Thrifty Thursday: Handmade Scrapbook Accents

I've shared with you that one of the ways I save money and make my scrapbook and paper crafting dollar stretch is to make my accents/embellishments myself. This also allows me to personalize the accents to fit the photos and memories.

The scrapbook layout photos below show you a few of my handmade elements including the painted title, and the paper pieced "track" at the bottom of the second page.

Because the paper had a bit of shadow in the background, this called "distress" to me, so I tore paper, inked, chalked, and sanded the title and second embellishment.

I used, vellum, more ink, tearing, and pewter eyelets to carry through my distressed/worn look for these pages.

Here is a close up of the title. I used Making Memories paint and foam alphabet stamps, and then I played will the alignment of the letters. Once I stamped the title, I tore the edges of the paper with the use of a ruler to make them more straight...typically I don't use the ruler as I'm usually going to the more random look.

Once I was finished and I had the look I was going for, I joined the title together with a pewter eyelet.

For this embellishment I took scraps from the photo mats I had cut and then cut the remainder into strips and then placed them in succession of color starting with the darkest blue and then working my way down and repeating.

I tore the vellum to continue my worn look and placed it in the center of my element to allow the same amount of the strips to show above and below the vellum.

For the cost of 3 eyelets, and scraps of paper that I was using for the photo mats, I was able to accent and embellish my layout. I certainly could have been more elaborate in my accents, but I was able to still draw attention to the photos and scrap on a budget!

Challenge Card

Hello All! Thanks for stopping by. My second post today is my challenge card. I was able to meet 6 challenges with this card. It is a 4 1/4" square easel card (I know--my last three posts have been easel cards!). I used Stampin Up! cardstock and patter paper, and Penny Black stamps. I used a few different techniques: heat embossing and the dryer sheet technique.

The pink stars were heat embossed on Pixie Pink cardstock, and then I added adhesive and smoothed the used dryer sheet over the top. Once dried, I cut them out and added more Stickles for bling.

The challenges depicted in this card are:

1. Papertake Weekly: Sketch


2. Penny Black: Recycle (the dryer sheet technique)


3. The Corrosive Challenge Blog: Stars


4. Creative Card Crew: For a Child


5. I Did it Creations Blog: Purple and Pink


6. Paper Pretties: Bring on the Bling

Thanks for stopping by and happy stamping!

Square Easel Card: Mother's Day Card

Today's card is a 4 1/4" square easel card for Mother's Day. The photos are a little dark and are distorting the colors, but you get the idea. I used Stampin Up! Real Rust, Baja Breeze and Kraft cardstock, and pattern paper from K & Company. The flowers are by Prima, and the pearls were from Michael's. I used two Stampin Up! Stamp sets: the flower is from Close as a Memory, and stamped it with VersaMark. I'm not sure the name of the stamp set that the sentiment is from. It reads: "A mother holds her children's hands for but a moment, their hearts forever."

Here is one side view of the card. I used the eyelet border punch, as well as some filigree brads on the inside.

The filigree brads serve as the stopper to hold the card in front of the card in a standing position.

I'm becoming addicted to the easel cards, and I was just watching a tutorial on how to make double and triple easel cards...I can't wait to try them!

Here is one final look at the front of the card.

Two Challenge Tuesday # 10

Well, it's Tuesday, and that means it's time for another double challenge. Today's challenge is to use this color scheme (either use the dark brown or the light brown), and the second peice of the challenge is any shape except square. I've created a scallop circle easel card for my shaped card.

I apologize for the colors in the photos. It was a little late last night when I got my card done and I lost my sunlight to take the picture. The colors used are Pear Pizzaz, Pretty in Pink, Groovy Guava, and pattern paper by K & Company.

What will you come up with for your Two Tuesday Challenge?

Thanks for stopping by, and HAPPY STAMPING!

Because I Care Stationery Box

In my gift box with cards tutorial a few days ago, I showed you how to make this perfect box from a single 8 1/2 x 11" sheet of cardstock. Today I'm showing you the finished product and the cards that go inside the box. Since I did some very chunky cards, I decided to place 4 cards inside the box instead of 6 so that it doesn't stretch the box.

