PopulArt Swap: Altered Composition Book

One of my current crafting goals is to go "shopping in my stash" and not go out and buy so much for the swaps I'm participating in this year. For this project, I spent a grand total of $3, and that was only because I had to re-make the journal. I absolutely hated the first one I made (paid $2 for that one!) and had to run out to the Dollar Tree the other day to purchase another composition book.

This is an altered composition book for the March PopulArt swap at Your Paper Pantry. My swap partner is Cari and she pretty much let me have free reign for the design. We had to cover the front and back, include pockets and ephemera, and ink/distress the edges of the book and/or pages. The base is just an ordinary black and white composition book. I paid $1 for it at The Dollar Tree. The paper I used is K&Co KP Blossom. I love all the bright fun colors. It definitely reminds me of spring! I added some green botanical print washi tape to cover the seam where the paper me the black binding of the book. The edges of the cover and all the pages are inked with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. I didn't take any pictures of the inside pages, but I just grabbed a few stamps and used Archival ink to stamp a few sentiments throughout the book.

I used grungeboard letters for the title and the little butterfly in the upper right corner is grungeboard, too. I painted them with white acrylic paint and then inked the letters with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and the butterfly with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. I used Glossy Accents to adhere the grungeboard to the cover. The heart bling is Basic Grey.

I covered this large flower with Crackle Accents. I love how it turned out!

This is the inside of the front cover. I added a piece of washi tape to the inside so that it matched the front cover.

Inside the back cover I made a pocket out of an envelope. I sealed the envelope and cut off both of the short ends. I folded one end up about 2" and glued it down. I then attached pieces of patterned paper and glued it the inside of the back cover.

The pockets hold a photo mat for a 4"x6" and a 4"x4" photo. I included a glassine bag filled with cut-apart tags from the paper collection. I used a piece of the washi tape to keep the bag closed.

And here is the back cover.

I hope you enjoyed my altered composition book. Thanks for stopping by! If you have made an altered composition book, I would love to see it. Please leave a link in the comments below.

If you aren't a member of the Lone Wolf Designs Discount Retail Sales Facebook Group, you are paying too much for your supplies! Kris offers all your favorite crafting supplies at 25% off MSRP.

LWD Design Team Showcase: Studio 490 Wendi Vecchi Embossing Paste and Stencils

My Lone Wolf Designs Design Team Showcase for this month features Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi embossing paste and stencils.

This was not the project that I had originally planned, so I don't have step-by-step pictures like I usually do. I'll try to tell you everything I did, though. The base of my project is a #8 tag by Ranger. I used the inside of a bubble mailer to make the background. I mixed blue and white acrylic paint and brushed it on the mailer and then pressed it onto the tag. It was still a bit too dark so I dry-brushed on some more white acrylic paint.

Next comes the fun stuff! I used Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste and Lovely Leaves Stencil to complete the background. The embossing paste is white, but I colored it with green acrylic paint. I scooped about a tablespoon out on my non-stick craft mat, added paint, and mixed well. I used a spatula to spread the paste over the stencil. After I scraped off the excess, I used my finger to add texture before I removed the stencil. After the leaves on the bottom of the tag dried, I flipped the stencil over and repeated the process for the leaves on the top.

The flowers were inspired by Tammy Tutterow's Crinoline Tattered Roses. I used the Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Florals Die and for each tag, I cut 2 sets of flowers from crinoline and 2 sets of the 2 largest flowers from cardstock. I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks to color the cardstock and the crinoline~Blue (Shaded Lilac and Salty Ocean), Orange (Ripe Persimmon and Wild Honey), and Pink (Spun Sugar and Victorian Velvet).  I used a skewer to roll the edges of the flowers and used my hot glue gut to assemble them. I completed the look with a vintage-inspired clear button in the center of the flower and a piece of white trim across the bottom of the tag.

As I went searching through my ribbon tub (yes, tub!), I came across lace seam binding in the colors of each of my flowers. In addition to the that color, I also added a piece of blue and white lace seam binding.

