Sunday, January 30, 2011

Spring Fling Tag Challenge


This is the tag that I'm submitting for the Spring Fling Challenge for the Scrap Beach swap. The photo doesn't do it justice in either the color contrast or the details, but I wanted to get it online before sending tomorrow. I'll go over the process here in case anyone has questions about how it came together. This was (believe it or not) a 6 hour tag as I spent a lot of time trying different techniques & making adjustments. The tag is a standard 3 1/8" x 6 1/4" tag as the base. I cut a matching piece of glossy stock to build upon & sprayed with Glimmer Mist (Lime Twist) & heat set. I then used Versamark to stamp the blossom background (Stampin Up Easter Blossoms set) & then sprinkled with clear embossing powder before heating. Over this I sprayed Glimmer Mist (Cherry Blossom) & wiped excess off with a baby wipe. I added a couple of light spritzes over the top with more Lime Twist. I adhered the dry emboss resisted sheet onto the original tag & cut the corners. For the medallion I stamped the image of the little girl (also from the SU Easter Blossoms set) onto a piece of green vellum that I'd cut with my Spellbinders Nestabilities dies using Archival ink. I cut a larger piece from some pieces of pink scrap paper (no name - sorry) & chalked the edges with ColorBox (Pink) chalk. The small dots in the pail are made using Stickles (Cotton Candy). I printed out the verse that was assigned to me ("Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil") & spritzed with Glimmer Mist (Cherry Blossom) before cutting & adhering. I made the small flower on the lower right by cutting 5 scalloped circles with the 1 1/2" Stampin Up scalloped punch. I wet the pieces with my mini mister & stacked & fluffed each layer to let dry. I used a piece of polka dot paper that I had on hand (no name on it). It is a pale cream with yellow dots. I assembled with a green brad & let dry. When dry it was the wrong color so I then used Glimmer Mist (Cherry Blossom) to get it to coordinate with the design. The piece of lace is actually a cream lace from Graphic 45. The color was too dingy for the tag so I ended up changing the color by using the Shell Pink alcohol ink by Adirondack letting air dry. I attached the lace edge using scrapbook tape (a first for me). The tiny keys are from Graphic 45 & I'm not sure about the paper clips. I had them on hand in a small container. I finished the tag off with a piece of ribbon from my own stash. I think the colors work well together.
I hope that my partners for this swap enjoy it.... I like to think of the little girl representing "Spring" ... I think that I get to make this connection as my birthday is the first day of Spring ;-)

Altered Journal for Timi in Ireland


This is the cover for the altered journal that I made for Timi as my half of the swap through Life on the {Scrap} Beach. Check out the website (http:/thescrapbeach.ning.com/) & you'll find all sorts of fun options (swaps, RAKs, wish lists, etc). I'm participating in a Spring Tag Swap, Lace Swap & this Altered Journal Swap. It was so much fun to create --- I hope that she enjoys it ... The edge was covered with the Tim Holtz Paper Tape ... It does look like newsprint, but is actually distressed tape. I also used a technique that I'd seen online & wanted to try using pieces of tape, covered with Mod Podge & then added the mesh ribbon & a white prima flower that I had & inked with alcohol inks in colors I thought she'd like. There are more surprises inside, but I want her to have some surprises so I'm not showing them here.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