I used the stamp set Because I Care from Stampin Up! for the hydrangea. The colors I used are Pear Pizzaz, Baja Breeze, and pattern paper by K & Company.

Here is the front of the newly decorated box.

This is the box that I started with.

Different angle of the front

Here the box is opened. Card # 1 (see my challenge posts from yesterday to see more details of this one). Sentiment: Happy Birthday Card #2 Sentiment: Becuase I Care Card #3 Sentiment: Thank You Card #4 Sentiment: For You

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Stamping!

Challenge Card Submission

Here is my second post for today. I started making cards to fill the box I showed you how to make yesterday, and I decided to make a card that I could address as many card challenges as possible... I was able to represent 4 different challenges with this vintage/distressed birthday card.

I used Stampin Up! cardstock, stamps and punches. I'm not sure of the maker of the vintage brad and pearl accents. The pattern paper is by K & Company.

This card meets the criteria for the following 4 challenges:

1. 
   
   Aly's Sunday Challenge--Spring Card


2. 
   
   Stamptacular Sunday--Birthday, No Kids Allowed Card


3. 
   
   Papertake Weekly--Something Girlie


4. 
   
   Birthday Sundae--Spring Birthday Card

Color Inspiration--Take Two

For Two Challenge Tuesday #9 I used this bedding ensemble as my inspiration for my card. I mentioned that I had other ideas come to mind for additional cards and today I'm showing you another one. For a reminder, below is the picture that I used for the idea.

Below is the second card that I made. It's very simple, but I used the embossing folder sponged with white craft ink to replicate the pattern and colors in the bedding.

I used Close to Cocoa for the base, a piece of Kraft (Crumb Cake) for the embossed piece which measures 4 x 5 1/4", Then I used the stamp set Elements of Style from Stampin Up! for the image and the sentiment on Kraft colored cardstock. I ran the flowers through my Cuttlebug with the circle Nestabilities and then used the circle scallop Nestabilities with Chocolate Chip as the layer behind the image. I used the small oval scallop punch (also from Stampin Up!) with Chocolate Chip for layering the sentiment. For the final touch, I added a piece of sheer polka dot ribbon underneath the sentiment. I'm pleased with the end result.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

Show Me Saturday Tutorial: Gift Box with Cards

A2 Gift Box and Cards

Today's tutorial is a stationery box made from one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11" cardstock. Follow these steps to make a great gift for someone special, shower door prizes, or to just organize your cards.

Here is a box I've made to house some masculine birthday cards. Each box will hold 6 standard A2 cards and envelopes.

Here is a picture of the box open and the cards that I have inside.

Start by gathering your supplies for the box.

• paper cutter with scoring blade
• scissors
• bone folder
• sticky tape
• corner rounder (optional)
  
  
  
  

Step 1:

• Place your piece of cardstock on the cutter with the 8 1/2" side along the bottom and score at 1", 1 3/4", and 7 3/4"
• Turn the sheet so that the 11" side is now at the bottom and score at 3/4", 5 1/4", 6" and 10 1/2"
  
  
  
  

Step 2:

Fold each score line with your bone folder

Step 3:

Now your cardstock should look like this. the brown sections in the photo listed A, B and C are sections that you will completely cut off

Step 4:

You will but two tabs on the opposite site from where you removed letters A and C (see photo below)

Step 5:

Now apply sticky strip to the small tabs you just cut as well as the two larger tabs labeled below as 3 and 4

The photo below shows the sticky strip placement on the tabs labeled 1, 2, 3 and 4

Step 6:

Using the corner punch, round the edges of the tab to the left of the label "4" (See photo below)

Step 7:

remove the protective layer from your sticky tape and start forming your box. Once the two small tabs are secured, tuck the corner rounded edge inside so that it assists in squaring your box prior to adhering tabs 3 and 4

Here is your completed box!

You can see my opening the box (the rounded tab slides inside the box to close it)

Here are the cards tucked neatly inside.

Another look at the box and the cards.


The color scheme I used was Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White and some cards used Soft Suede.



I completed a vertical and horizontal card for each set of stamps that I used.

I'll be make some additional stationery boxes and cards for my stash. I'll be sure to share with you as I finish them.

I hope you find this tutorial helpful! Please let me know if you have questions. Happy crafting!