BLOG BUDDIES

March 24, 2014

Steampunking My Walls

 
 
I found this cute chipboard mustache at my local craft store for $3.99 and decided it needed  a home on my craft wall. I had recently seen this cool technique on Lost Wax YOUTube and decided this would look great for this piece.

I first painted the entire piece with a coat of black acrylic paint. Then I chose a foam also purchased at the craft store that already had the sticky back on it. Very easy to use and sticks really well. The YOUTUBE video actually suggested to glue the pieces on. Cut your pieces in random shapes and sizes and apply to your mustache. The foam is very pliable so it went around the curved edges very well.


Once again,  the YOUTUBE video suggested using epoxy glue for the rivets, but I decided to use black 3D puff paint. Allow this to dry over night.

Then coat the entire piece one again with a coat of black acrylic paint and allow to dry completely.
 
The last step I used Rub N Buff in pewter and antique gold to highlight over the top of the rivets and randomly swiped the mustache for "old vintage" look.
Fun and easy project to go on the wall next to my next project I'm making "Keep Those Creative Wheels Turning" .... stay tuned
 
Happy Creating :-) Toni
 

March 10, 2014

SENDING SOME LOVE FROM HOME

This accordion style mini album is for someone very special in my daughter's life... a very good friend that she met in college and they have remain in contact. He is in the Army and currently in Korea and has been missing home very very much. My daughter gathered lots of pictures from college days and current pictures they exchange back and forth and decided she wanted to send him something he could put on his desk or dresser. Something to help bring home closer to him.
Here is my process:
I first cut 5 sheets of chipboard, 5 strips of 1" cardstock that was scored down the middle. I used the card stock to attach the chipboard squares and this also provides more stability for bending back and forth.
Next I covered each with black card stock
The paper line of my choice was DCWV Timeless Treasures, I used the Distress It All to distress the edges. I find when using my Distress It All, it works better when you combine several sheets of paper at once. I then inked all edges with Black Soot DI.
Next I gathered several embellishments that were to be used. I find this is easier for me when doing a project like this, rather than stopping and searching for items of my choice. I just put a bunch of goodies in a can and go from there.
I really wanted it to be a fun album for him, so I included some interactive pages. This 5"x5" 5 page accordion album fits over 50 photos !!!

So here we go with a page by page blow... the photos don't really do the pages justice but maybe it will provide some inspiration for your next project.

PAGE 1

PAGE2

PAGE 3

PAGE 4 WATERFALL CARD
PAGE 5
PAGE 6 FLIP OUT BOOK HELD WITH MAGNETS

PAGE 7
PAGE 8
PAGE 9
PAGE 10 POP OUT BOX
 
I hope Marcus enjoys his little gift from home and Marcus we always keep you and all our wonderful soldiers in prayer. Thank you for your service... we ♥ u
 
Happy Creating
Toni


March 6, 2014

Guess Whoooo Just Arrived

One of my managers is the proud daddy of twins.... Madeline & Jett, and I wanted to make him something special to keep those memories in.  I decided to make him a gate mini album so that one side could be for Madeline and the other for Jett. I ♥ to make interactive albums (where the pages hide things and do things...) but they do become very chunky so I initially was going to bind this using my Zutter machine but of course the album became too large so I then decided to use (6)  1.5" rings to hold the album together. First off,  can I say that the theme of the nursery is "Owls" so throughout the mini you will see that I use owls for embellishments. The paper I used was DCWV "The Little Miss" & "The Little Mister".  For the cover I took wooden letters purchased at Michaels, painted them lime green. Allowed them to dry then put a nice coat of Elmer's glue on top and while wet applied a layer of white acrylic paint. The glue creates a wonderful cracked effect.
The first page was created using the "waterfall technique" that allow lots of journaling regarding the birth... ex: birthday, color of hair, eye, height, weight etc.
I created pockets throughout the album to accompany tags for additional places for photos and journaling.
The next page was made using a large chipboard heart and covering it, then using double ruffled tulle , I glued this around the edges, finishing off with a simple charm.
The next page was a simple but  an effective layout to allow 2 photos.
The next page was made by creating a pocket under the main photo mat. Tags were created and jump rings attached to each tag to hang from the safety pin.
The next page was inspired by Laura from "Follow the Papertrail" . I had to change the dimensions but the idea of an Owl pocket photo mat was adorable. This was so fun to make.
The next page for Madeline a gate fold photo mat which when open creates more space for more photos and journaling. 
And now for Jett's pages.... the first was also a waterfall to provide room for all his statistics, the next 2 pages were simple layout forms that allowed for several photos.
 
A side belly band was created for the next page that gave room for a couple #8 size tags that give plenty of room for photos and journaling.  
Criss Cross pockets were used on the next page for a different visual effect and provided a home for 2 more tags and behind that is of course the main photo mat.
The next page I created leaving the top of the page open which allowed for two large index photo mats to be placed inside. A diagonal pocket was created for holding a tag for journaling.
Since Madeline had an owl page, Jett had to have one also...
The next page was created as an explosion box, I used jute to tie it closed and when open it provides enough room for 5 more pictures. I also used a small paper bag and matted it then added 2 tags for the inside for additional photos and journaling.
The last of Jett's pages was a pop up box which has room on either side for pictures then is tied with ribbon and then when open it pops into a little box for another picture
The very last page of the entire album is one large page so I decided to make this the family page where everyone can be in the photo together.
This was such a fun album to make. Other products I used for this project were, I Am Roses flowers, Prima "Say It With Crystals" Jolee's 3D Stickers, filmstrip, doilies, assorted buttons and metals. To finish off the album I added tulle, and ribbons and I used ribbon for the closure. I hope you enjoyed this and I can't wait to give this album for my gift. xoxo Happy Creating Toni
art (ärt) noun - supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature. The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty.