PaperCrafter's Corner Magazine Inspiration - Week 6

These week's inspiration for PaperCrafter's Corner was a very difficult one for me. I am very realistic in my interpretation of the inspiration challenges.  Here is what I came up with:

The eyelet stickers are from a CTMH paper packet and the bling is from Want2Scrap.  The background paper is from my scrap drawer.  Thanks for stopping by!!

Sugar Creek Hollow Challenge

I really enjoy the collages made by Heather A. Hudson and she is the sponsor this week for the Sugar Creek Hollow  Challenge, so I really want a chance to win this one.  And as my husband always says, if you do not enter you can not win, sooooo, I made a card to enter.

I downloaded the images for this card from The Graphics Fairy and though you can not tell it in this photo, this is what it looks like before I cut out and layered on another image from The Graphics Fairy:

I used GIMP to merge two images.  I printed out the original flowers, cut them out and layered them on top. 

I used Spellbinder's to cut out the middle of the paper and layered it onto blue cardstock.  I used bling from Want2Scrap to finish off my card.

Thanks for stopping by and do not forget to make your own card for this challenge.  You will enjoy Heather's collages!!

PaperCrafter's Corner - Magazine Monday Week 5

I have another paper project  for PaperCrafter's Corner - Magazine Monday Week 5.  I have been watching a lot of youtube videos on making ribbon or lace flowers since I have been feeling bad and using a hot glue gun or sewing really makes them easy to do.  My flowers are not as pretty as the talented ladies I have been watching, but I had a lot of fun making them.  That brings me to the card I made for this week because the magazine had a bouquet of flowers on its cover.  This is my take on the inspiration cover:

Here are some close ups of the flowers:

I used sheer ribbon and lace from my stash as well as some old buttons and beads that I have in my many glass containers in my craft room.

Ribbon Flowers

I enjoy browsing through youtube to find new techniques in making embellishments and jewelry.  I found this great tutorial on making ribbon flowers...the trouble was it was not in English, but I had to see if I could understand her instructions by just watching and not listening.  Thankfully, Gustamonton makes very clear videos with some English subtitles on her supplies.  Here are 3 Christmas cards I made using her ribbon flowers:

My ribbon flowers are not as pretty as hers, but I think they are not bad for my first tries.  Here is Gustamonton's video:

 

PaperCrafter's Corner Magazine Monday - Week 4

This week's Magazine Monday at PaperCrafter's Corner was too cool to resist this week.  Although I spent the last 2 day's in the hospital for some tests, I was able to take a few minutes to make a simple card that I felt echos the page layout after getting home today.  I wish I could have done it more justice, but I have to live within my limitations at this moment.

I only used cardstock to make this card.  CTMH Sunflower and Red Velvet cs and a piece of blue scrap cs.  I put texture on the sunflower cs with a Sizzix Stampin' Up embossing folder Square Lattice.  The flower is from the CTMH Happy Valentine's Stamp of the Month and  colored in with Star Spangled Blue and Topiary stamp pad.  The bling on this card is from Want2Stamp.  Thanks for stopping by and make sure to stop by PaperCrafter's Corner to participate!!

PaperCrafter's Corner

PaperCrafter's Corner is now having a Magazine Monday Papercrafting Inspiration.  This is Week 3 and I decided to enter a card. 

My design paper is digital paper and ephemera from Tsunami Rose Designs.  I LOVE her paper and use it a LOT!! :)  I used a Stampin' Up punch for the butterfly and my pearl embellishments are from Zva Creative!!  My picture does not do it justice!!  My sentiment is from CTMH acrylic stamp set "Live Inspired" with CTMH Tulip and Cocoa stamp pads.  Take time to make your card or layout for this challenge!!

Mini Album

Last weekend Angela Holt did a ustream presentation making a paper bag Mini Album using Life Abloom digital paper by Tsunami Rose Designs.  Here is a link to the youtube video:




I have not made a Mini Album before but I really liked what Angela did, she is very talented!!  Watching her pick up different embellishments at random to decorate the album was definitely watching an artist at work...the final result was BEAUTIFUL!!

I wanted to TRY and make a Mini Album, but I wanted to design it to be closed when completed.  To do this I cut down some used file folders and added small paper bags in between the folders.

I used 3 folders and 3 paper bags.  alternating the paper bags direction.  I did have to apply adhesive on the inside of the bags on the fold to keep the bags sealed from each end.  Angela demonstrated how to cut the bottom of the bag to make a flip top and pocket for the Mini Album.

