Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Inspiration Everywhere Progress

I made some time this week to set a few other projects aside and work on Jessica Sprague's class Inspiration Everywhere.  I'm going hybrid with this--what can I say, I like dimension.  Here's my progress so far:

 The Cover:
I wanted the binding on the short edge of the page, so my silly brain flipped the design to landscape mode.  I know I could have just kept it as is and bound it at the top (sometimes I'm really good at overthinking things).  But now that I see it, I really like the horizontal format.

Close-Up:
 I put next year's date on this--figured this year is all but gone, and it'll be nice to have a fresh new journal to start the new year off with.  Stitched the label with floss, and of course added some butterflies and bling.

Dedication:
This is the inside front cover.  Jessica designed that coral piece as a pocket to hold the dedication of the journal--she's so stinkin' clever!  Another blinged butterfly, but still need to write my dedication.  I'm thinking there will be a few small cards sticking out of there for: my husband, my children, myself.

I cut a translucent piece of acrylic to protect the cover, covered a piece of bookboard for the back cover.  Sandwiched between the covers is a large stack of cardstock for the pages.  I decided to do all cardstock on this one so I can do lots of collage and painting and create a big old mess--so excited!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Inspiration Everywhere

I've been meaning to post this for weeks now, and lucky for me (and maybe some of you), Jessica Sprague knows all about us procrastinating types.  Jessica's latest FREE class started today, but it is not too late to register.


If you have never taken a JS class, you are in for a real treat.  And if you have taken one of her classes, then you know this is one not to be missed.  She has five amazing projects planned (like a banner and an inspiration binder).  I am most excited for the Art Journal portion of the class.  Mine has sat gathering dust for far too long.

Hope to see you in class!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Some Cards (though not of the holiday variety!)

There's a rip-roaring card crop in progress at Scrapbook Heaven.  Here are my five cards complete with tutorials:
Numero Uno:
Here's a fun little card that looks more complicated than it is:
Image

You need:
3 pieces of cardstock:
front: 8 1/2" x 3"; scored at 2" from each end
middle: 6 1/2" x 3"; scored at 1" from each end
back: same as front

1) Punch or cut out a window in the front and middle sections. I used a 1 3/8" circle on the front punched three times; and a 1 1/4" circle on the middle.

2) Stamp on back piece in area that will show up in window.

3) Embellish the front and middle sections as desired.

4) Assemble like this:
sb-tute-1.jpg

sb-tute-2.jpg


Number Two: 
I found the idea for this card online and just fell in love with it. I'll warn you, it took me two tries to get this one right, so you may want to test it out on scrap paper first. (But, then, you all probly have more smarts than me and will get it on the first try!)

Image
1) Cut a piece of cardstock to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"

2) Score across at 4 1/4" (like you would for a traditional card)

3) Holding paper vertically, make a cut 2" from left side starting at 2 1/8" from top and running until 1" from bottom.

4) Score from right side to cut made in step 3, working from bottom up at: 1", 2", 3 1/8", (4 1/4" score is already there from step 1) and 6 3/8".

5) Fold the 2" wide left fold as a mountain, the 3 1/2" portion at the 4 1/4" as a valley. Alternate remaining scores as mountain and valley to create the "stairs".

Image
6) Take a deep breath because you made it through the hard part and have fun embellishing your card!

Third Times a Charm: 
This little card is an oldie but goodie. Used this style for my youngest's birth announcement 5 years ago. They whip up faster than you think and pack an impressive punch!

Image

1) Cut cardstock base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

2) Cut patterned mat: 4" x 5 1/4" and adhere to base

3) Cut holder strip 1" x 4 1/4". Do not adhere, attach with eyelets, brads, staples at top and bottom.

4) Cut pull tab piece: 8 1/2" x 1 3/4" and score at: 4 3/4", 5 3/4", 6 3/4"

Image

5) Cut 3 squares for accents: 2" and mat with 2 1/4"

6) Place adhesive on the boxes created by the scores in step 4 and apply the accent blocks by lining up the left side of the square with the fold on the pull tab.

