December Kit Mini Album

This is a little Bonus Project for you! It's especially great for those of you who snagged the December Kit at the store. But if you weren't one of the lucky ones, it's still a snazzy mini-album to make! Contained within are some super fun and easy Techneeks and it's a great way to get yourself in the Christmas spirit PLUS have somewhere to put all those photos you're going to take!!

You will need:

• the Treasured Memories December Kit - essentially you need 5 pattern papers, and since the ones in the kit are double-sided they do double-duty, a light coloured cardstock, some paper flowers, bling and letter stickers.

• A journaling stamp - I used the Bam Pop fancy frame, but you can use whatever you have in your stash.


• Black Staz-On ink pad


• A couple of different-sized circle punches
  
• Pink and green craft paint and a paintbrush - I used Making Memories and Ranger


• Liquid glue - I use my trusty Ranger Glossy Accents


• Glitter paint - I'm using Making Memories, but you can use whatever you have in your stash that works the same way. For example, a bottle of Stickles and a paintbrush will have the same effect!


• Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Pearl, Jazz Blue & Pink Ink - or whatever colours match that you have on hand


• A black pen


• A chipboard album - I made mine out of leftover chipboard from the store and some binder rings, but use what you've got

NOTE: All of the photos I'm including in my book are 3.5 x 5. If you want to include smalelr or larger photos in your book, adjust for that while your doing the layout. And since this is going to be my Christmas book for THIS YEAR, I don't actually have any photos for it yet. I stick a white sheet of cardstock on each page over top of which I will eventually place my photo.

AND REMEMBER that since this is a homemade chipboard album the back of page two is actually page three!

Step One: If you're making your own chipboard album, cut your pieces down to 6 x 6 (or 6x6.25 in my case). I used the big Making Memories trimmer for this.

Step Two: Take a ruler and measure the places you want your holes. I'm using three binder rings, so I took my calculator and figured out what 6/4 is (about 1.5) and marked that along my first page. Then I made a mark in from the edge at half an inch. The place where these two marks cross is where I'll punch my holes.

Step Three: Punch the holes in your album. I used the Crop-A-Dile because it punches very easily through chipboard. Once you've got the holes in the first page, line up the second page and use the holes as a guide. Keep going like this until you have holes in all of your pages.

(Note: I left the binder rings out until I finished embellishing the entire album. They are pictured here to show you how it will look once you have all your holes punched in the right place!)

Step Four: Now that this is done, we can move on to the fun stuff...sort of! Since this is meant to be a super simple and QUICK album to put together, I want you to put away your trimmer and pull out a nice big pair of scissors. We are going to cut strips of paper without measuring it, and without straight edges! Now I know some of you are thinking "ack!" but this is a lesson in "letting it go" and just having fun with the supplies and enjoying the creative process! Woo!

So grab 5 of the pattern papers from the kit that you like (or ones from your stash at home) and start cutting strips of various widths. Cut all the way across the 12x12 sheet, and you can cut down the long strips when you go to use them on a page.

Once you have a respectable amount of strips cut, set them aside. We'll use them as we go.

Step Five: Using the stamp that you chose, and your black Staz-On pad, fill the sheet of shimmery blue cardstock from the kit (or on the colour of your choice). We're using the Staz-On pad because regular ink will smear on the shimmery paper. If you are using plain cardstock, any black ink pad will do.

I also stamped a bunch of 7Gypsies labels for good measure! These guys will smear a little (the self-inking stamps are just regular ink), so be careful!

You don't have to cut all of them out now. I cut each one as I went. Every double-page layout in my album has a journaling spot, so that means I needed 10. You will see that there are only 9 pictured here...well I am sneaky and did the extra one on the green cardstock that comes in the kit!

Now onto the REALLY good stuff!! You'll need your pile of paper strips, your circle punches, and the Glimmer Mist & paint. We're going to do one double page layout at a time. And remember, your book won't really look the same as mine, as your strips of paper will be a little different, but you can copy my layouts to make it easier on you!

The cover page is super simple. I used half of the journaling tag that came in the kit, a strip of pattern paper, a KI Memories paper clip (my kit came with the tree, but each kit will contain a different shape), a Prima red flower and the Doodlebug green bling.