Next, I used the New Beginnings digital paper by Tsunami Rose Designs.  I really love Daisy's designs and have most of her digital journal kits and papers.  Make sure you stop by her blog and see how many pages and embellishments are included in her kits and the best thing is that you can print them out as many times as you want!!

 

I decided to make a belly band to keep the album closed and I put velcro on the back of the band to be able to adjust it.  When I finish decorating this album with embellishments, I will post those pictures, too.

Thanks for stopping by!! :)

Winner Surprise!

When I got the mail yesterday, I had the best surprise!!  I found an envelope with Zva Creative jewel embellishments with a note that I had won them in the Blog Hop I had participated in.  I thought I had checked all of the blogs after the winners were announced and did not see that I had won....but I am so glad they sent my prize on without my responding back!!  I LOVE Zva Creative embellishments, they are so beautiful and detailed!!  Here is a picture of all of my lovely winnings!!

Aren't they beautiful!!!!  I have already used one on a Valentine's Card!!

Altered Journal Instructions

First, I have to say I LOVE the new journal kits from Tsunami Rose Designs.  One of the followers of Tsunami Rose, Linda Kuniyoshi, designed an Altered Journal that is so beautiful!!  I looked locally for a journal similar to hers, but struck out! :(  So, I did the next best thing for me and I designed a journal using file folders.  I have made 2 journals so far, one for me (Using New Beginnings Journal Kit from Tsunami Rose) and the second for a friend ( Using Parisian DayDream Journal Kit from Tsunami Rose).  I do not show a picture of it, but I also designed a weekly calendar on an Excel spreadsheet, 2 to each page of printer paper, folding the paper in half to form 2 pages for my journal, trimming the bottom to 8".  Let me know if you want to see a copy of what I did.

The inside views are:

I have made some dividers for the Parisian DayDream journal, I need to make some for my journal next:

These journals were made using manila file folders and the long post that follows is a picture tutorial on how to make your own journal.  If you do not understand some of my instructions, please let me know:

I gathered 2 used manila file folders and a piece of cardboard that I had in my stash.  I also pulled out 3 pieces of 12 x 12 background paper.  For my projects I used paper from The Paper Studio - the Classic Paper Collection.  I liked that the paper was lightweight, so it was easier to fold around the folders.

I cut both folders 6" from each side of the center folds which measured 3/4".  The height of the folder was cut at 8.25".

I then measured about 1.75" from the top and bottom of the center edge to punch holes down both sides of the folds for the binder rings.  

 Next I cut 2 pieces of cardboard 8.25" by just shy of 6" to leave room for the punched holes.

Another piece was cut for the center to give support about 1/2" by 8.25".
I used glue to tack down the cardboard pieces to the bottom file folder.

Next I put glue on the cardboard and laid the interior file folder on top of it.

I put clamps on the folders and then laid a package of cardstock and my cuttlebug on top of it to keep everything pressed together.

After it dried, I started the fun part.  The light colored background paper was cut into 2 pieces of 6 by 12.

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I applied adhesive to the outside of the folder and centered the paper lengthwise, but left about an inch on the outside edge, enough to fold over to the inside of the journal. Fold over ends, too.

After finishing both ends of the journal, cut a second piece of matching cardstock 5 by 8.25 to layer on the inside of the journal.

To finish cut a piece of contrasting background paper 4.5 by 12.  Center on the fold of the journal on the outside.  Adhere and fold over to the inside.

Another piece needs to be cut at 4.5" by 8.25" to cover the inside center.  Next make sure to poke holes through the background paper where punched out in the folders.  Add the binder rings to the journal at this time.

To make the flap to close the journal, cut one piece of the manila folder 2" by 4.5".  Use a corner rounder on one end.

Cut 2 strips of the dark background paper to cover this piece of folder. Attach to back center of the journal.  Wrap the piece around to the other side of the journal and place two velcro pieces to the front of the journal to hold the flap closed.

Now the fun part begins!!  I used papers from the Parisian DayDream Printable Journal Kit designed by Tsunami Rose Designs to decorate.

To make the dividers for the inside, I took a 8.5 x 11 piece of white cardstock, scored it in the center and folded to 8.5 x 5.5.  I trimmed .5" off the end to make the piece 8" x 5.5".  I inked the edges on both sides and then adhered decorative paper and tabs to the cardstock and punched holes to line up with the binder rings.

Here's another look at the journals:

Thanks for sticking it out to the end!  Enjoy making your own journals!