Wednesday, June 19, 2013

On Graphic 45's blog today!

Good Morning!

I am so blessed to be on the Graphic 45 blog this morning! As most of you know, Graphic 45 has been introducing the 2013-2014 Design Team this month. It's been so much fun seeing the mix of last year's designers and new artists. If you have a moment, feel free to hop on over to the blog!

Check out all the Bohemian Bazaar and Steampunk Spells product that The Mad Scrapper just got in ... I can't wait to start designing some class projects. Stay tuned!


Have a wonderful day and thank you so much for stopping by!!

Many hugs,

Maria

Friday, June 14, 2013

Graphic 45 Father's Day Envelope Card Trio Tutorial!

Gooooood Morning, crafty friends!

I am so excited to have my first Graphic 45 Design Team project featured on the G45 blog! So often when there's a holiday, like Father's Day, many of us end up having to make more than one craft. If you have more than one man you'd like to honor this Father's Day, this tutorial is for you!


As a fun challenge, I thought I'd use A Ladies' Diary paper. Sometimes we don't have the exact paper we want to create meaningful gifts, but that shouldn't stop us from trying! I tried to tone down the feminine elements of this paper, but my inner flower-child came out and stuck on some mini Prima roses. ;) 

So the front of the envelopes (which come from Graphic 45's fabulous black policy envelope album) have a flap that opens up to reveal a large area for writing and tucking away things like photos, tickets, or even some money!



As for the inside of the envelopes, I left them blank so that Dad can fill them with special mementos from Father's Day. Without further ado, here's how you can make your own Father's Day Envelope Cards! 

~Supply List~

Graphic 45 Paper:
A Ladies Diary Ageless Beauty
A Ladies Diary Fashion Plate
A Ladies Diary Lasting Impression
A Ladies Diary Moment In Time
A Ladies Diary Timeless Memoir

Graphic 45 Embellishments:
Black Envelope Policy Album
A Ladies Diary Alphabet Stickers
A Ladies Diary Chipboard Die-cuts 2
Ornate Metal Label Holder Staples
Ornate Locks Staples
Ornate Keys Staples

Additional Products:
May Arts sheer gold ribbon (6) 1 foot long pieces
May Arts black plaid ribbon (3) 1 foot long pieces
Imaginarium Designs chipboard pieces
6 tiny metal brads
Prima mini roses
Corner punch of your choice
Ranger Distress Crackle Paint in Clear Rock Candy

~Instructions~

Overall note: Ink and distress edges of all papers that you cut and fussy cut with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a paper distresser before adhering.

Step 1: Remove (3) envelopes from your black policy envelope album. 



Step 2: Take Timeless Memoir paper, tan side up, and cut (3) 3 7/8” wide x 12” tall pieces. With each piece, score 3” at the bottom and fold. You will use one piece per envelope.



Step 3: Adhere the 9” tall section of the Timeless Memoir pieces to the front of the envelopes. (The front of your envelopes have the envelope flaps on top.) Adhere the 3” tall sections to the back of the envelope.



Step 4: Take Fashion Plate paper, black side up, and cut (3) 3.75” wide x 12” tall strips. Trim each of these to 3.75” wide x 8.75” tall, but save your 3.75” wide x 3.25” tall pieces for Step 7.



Step 5: Take 3.75” wide x 8.75” tall Fashion Plate paper and score .75” from the top and fold. Adhere just the scored section to the front of each envelope to create a flap.



Step 6a: Take Lasting Impression paper, border side up, and trim off the bottom (3) patterns: the journal images, clocks, and pink fashion plate. Cut out each journal image; you will use one per envelope. Take clock border and cut (3) 3.75” long strips. Take pink fashion plate border and cut (3) 3 7/8” long strips. Save the pink fashion plate strips for Step 15.



Step 6b: Take your remaining Lasting Impression paper and flip over to reveal blue side. Cut (3) 3.75” wide x 7.5” tall pieces. Then, trim each piece to 3.75” wide x 6” tall but save your 3.75” wide x 1.5” tall scraps for Step 11.



Step 7: Locate your 3.75” x 3.25” Fashion Plate pieces from Step 4. Turn pieces so they are 3.25” x 3.75”. Use a fancy corner punch (I used Martha Stewart’s Deco Shell punch) on each corner.



Step 8a: Locate your Moments In Time paper. Fussy cut (6) bunches of flowers, (3) medium clocks, and (3) large clocks from the edges of your paper. Set aside the medium clocks for Step x10.



Step 8b: Locate your Ageless Beauty paper and cut out the (3) photo mats that have men in them along with the photo mat of the car. Fussy cut (3) stamps.


Step 9: Open up each flap. Adhere 3.75” x 6” Lasting Impression, journal image, stamp, and large clock to upper half. Adhere 3.25” x 3.75” Fashion Plate pieces and fussy cut flowers to lower half. Optional: Use Ladies’ Diary Alphabet Stickers to spell “for you” on each.



