Construction project halted due to entanglement.

The greeting cards I have made recently have disappeared.  Frankly, I can’t remember where I put them to get them out of the way for all the other projects I am dabbling in.  Never fear, I will find them.

When I went through all the paper I have stashed away to do my video for creating a scrap stash, I found some sort of plaid paper that would be good on a food box altering project.

Altering a food box

While I was on the phone with Bobbie, from CraftyCritter919 on YouTube, discussing a “Collaboration” we could do together I started this altered box project.  By the time I had to leave with Joe to do some things for him and leave the conversation with Bobbie I had the box pretty well covered.

Food box covered in paper

When Joe and I got back home I went to work on the inside of the box.  In the photo above, under the box are the closing flap pieces.  I covered them with a coordinating piece of paper from this stash to cover the hole left in the box by the manufacturer.

Inside of food box covered

Okay folks, this is where the wheels fell off and construction was halted.  I have a lot of ribbon.  I want to wrap a 1 or 2 inch wide piece of ribbon around the box.  I know I have that in my stash.  Only problem is….well you’ll see.

Flaming mess #1

This is Flaming Mess #1.  It used to be very well organized.  That is until I went to a thrift store and found several pieces of uhm…naughty lingerie…. many months ago.  I chucked the new purchases in the washing machine followed by a good heated session in the dryer.  Then I diligently used a seam ripper to separate the lace bits from the lingerie.  Let me tell you….that is one of those hair brained ideas I get once in a while that take a long time to complete and is a bit too fiddly for my tastes.  Gathering up all the lace bits and muttering to myself “What the Heck were YOU Thinkin?” I just crammed the lace into the ribbon drawer, promptly banged the drawer shut and never opened it again.  Until yesterday that is.

Not wanting to leave the ribbon drawer in the state it is currently in any longer I went through my craft room looking for small boxes I could organize with.  Didn’t find any…..but I did find Flaming Mess #2.  Yikes!

Flaming Mess #2

This was like playing the block game Jenga, or the long ago game of Pick Up Sticks.  Pull on one piece and they all come crashing down.  Since all the pieces were scattered all over my work table, I sorted them into like sizes so I could get a good look at what I had to work with.

Sorting Flaming Mess #2

Locating the pieces that I could easily use, I went to my industrial paper trimmer and got the pieces ready to assemble into boxes.

Chipboard pieces ready to be assembled into boxes

Half of the two Flaming Messes is taken care of…..the chipboard pieces are neatly stacked in the cupboard.  The ribbon mess is still a Flaming Mess and will be until I get the boxes made.  Not sure when that will be.

Monday’s “Subscriber Question” is about measurements of card front pieces using an Operation Write Home sketch.  It is a tutorial on using a sketch to create a greeting card.  This birthday card to be exact.  The full video will be ready on Monday.

Using a card sketch

What “Flaming Mess” in your craft space has you derailed from a project?  Hello….am I the only person that has this problem.  Oy Vay!

Leslie

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What’s all the “Flap” about?!

Today, I am going to show you how to make a mini album page become sort of interactive.  Well, it will “flap”.  No not flop!  Flap.  Three 4 x 6 photos cut down to 5-1/4 x 3-3/4 and double matted to 5-3/4 by 4-1/4.

Mini album page closed

Mini album page open

A binder clip with the cute tag is used to hold the flaps closed.  I used a bit of 1/8 inch Scor-Tape on the tag where the binder clip meets the tag to secure the clip in place.  The tag is now glued to the binder clip….not the photo.

Binder clip to hold flaps closed

First things first.  Mount your photos on mats if  you are going to do that.  Next you will cut 2 to 3 one inch strips of card stock in your color choice.  I have chosen black.  These strips are 1 inch x 11 inches.  Next you will score the strips at 1/2 inch the entire length of the strips.