I plan on using these tags as the base for the April Stick Pin Swap at The Scrap Cafe. I added a few stick pins from my collection to see how it looked. What do you think?

Many of the supplies I used for my project can be ordered or purchased (as 25% off MSRP!) through Kris at Lone Wolf Designs. Please join the Facebook Group Lone Wolf Designs Discount Retail Sales to make a purchase. If you are a crafter and haven't joined us yet, you are paying TOO MUCH for your supplies!

Artsy Fartsy Ticket Swap

This month I joined a new (to me!) swap at Your Paper Pantry~Artsy Fartsy Tickets. We were to make 5 different sets of ticket strips and use flowers on each set. I had a lot of fun with these and even used some new techniques.

I don't have the Tim Holtz ticket die, so I made my own ticket strips. Cut strips of cardstock 10" x 1.25" and score every 2". Use a small circle punch, hole punch, or crop-o-dile to punch half-circles on the score lines. Easy Peasy!

Set 1: I made the ticket strip with a piece of pink paper from the Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Stack. I inked the paper with Fired Brick Distress Ink and used texture paste and a brick wall stencil by Wendy Vecchi to add some texture. The texture paste picked up some of the red color from the ink. After it dried, I added Fired Brick and Vintage Photo to the bricks. These flowers are Recollections and I used burgundy buttons from my stash to embellish them.

Set 2:  I used my favorite distress technique to color this ticket strip~Tim's Wrinkle Free Distress Technique. These tickets are made from glossy cardstock. I used Bundled Sage, Forest Moss, and Wild Honey Distress Inks. The sentiment is from the Language of Love set by Stampin Up and the ribbon roses are from the dollar bin at Michael's.

Set 3: I used the TH technique on glossy cardstock. I colored the strip with Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar Distress Inks. I used Scor-Tape to adhere lacy seam binding all the way across the tags. The pink felt flowers are from Making Memories. The white flowers are from a stem of flowers from the Dollar Tree. I took them apart and inked the edges with Vintage Photo and then glued a sparkly pink gem in the middle.

Set 4: I made the ticket strip with a piece of blue paper from the Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Stack. I inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The felt leaves and the paper flowers are from Making Memories. I finished them off with some green bling for the flower centers.

Set 5: This strip is made with glossy cardstock. I inked the entire strip with Antique Linen Distress Ink. I inked the edges with Vintage Photo. I used a polka dot stencil by Wendy Vecchi and Vintage Photo Distress Ink to create the patten on the tickets. I used a stamp (Spiraling Inferno by Inkadinkadoo) from a stamping gear and Forest Moss Distress Ink to create an additional pattern behind the flowers. The flowers are different shades of coral/peach and are from the dollar bin at Michael's.

I had a great time making these tickets. I can't wait to see what I receive. I think these will be great for SMASH*books and mini albums! Have YOU made tickets? Leave me a link below so I can check out your work.

LWD Design Team Showcase: Romance in Paris Tags

My Lone Wolf Designs Design Team Showcase this month features tags I made for a swap at The Scrap Cafe. The theme was "Romance in Paris" and we were to use the colors red, pink, and/or white.

I used #8 Manila tags and 3 colors of Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Barn Door, Victorian Velvet, and Spun Sugar). I used Tim's wrinkle free distress technique to color the front of my tags. I love how they are all different even though I used the same colors and the same technique each time.

Next is the stamping. I used a stamp from Stampers Anonymous (Heartfelt). I stamped the image with Black Soot Distress Ink and then used clear embossing powder to finish it off.

This is NOT how I envisioned this tag when I started. I had planned to use some Core'dinations cardstock that I embossed with a French Script folder and put that on the bottom portion of the tag. When I placed it on the tag, it did not "go" at all....so, the black braid trim and bling mesh is all I have for the Parisian theme. I'm not even sure that it's *really* Parisian, but I'm going to go with the color theme instead of the Parisian theme, here, ok? 

The rose started out white. I used some homemade metallic shimmer spray to color it pink. I used Glossy Accents on a Tim Holtz Adage Ticket and then used my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher to staple it to the tag.