For Pages One & Two you will need two pattern paper strips (cut in two for each side of the layout), a circle of a third pattern paper, and some glitter paint. Cover each page with the glitter paint. Make sure you get all the way to the edge. Let it dry. While it's drying you can cut down the long strips of paper to fit on the page. Also, cut out one of the stamped journal spots.

Once the paint has dried, adhere the pattern strips, the journaling spot and your photo mount. I'm not adding any more embellishments at this point, because I don't want to run out before I finish the album! I embellished the entire album once I had completed the basic "bones" of each page (paper, journal spot, etc.)



On Pages 3 & 4 I used Pearl and Jazz Blue Glimmer Mist on the background. Spray the Pearl all over the two pages, then add the Jazz Blue in the corners or along one edge as an accent colour.


While it is drying, cut out one journaling spot and cut down 3 strips of pattern paper. I also punched 2 circles out of a different pattern paper and crumpled them up before attaching them. You can assemble the elements once the Glimmer Mist is dry.
For the rest of the pages, I took the photos after I embellished the page, so you can embellish as I did, or let your imagination go wild!!

On Pages 5 & 6 I used a Heidi Swapp polka dot mask to create the circle pattern. But you can use any stencil or stamp to create a similar effect. I laid the mask on the chipboard, and used some green craft paint to fill in the circles. Before it had a chance to dry, I sprayed over top with Pearl Glimmer Mist and carefully pulled off the mask. Clean off the mask, and do the same thing on the next page.
While it's drying, cut the Little Yellow Bicycle journaling card in half (you'll only have half left, as you already used part of it on the cover). Once it has dried, adhere this tag, add a stamped journal tag, the Jenni Bowlin mini Bingo card and a strip of pattern paper.

Pages 7 & 8 are nice and bright and very pink!! They match the Prima Popsicle flowers that were in my kit. If you got a different colour of flowers, you might want to change your paint colour to match!!

I messily brushed on some bright pink paint, but I made sure not to cover the entire background. Next I adhered some pink and red pattern paper strips (and blue on page 8). The Popsicle flowers are further embellished with circles punched from the flocked Heidi Grace pattern paper.

On Pages 9 & 10 I used the Glitter Paint again all over the chipboard. Then I added two strips of pattern paper, my journaling tag and a smaller 7Gypsies journal stamp.


Pages 11 & 12 got a little doodle treatment. If you're comfortable with your doodling skills, just add a journaling spot. I used some misshapen pattern papers strips and a Jenni Bowlin mini Bingo card to create a bit of an "embellishment corner" then added my doodled frame to fill out the page. This looks complicated, but is actually super simple to do...you can even copy a stamped design!!

The right side of the layout got some doodled stars, and was complete!



Pages 13 & 14 are really simple to put together. Cut down three strips of pattern paper to three different sizes (short, medium & long) and mirror their placement on each page. I punched a circle out of my blue shimmery cardstock, doodled a little frame and stuck an "ampersand" in the centre from the sticker letter set in the kit.

For Pages 15 & 16 you get to add some shimmer to the leftovers from your Popsicle flowers with some Glimmer Mist. I used a pink Mist, sprayed the circles liberally, let them dry, sprayed them again, flattened them out and stuck them down. You'll need to use Glossy Accents to adhere the fabric flowers to the page, and I usually rest something heavy on them so they dry flat.

Add some circles punched from the Heidi Grace flocked paper (I doodled on them, but the ink smudges so I don't recommend this!!), some strips of pattern paper and a journal spot.

You'll need your paint and Heidi Swapp mask again for Pages 17 & 18, or some other way to make circles! I adhered my pattern paper first before applying the mask and paint, and I only did it on the right page. The bottom of the Sassafraslass paper is a cute little scalloped border that works great on this page. I added my journaling spots and some Doodlebug bling to finish off the pages.

And instead of using Glimmer Mist to give my paint dots a little shine, I used glitter paint!!


Pages 20 & 21 are again super simple to make. I used 2 strips of pattern paper, then cut out the words on one of the Prima sheets of pattern paper: wish, Holly Jolly and Joy. I ON that same sheet of paper, there are some pointsettias, which I punched out with my circle punch, crumpled and uncrumpled them, and stuck them in the corners.


