It's all built in an old magnetic photo album I found for a steal at Value Village.
Maybe next week Blogger will be more cooperative with me, but right now it's not letting me upload my pictures properly to the new Blog...sorry again for the delay.
Showing posts with label Project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Project. Show all posts
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Drumheller Album
It's all built in an old magnetic photo album I found for a steal at Value Village.
Maybe next week Blogger will be more cooperative with me, but right now it's not letting me upload my pictures properly to the new Blog...sorry again for the delay.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Projects Using Postcards
I love shopping at Value Village. And best of all, I love buying the "Housewares Bags" because they are always full of fun goodies at a great price! One day, on my regularly scheduled tour of the store, I came across a Housewares Bag full of vintage postcards. From Italy, and Paris, and Madrid, and Heidelberg. There were books of them and loose ones. There were places I recognized, and places that were new to me. They were all beautiful!
So I decided to buy them...duh...and do up a couple of projects for you!
Project #1: Mini Album
You will need:
- a bunch of postcards for the same location
- "matching" pattern paper, the cardstock weighted kind
- packing tape
- simple embellishments, rub-ons, sticker letters
First things first, figure out which postcards you are going to use, and how many pages you want your album to be.
Now measure your postcards. Mine were 4 x 5, or something like that. Once measured, I cut all my patterned paper down to size. If you are using double-sided paper, you only need to cut
Now measure your postcards. Mine were 4 x 5, or something like that. Once measured, I cut all my patterned paper down to size. If you are using double-sided paper, you only need to cut
one paper for every postcard. If you aren't using double-sided, or hate the other side of your paper (that was my case) you will need to cut two pieces for every postcard. We will glue the backs of the pattern paper together later.
Throughout my album I alternated postcards and pattern paper:
Title (pattern) - postcard - pattern (2) - postcard - pattern (2) - postcard...etc. I used a total of four postcards and 9 pieces of pattern paper. Eight of those pieces are glued back-to-back. The last page I left as is. I wanted to have a lot of space for journaling, as that is the whole point of my album - no photos except for the postcard. So I used the back of each postcard, plus the opposing pattern for journaling. The pattern opposing each postcard is for a sub-title of the location pictured in the postcard. Wow, this sounds really complicated! But I promise it actually isn't, once you get going!!
Once you have cut all your pattern paper, lay out your album in order, choosing which patterns will go where.
Now, glue your pattern papers back-to-back...if you're going that route.
Now to assemble our book. I do this before the embellishing because it's much easier!
Grab your packing tape. This stuff is great for making a mini-album because it's flexible, sturdy and clear so you can see your postcards and pattern paper through the tape. I love gaffer tape, but sometimes the dark line along each page can be distracting.
Starting with the first page, line up your paper to the packing tape, and make sure about half of the tape is over the paper. Press the tape down. Don't cut your tape at this point! I added the black outline so you could see where the tape is...sorry for the screwy photo!
Use the roll of packing tape as a guide and a solid surface to help you place the opposing sheet of paper or postcard. Line up the edge of the next sheet with the first sheet, using the roll as guide for where the bottom goes. Press the tape down.
Now you can cut off the tape. And you have two pieces of your album! The packing tape is practically invisible! And it's so easy - and cheap - to use for this! Note: Blogger has decided to flip some of my photos, and there's apparently nothing I can do about it...sorry!
You can see in this picture how I alternated pattern paper and postcards.
The finished book:
Use the roll of packing tape as a guide and a solid surface to help you place the opposing sheet of paper or postcard. Line up the edge of the next sheet with the first sheet, using the roll as guide for where the bottom goes. Press the tape down.
Now you can cut off the tape. And you have two pieces of your album! The packing tape is practically invisible! And it's so easy - and cheap - to use for this! Note: Blogger has decided to flip some of my photos, and there's apparently nothing I can do about it...sorry!
Keep adding pages into your book, using this method. Below you can see what the back of the postcard looks like. Thanks to the packing tape method, you can add as many pages as you like! Just keep sticking each page together like we did in the note above.