Step 10: Locate your fussy cut medium-sized clocks from Step 10. For a crackled effect, apply some Distress Crackle Paint in Clear Rock Candy to each. Dry completely before using.



Step 11: Optional: Take some fancy chipboard embellishments, such as these corner edges and medallions from Imaginarium Designs, and apply some brown ink. Set aside.



Step 12: Locate your 3.75” x 1.5” Lasting Impression pieces from Step 6b. Make sure the blue side is face up, then use your alphabet stickers to spell “Dad” or “Papa” in the center of the piece. (Note: These particular letters from Ladies’ Diary can only fit 5 characters or less.) Adhere Ornate Metal Label Holder over stickers; punch holes and insert brads. Also punch holes in the lower left and right corners and insert tiny metal brads. Adhere to the bottom of the front flap to create nameplates.

"Lolo" means "Grandpa" in Filipino! ;)

Step 13: Locate 3.75” wide clock border pieces and adhere above nameplates. Then, arrange Ageless Beauty images, chipboard embellishments, Ladies’ Diary chipboard die cuts, mini roses, fussy cut flowers, and medium-sized clock per photo.



Step 14: Take black plaid ribbon, fold in half, then fold in half again. Take a Metal Brad and pierce through ribbon and insert into envelope flap hole. Take 1 foot of gold ribbon, tie an Ornate Metal Key in the center, then tie around Metal Brad. Place a letter sticker under the envelope flap to hide the brad arms.


Step 15: Take your Lasting Impression 3 7/8” strips from Step 6a and adhere to the back of your envelopes, blue side up. Take 1 foot of gold ribbon and tie around the inside of the envelope, making a bow on the side. Take a large monogram sticker and attach with foam dots to the back.



Step 16: Insert some movie tickets or other fun things underneath the gold ribbon. Or, tuck a menu from his favorite restaurant inside the envelope. Then, give him a big hug and tell him “Happy Father’s Day” and how much you love him!  

Thursday, June 13, 2013

October Afternoon Travel Girl - class tonight!

Hi there!

So this post is quite late - but better late than never. This is a fun little 10" x 6" mini album that I made using October Afternoon's retro "Travel Girl" line. And I'm teaching it tonight! (If you'd like to attend, feel free to call 425-427-8871 or visit The Mad Scrapper's website to order up a kit.)



Your handbag album flips open to reveal several pages of photo mats, journaling cards, flaps, and pockets:




This paper line is perfect for you world-traveller types. ;) I wish I could say that I've been to all the fabulous places listed on these papers, but I can't! One day I'll make a Europe trip so I can make one of these for myself. ;) 

Thanks so much for looking - again, I'm sorry for the short notice but if you'd like to order a kit, you're more than welcome! 

Have a great evening,

Maria

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Graphic 45 Ladies' Diary Card

Hello, dear crafty friends!

I apologize that I've been MIA from blogging. I am definitely crafting my heart out; but pretty much everything I've worked on is top secret until next month when Graphic 45 posts my first design team projects!! You will love the creations that the new design team has come up with so far - so be sure to check out the Graphic 45 blog on June 1st as they introduce each new member of the team! And speaking of design team members, G45 is also doing a beautiful tribute to the 2012 design team members who won't be joining us this year. Check out the blog to see amazing recaps of their designs!

Despite the mystery and intrigue, I can share a tiny non-design team project that I made last night for one of my co-workers. Her name is Julie and she is the sweetest lady! For everyone's birthday, she always makes sure that it is extra special by getting a card, cake, and making sure everyone sticks around to sing "Happy Birthday". Julie is also so cute and stylish, so naturally, Ladies' Diary-themed paper was the perfect choice. I tried not to embellish this card too much, as it will be passing through many hands until it gets to Julie next Wednesday. ;)


Supply List

Graphic 45 Paper:
6.25" wide x 4.5" tall A Ladies' Diary Delicate Details (polka dot side)
5.75" wide x 3.75" tall A Ladies' Diary Delicate Details (flower side) + some fussy cutting
2 7/8" w x 3 7/8" t A Ladies' Diary Fashion Plate (lady image side - your choice)

Graphic 45 Embellishments:
A Ladies Diary Stickers
A Ladies Diary Chipboard Die Cuts 1

Additional products:
May Arts taupe silk ribbon
6.75" wide x 10" tall Bazzill French Vanilla paper, folded in half
Tim Holtz Tissue Tape
Queen & Co. Pearls in Just Peachy
Petaloo flowers
Twine


Well, thank you for looking ... I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Hugs,

Maria

Sunday, May 5, 2013

G45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe Layout & Tutorial

Happy Monday, my dear crafty friends!