Cut 1 inch strips of card stock

Score each strip at 1/2 inch

Next, decide the placement of your photos on the page.  Choose the one that will go on the bottom and in the center of the page, close to the binding edge.

Choose the bottom photo

Next, choose the photo that will be on the lower end of the page and atop the first photo.  I’ve chosen to put it on an angle.  Make sure you have left enough room at the bottom edge of the photo to not be on top of the bottom photo.  Confusing?  Stick with me here.

Choose the photo that will be next

The last photo on my layout will be the top photo.  If you are doing three as well, align the top photo so that the top edge does not end up on the bottom photo or the one in the middle.  This is important for the “flapping” to happen.

Choose your top photo

Once you have them all placed the way you want them….you might want to take a quick photo of it to remind yourself where they all will go when it comes time to mount them.  Now take all of them off the page.

Get one of the structure strips.  Measure and cut it to the length required to fit the right edge of the photo.  Once cut, apply a dry adhesive to both halves of the strip.  On the same side.  You will cry, stomp, and fling things if you put adhesive on the fold.  So don’t put adhesive on the fold!

Cut structure strip to the length needed

Apply adhesive to both halves of the structure strip

Peel away ONE side only of the dry adhesive protective paper.  Only one side now.

Remove backing from one side only

Carefully place the sticky structure strip on the photo back.  Line up the fold with the edge of the photo and adhere the structure strip to the back of the photo.

Line up the fold with the edge of the photo and adhere

If you did it right it will look like this.  I’m not going to tell you how many times I messed up.  Just know that you can mess up if you are not paying attention.  Get some coffee or some caffeine in you

It will look like this

Remove the protective cover from the adhesive on the “flap” tab.  Adhere the photo in the area you have chosen for it to live.  Press firmly along the photo edge to adhere the glue.  Then test the flap to make sure it is not stuck or going to cause a problem.  Don’t ask

Remove the protective strips

Adhere you photo in place

Test that the flap works

Now, if you had success with the first flap installation….the other two will be a piece of cake!

Same as the first flapping photo.  Add dry adhesive to both halves of the strip you measured and cut to fit the bottom of the photo.

Add adhesive to the strip

Place your photo in the area you chose.  Make sure the flap tab is not on the photo below.

Adhere your photo

Test it to make sure it functions well.

Test to make sure it works

The third, and final, photo on this layout will be done the same.  The flap tab will go on the top of the photo and adhered on the page over the second photo.  This will keep the bottom photo from opening up and getting mangled.

Add adhesive to the strip for the top photo

Adhere the photo to the page

I have chosen an Anonymous quote to be placed in the center of this page under all of the photos.  Kind of a little surprise when my granddaughter opens this page.

 

A little hidden surprise

I will be making journal spots for these three photos.  I will not mount them.  I’ll let my granddaughter write what she wants to on them and attach them herself.

Last thing to do is to create a decorative closure to hold the “flaps” closed.

Binder clip to hold flaps closed

This was fun to construct.  Even though I had a few problems at the start it was still fun.  Hope you have been inspired to give this a try.

Now…..go “Show someone how special they are”.

Leslie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Altered Tin Can – Part 2

I have made a set of two cans for my youngest daughter.  This is the second can and the problems I encountered with the paper fitting.  Or the paper NOT fitting. 

Altered tin can #2

The back side was a real disappointment.  There was nothing I could do to make the paper edges meet.  I don’t like the way this looks.

 

Have to figure out how to hide that

After a full day of searching the internet for making a “Corset Lacing” guide I had to just wing it.  I saw enough photos to get an idea of what to do.

My fix is the following.  A sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 craft colored card stock cut at 2-1/2 inches.  I would later trim 1/8 of an inch off of that to make the pieces fold together properly. I would need a total of four strips of craft card stock.  This means that I have to do the same with the big can I had been working on earlier, as well.

2-1/2 x 11 craft card stock strip

Score the 2-1/2 inch width at 1/4 inch and again at 1-3/8 inches.

