Secret Garden Card

I had a nice relaxing day of scrapbooking this wonderful Saturday. 

I decided to do a tutorial based off of the ABC Primer Card I recently made.  Hope this gives you an idea of my process for making this type of card.  It really is simple, you just have to be willing to cut and use your Graphic 45 paper.  Once you are able to do that this card comes together super easily.  I used Secret Garden Collection for this tutorial.

Here is what I used:

Recollections Kraft Corrigated Cards

12x12 Sheet of Sun Kissed

2 images from the 8x8 Springtime

3 images from the 12x12 Seed Fairy

1 image from the 8x8 May Flowers

2 images from the Secret Garden Stickers

4 inches of flat back pearl ribbon

1 cupcake size doily by Wilton

As desired Folk Art Acrylic white paint

Here is the cards I use. I almost always have my cards open from the side.  They stand up better this way.

I painted all the edges of the papers I wanted to use. You can use a paint brush if you feel more comfortable but I use just my finger tip.

I stitched the front and back papers to the card and stitched the off white 4x4 sheets of paper (from the back of your Secret Garden stack) to the inside papers.

I then use Zots and Mounting Squares to attach the inside pages to the Kraft base.

I then Glossy Accent the seed packets to the inside corners.

Then I begin to decorate the front (This photo is of the back before I signed it)  It is important to sign your work.  My husband says, "Would you rather have a card made by Tim Holtz, or have a card made and signed by Tim Holtz?"  When he puts it that way I see his point. 

I start by gluing the doily to the top corner, you can do this in any way you want.  The doily only peeks out the back to give dimension to the project.

I added a few layers making sure to spread them out.  It makes your card look fuller.

Next add the tag to the side.  Put your quote or saying top center by using pop dots or thickers.  I knew it needed something else.  My 11 year old daughter suggested bling, and of course she is right.  I dug through my stash of trims and found these stringed half back pearls.  They were perfect for the soft bling I was going for.

 The key to a great card is layers and textures:  Corrugated cards, great quality papers, distress (paint), overlapping and dimensionals (foam squares), and just a little bling to finish it off.

  

My Journey of Distress With Paint

Welcome to Sew Scrappin blog today.  I was very much inspired by my recent Valentines Tag that I made for Graphic 45's Valentines February Challenge.  I have had so much fun using paint instead of Vintage Distress by Ranger, my go to all for distressing my work.  I got the idea from Tara Orr one of the designers over on Graphic 45.  She made a Layout or something and used paint, and I just loved it and wanted to give it a try myself.  Scrap-lifting is the biggest form of flattery right?  Here is the Tag I made back in February.

I used mostly Scraps of On The Boardwalk, Olde Curiosity Shoppe, Kraft Reflections, and Place In Time.  This tag really doesn't have a back or front as I like both sides and couldn't decide which I liked best.

Then came another tag I made while watching Downton Abbey.  It was funny that someone said that it reminded them of the show.  All by accident I assure you.  I just craft while I watch my shows or listen to music and what comes out just happens.  I always start with the paper collection and what it will be (card, book, altered object, etc.) and then let inspiration flow from there, I usually don't have a plan when I sit down to create.

And Now this brings me to yesterday I got in a shipment of Graphic 45.  It was a box full of Graphic 45 ABC Primer and Kraft Reflections two really great lines that are being discontinued.  I wanted to stock up the store before it was all gone.  

Here is what I did.

I started with four sheets of paper.  Grammar School and School Days of ABC Primer and Express Yourself and Bed of Roses of Kraft Reflections.  I also used one chipboard element from the Tags #2. I used one large Metal Tag from the Staples Collection.  I used eyelets, small cupcake size Wilton doily, two jewelry pieces purchased at Michael's, part of a metal zipper from (Leslie and Niki my scrap buddies in Bend, Ore.)and FolkArt white acrylic paint. 

I used almost a whole sheet of the Express Yourself paper for the background of the front, back, and inside of the card.  I fussy cut out some images from the Bed of Roses sheet and used Tim Holtz distress inks fired brick and peeled paint to watercolor the flowers.  I cut out two of the tags from School Days sheet and added the eyelets and zipper.  I laid out all the items the way I wanted and glued down all the big parts.  I then decided I wanted to add paint so then began finger painting the paint in all the areas I wanted adding paint to the metal tag and other embellishments.  Once the paint was all added I finished attaching everything with Glossy Accents by Ranger.  I finished it off with the chipboard girl which is my favorite part of the card.

The tiny little metal jewelry piece above the girl says inspire.  

I also decorated the inside and back to make sure that the card was pretty throughout.

I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial today.  I've been really enjoying myself.  Now that this blog post is done, I'll be back at it. Thanks so much.  More photos of my work can be found on Pinterest and Sew Scrappin Facebook Page.  Thanks. Amy

I'm so excited for the upcoming month of crafting I'll be doing.  I'm going to audition for Graphic 45's 2013 Design Team.  Who doesn't want to be a part of such a great company.  I use their papers all the time anyway.  

Here is a simple project that I did today.  

New French CountryGraphic 45

Here is what I used.  

Recollections paper pad for the backgrounds.  I really like the colors in this collection they go with everything.  