Here's a layout I made for National Scrapbooking Day! For me, it was more like National Scrapbooking Weekend. I had a ton to do but thankfully, I managed to get a personal project in. I hope you found some time to make at least one thing as well! In case you didn't and would like some ideas, I've included photos and instructions below if you'd like to make a similar project. :)

The photo below was taken back in 2007. It's a picture of me, my sister, and our brothers. (Somehow we were standing in order of oldest to youngest!) We were bowling with our cousin Liz and we just had a blast having fun and being silly. It's not often that you can photograph all 4 of us together - so this is one memory (and photo) that I never want to forget!

I wanted to use Olde Curiosity Shoppe because of the whimsical nature of the designs. My siblings and I can get pretty crazy together, so I felt the papers and color palette matched that moment perfectly. ;) I also wanted to use up some of my scraps and found things to use from a few other paper lines as well. And because I love dimension, I used plenty of foam dots and even corrugated cardboard to pop things up!


Supply List

BASE PAPER
  • Background paper: 12" x 12" Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Exquisite Motif (teal side)
  • Upper 2/3 paper: 11.5" x 8.5" Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Counting Down (number side)
  • Lower 1/3 paper: 11.5" x 3.5" Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Optical Oddities (stripe side)

PHOTO MATS & BORDERS
  • Large photo mat: 4" x 6" French Country - A La Carte (black border/"carte postale")
  • Small photo mat: 2.75" x 4.25" French Country - Bon Appetit ("bonjour" list)
  • Diamond border: 5" Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Olde Curiosity Shoppe
  • Tiki border: 5" Tropical Travelogue - Tiki Voyager

FUSSYCUTTING
  • Butterflies: Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Butterfly Specifics
  • Bee frames: Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Parlor Wall
  • Peacock frame: Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Parlor Wall
  • Daisy flowers: Secret Garden - Beautiful Blooms
  • Blue flowers: Secret Garden - Beautiful Blooms
  • Large flourish: Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Mercurial Masterpiece
  • Small flourish: Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Mercurial Masterpiece

BANNERS
  • Black & white banners: (4) .75" x 1.25" Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Mercurial Masterpiece

EMBELLISHMENTS
  • Metal Tag Staples
  • Metal Button Staples
  • French Country Flowers
  • Flowers Staples
  • Olde Curiosity Shoppe Stickers
  • Olde Curiosity Shoppe Alphabet Stickers
  • Olde Curiosity Shoppe Chipboard - butterfly
  • Prima White Mini Rosette
INKS, PUNCHES, ETC.
  • Distress Ink - Walnut Stain
  • Glimmer Mist - Pearl
  • Fiskars 1.5" circle punch
  • Fiskars Notebook edge punch
  • Fiskars scallop edge scissors
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Foam dots
  • Adhesive
Instructions

(Notes: Ink and distress each piece of paper before adhering.
Apply Glimmer Mist to all flowers and butterflies before adhering as well.)

Step 1: Place 12" x 12" Exquisite Motif paper teal side up. 




Step 2: Take 11.5" x 3.5" Optical Oddities paper and apply a round circle punch to lower left and lower right corners. Adhere to Exquisite Motif paper, about .25" from the bottom. 


Suddenly I'm thinking of Spongebob Squarepants.

Step 3: Take 11.5" x 8.5" Counting Down paper and apply notebook edge punch across the top edge. Adhere to page, about .25" from the top. 




Step 4: Take 5" long diamond border and adhere to left side of the page. Adhere 5" tiki border beneath. 




Step 5: Arrange photo mats per photo and adhere. (Don't forget the "Bonjour" piece!)



Step 6: Adhere daisy flowers. 




Step 7a: Locate (2) bee frames and large metal tag. Step 7b: Take your photo and adhere to corrugated cardboard; trim. Step 7c: Arrange items per photo and adhere using foam dots. 




Step 8a: Take (4) .75" x 1.25" pieces from Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Mercurial Masterpiece and cut a pennant shape into the bottom of each. Use scallop edge scissors along top. 



Step 8b: Bend and shape French Country flowers and kraft flower staple. Adhere pieces together per photo and attach small Prima rosette to center. 



Step 8c: Locate small flourish. Arrange banners, flower, and flourish pieces per photo and adhere. Use foam dots to attach flower. 





Step 9: Locate large flourish, blue flowers, and chipboard butterfly. Arrange pieces per photo then adhere with foam dots (adhere chipboard butterfly with regular adhesive). 





Step 10: Arrange butterflies per photo; adhere. Attach alphabet stickers and "Discovery" sticker. Punch holes in lower left and right corners and insert with metal button staples. 


Thanks so much for stopping by - have a great week, and don't forget to visit the Graphic 45 blog and Facebook page to see more sneak peeks of Bohemian Breeze and Steampunk Spells!! The fantastic team at G45 is giving away some fabulous prize packs - visit either link above for your chance to win one of the new Graphic 45 collections!
Many hugs,

Maria