Paris Book

My niece Melissa came to my house one day with a Michaels bag

full of papers and embellishments, she asked if I wouldn't make

her a Paris Album.

Of course I told her I would be happy to.

I will admit it did take me several months before I started it, I wasn't sure

just what I wanted to do, if I should make a traditional scrapbook

or a altered one.

I decided to do an altered one, for a couple reasons

1st - Melissa hasn't been to Paris yet and I didn't want to leave it without photos

2nd - by doing a alter album I could really get creative.

Cover
The album is made of chipboard and what is called an accordion fold binding.
I then covered the album in Paris themed tissue paper with Rangers Glue and Seal.

                            Paris                      

                    Melissa & Family                   

                    Kaila, Vicki, Mark & Keegen

         Brothers  Mark & Keegen

         The 4 of them & Melissa

         A fold out album within the larger album held close with a mini belt.       

           

There are 8 pages in the album including the front and back cover, it's size is 6" x 12"

the pages are wrapped with 12" x12" papers this just gave the edges a finished look.

I used coordinating colors of card stock to make my photo mats.  Embellishments

are Prima Flowers, Jolee Stickers, some cotton laces and trim I had, Tim Holtz 

chipboard letter, keys and assorted other findings that I also had.

As you can see there was plenty of room for pictures and embellishments.

I used pictures I found on the internet and her families

photos that were taken locally in one of our parks to make it look like

she could have been in Paris.

I am very pleased with how this came out and I know Melissa was really surprise

with it also.

I am very proud to say I have been asked by several people to give a class

on how to make this book.  I am in the planning stages now to do this

sometime in the early fall 2014.

 Just some trinkets hanging from the spine of the book.  And a close up of the cover.

Graphic 45 By The Sea Project

I am working on a book using G45's By The Sea Papers and would like

   to share one of the pages with you..

Reason for this is because I was inspired by Tim Holtz's July 2014 Tag 
and the sand technique he used.

On this page I decided to add a picture frame so I used some

scrap picture framing  board from another project, and pieced a 4" x 6" frame together. 

I then took Wendy Vecchi  Molding Paste and a stencil that had random sized circles 

applied the molding paste so it would look like bubbles on the frame. 

Once it was dry I then used Rangers Archival Aquamarine Ink pad and rubbed it

lightly over the entire frame.

Then it was time to try this technique Tim Holtz used to make sand on his July 2014 Tag.

The picture below is from Tim's Blog it shows the products used to make the sand.

On the blog Tim will tell you he has no exact measurements to make the sand 

just sort of experiment with the product until it looks right to you.

Actually it was quite easy to make I started with a little Melt Art added small amounts of the

 Distress Glitters and Embossing Powder then added the Glossy Accents mixing until I had the consistency I wanted.  What is nice about this sand mixture is if it starts to harden while

you are working with it just add more Glossy Accent and mix. 

  (See Tim's blog  www.rangerink.com  for more detailed information.)

Once I had the sand made I then applied it to the bottom of the frame. Before the sand

dried I pressed the sea shells in the sand where I wanted them and used a little

more Glossy Accents to adhere them securely.

I then fussy cut the Mermaid from one of the G45 papers and used

 Tim's Distress Markers and some Viva Metallic Paints

 along with Silks for the body of the mermaid.

Secret Garden Book

Awhile ago my friend Barbara Parker purchased a premade unfinished box

that had a album inside.

She told me that she purchased it with me in mind, and knew I would know

what to do with it

.

 Barb I did finish it and here it is.

I hope you like it.



I used Graphic 45 Secret Garden 8" x 8" paper collection
and prima flowers.



Covered the outside of the box

and the photo album in side with the different papers
from this collection

used the embellishments from the collection on the album pages

added a hand dyed ribbon to the album

tucked the ablum back inside the box
and it was finished.


Thanks Barb for having so much confidence in me.

Get your wings

One of the ladies from my In My Vintage Room Group

gave each of the members a set

Of white angel wings and requested that we alter them in any way we choose.

My Angel Wings.

the wings I started with

I pulled out some stuff from my stash black feathers, a paper doll I made from Julie Nutting Mixed Media Stamps by Prima, Dyan Reavelys Dylusions Black Spray and some scraps of paper, some laces, brads and bling.

my original idea when I started was to use this paper doll

I have to admit my finished project was not what I originally had in mind...actually far from it. I sprayed the wings black wasn't sure this was going to work but it did. I then went back and found my G45 Steampunk Spells Papers (this is one of my very favorite papers) and choose a few different papers.

