Bits and Pieces & Projects

I was checking out some of the new stuff that was unveiled at the CHA convention and I found this wonderful prize that was given away. What a lucky woman!

SEWING
I've been interested in adding more stitch work into my pieces. Here are some ideas that I found useful or inspiring.

• A tutorial on how to hand sew & tie buttons.
• One way to showcase stitch work on your album.
• Machine and hand sewn ideas.
• Tutorial on hand stitching.
  

ALTERED BOOK PROJECT
I've been interested in creating an altered book for a while. I've researched ideas and techniques on the Internet for the past 3 - 4 months. I bought a hardback book at the thrift store to use as my first canvas. I choose a book by Dane Rudhyar entitled Modern Man's Conflicts © 1948 based upon the size and length. Some altered book artists consider the book topic as well. I didn't do this because it was hard enough to find a hardback book I thought I could use.

Finally, this past weekend I was inspired to start. I wasn't sure how many pages I wanted to have in the end. I didn't have a theme. I had no idea how to start. But, I knew I wanted to use some of the text on the pages and had to preserve those to use later.

I started by scanning a couple of pages to look for words and phrases that had potential. I circled them with a pencil and cut thin strips of blue painter's tape to cover the words. Once covered, I used Pro Act Premium Gesso and a sponge brush to coat two pages. Once dried, I removed the blue painter's tape to see the effect.

LESSON ONE -- Don't use blue painter's tape on pages of an vintage book unless you want to remove the print. Only a shadow of the original text remained on the page. On one page, the entire paper tore off with the tape. I noticed that some of the less tacky pieces didn't remove the text nor the paper.

The torn page.

Words I want to preserve on a page.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS -- Remove some of the tack from the tape. Use a low tack tape. Don't cover the text with tape. Find another method to mask the text. Use a newer book.

I decided not to use tape for the next few pages. Instead, I simply circled the words and then carefully painted around them. Of course this took more time and precision because of the size of the print. But, I didn't have to worry about the text being removed. But, I had another problem. I could see the pencil marks through the dried gesso.

LESSON TWO -- Don't use a pencil to circle the words you want to keep.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS -- Use more layers of gesso. Use a better quality gesso (assuming better quality provides a more opaque covering). Use a disappearing ink pen--tested first on your page. Start painting around the words and then go outwards so you don't have to worry about covering them up. Don't use the words on the page; instead use rubber stamps, hand write, print, or collage to add words later. Use a book with larger type size.

One tutorial said to glue pages together to create a firmer base canvas. This person's suggested gluing 3 - 4 pages together at a time. So, I decide to glue every four pages together. What glue should I use? I know that Ali Edwards likes to use Uhu glue stick. But, I haven't had much success with glue sticks in the past (although I haven't tried Uhu brand). The glue seems to dry up and lose its adhesion after a while. After reading Lisa Vollrath's tutorial on glues, I decided to use a regular glue stick, once again.

For the most part, I glued together every four sheets. On the first and last page of each four-sheet section, I'd scan for words to use later. I stopped about 1/3 way through the book. I want to explore techniques I can use in the book before I continue gluing more pages.

OTHER PROJECTS
Here is a K & Company tag album that I taught at one of my crops. This was an easy project because K & Company prepared each class packet and provided instructions on how to assemble the booklet.

Here are some of the interior pages.

**edited**Finally, here is a 6" x 6" matchbook album. It's super easy to make. Maybe this will be the class for next month.
I hope you have a wonderful week!

Online Yard Sale

I've added a new feature to my blog. I have a perpetual Yard Sale going on in the right hand column. All items are in good to excellent condition. Most items are at least 50% off of original retail price. Check back often as I'll continue to update it.

How I Organize, Part 3

This is the third post in a series on how I organize my supplies. I have changed things since the first and second posts. I'm tweaking the arrangement so that my supplies are located where it makes sense for my work flow. Plus, I just love to organize stuff.

How I Store My Paper
Most of my paper is stored on this two-shelf bookcase which I purchased from Target.