February Kit of the Month - File Folder Mini Album


This is the sample for the February Kit of the Month on Sale at Life's Memories & More in Palmer, MA beginning Sunday, January 16th. I know that people may be looking for additional information (including dimensions of cardstock, papers & tags) so here's some more info for this very fun project ~
I began by spraying the folder inside & out with Riptide Glimmer Mist Spray & setting it with my heat gun. After it dried I did put it under some weight to flatten out the pages.
The next thing I did was to open the folder & notice on the insde (by flipping down the folded pocket) that I needed to cut 2 slots for the ribbon. I took care of this detail right at the beginning so I wouldn't forget about it.
Moving on to the cover - I added the date on the upper right hand tab using stickers. For the dashes between the numbers I cut down exclamation points. I cut the brown matt 3 3/4 x 7 1/4 & rounded the corners. I cut the patterned paper 3 1/2 x 7 & rounded the corners, too. I then chalked the patterned paper for a finished edge. I adhered the patterned paper to the matt & the matt to the cover of the album. For the letter I attached the chipboard "L" using a pop dot for some added height & then completed the name (Logan) using the alpha stickers. In order to help the letters stand out I simply added white dots freehand. I used 3 orange graduated orange "blings" that I had in my personal stash. Remember that you will be having a 1" inch ribbon cut across your cover - be careful with layout so that you don't cover anything up at the end.
The inside page on the left -- I added a journaling card to the front of the pocket & attached using photo corners. For the tag I cut the teal cardstock 3 1/2 x 6 & then snipped off the corners at a 45 degree angle. I punched a hole in the center, added fibers & a couple of stickers (included in the kit).
The next pocket I cut a 3 x 3 green square & corner rounded only the right side. I found some words that I liked from the celebration paper & cut a 2 1/2 & 2 1/2 square & rounded all corners before chalking. For the tag I cut 3 3/4 x 7 1/2 from the 8 x 8 square. I took the piece of newsprint collage paper & ripped at an angle before chalking. I added one of the file tag words to the top & finished by adding a flourish from the sticker sheet. The tag has fibers from the set threaded through the hole punched in the center.
The 3rd pocket used a leftover piece from the patterned paper used on the cover. I cut it to 3 1/2 x 3 1/2, rounded the corners & added stickers from the sheet. For the tag I cut the lined paper to measure 4 x 7. I added BABY down the left side using alpha stickers. The 2 pieces of vellum at the top came from my personal stash (not included in the kit). I adhered them with vellum adhesive.
The last pocket was covered by cutting a 3 3/4 x 3 1/2 inch piece of the cardstock leftover from pocket 1's tag. I rounded the bottom corners & border punched the top with a Martha Stewart punch. I chalked. I then used the same punch to punch along the edge of a 3 3/4 x 2 inch piece of grey cardstock & chalked the top for contrast. I used my white marker to outline the edges of the punched edge & finished with a sticker from the sheet.
I lined the 4th pocket with a piece of the Celebration word paper cut to 3 3/4 x 7. I rounded the top corners & chalked the edges before adhering. The final tag was cut from the leftover piece of the 8 x 8 paper to measure 4 x 7 & then had the top cut to replicate a tag. Fibers were threaded through the hole punched in the center.
The next step was to thread the ribbon through the 2 slots. Flipping the entire book over I threaded between the 2 [ ] making sure that the ribbon came around the front of the cover & also went behind the back of the whole book. I did adhere the ribbon (when final placement was determined) to the front of the book. Do NOT adhere to the back or you won't be able to open your book ;-)
My final step was to add Terrifically Tacky Tape to the inside of the left side of the 1st pocket & the right side of the last packet & adhered. This keeps all of the pockets from flopping around, but can't be done before the ribbon is all set.
Add photos and journaling of your special day & enjoy this Kit.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

What have I been doing since Thanksgiving?

Miss Mary reminded me today that I was remiss in not entering info onto this blog ... I've been so busy that I guess I'll have to prove it by showing what I've been creating ...










These are 3 calendar covers that I made for my co-workers. I purchased the 2 year calendars at AC Moore, took off the plastic cover & started creating. Jan was kind enough to use her Cricut for the rooster & car. She then reduced a template for the hiking boots & look how amazing they came out. I made a total of 11 different calendar covers & I think the girls at the office liked them.
After the calendar covers I worked on cards for the January kit of the Month at Life's Memories & More. Here are 3 of the 6 birthday cards that are in the kit.








So what's on my mind right now -- well ---> beyond waiting for our grandson's arrival (any day now) I've been working on cards for a fun event at Life's Memories & More. On February 5th from 2 - 4 we're having afternoon tea (with tea, cucumber sandwiches, fresh berries, scones & a surprise dessert). I thought that we needed to have cards to go with our goodies so everyone leaves with 3 cards (either Valentine or Tea-themed). I think it's going to be so much fun & for $10 I think it's an affordable event. Seating is limited so don't wait til the last minute.