Score the strips at 1/4 and 1-3/8

Fold the score lines.  This is when I found I needed to cut 1/8 inch from the side to be folded inward.

Fold on the score lines

Next will be to mark the folded pieces to punch holes for eyelets.  I made my eyelets 1 inch apart and 1/2 inch away from the folded edge.  You might choose to make them closer together.

Mark the placement for your holes

Next you will punch the holes on both pieces.  If you put the two pieces together make sure the 1/4 inch folded edges are BOTH on the same side.  If you are a “Lefty” the 1/4 inch will be on your right side.  A “Righty” the 1/4 will be on your left side.

Punch your holes

Attach the eyelets.  Do both strips in this step.

 

Attach the eyelets to both strips

Strips are now ready

Choose your ribbon.  I have chosen some off white satin 1/4 inch ribbon to lace these two strips together.

Begin lacing the strips together

Now work the other ribbon through the eyelets ending with your ribbon ends on the outside at the top.

End with the ribbon ends on the outside at the top

Tie your ribbon in a nice bow.  After you have your bow in the desired look add a touch of clear glue at the bow knot.  This will keep the bow from untying.

Use clear glue to secure the bow

Glue behind the knot

Next you will add lace trim to the edges of the craft card stock.  Make sure the 1/4 inch fold is held firmly underneath.  Hot glue the lace near the folded edge.

Hot glue the lace on the strips

You will see that this is beginning to look like what it is intended to be.  A Corset Lacing.

Starting to look like a Corset lace

I am not a huge fan of hot glue.  In fact, I very seldom use the stuff.  If you are proficient with hot glue then you can use it in the next step.  I’m not so I will be using 1/4 inch Score-Tape.

1/4 inch Score Tape

Apply the tape to the 1/4 inch folded area on the strips.  Do it to both sides.

Add Score Tape to the 1/4 inch flaps

Place the can in a manner that is easy for you to handle.  I’ve laid it over on the side.  You will be attaching the Corset lacing strips at the back seam of the paper.

Get your can in position

The top edge of the Corset strip will be jammed as high up under the top lace as you can get it to go.  Make sure the hot glue or the tape you are using is in the proper position to follow the seam.  Otherwise make adjustments before you fully adhere the one side to your can.

Get the Corset piece as close to the top of the can as you are able

Adhere the other side of the Corset piece to the other side of the seam area.  Voila!  Unsightly bit hidden.

Disguise!

While I was at it I made one for the larger can as well.  Can’t have one different from the other now can we.

Larger can has the same treatment

Now I am finished with my daughter’s birthday present.  I can put these in the mail and not fret over how they look.  I’m pretty happy with how they turned out.

Ready for mailing

I hope this has given you some ideas on how to fix a problem with paper that doesn’t fit well.

Have fun making your storage cans.

Leslie

I Double Dog Dare You to make some tags using scrapbook sticker sheets!.

I got sidetracked.

My intention was to get in my craft room and begin purging.  Clear out the massive amount of crap I have in there so I can find a home for the new paper cutter Joe got me.

I did make a start.  I have several 13″ x 13″ pocket folders chock full of sticker sheets.  Most of them are missing stickers.  While going through the file pockets and trying to sort the stuff I could purge…an idea struck.

Here is a sample of the condition of my sticker sheets.

Partially used sticker sheet.

I didn’t feel right in putting that in a pile to give to someone.  Frankly, if I received this sticker sheet from someone I think I might have thoughts of passing it on to someone else.  The images are photo quality.  Burlap images.  Button images, quite a number of them are stuck to the inside of the plastic file pocket I had this stored in.  I bought this sheet somewhere around 2007.  I don’t even know what I have used it on.

I have a challenge for you.  Nay.  I  dare you!  I dare you to do the following:

Paw through your stash of sticker sheets and select one.   Any one.

Locate your stash of chipboard.  Haul out  your stash of saved cereal boxes.