You can see in this picture how I alternated pattern paper and postcards.
The finished book:
This last picture shows what the pages look like with my journaling added. I kept the decoration of the book very simple. I didn't want the finished product to be too thick and I also didn't want to have to purchase a lot of stuff. This mini book will serve as a keepsake for my current memories of my trip to Italy when I was in junior high school. Most of the photos I have from the trip have already been scrapbooked - badly - so I didn't want to start all over again with a big book.
This is a great way to capture the special memories of a special trip without having to pull out all the stops and create a deluxe album! But you can totally still do that!!
You could try:
- use postcards from lots of different places you have visited
- making an accordion folded book instead of a traditional album
- do this "on the go" while you're on your vacation! All you need is some scissors, packing tape and a pen to document your memories as they happen
There are so many possibilities when it comes to using postcards on projects!
Check back Friday for two layouts using postcards. First, a simple way to add a journaling spot. Then an amazing fold-out layout to accommodate lots of journaling and photos! I'd leave you with a sneak peek, but I don't have photos yet!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Halloween Project
My last Halloween project this year...maybe! I have an entire day tomorrow to make more little crafts!
It's a little "plaque" that I'm hanging on my door. I have a similar one that I made for Christmas...all with ink and paint and paper! It really puts me in the mood for the holiday, and now I know I will have a great craft to pull out next year as well. I'm using supplies that I already had in my stash, adding some paints and ink and lots of imagination!
- pattern paper, ripped into different sizes
- paint, ink, stamps, glimmer mist, etc.
- other Halloweenie embellishments...skeletons, pumpkins, black cats, bats, etc.
Start by gluing down pieces of pattern paper. I use gel medium, but you can use decoupage medium or white glue just as well.
Now, smear some coloured paints on top, one colour at a time. Then smudge them together using a wet paper towel or baby wipe.
Add some black or dark brown to pick up the texture of the cardboard. Using a dry brush technique works well for this, so you don't get too much paint, but enough to add some contrast.
Embellish...I'm using Riff Raff Designs chipboard bats and the word "Spooky", as well as some American Crafts black brads, Art Chix skeleton die cut, 7Gypsies mini door knob, Making Memories word stickers, and some random feathers.
On the bats I first applied black crackle paint, then once it had dried I sprayed it with a couple of colours of Glimmer Mist.
The word "Spooky" is painted with black crackle paint. You could emboss your shapes, or paint then add some Glossy Accents to really make them stand out.
And since I love love love dangle-y things, I added some keys and other random metal embellishments to a chain along the bottom of my canvas. Whenever I open my front door, it makes clanking noises...and with a little imagination they become spooky, ghostly chains of the ghouls trying to escape the underworld and give us a little haunting on Halloween!
It's a little "plaque" that I'm hanging on my door. I have a similar one that I made for Christmas...all with ink and paint and paper! It really puts me in the mood for the holiday, and now I know I will have a great craft to pull out next year as well. I'm using supplies that I already had in my stash, adding some paints and ink and lots of imagination!
You will need:
- piece of corrugated cardboard cut to size- pattern paper, ripped into different sizes
- paint, ink, stamps, glimmer mist, etc.
- other Halloweenie embellishments...skeletons, pumpkins, black cats, bats, etc.
Start by gluing down pieces of pattern paper. I use gel medium, but you can use decoupage medium or white glue just as well.
Now, smear some coloured paints on top, one colour at a time. Then smudge them together using a wet paper towel or baby wipe.
Add some black or dark brown to pick up the texture of the cardboard. Using a dry brush technique works well for this, so you don't get too much paint, but enough to add some contrast.
Embellish...I'm using Riff Raff Designs chipboard bats and the word "Spooky", as well as some American Crafts black brads, Art Chix skeleton die cut, 7Gypsies mini door knob, Making Memories word stickers, and some random feathers.
