How do you attach vellum?

I hear this question a lot online. Today I set out to answer that question with as many options as I could think of. I certainly may have missed some ideas (in fact I had to film pickup segments as I realized I had missed some things!!). Here is the full video tutorial and idea gallery. Read on for the quick version.

Video tutorial on vellum

Vellum is a paper-like, translucent product that adds softness and a “dimming” effect to projects. But that very translucent quality means you can see any adhesive right through the vellum! What is a crafter to do? Let’s break it down with a gallery

First up is the cover it up strategy. Glue your vellum down, then glue something on top. Here I used all papery elements to cover up the glue, but don’t forget other items like flair, cork and wood veneer will work too and add more charm to a project.

Similar to the cover it is the tuck it. I glued these tabs to the background just on the very edge. That way I could cut my vellum and slide it under the flaps of the tabs. The video is a far better demo of this one.

Next up is the staple it method. You can use staples as a stylistic choice so it doesn’t have to look utilitarian. Along the lines of staples, there is also the option of using paper clips (again, see video).

Using stickers is much like the cover it up method, just with items that have their own adhesive. Washi tape is another self adhesive “cover it” option. But there is one more idea in these two photos. Can you spot it? That’s right, it is enamel dots! They are self adhesive “cover it” items all by them selves!

Fibers and stitching are a next level idea! On the left I used my sewing machine to add both zigzag and straight stitches, but you can add whatever you like. Click on the photo for the zoomed version to really see the stitching. Hand stitching is always an option if you don’t have a machine. Not interested in sewing? Then try punching holes and threading with twine or other fibers. Still too much? Then use some fun or funky fibers and just glue it down like in the cover up method! (Okay readers, for once YOU get the bonus info. I forgot to include the pom pom pic in my video!)

There were a few other ideas covered in the video like brads and specialty adhesives. So if you want the full list you’ll have to check that out.

That is it for today. I hope you found some inspiration here. And until next time… have an artful day.

Craft Projects… What do you make?

While scrapbooking, and to some extent card making, take up the majority of my crafty time, I also like to dabble in other crafty creations. Today I’d like to share some of those ideas with you, starting with my latest video on creating a door hanging sign. The good thing about the majority of those projects is that I use my paper crafting supplies and skills to bring them to life.

You can see a version of that sign in the video thumbnail above, but here is a better version.

I made this project as a challenge for the CKC group. While I was working on the project I started reminiscing about past projects. As I was pulling some of those photos to include in my YouTube video I really felt that blast from the past. Some of the projects I cringed at now, but some of them have been total favorites. I think that is how crafting goes in general, right?

At any rate, here is a gallery of some of those older projects. I’ve captioned them so that you know what they are all about.

Upcycled t-shirt clothes pin holder decorated with scrapbook supplies.

Layout using a sketch

I used to begin every layout I made with a sketch. Often times it was my own sketch quickly drawn out on an index card. Pre-made sketches has always had a role in my crafting as well. These days I usually just go with the flow when I sit down to create. I still love me a good sketch though and that is what I am here to share today.

The original sketch and an alternative sketch choice.

You can check out all the details in the process video or keep reading for some quick notes on this project.

The original sketch featured a cascade of hexagons from left to right on the page. (You can see the sketch in more detail in the video.) I certainly captured that idea. I also added in more hexagon elements to highlight areas on my busy background paper.

I’ll leave you with a couple more closeups. I’ll be back soon with more crafty goodness. Until then, have an artful day.

Forging Scrapbook Supplies

As a design team member over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge group I play along with as many of our monthly inspiration challenges as I can. The Forgery on the Fourth project is definitely one I enjoy! That is where we see a scrap product we like and set out to recreate it with supplies we already own. So let’s go ahead and dive in to what I have for you this month.

We are being inspired by this kit from from a German kit company, Danipeuss.de . Their November 2021 kit featuring Paige Evans brings us lots to be inspired by.

An additional embellishment pack in the Paige Evan’s line include chipboard pieces with these leaf motifs.

I wanted to recreate something similar in my own color palette.

All the details for this process are included in this video.