I always like to embellish The Back of any mini album I create. This is where I can sign my name, or write a special greeting if the album is a gift. Some words cut from the Prima and Heidi Grace papers and a 7Gypsies stamped journaling tag are all that's needed. I would avoid adding any 3D embellishments to the back because they might get worn off!


Once you're done with all the paper, you can go back in and embellish with the goodies in your kit! I wanted to keep this album super simple, so I didn't add any extra embellishments; that is, I ONLY used what came in the kit! Feel free to add on, but I find it more fun and more challenging to just stick with a handful of flowers and bling, and not worry about going through my stash to find "the perfect" embellishment...as if it even exists!

Now, all you need to do is enjoy the holidays, print off some pictures and complete your album in the New Year!

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I'll see you back here on Thursday for my regularly scheduled Techneek of the Week post. Hint: it's all about buttons this week!! And I also have another surprise (re: PRIZE) for my loyal Blog Readers!

Love Ya!

Techneek of the Week - Ransom Title

Now, this may not seem like a technique to you, but it's a good way to shake up your scrapbooking, and try something new! Start small...you never know where it will take you!!

I for one always have bits and pieces leftover from my sticker letter sets that aren't enough to make my title...on their own! But when you combine letter sets, not only can you stretch your supplies, but you can create a really fun and funky layout as well!!

You will need:

• Three to four sets of same-coloured sticker letters - you can use leftovers from your stash


• Your title


• A sheet of paper, and a pen or pencil


• Your layout ready to go, in need of a title!

Step One: Get all of your same-coloured letter stickers together. I have five white sets: American Crafts Thickers, Heidi Swapp chipboard and Doodlebug. These aren't the same fonts or materials (there's foam, chipboard and cardstock), but that's the point! You might not even use all of these fonts, but have them all out none-the-less. We'll need them all for the next step.

Step Two: Write your title on a sheet of scrap paper. Not only does this help you check your spelling before you get it wrong on the page - this happens to the best of us - it also helps you to make sure you have all the letters you will need BEFORE you start sticking them down and realize you're missing an "e" or something goofy!

Step Three: Go through your title letter by letter and make sure you have each letter. That means you need to know if you have three Ds, or two Fs or whatever is in your title. Tick off each letter on your scrap paper as you find them in your sticker letters. Don't worry about taking the letters off the sheets yet, just make sure you have enough!

Step Four: Now when I do my titles I like to start at each side of my page, or against a straight edge so I know I'm getting everything lined up. With this page I eyeballed where my title would sit, and started at each side, ready to meet up in the middle.

Keep putting your letters down, in order (check your scrap paper if you need help spelling backwards!), choosing different fonts as you go. Remember that the whole point of this kind of title is for it to look like a ransom note would...all different fonts and sizes and letters cut from a newspaper. You can have the same font side by side, but maybe avoid three letters in a row that are the same font. This just adds to the "randomness" of the look!

Problem... Once I got to the centre, I ran into a problem with my spacing. So I had to readjust the rest of my letters before finishing my title. A good tip: to make it easier to correct mistakes in spacing as you go, lightly stick down your letters until you're sure of their placement.


And the finished layout...ain't it grand! This is a picture I took in a mall in San Diego of the security guard!

Doesn't the title look cool!! You'll notice how I swapped out the first "I" in my title from what I originally had there. The sparkly one just didn't look right, and since I had only lightly tacked down my letters, it was easy to fix!


You could also try:

• Using the SAME font in different colours. American Crafts Thickers and Doodlebugs fonts are great for this!


• Cutting letters from newspapers or magazines to really get a ransom look on your page! If you're concerned about acid/lignin, spray the letters with an archival mist before you attach them.

Enjoy, and I'll see you back here next week...I've got another treat in store!

Simple, Inexpensive, and Stunning!

Another super simple project. Beautiful Christmas tree decorations!

Products used: American Crafts paper (Prima flowers for the green ball- sprayed with olive, random buttons, dollar store stick pins, styro balls, tulle.

1. Take a 1" circle punch and punch out a bunch of circles
2. Take your stickpins and put them through the button and the circl and push into the styro ball. Repeat until covered. You will want to overlap slightly.
3. Then take your ribbon or Tulle and make a loop with a knot. Pin into the ball. You may want to put some glue onto the pin part before placing into the ball.