Find your cache of chipboard pieces or cereal boxes

Grab a spool of lace trim.  This is the only lace trim that I have so I have used it.

Locate your stash of lace trim

I have a small stash of burlap that has been crammed away in a drawer for about 5 years.

Small stash of burlap

Get your stash of small flowers.  No bigger than 1-1/4 inches.  This is just a tray that was easy for me to get to and it has a mix of flowers in it.

My stash of small flowers

If  you have made decorative pins, bring them out.

My pitiful stash of stick pins

Do you have some glittered up chipboard embellishments?  Well, what’s taking you so long?  Get them located.

Glittered chipboard embellishments

Use some acrylic paint.  I’ve chosen to use my long neglected Acrylic Paint Daubers from Ranger Industries.

Sunshine Yellow

Snow Cap

Red Pepper

While you are digging around in your sticker stash find some other long forgotten pieces, too.

Sticker embellishments

Last thing is some 1/4″ ribbon.  If you don’t have the eyelets to punch and adhere to the tags, you can always use a trusty stapler.

Okay.  Are you ready?  Need some inspiration?  Need a gift tag or two?  In desperate need of having some decorative tags that coordinate with the mini album or scrapbook layouts you are working on?  Out of money and can’t go to the store to buy some ready made tags?  Alright, alright.  I’ll shut up and show you what I’ve done.

Here they are.

Tag #1

Tag #2

Tag #3

Tag #4

Tag #5

Tag #6

Tag #7

Tag #8

This is all that remains of the sticker sheet.

 

The sticker sheet after

I even made the buttons 😀  I used a 1 inch circle punch and a 3/4 inch circle punch.

 

1 inch circle punch

3/4 inch circle punch

Button stickers

Not bad for about four hours work.  Any fun distraction is always helpful after I have finished my daily business paperwork mess   I’m nearly finished with July.  Woo Hoo.

Leslie

 

Scrap Rehab – “Just Wanted To Say HI”

Today’s offering is from Operation Write Home Card Sketch #4.  When you look at the sketch you will see that I have used a larger than 1-1/4 x 2 piece indicated on the sketch, and I have centered and tilted the piece instead of going exactly by the sketch.

Just Wanted To Say HI

These are the scraps I am using, with one exception – the vellum.  I’ve had this thick vellum piece from Club Scrap for quite a long while.  Time to get it off the shelf and attached to something. The ribbon used on these cards is partial rolls.  I have discarded the “wheel” and wound the ribbon on clothes line pegs so I don’t know the name of the product.

 

Scrap pieces for today’s card

Once again, I have chosen four (4) green card bases, four (4) 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 yellow scraps.  I think this is a Stampin’ Up! Summer Sun paper.  Four (4) 2 x 4 pieces of Whisper White from Stampin’ Up!, and four (4) odd ball pieces of white card stock with colored flecks embedded in the paper.  These last will be used on the inside of the card.

All of the yellow pieces were cut to 4 x 5-1/4.

Yellow card stock cut to 4 x 5-1/4

The vellum pieces were cut to 3-3/4 x 5-1/4.

Vellum cut to 3-3/4 x 5-1/4

The Whisper White card stock from Stampin’ Up! were 2×4 scraps.  These will have an image stamped on them.

2×4 Whisper White card stock

The stamp I have used is from Studio G.  A clear stamp that is shaped like a tag.

A Studio G stamp

Vellum can be a tricky product to use.  Even this one that is quite thick.  The transparent nature of the paper makes for difficulty in hiding the adhesives.  I’ve hidden the attaching adhesive behind the ribbon at the top leaving the bottom of the vellum loose.  Once the vellum is raised you can see the foam squares I used to attach the tag.

 

Adhesive products show through vellum

This is the off cuts left over from making these four (4) cards from the scraps I used.  Pretty awesome, if I do say so myself 😀

 

Pile of off cuts to be tossed

How are you coming in your “Rehab” 😀  Have you decided to give this a try?