On the bats I first applied black crackle paint, then once it had dried I sprayed it with a couple of colours of Glimmer Mist.
The word "Spooky" is painted with black crackle paint. You could emboss your shapes, or paint then add some Glossy Accents to really make them stand out.
And since I love love love dangle-y things, I added some keys and other random metal embellishments to a chain along the bottom of my canvas. Whenever I open my front door, it makes clanking noises...and with a little imagination they become spooky, ghostly chains of the ghouls trying to escape the underworld and give us a little haunting on Halloween!
Punch two holes in the top and string some tulle through. I tied a simple knot through the hole, then attached the other end of the tulle to a twig and hung it all on a push pin that remains in my door permanently for crafts like this!
enjoy! I'm going to try and be back this weekend with a Technique post using some of the new wonderful Hambly that has just started hitting stores. Until then, Happy Haunting!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Project #2...this week!
This project is inspired by Elsie...you might know her as ElsieCake or from the line of scrapbooking products as Love Elsie or when she wrote that book, or won that big contest, etc. etc. I yoinked the idea from this blog post showing how to make a banner out of instant pictures. Well, I don't have instant film, or an instant camera, but I have lots and lots of pattern paper.
This is a super cute idea that, like most of the projects on here, can be changed to suit your mood, decor, theme or whatever! Just change up the papers and the word or words. It's cheap and eco-friendly because you're using up scraps, and it's super fun and wonderful! I love autumn, so I decided to make my banner to match some of my fall decor that I put up in my home recently.
Enjoy!
******
You will need:
- six different pattern papers, or however many you need for your word of choice...you'll need a different colour for each letter...I chose ones that were heavier weight so they would hold together better once I started cutting them.
- pen and scissors or craft knife
- wooden clothespins (small or large)
- wool, ribbon, string
-tape, nails, hooks (something to attach it to your wall)
Step One : Cut all your papers down to the size you want...mine are all 3.5x5. Lay your papers out in the order you want them. This might take some moving papers around until you get it looking good!
Step Two: Draw (and I mean freehand!) your letters on each piece of paper. They don't have to be perfect or anything. If you're really not keen on your drawing abilities, run them through the computer, BUT REMEMBER to use a really simple, block font or else you will have a heck of time cutting the letters out!
Step Three: Cut out the letters using scissors or a craft knife. Your letters don't have to be perfect...mine looked pretty rough once I cut them out, but on the wall you can't even tell!
Keep cutting out your letters...
Step Four: To attach my banner to my wall I am using masking tape and a piece of ivory wool. Masking tape because I don't need any more holes in my walls! And wool because it reminds me more of autumn and I have buckets of this around the house so I can afford to use it on silly projects like this one! You can guess on the length of string you'll need...but better to guess too long and have to cut some off, then guess too short and have to cut another piece!
Step Five: Hang letters with clothespins. Since there's no gluing letters down, you can move them around if you got the spacing wrong the first time. And you can leave the wool up and change the word whenever it pleases you.
My Autumn-Fall-Halloween Inspired Decor. The mantle is the only place in my house I ever really decorate for the holidays, so I go all out! And you can see my little Trick or Treaters there as well.
Hope you had as much fun with this as I did! It would also be great for a baby or wedding shower, or a birthday party with the guest of honor's name. I'm not big on Christmas decorations, but I can see a "joy" or "believe" or "jolly" hanging up there in a couple of month's time.
This is a super cute idea that, like most of the projects on here, can be changed to suit your mood, decor, theme or whatever! Just change up the papers and the word or words. It's cheap and eco-friendly because you're using up scraps, and it's super fun and wonderful! I love autumn, so I decided to make my banner to match some of my fall decor that I put up in my home recently.
Enjoy!
******
You will need:
- six different pattern papers, or however many you need for your word of choice...you'll need a different colour for each letter...I chose ones that were heavier weight so they would hold together better once I started cutting them.