Then I used parts of 3 sheets of the new French Country Collection by Graphic 45; Bon Appetit, Sunflower, and Abunance.  

My Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  

1 Small Doily by Wilton.  

May Arts ribbon 382-34-10 (Chevron, white and black)

I used my sewing machine with brown thread.  Glossy Accents by Ranger.  Therm-o-web mounting squares and zots.



Here are some additional pictures of the card.  I think it is important to decorate the entire card.  I stitched the Recollections and the distressed Abundance paper down to the card.  I then stitched around the Bonjour tag with a small piece of ribbon wrapped around the bottom.  I then glossy accented the doily to the back and the sunflowers to the front.

I tied a bow with the May Arts ribbon and hot glued it to the front.  I added a Graphic 45 Staple small Metal Tag with a sticker from the French Country sticker sheet.  I used Glossy Accents to attach it to the front.

The back is simply the paper stitched to the craft card base.  The cards I use are Recollections Kraft Corrugated Cards that I purchase at Michael's.  They have wonderful craft envelopes that I love.

The inside has more Recollections paper.  The off-white sheet that came in the back of my French Country 12x12 Stack I cut into 4x4 sections.  I use this paper for nice writing space inside the cards.  I did a lot of fussy cutting of the sunflowers for the inside.  I attached them with Glossy Accents.

I hope you like my card today.  This is just to show you that you don't have to break the bank on making pretty cards.  Combining your favorite collections is a great way to use less of those pretty papers you are hoarding.....we all do this. 

Sew Scrappin Project Share

Here are a few projects I've been working on.  I've been pretty under the weather this winter and have had a hard time completing projects.  If your following me on Facebook then this might be "OLD" projects.  I hope if you have not seen them that they give you an idea of something you can do.

The first project I made was this cupboard made with Ladies Diary Paper by Graphic 45.  I also made some drawers out of chipboard and added these great G45 Staple knobs.  I really had a lot of fun with this and I just love the polka-dots.  I made a chipboard album to go inside.

The second project I completed I used Place In Time Graphic 45 Papers and made and 8x8 Easel Album.  I made 14 Months.  I used approx half of the 8x8 and 12x12 stacks.  Hope you enjoy.

 

Thanks for stopping by the blog today to see what projects I've been doing.  I hope to post some more really soon.

Steampunk Bracelet

I love to make jewelry so that I can take my pretty paper with me when I'm out and about.  I made this bracelet using Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante papers.  The bracelet you can buy at Michael's and I used Glossy Accents by Ranger to attach the paper and make the image shinny.  I really love how it turned out and hope you give it a try.

-Amy

 Halloween is over but using the paper is not.  

This was today's project using Graphic 45 Magic of Oz and K&Company Brenda Walton Halloween Stack.

Today I've been working on my Graphic 45 Staple 12x12 Easel.  This is a present for my mom.  Since she doesn't look at the computer I have no worries that she will see it before Christmas when I give it to her.  This is my second page.  My mom is a big Wizard of Oz fan so I knew she would love these papers.  I ordered the Oz stack from MiniAlbumScraps.ning a group that I swapped in for a while.

  The day after Halloween Michael's was having a clearance sale of all their Halloween items.  I was so happy to get the stack for $4.49 and the Die-Cut Mat Stack for $1.99.  The colors in these two stacks are really close.  I'm not trying to make this a Halloween Album since my mom will want to put everyday photos in it so I'm trying to use them without seeming too Halloween.

I choose paper from the K&Co stack for the background.  It is similar to Dorthy's dress only in black and white.  At this point I have no idea what I'm going to decorate the page with but that I want to have two large photos, so I add the mats to the page to figure out placement.

I then use my favorite Distress Ink to distress the edges.

Look what I found.....the May Arts ribbon that Graphic 45 sent me as a prize last week.  I love this ribbon.

I randomly put out fussy cut scarecrows to see how I like them on the page.

I stitched down the black cardstock and attached the photo mat with Glossy Accents.  I then added the ribbon to the frame with my sewing machine.  

I tie more ribbon so it looks like the ribbon is tied together and not stitched down as it is.  Just a little secret I have for making it look like a bow but not tying a bow for those that have a hard time with bows.

I add pop dots to the back of the image.

Here is the finished product.  I like how simple and pretty it is.  I'm trying to keep this from getting too bulky.  This is my first Easel and I don't want it to be too fat.

Close ups of the Layout.

I made the card a pocket she can slide more photos in if she wants to.

I added another scarecrow to the card pocket it just slides in and out and you can put journaling or photos on the back.

I hope you enjoyed this simple layout I made for my mom.  Scrapbooking doesn't have to be complicated with TONS of flowers to be beautiful or bulky with 3-D embellishments.  Just have some beautiful paper and ribbon and your all set for a great layout.  Since I had all the embellishments already fussy cut, this layout only took me about 15 minutes to make including the sewing.  Thanks for stopping by to see my project.  -Idaho Amy

Products Used:  

Graphic 45 Magic of Oz, K&Company Brenda Walton Stack and Mats, May Arts Ribbon, Glossy Accents, Tread, Ranger Vintage Distress Ink, textured black cardstock (purchased at Tuesday Morning), and my sewing machine.