And here's another look at the finished tag.

Those who know me can attest to the fact that I do NOT like to get my hands dirty. I am a very "neat" crafter. However, I was not able to keep my hands clean for this project and it was kind of fun to get all inky! I just might do it again!

Many of the supplies I used for my project can be ordered or purchased (at 25% off MSRP!) through Kris at Lone Wolf Designs. Please join her Facebook Group Lone Wolf Designs Discount Retail Sales to make a purchase.

Romance In Paris Stick Pin Swap

One of the swaps that I participate in at The Scrap Cafe is the stick pin swap. It is my favorite swap and I participate in it every month. This month the theme is "Romance In Paris" and we are to use the colors red, pink, and/or white.

I started out with a #8 tag (cut with the Tim Holtz Sizzix die) made out of Core'dinations cardstock. After I got the tag assembled, I had too much empty space at the top, so I cut off about an inch. I inked all the edges with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink.
The image is a vintage postcard of the Eiffel Tower that I downloaded from The Graphics Fairy.

For the bottom of the tag, I layered black braid trim, lace, and heart trim. The lace was originally white but I sprayed it with homemade rose shimmer spray. I also sprayed the large paper flower and the smaller ribbon roses with the same rose shimmer spray.

Here is a close up of my stick pins. All the beads are from my stash.

Thanks for visiting my blog. :) I love comments and subscribers!

Note Card Swap at YPP

This month I participated in a Note Card Swap at Your Paper Pantry. We had to make 5 note cards that are 3.75"x3.75" or smaller and include an envelope. The theme was "Your Style" and the cards had to represent your style and you also had to include "hello" or "hi." Right now, my style is all about Tim Holtz techniques.

I used a #8 tag and 2 colors of Distress Ink (Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar). I used Tim's wrinkle-free distress technique to color both sides of my tag. That "chicken wire" background is actually a wire basket from the Dollar Tree that I cut apart to use in projects. (That bit of inspiration was from LuvLee Scrappin on YouTube.) I used my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher to staple it to the front of my card.

The flower is made with lace. I followed this tutorial by NurseTara04 on YouTube. For the center of the flower I used some metal accents by TPC Studios.

Since I stapled something to the front of the card, I had to make a liner for the inside of the card. I just cut white cardstock a little smaller than the tag and inked it in the same manner as the outside.

I used the Tim Holtz Tiny Tabs and Tags Sizzix die and an alphabet stamp by American Crafts to make a tag that says "hi." I used the Tiny Attacher to staple black ribbon to the tag and then used SU Dimensionals to attach it to the card.

I hope you enjoyed my tag. I can't wait to see what I get back in the swap.

Many of the supplies I used for my tag can be ordered or purchased (at 25% off MSRP!) through Kris at Lone Wolf Designs. Please join her Facebook Group Lone Wolf Designs Discount Retail Sales to make a purchase.

Design Team Showcase: G45 Place In Time

I am SO excited to be posting my very first Design Team Project for Lone Wolf Designs. I created a calendar/mini album for my friend, Katie. Please check out her YouTube channel: CraftyKhandy.

The album is approximately 5"x7." The cover is made with mat board and wrapped with Tim Holtz Shabby Vintage Paper Stash. I used my Bind-It-All and 1" o-wires for the binding. After taking the photos, I noticed that I didn't tie any ribbons and fibers to the binding. I'll be doing that before it gets in the mail to Katie. 

I decorated the cover with a pretty floral arrangement. The blue flowers are by Prima and the leaves are from the dollar bin at Michael's. The cream paper flowers I received from my friend Tami for Christmas. I received the stick pin, metal embellishments and pearl trim in various swaps last year.

The paper stack I used is "Place in Time" by Graphic 45. I love every single sheet in this stack. Can you say that about a paper stack that you own? I'm glad I purchased two of these. I'm definitely going to have to make a mini album for myself with the other stack. : )

One of the things I love about G45 paper stacks is the "Cut Apart" page. For each month, there are 24 tags, cards, and strips on this page. That is a lot of embellishments! I used several of the these on each page of the mini album. There are several tags and a postcard which would be great for journaling. Several of the Cut Aparts are large enough for photos to be placed on the back.

