Saturday, March 26, 2011

Totebag for Japan

  My dear scrappy friend Esther in Northern Scottland has taken it upon herself to raise funds to help those in Japan who have suffered from the recent Tsunami and Earthquake.  She is donating ALL of the profits from the sale of these beautiful totebags to the Red Cross for aid in Japan.  Please help her raise funds by reading her post and following this link to purchas one of these bags from her online store via paypal.
  Thank you,
Glynis :O)

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Family Calendar Minis (photo heavy)

 Three weeks before Christmas I decided to start a project as Christmas presents for some of my family.  Photo Calendars are always a favorite and so I decided to make 3.  Needless to say these calendars were more of an undertaking than expected and Christmas presents turned into New Years presents, then Valentine's, and now St Patty's.  I was thrilled to have finally shipped them early last week and cross them off of my unfinished projects list.  Although the first 2 1/2 months have already passed, they will make great mini albums for them to enjoy once the year is done.
  The calendars are 8 x 8 and each month features a scrapbook page with pictures from 2010 and perhaps some journaling and/or a Title.  I tried to keep the pages relatively simple so that these projects could actually be finished.

  I know that these will be cherished for years to come and it makes it all worth it, and is the reason I scrapbook in the first place!  Next time though, I think I'll start a little sooner lol!!  Now on to the rest of the pile....

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Snip 'n Fold Swap mini

  This little mini was made for my friend Valentina based on Laura Denison's 12 days of Christmas tutorial.  We were to make a vintage inspired mini using the colours brown, cream and blue.  I added a bunch of gold as well as I loved the gold glittered motif on the paper I chose for my covers.  This is my first swap and it was so much fun I'm sure to try more.  I already received my beautiful little mini made by Valentina and flip through it each time I go to my craft room.  Hope she will enjoy mine.
  The roses on the front cover are made using Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die and the grunge flower method.  I edged the flowers with gold pigment ink and added clear glitter.   Silk flower leaves left over from a wedding and inked in gold add the perfect backdrop to these pretty blooms. The closure is a piece of grungepaper covered in the same gold ink, and the brad was teal and silver so I used a gold leaf pen to colour the metal.  I love the antiqued little bird house I found at my local hardware store. 
  The inside pockets are created by the folding method used to make this mini and the strips of patterned paper that close the open edges.  Because these pockets are already sooo tiny you would not want to glue that edge together.  Each of the little pages has either a gold or teal glitter bird which I cut out on my cricut.  I added glossy accents to the glittered shapes to prevent the glitter from coming off and to add dimension and shine.
  I loved the colour of these gorgeous Webster's Bloomers which was the jumping off point for the colour choices in this album.  The trim is hotglued to both the front and back cover and hides the spine as well as preventing the tags from coming through.
  I created the tags in my Design Studio software welding two of the same shape together.  The stamped image is one of my favorite Stampin' Up wood mounts that I'd been hoarding in my craft room for sometime waiting for the perfect project.  The images are heat embossed in gold and the edges of the tags are inked in that same gold pigment ink.  The tags are rather tiny with just enough room to jot a tiny note.  This tiny mini would be fun as a brag album housing cropped wallet photos.
  I saw the tutorial for this Tri-Fold card on Splitcoast Stampers' YouTube and scaled it down to fit with the tiny mini.  The finished size is 3 by 3 and it opens up to 3 by 9.  I love the bright springy colours and the Stampin' Up image on the front is another of my favorites.  The Organza ribbon is another from my Stampin' Up stash...no I'm not a representative, I'm just an avid buyer LOL!
  Sorry about the lighting in these photos...its been rather dark in the mornings and a couple of my lights were burnt out!
Thanks for stopping by :O)