Leslie

 

 

Cobbled together Stamp-a-majig.

First a disclaimer.  I am not a very good stamper.  I get my images smeared, crooked, the ink is not disbursed properly, and just all around not the best.  I don’t do much stamping to better my skills so I need all the help I can get.

I don’t own a Stamp-A-Majig.  I do have some wooden blocks from unmounting rubber stamps that I used as a cobbled together stamping aid.

I found the grid paper from Stampin’ Up! helped me out immensely in lining up the blocks, paper, and the rubber stamp.

If you don’t have wood blocks the clear acrylic blocks work exactly the same.  The grid paper is a MUST to have this work well.

I still have some oops stamping but it is nothing like it would have been had I just free handed and eyeballed it.

Everything I’m using on these Christmas cards is old and discontinued Stampin’ Up! stuff.  From the stamp set – “Bright Christmas” to the paper which I don’t remember what it is called.

These are the finished A4 cards for the card collection I’ve created.

The 4-1/4 x 3 cards have the very same images on them.

The cards and envelopes fit nicely in the areas of the stationery box I made a few days ago.  There are eight cards in each size.

I have two projects remaining to complete this kit.  I will be making gift tags with ribbons and fibers attached.  Also I will be making 3″ x 3″ note cards with envelopes as well.

Have you thought about making a boxed set of cards?  The instructions for this box are in a previous post – Stationery Box With Cards – You can create a box for birthday cards, make an assortment of various general cards, or specialty cards.

Hopefully in the next few days I will have this project finished with all of the goodies inside.  Take a “shopping trip” through your stash.  I’ve made a contract with myself to use the stuff I currently have on hand instead of going out and buying new paper and tools.  How creative can you get with your stash 😀

I know there are some totally awesome things in the stores and online today that you just have to purchase.  I’ve been looking around and getting really excited about making a purchase or two….or three….or more.

Have fun in your crafting 😀

Leslie

Four more cards today.

This is the last card in the set of four I began yesterday.  I thought this one would be a good one for the lone Martha Stewart lacy doily punch I have.

Martha Stewart punch

I’ve used Stampin’ Up!’s white craft ink on the stamp from the set used yesterday, along with some not quite white embossing powder that I’ve had for years and years.

White craft ink

White Pearls embossing powder

Here is the finished card.

Finished card

The greeting is the same one I used yesterday and will continue to use on the next eight cards.

This is the scrap I have left over from two (2) sheets of 12 x 12 and two (2) sheets of 8-1/2 x 11 card stocks.

Leftover scrap pieces

Now on to the Lavender and Cream card stock I cut up yesterday.  If you remember I said the reverse side of the cream was a brown print.

Card #5

On Card #5 I used a bit of scrap design paper and some ribbon.  I also spritzed the design paper with some Elegant Eggplant spritz I have made.  I also used Spellbinders Labels Six on white card stock for the sentiment and a piece of scrap lavender paper for the mat.

Card #6 is just a little bit smaller than the other cards which measure 5″ x 7″.  This card measures 5″ x 3-1/2″.

Card #6

My final card for today is another 5″ x 7″ and it is just short of being plain.  I used some of my Stampin’ Up! Cajun Craze spritz on the brown patterned paper to add a touch of shimmer.  The sentiment and its mat are all that lives in the center of the card.  I’ve used my grid ruler around the outer edge and drew a black line 1/4″ from all edges using a marker.

Card #7

As you can see for yourself, it is not necessary to have a bunch of rubber stamps to make cards look different.  All you need is a little bit of imagination.

I’m only using two stamp sets.  One stamp from the wood mount set and different pieces from the unmounted set.

Wood mount stamp set

Unmounted stamp set

I am hoping to get the rest of these card finished in the next couple days.  Tuesday it is back to work for me.  Paperwork in the  mornings and crafting in the afternoon.

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend.

Leslie