On the bottom shelf I have my 12" x 12" cardstock and paper in Cropper Hopper paper holders by color. Most of the holders contain a solid color and same color pattern paper except the last one. That one contains my DCVW Paper Stack pads. I separate the solids from the patterns with a divider that comes with the holder. I used a circle punch to make the tags on the front of each holder.

To the right are thinner paper holders which contain pattern paper that is organized by manufacturer (such as BasicGrey, Creative Memories, K & Company, etc.). These papers continue in the JetMax cube which is just the right of the bookcase.



On the top shelf of the bookcase is a basket which contains 8" pads of paper (or smaller). My current scrapbooks are 8".


Next to the basket is an 8" Cropper Hopper paper holder which houses my loose 8" x 8" paper.
Finally, to the right of the 8" holder is a tray that holds my basic journaling supplies.

My 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock for making cards are in another JetMax cube. The two drawers below the stack contains cards and envelopes with overflow located to the right of the paper stack.
Paper that needs to be returned to the files are in this paper holder on my work table.

Finally, I have two baskets of folded card blanks and envelopes in one of my cabinets, which isn't shown here.

How I Store My Embellishments

For the most part, I store my embellies by color. I have only a few items that are by theme (birthday, Christmas, holidays, etc.) and I tend to put those in the color boxes as well. For example, Christmas is in the red or green color box, Valentines is in the red or pink box, Halloween is in the orange box, and Thanksgiving and autumn is in the brown box.

Here's how I store the bulk of my embellies.

This basket holds my stickers. These are in large storage envelopes that were made to go on the Clip It Up. Long stickers are loose on top of all of the envelopes.
My eyelets, brads, buttons, embroidery thread, and small flowers are stored by color in bead boxes.
I used the Stampin' Up! scallop punch to make the labels on the side of the boxes. Here's the inside of the red/pink box.
Finally, my chipboard alphabets are inside vintage metal trays which I purchased from Melissa Frances while I was at the Great American Scrapbook Convention.
I glam'd up the handles with ribbons.
That's it for now. I'll post more later.

Drum roll please

Announcing the opening of my online shop at savememories.etsy.com. Please stop by and take a look around.

Dollar Finds

I've been super good about sticking with my spending diet since the Great American Convention. This week is the first time I bought something in three weeks and I'm proud of myself for displaying such restraint for three weeks.

I found these at Dollar Tree.

I never can have enough ribbon especially at 3 yards for $1.


Pattern paper packs each containing 6 coordinating sheets.










BIG zig zag and scallop cut scissors.





A chipboard album with insert window cover and chipboard pages bound by three ribbons.



Chipboard dimensional stickers.





These were at the dollar spot at Target.

Chipboard alphas





Thicker-like stickers.



Multiple rolls of ribbon in a pack.



Felt flower brads.



Rhinestones.



I love finding papercrafting deals for a buck!

Contest over there

Becky Fleck, the creator of PageMaps (online page sketches), has launched a blog. She's having a contest in celebration of its launch. I'm not much on contests, challenges, and such. But, the mood may just strike me for this contest. Here's her sketch


Becky's giving away a bag of BasicGrey products to the winner. Now, that's incentive!

If you like to use flowers and buttons, here's a cute layout on the Making Memories site.

Here's a nice way to use up ribbon scraps.

I've been thinking about making more home decor projects using photographs. This shadowbox by Sherelle Christensen looks interesting. I like Sherelle's shabby chic style. Here are some other projects of hers that I like This tag book , a card
more decor, an album cover, and inside pages.

Well, that's it for now.

Maya Road Coaster Album

This is such an adorable album made from Maya Road products.

Star decos & ornaments

This video shows you how to make a 5- and 6-point star. I think the 5-point star would be great to use as decorations on the Independence day, a baby shower, or Christmas. The 6-point star would make great Christmas ornaments. Enjoy!

How to use a Cropadile video

Here's an excellent video on how to use a Cropadile. Enjoy!

Super cute scallop book

Look at this super cute scallop book using the Bind It All. I've gotta try this one day.