In addition to those leaves, I also made a sheet of patterned paper inspired by this kit sneak.

I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do with it yet, but I liked the string art style. Here is how my version turned out.

When I was done those projects, I kept going with creating more embellishments; this time I made layered stickers.

For more details and tips (at the end!) to consider when creating layered embellishments check out this video. The gist is that you should use at least three variations of sizes, shapes, and contrasting colors. I also like to create a mix of symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes.

Okay, that is the crafting I’ve been doing lately. I’ll be back next time with a layout process for you, using a completely different set of supplies 😉

For more creative ideas, the CKC blog has more forgery examples to check out. I hope this gave you some ideas on how you can recreate your favorite products with supplies you already have on hand. Don’t forget to show off your stuff over on the CKC Facebook group, or tag us on Instagram @counterfeitkitchallenge or use #counterfeitkitchallenge.

CKC Kit Build, June ’22

I love kit building and I am on the design team for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge project. We take an inspiration kit each month and proceed to replicate it, or as we say, counterfeit it. This is a free, friendly group that helps inspire you to use up supplies you already own. We are not about needing to buy the latest and greatest thing (though we won’t stop you if you enjoy new crafty goodies😉 ).

You can see my process video or keep reading for the blog version of the info.

This month we are working from a German kit company, Danipeuss.de . Their November 2021 kit featuring Paige Evans brings us lots to be inspired by.

The color palette was too autumnal for me, so I focused my choices on patterns in the kit and used colors that were more to my mood. You can see that direction in my paper choices here.

From there I pulled embellishments. I added in more stars, which was the first thing I was drawn to when building this kit. I also had several pieces from the inspiration kit itself. I know I won’t use all those pieces due to the color palette, but I can pick and choose what works for me.

There is a tradition over at CKC of titling our kits just like companies do. So I’m calling mine Star Struck.

I hope you can follow along with the other designers to see how they built their kits.

Here’s the full hop link list

Counterfeit Kit Challenge – https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/
Cindy – https://cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com/
Julene – http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com/
Juliet – https://www.instagram.com/julesd/
Leslie –http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com/
Lisa – http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com
Tina – http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com/
Tara – https://kryptonite72-rambles.blogspot.com/

Have fun kit building and don’t forget to show off your stuff over on the CKC Facebook group, or tag us on Instagram @counterfeitkitchallenge or use #counterfeitkitchallenge.

One last thing before you go… I was also inspired by several things in this kit to create on my own. So join me next time when I show you some product “forgeries”! Until then, have an artful day.

Guest Designer Layout

I love participating in LOAD, the LayOut A Day challenge. Alice, who runs the ScrapHappy membership group which hosts LOAD, always invites the ScrapHappy community members to participate as guest designers for the month long challenge. That way inspiration comes from a very wide range of scrappers who share all manner of layouts and styles. In May I brought my favorite style — watercolor— to the guest design spot for day 22.

You can check out all the details in the process video or keep reading for some quick notes on this project.

LOAD offers prompts each day. While daily participants don’t have to follow the prompts, guest designers do. That is the joy of being the guest designer! My prompts were about springtime and to use hexagons. So I chose my favorite photos from the recent spring shots and created a stacked die cut title with rainbow watercolor.

The hexagon prompt completely reminded me of bees who are waking up and getting to work in spring time, so I used bees as part of my design. I also used hexagons to represent flower buds that burst open with color. As you can see I literally had the watercolor burst out of the hexagon shape. I emphasized that bursting sensation further with stitching.

I also added more layers with different sized hexagon watercoloring/stenciling, shadow stamping (bee images!) and some die cut bee embellishments. This was a really fun layout! I hope you think so too.

I’ll leave you with a couple more closeups. I’ll be back soon with more crafty goodness. Until then, have an artful day.

SCT Sampler Kit Unboxing, May ’22

Getting my SCT Sampler kit in the mail each month is a bright spot. This small affordable package is just enough newness + surprise to keep me satisfied. This month the package contained products from Vicki Boutin and Pinkfresh Studio. Take a look…

I wouldn’t want to leave you wondering just what to do with these supplies. So I almost always make a project as soon as my box arrives. That way I am sure to use it instead of just showing it off. This time around I made a mixed media layout featuring the included stencil.