- pen and scissors or craft knife
- wooden clothespins (small or large)
- wool, ribbon, string
-tape, nails, hooks (something to attach it to your wall)
Step One : Cut all your papers down to the size you want...mine are all 3.5x5. Lay your papers out in the order you want them. This might take some moving papers around until you get it looking good!
Step Two: Draw (and I mean freehand!) your letters on each piece of paper. They don't have to be perfect or anything. If you're really not keen on your drawing abilities, run them through the computer, BUT REMEMBER to use a really simple, block font or else you will have a heck of time cutting the letters out!
Step Three: Cut out the letters using scissors or a craft knife. Your letters don't have to be perfect...mine looked pretty rough once I cut them out, but on the wall you can't even tell!
Keep cutting out your letters...
Step Four: To attach my banner to my wall I am using masking tape and a piece of ivory wool. Masking tape because I don't need any more holes in my walls! And wool because it reminds me more of autumn and I have buckets of this around the house so I can afford to use it on silly projects like this one! You can guess on the length of string you'll need...but better to guess too long and have to cut some off, then guess too short and have to cut another piece!
Step Five: Hang letters with clothespins. Since there's no gluing letters down, you can move them around if you got the spacing wrong the first time. And you can leave the wool up and change the word whenever it pleases you.
My Autumn-Fall-Halloween Inspired Decor. The mantle is the only place in my house I ever really decorate for the holidays, so I go all out! And you can see my little Trick or Treaters there as well.
Hope you had as much fun with this as I did! It would also be great for a baby or wedding shower, or a birthday party with the guest of honor's name. I'm not big on Christmas decorations, but I can see a "joy" or "believe" or "jolly" hanging up there in a couple of month's time.
Thanks for stopping by...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Project of the Month
Now, I just don't post enough cool projects here! I want to remedy that this week with (hopefully) two fun projects you can do to add some fall flavour to your home decor!
Project Number One...I did up using some of the new Riff Raff Designs chipboard released this month. And you'll have to pretend you are reading this post five days ago, because that's when I meant to post it and then Thanksgiving weekend happened. Hmmm.
You will need:
- four 6x6 canvases (I buy mine in a pack that comes with some 12x12 as well, but I'm sure you could buy them on their own in as many number as you need!)
- scraps of pattern paper cut into random shapes (mine are all squares and rectangles, but you could try circles or hearts or whatever for a totally different look!)
- paint in a bunch of (coordinating) colours - greens in my case - and some brown and black paint as well
- brayer, foam brush, foundation makeup applicator pad, old gift card, whatever you want to use to apply the paint...I use all of the above!
- something 3D to embellish your canvases - in my case I used the new Riff Raff, but if you have some fun metal embellishments, that would be great as well!
- a picture or drawing of a little trick-or-treater. I drew/.painted the ladies on my canvases, but if you have some vintage images handy or can print them off your computer, by all means go for it! This project is whatever you make of it!
Okay...GO!!!
Start by gluing down a smattering of pattern paper pieces all over each canvas. I use matte gel medium, and it works pretty well. It's easy to apply, covers and adheres well, and stays really smooth. Remember that you don't need a lot of glue, just enough to tack things down. Too much liquid adhesive just means things get blobby and globby and take forever to dry!
Once this has dried, apply two colours of your coordinating colour paint to a brayer, plastic gift card, foam brush, etc. and start rubbing and brushing them onto the papers. Get into all the cracks and gaps and cover the whole canvas. Now take a wet paper towel or wipe and get rid of some of that paint. Uncover some of the pattern papers a bit, blend the colours together and make everything start to look nice and smudgy.
Keep applying and removing paint until you have everything covered nicely. Now go in with your brown or black and create some shadows. You don't need a lot of the darker neturals, just enough to create some depth to the piece.
As a finishing touch, I added some metallic, shiny gold gel medium sparingly in a couple of places on each canvas. It adds a touch of glamour and interest and anything shiny is wonderful, really!
Witchy Woman...what are you cooking up dearie?
Little Miss Muffett...along came a spider...