Image

7) Feed the back of the accented tab piece under the holder strip and adhere the larger of the three scored blocks to the top of the holder strip to secure.

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8.) Embellish and add a ribbon or tab to the pull strip.

#4:
This cute little card whips up quickly, and the inside has plenty of room for a photo and a greeting.

Image

1) Cut cardstock base 10 1/2" x 3 1/2"

2) Score at 3 1/2" and 7" and on the diagonals as shown:
Image

3) Cut patterned paper 3 1/4" square and along diagonal.

4) Fold and adhere triangles from step 3 as shown:
Image
5) Embellish as desired. Use ribbon to tie closed, or use a decorative clip as I did in my sample.
Last But Not Least:
'm going easy on you for this last one! It's a simple pocket card made from 12" long paper. The extra inch folds up to create a little pocket inside the card. Use it for cash, a gift card, a packet of soup, cocoa, or tea bag.

Image

1) Cut a strip of paper 4 1/4" x 12" long.

2) Fold and score at 5 1/2" and 11". Fold 1" piece up and glue edges to inside of card to create a basic pocket.

3)Decorate card front as desired. I fussy cut some patterned paper, folded some paper flowers, and stamped sentiment on a transparent scrap from a sheet of stickers.

Inside pocket:
Image

Come play along with us.  You'll have until Saturday, November 27 at 9 PM to complete your cards (there are 20 fun-filled inspiring cards) for a chance at some prizes.





Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Gratitude Box

This time of year, feelings of gratitude abound, and it has become a traditional time to take stock, count blessings and appreciate life.  For the past three years I've done a little gratitude project for my family--everyone writes down their thoughts of thankfulness on Thanksgiving, and I match them up with snapshots from the day.  

Here is this year's:
I upcycled a box that held notecards and altered it with some patterned papers and a handmade flower.

The top opens up and the cards fit perfectly right inside:

The cards are just a word doc I created, printed on white cardstock and matted with colored cardstock.  
You can download the cards here.  The fonts I used are Times and Times Again and CK Becky, both free downloads.

On Thanksgiving Day, I will be sure to get snapshots of each family member, and then I can just print them out glue them to each card and trim to fit.  Easy!
I hope you will whip up one of these before the holiday to record your family's gratitudes.
Here is a pic of the other two I have done:

You can find details for the meander book (left) along with full directions here.  I will be back to add pics and deets for the little lunch box in the next day or two.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Crochet Ear Warmer

The cold weather is creeping in here in New England, and I keep seeing these headband style ear warmers popping up all over. 

Anthropologie
Isn't that cute?!  A quick search for a crochet pattern turned up this easy one.  It whipped up really quickly with an I-hook and some worsted weight yarn.
I embellished it with a clunky flower that I came up with, and I'm thrilled to share the pattern with you:

Petals:
With two strands of worsted weight yarn held together and a J-hook:
ch 6 and sl st in first ch to form a ring
Rnd 1: ch 6, dc in ring, *ch 3 dc in ring* repeat 3x, ch 3 and sl st in beginning of first ch of ch 6 (six ch 3 spaces created)
Rnd 2: (sc, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sc) in each ch 3 space around; join with sl st in first sc (top petals made)
Rnd 3: sc around post of first dc in rnd 1; *ch 5, sc around post of next rnd 1 dc* repeat 4x and sl st in beginning of first ch of ch 5
Rnd 4: (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in each ch 5 space around; join with sl st in first sc

Center:
With one strand of worsted weight yarn and an H-hook:
ch 4 sl st in first ch to form ring
ch 1, work 2 sc in each ch around - 8sc
without joining, work sc in each sc around three more times
stuff with fiberfill
sc in each sc around one more time
*sl st in next sc, skip next* repeat until 4sc remain
Fasten off leaving long tail and stitch to center of flower.

Happy Crocheting!