Of course if you want more information you can watch my YouTube video to get a better look at the kit products AND this project.

That’s it for this time. I hope you have an artful day!

Documenting Covid: Mask mandates

I’m on a journey this year to get more stories in my covid album. I started this album during a Crop & Create event class where we created pocket pages using a calendar set up to document an entire year. I knew that this would be perfect for covid! I did purchase a second set of kit supplies since I knew that covid would last longer than a year!

The most details are outlined in this video

Here is a quick look at the base of my album.

I do have a few independent 12×12 pages in there already. In fact I have this t-page spread about when the mask mandates ended in 2021.

And those pages lead right into this new layout about how the mask mandates returned just a couple of months after ending thanks to the delta variant.

The key to this layout was using newspaper (can they really be called newspapers anymore??) headlines from the internet. I took screen shots of the headlines, sized them all the same and then printed them out on photo paper. I was sure to record the news source and the date as part of the layout flow.

The other piece to this layout was the title I created in Cricut using some of the newest features in the software. One of my biggest complaints about the Cricut has been the wimpy features in the software. Well, that seems to be changing! Here is a tutorial on how I created this title.

As always, I hope this gave you some ideas for your own scrappy life!

Interactive Layout: Lift-a-flap

I was inspired by 1) the sheet of paper from Pinkfresh studio pictured below and 2) a prompt from the LOAD challenge to tell a story about community. Those two prompts came together to create a very fun interactive layout!

PinkFresh Studio, Life Right Now Collection, “Weekend”

All the little locations on that map paper reminded me of favorite spots in my own town that I wanted to document. I knew I wanted to add lots of little photos to each of those spots. But I didn’t want to cover up all of the fun map paper. What to do?? Create 15 flaps on the page to open up to reveal the photo beneath!

All the details are easiest to see in this video. But I do have some still shots to follow that I try to explain the process.

I used a square punch to create a template to trace on my layout. I cut only around three sides of each square to create all the flaps. Once I cut those flaps through my pattern paper I did have to back it with another sheet of paper. That way I would have somewhere to glue my photos and not just lots of holes through my paper! In the process I sandwiched a binding strip in between those papers. This strip has holes punched in it to fit into a ringed album, and it is thick/sturdy enough to stand up to plenty of touching. Since this layout is so very interactive, it can’t slide into a page protector! You can get a better look at the binding strip here.

On the back of the layout I created a pocket with vellum to tuck in about 3 pages of journaling! Yes, I can get wordy, but this IS a layout about an entire town over 20 years of experience!

I hope this project inspired you in some way to tell more stories in your life. If it did spark an idea, leave me a comment and let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

LOAD Day 3 process

I’ve got a layout to share today as part of the Layout A Day challenge. If you don’t know what LOAD is the quick version is we scrapbook every day for a month. There are some other bits and bobs about it but that is the basics.

While we have prompts for LOAD I was inspired by the inspiration for the prompt and not the prompt itself, that being an aquaduct located in Wales. This aquaduct connects parts of the UK’s canal system. Canal were used historically to moved goods about the region until trains were invented and became dominant. Today canals are recreational and are still traveled by similar boats, called narrow boats. Let me tell you more in the video as I craft and chat!

I’ve pulled out some brand new Vicki Boutin Sweet Rush papers and chipboard as well as just a tiny touch of Heidi Swapp’s Sun Chaser paper to create my layout today. There are also a few other unknown travel themed embellishments on there. I grabbed my photos from YouTube channels that are all about narrow boat life. They were printed to ~1.5″ by 5.5″, which is an odd photo size. But creating a grid layout on the watery background paper all adds up to a nice project. I hope you think so too.

While I have the basics of the layout in place, I do intend to add more journaling on the card tucked into the existing journaling pocket. I’ll likely add an accordion folded journaling note since I feel like I have a lot to say. I’ve done this technique before in this video if you want to really see what I mean.

That is it for now. I’ll be back to share what I create over this upcoming (i)NSD weekend. I hope you have some fun crafting to do this weekend as well!