would like.
The email I got after this stopped on her doorstep
had me smiling ear to ear.
She liked it!

YouTube

Blog Post

~ * ~

Another wedding album.

Sometimes I think my projects take on a life of their own.

I started with just some black cardstock and then the pages began

to roll forward.  I loved how this had so much room for so many large

photos.  Using some of the papers I made matching flowers for inside and out.

 I seem to stall when I get to the covers, I think and overthink

what I want to do and how it will look.  This was the first time I'd used a

chain closure which made a very dramatic front cover.

YouTube

Blog Post

~ * ~

Thank you Graphic 45 for producing a fabulous line of products

that so inspires me to create and stretch my 

crafting soul.