I like the way they took the spray

As you will notice I did not end up using the original paper doll I made, I ended up stamping another of the dolls image several times, fussy cutting her dress and hair from one of the sheets of paper.  I layer black lace over the dress and again fussy cut the dress from the lace and added a piece of black trim at the waist, glued it all down to the main doll.  Once I had the doll finished I then cut and layered 4 different patterned sheets of Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells papers leaving a border around each layer placing chipboard between each layer for depth. I then added lace for more texture.  Next I took the wings I sprayed black cut them in half and reversed them so the longer feathers were closer to the dolls body, I layered the black feathers on top and glued them both down.  Not quite happy with the look I pulled out some butterfly's I had and glued one to the back of the doll giving her a set of wings more dimensional . I then glued her down on top of the feathers. I used some of the embellishments I had from the Steampunk Spells line, fussy cutting both the Hot Air Balloon and the flowers from the cover of the paper pad and glued them down. I used Black Smooch on her headband and she was finished.

I plan on framing her and hanging her up in my studio.

Whimsy Character Swap

I recently hosted a swap with my In My Vintage Room and Beyond Ladies.

I decided I wanted to do something different and fun, so what I decided on was

A FUN AND WHIMSY CHARACTER SWAP

My finished Whimsy Character

What was expected was to use stuff you would normally throw out or have laying around

in your stash, to create a Fun Whimsy Character.

Some of  things I started with

 I used to make my Whimsy Character.  A empty green plastic pill bottle, paper ribbon, the plastic pieces from used up tape, left over pieces of a miniature fence, a face made from paper clay, moss, miniature wooden flower pot, sick leaves, paper flowers,  metal wings, a wooden dowel, washi tape, the metal part from a broken light bulb, a Christmas tree ornament hanger and just whatever odds and ends I thought were need to complete my character.

a work in progress

She is a work in progress, I used a Wendy Vecchi Arts Parts wooden flower as a base so she would stand. I decided to use washi tape to cover the green plastic bottle, sealed it with a product called Glue and Seal by Ranger, and glued the white picked fence on.  I punched holes near the top of the bottle and pushed a wooden dowel thru and glued the Tim Holtz Metal Wings on, and glued moss

on the back to cover the dowel.  I used the plastic tape rolls for legs, and the paper clay face for the head.  Once I had the basic body down I just started playing with what I had to embellish it.  That was the fun part, I had to tell myself to stop playing...I think she is finally finished.

Front

Their is even a Pink Flamingo

back wing

did you notice the garden tools




I am not exactly sure what she is, but I've decided to call her my Winged Garden Angel

Victoria's friends present

My niece Victoria asked me to make a gift for one of her friends birthdays, she requested a photo album like the ones I made for her awhile ago, 

So this is what I made...

Front

 I started out with a wooden purse  purchased at Michael's, and a 8x8 

Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Paper Collection Pad

 I traced a template to

create a pattern for the front and back of the purse.

Back

 At this point I then photo copied  the inside of the open purse to get the exact size,

 you also need to reduce the size by at least a 1/2" to fit nicely inside the purse.

, Once I have this I can then cut 18 pages from the papers I am using.

coordinating the inside pages (16) along with the front and back cover. (totaling 18 pages) 

Using what is call a gate fold binding,

directions and or videos can be found on You Tube to do this binding.

Note: (scoring measurements I used  2", 1/4",. 1/2", 1/2", 1/4", 2" -  

 binding is 3" wide to fit top of album leaving 1/2" on each side free)

I assemble my album by gluing 2 pages together on each gate fold, keeping patterns in mind

so that they coordinate.  (9 pages including front and back covers)

When you have the album all glued together it's time to embellish.

Completed Album and Wooden Purse

             With the album complete, I now I remove the  hinges off the top and bottom of the purse

                                                so I can paint it. Let it dry and put the them back on. 

                              Be sure to put the hinges and screws in a safe place they are small  and can get lost easily.

            Once the paint is dry, I then cut the paper for the front and back covers of the wooden purse

                                                        glue papers down, and embellish.  

 photos of some the finished pages



I used Prima flowers, Stampin Up Ribbons and hand died Ribbons
along, and Kaiser Craft chip board pieces along with other pieces
  embellishments in my stash. 

I used Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Paper Collection 8'x8'

This is the album inside the purse.


Thank you for taking the time to read this post, please contact me if you have any questions on how
to make it...It is really very easy   (approx. 3 to 4  hour  project)

Macrame Bracelets

Finished two bracelets a gift for a friend...