This is the back of the January Cut Apart page that is pictured above.

The inside of the album is made with lightweight chipboard and black envelopes and cards (from Recollections). I painted the edges of the chipboard with black acrylic paint and then glued the envelopes down with mod podge. The chipboard is cut about 1/4" larger than the envelopes. The envelopes are sealed and then a sliver cut off one of the long sides so that it can be used as a pocket. Most of the large photo mats (on top of the envelopes) are cut from Stampin Up cardstock and they are cut about 1/4" smaller than the envelopes. Everything is inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. The vintage calendar is a free printable from Crafty Secrets.

Inside the pocket I used the matching cards as a photo mat. I cut them in half and then cut them down to 4.5"x6.5," rounded the corners, and added a matching pull tab made with my Stampin' Up Tab Punch.

Here is a closeup of the March page. You can see that I used the large image from the Cut Apart page and glued it down to the base. I cut out the row of stamps and glued them down on 3 sides to make a pocket and then used dimensional foam tape on the bottom portion of the calendar.

The pages are all very similar. From the Cut Apart page I used the large image, one of the smaller images, the post card, a tag, and the calendar stick. There is also a monthly calendar image on each page.

On this month, I used some Fun Fur (specialty yarn) on one of the tags.

An example of how to use these elements would be to write a summary of the month on the calendar stick or just note important dates and events with a few dates and words. On the tag, you could have journaling on the front and a small photo on the back. The post card is large enough for an almost full-sized photo. You could place a smaller photo on the right hand side of the front or do some journaling on the address lines.

For July, I added a flower (from the dollar bin at Michael's) and a button to the top corner. I made a belly band by cutting one of the strips from the Cut Apart sheet and glued it down only on the two ends. I also added Glossy Accents to the red stars. Glossy Accents is one of my favorite items to use when crafting. It gives a nice shine or epoxy look to anything! On the February page (shown earlier in the post), I used Glossy Accents on the lipstick prints. I used my old Fiskar edge scissors to cut one of the stamps out and glued it on the bottom only to use a photo stop to keep the tags from falling out.

I'm not sure if you can tell it from these pictures, but I used gold glitter glue on the sand area of the large tag.

Christmas~my favorite time of year! I added another one of those flowers from the dollar bin at Michael's. I used one of the smaller pieces from the Cut Apart page and glued it down on two sides to make a pocket for the tags.

On these tags I used red glitter glue on the holly berries and clear on the mistletoe.

A close-up of the holly berries, though I'm not sure if you can see the sparkle of the glitter glue in the photo.

I had a lot of fun making this album. Once I decided on the general page design, it all came together quickly. The hardest part is trying to decide on additional embellishments for each page.

I'd like to leave with you a few tips to take your next creation up to the next level:

• Ink your edges~Find an ink that you love, like Tim Holtz Distress Inks, and use it to ink all the edges in your project. It adds a nice dimension and finished touch to your project.
• Dimensional adhesive~There are many kinds out there. Pick one that you like to work with and add dimension to your projects. It's amazing how a little bit of dimensional layering brings a new look to your work.
• Shimmer and Shine~Stickles (or glitter glue) are great for adding a little something extra to your work. Glossy Accents provides that epoxy look with just a little bit of drying time.
• Ribbons and Fibers~Great for pull tags and the bindings of your mini albums

Here are just a couple more pictures of the finished mini album. Thanks for sticking with me for all of them!

Check out this video of the finished mini album. I also go into a little more detail about some of the embellishments.

If you would like to purchase any of the products used for this project, most of them can be ordered or purchased through Kris at Lone Wolf Designs. Please join her Facebook Group "Lone Wolf Designs Discount Retail Sales" to make a purchase.

And now for Blog Candy!

Subscribe to my blog and leave a comment, then head over to Lone Wolf Designs and enter the giveaway for a Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink pad and a Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool. Hurry! Contest ends Thursday, January 31, 2013!

Go and Be Creative!