PLEASE NOTE: Now I never did find silver pins, I bought these at the dollar store, they were multi colored. What I did to color the pins was use a silver alcohol ink. I applied the ink to the ball of the pin - carefull do not squeeze it out, allow the ink to come to the tip of the bottle.

Techneek of the Week - Paper Flourish

Another uber-simple one from the brain of me...but I'm sick this week so I needed something small to ease me back into things!

But it's a good techneek none-the-less, and one that can be used in so many different ways, on so many different projects...that my kind of guy!

You will need:

Pen or pencil

Scissors

Scrap cardboard, chipboard or heavy weight cardstock

Chipboard flourish - to trace, or copy if you're not into doodling!

Some pattern paper from your stash

Step One: If you're confident enough to try your hand at doodling a swirl, go for it! Use your pencil and just go with the flow! If you don't like it, keep adjusting the lines until you have something that looks good!

It will look messy at this stage, but when you cut it out just use the best line!

Here is my hand drawn swirl after I cut it out. It's for sure not perfect, but that just adds some whimsy!


And if you're not a confident doodler, just grab some other swirl and trace it! I still have a bunch of "leftover" chipboard swirls from a big Fancy Pants pack I bought ages ago, and they work great for this technique. NOTE: If you want to just use the original swirl to trace directly onto your pattern paper, go for it. I made a template because what happens if I want to use the original chipboard...then I won't have it for a template anymore!

Just trace around the shape, and it doesn't have to be perfect!

Then cut it out, and you have a nice template to use over and over again!

Step Two: Pull together some papers from your stash, ones that you might want to use on your layout. We're not going to use all of them, but seeing them all together will give you an idea of which paper is the best to use for these.


You'll want something that has a very subtle or repeating pattern. You don't want lined paper or stripes because when you cut the curvy swirl, the lines will look weird...but hey, it's your page!!



Step Three: Take your chipboard template and lay it right side down on the wrong side of your pattern paper. This way you won't see any pencil lines!


Step Four: Now trace around the swirl shape. It doesn't matter if you use a pen or pencil if you do it on the back side of the paper.

Step Five: Cut out your shape, flip it over and there's your first swirl!!




And here is my finished layout!
It's a nice and simple layout about my son's adventure in the dusting of snow we got the other day! I just added some of the sparkly snowflakes I made a couple of Techneeks ago, some bling and a title. This just goes to show that you can use swirls on a boy layout!

I hope you enjoyed this techneek. You could also try:

• Sewing your swirls onto your page...I am so not organized enough for that!


• Outline the edges with a pen


• Sand or distress the edges


• Combine different pattern papers to create a bigger, multi-coloured swirl

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And the winner is...

Grand Prize: Electra who wrote: My favorite technique is your techneeks! ("are" your techneeks?) They never fail to delight me.Having said that, I guess my second favorite would be paint.Any kind. Any colour.

Runner-Up: Justjan who wrote: I really like the Stix2 anything with foils. Next to bling - it's the hottest thing!

Congratulations Ladies!! Please email me with your contact info so I can get your prizes out to you!! (lisakercher@gmail.com)

And thanks to all of you who played along...including some of the TM girls! Chantel says her favourite techneek is swirling alcohol ink all over a transparency and using it as a background. Check it out here on her blog.

And Lindsay's favourite techneek is the one I named after her! Check it out here for a step-by-step. Oh, and glossy accents on anything! You have to be careful when you work with her some days, because you'll put something down on the counter and before you know it, it's covered in Glossy Accents. Note to self: Black Prima flowers look totally awesome all covered in SHINY!

See you back here next Thursday!

The Countdown is on...

Only 6 more hours to post your comment to win one of the prize packs! I've decided to let you enter up until I have the techneek up...and since I haven't even started working on it, that probably won't be until after Lucas goes to bed tonight!!

So post your Comment here and you're entered to win a snazzy chipboard prize pack!

See you tonight!

Only Two More Days...

to enter the contest for the SWEET Riff Raff Designs & Maya Road chipboard prizes! Just post a comment below and you're entered to win! It's as simple as that!

Even if you don't have a Blogger account, you can post a comment. Just post as "Anonymous" and leave your name within your post.

I'll announce the winners in my Techneek Post on Thursday, so be sure to check if you're one of the lucky ones!!

Check you later...