Skully...while she mainly believes in aliens she's keeping an open mind to include other ghoulies!
And Tiger Lily, who for some reason just wants to be sideways!
I heart Halloween, in every way! From the costumes and the dress up, to the decorations and the fun parties, and the candy and treats especially! These little guys already have taken over some prime real estate on my mantle and they look wonderful!
I hope they inspire you to take on your very own "mixed media" project sometime in the future! And for those of you who might need a little help with that, I am teaching a Canvas class at the store this weekend. Call Treasured Memories to sign up.
Project Number One...I did up using some of the new Riff Raff Designs chipboard released this month. And you'll have to pretend you are reading this post five days ago, because that's when I meant to post it and then Thanksgiving weekend happened. Hmmm.
You will need:
- four 6x6 canvases (I buy mine in a pack that comes with some 12x12 as well, but I'm sure you could buy them on their own in as many number as you need!)
- scraps of pattern paper cut into random shapes (mine are all squares and rectangles, but you could try circles or hearts or whatever for a totally different look!)
- paint in a bunch of (coordinating) colours - greens in my case - and some brown and black paint as well
- brayer, foam brush, foundation makeup applicator pad, old gift card, whatever you want to use to apply the paint...I use all of the above!
- something 3D to embellish your canvases - in my case I used the new Riff Raff, but if you have some fun metal embellishments, that would be great as well!
- a picture or drawing of a little trick-or-treater. I drew/.painted the ladies on my canvases, but if you have some vintage images handy or can print them off your computer, by all means go for it! This project is whatever you make of it!
Okay...GO!!!
Start by gluing down a smattering of pattern paper pieces all over each canvas. I use matte gel medium, and it works pretty well. It's easy to apply, covers and adheres well, and stays really smooth. Remember that you don't need a lot of glue, just enough to tack things down. Too much liquid adhesive just means things get blobby and globby and take forever to dry!
Once this has dried, apply two colours of your coordinating colour paint to a brayer, plastic gift card, foam brush, etc. and start rubbing and brushing them onto the papers. Get into all the cracks and gaps and cover the whole canvas. Now take a wet paper towel or wipe and get rid of some of that paint. Uncover some of the pattern papers a bit, blend the colours together and make everything start to look nice and smudgy.
Keep applying and removing paint until you have everything covered nicely. Now go in with your brown or black and create some shadows. You don't need a lot of the darker neturals, just enough to create some depth to the piece.
As a finishing touch, I added some metallic, shiny gold gel medium sparingly in a couple of places on each canvas. It adds a touch of glamour and interest and anything shiny is wonderful, really!
Witchy Woman...what are you cooking up dearie?
Little Miss Muffett...along came a spider...
Skully...while she mainly believes in aliens she's keeping an open mind to include other ghoulies!
And Tiger Lily, who for some reason just wants to be sideways!
I heart Halloween, in every way! From the costumes and the dress up, to the decorations and the fun parties, and the candy and treats especially! These little guys already have taken over some prime real estate on my mantle and they look wonderful!I hope they inspire you to take on your very own "mixed media" project sometime in the future! And for those of you who might need a little help with that, I am teaching a Canvas class at the store this weekend. Call Treasured Memories to sign up.
Shout Out...
I am inspired always by the lovely Kelly Rae Roberts...it was the above collage and paint technique written up in an issue of Cloth Paper Scissors that first got me into "mixed media" art. Check out Kelly Rae's website and blog for more lovely works of art and inspiration! And ways to find the "possibilitarian" within!
I am inspired always by the lovely Kelly Rae Roberts...it was the above collage and paint technique written up in an issue of Cloth Paper Scissors that first got me into "mixed media" art. Check out Kelly Rae's website and blog for more lovely works of art and inspiration! And ways to find the "possibilitarian" within!
Later this week I hope to have another fun fall project for you, inspired by another one of my favourite artists, that can be changed to fit any decor, theme, or holiday festivities!
later skater alligator!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
