Organizing the Small Stuff

Thought I'd share the way I organize all those small pieces that we use so much of in our crafting. I'm talking about those eyelets, brads, snaps, chains, metal labels and all manner of things we use for our scrapbooking, cardmaking and such. In an effort to keep organized in my beading, I came across the perfect storage container for all those small items we use in crafting as well.

You can find these bead cases in the jewelry section of Michaels, ACmoore, Wal-Mart and I think also Hobby Lobby. It has two large compartments for those items that are a bit larger and two different sizes of the small square compartments. Since these close up like a suitcase they will store laying down and stacking or standing side by side. As you can see, each compartment is clear enough to view it's contents easily.



One container is for eyelets and snaps, one for brads and two more for miscellaneous and overflow of the other containers. Yes, I have a lot of small pieces to organize and this method has proven to be the best.

This is the container as shown in the store. It has 52 compartments and retails for $10 to $12 in most of the stores. On my last visit to Michaels, the store was carrying a different brand but it was the same container. These small containers hold so much, it will amaze you . . . . .

Brenda

Memories Tag Book

Ah, finally . . . . . . I've been trying my hand at making a video for the blog and it's been quite a project in itself. Although I've been learning a lot about what not to do, it's also been interesting learning about the Windows Movie Maker while trying to put this video together for the blog. My big lesson learned is . . . .  LIGHTING! Yep, you'll see in the video that I need to work on getting better lighting if nothing else. I also was not happy with the way I was presenting the book or the dogs barking in the background so you'll get some nice quiet music for the first video attempt instead. I'll work on my presentation as well for future videos. In addition to the video I will post photos of certain pages and close up views below.

The book is made using Laura Denison's "One Flip, Two Flip Mini Album" instructions and the K & Company Flora & Fauna paper pad. If you'd like to see the video Laura did for this book, go to her blog and click the UStream link there for her videos. There are so many tags and places for photos in this book that I just had to make one. Thanks for the book idea Laura, hope you like what I did wth it.

The cover is made of cardboard with paper overlayed onto it and two binding rings are incorporated into the cardboard to hold all the pages.Very easy to do once you know how.

Inside the front cover is a pocket to include a CD/DVD of all the photographs included inside the book.

This photo mat has the most beautiful velvet ribbon at the bottom. This picture does not do it justice. I found this ribbon at Wal-mart of all places. It's a beautiful dark sage green.



I saw Tim Holtz make this type of flower using his Tissue Tape and I had to try it. It was very easy and looks so much better in person. Then I embellished it with a button center and some acrylic leaves.

This photo mat was made using a portion of one of the papers in the pad. I thought this section was perfect to show off on one side of the photo mat.

Using one of Tim Holtz Journaling Tags, it is hidden behind a three section fold up book that can be used for additional photos or journaling.

This tag is covered using a vellum page that was included in the paper pad. It is secured at top with score tape so that the remaining vellum can be lifted to include journaling or a photo underneath it. The printed vellum paper in the Flora & Fauna paper pad is SO pretty.

This bird is an embellishment card I had in my stash, not sure where it came from but it fit perfectly in this book. It is matted onto some textured cardstock and then matted onto some crumpled Glassine Paper. If you haven't tried the Glassine paper yet, you don't know what you're missing. Love it!

That's the highlights. Be sure to let me know if you have any tricks you've learned regarding videos or photography that you'd like to share. Always looking for ways to improve and since I'm just beginning this blog stuff - I have a lot to learn. All comments are welcome. Thanks for stopping by.

Brenda

Sneak Peek

Just a little peek at a project I'm putting the final touches on right now.

Hope this gets your interest up. The project has been a lot of fun and I'll be back to show you more very soon. See you then . . . . .

Brenda

Thinking of You

Just a quick card using a magnolia stamp that I had colored using Copic markers sometime ago. The flower wasn't the right color so I used the Copic markers to color it too. And since I had colored the girl and bench earlier, they are cut out and layered on top of the background.

I have to say, I love these Magnolia stamps. I have a few of them and they are so much fun to color. The "can't stop thinking of you" stamp is a Hampton Art stamp that I found in the dollar bin at Michaels. Don't ya just love those dollar bins. I got about a dozen of these stamps with different sayings on them. Seems I can never the find the right word stamps when I want them so a few of these will help out with that - hopefully!  Till next time . . . .

Brenda

Father's Day Card

Here's a quick little card that my niece, Maggie, made for her Dad for Father's Day. Needless to say, it was a hit with Daddy. Just a simple shirt card made to look like her father's work shirt and some homemade tickets inside as the present from Maggie. A sweet father/daughter moment that should have been caught on camera and yet again WAS NOT. Maybe next time.

Till next time - keep crafting.

Brenda

Long Time No Post

Sorry that it's been so long since my last post. Between a short vacation in early May and some Vertigo problems since, life has been a bit challenging. Vertigo makes it hard to focus on small items and use my computer for any length of time. I've been talking with a couple doctors to try and get past this Vertigo problem and get back to normal (whatever that is . . .) and it means more tests. But with some new methods of caring for this problem, I am hoping to start posting again very shortly. Bear with me and I'll be back soon. Thanks for visiting with me.

Brenda

Vagabond Info

Yeah! Tim Holtz finally did a video for his Vagabond die cutter. I've been waiting for one to show all the different sandwiches needed for the various dies from Quickutz, Spellbinders, Cuttlebug etc. To watch the 15 minute video click here. He answers a few of the questions that I had with the machine and shows the different sandwiches for the dies. I have to say, this machine rocks! One of the issues I had with it was that the embossing folders made too deep of an embossing. Well, he's addressed this problem in the video and it's an easy fix. Thanks Tim for making this video - You're The Man!

Brenda

Grids

Hi everyone! Here's a great example of using boxes/grids to design. I love making cards and scrapbook pages using a grid pattern. Since I've spent so many years as a bookkeeper I think it lends a certain balance to crafting. Yep, I'm one of those people who like straight lines (although sometimes it's hard to do), balancing my checkbook to the penny and an even tone to crafting. Once in a while I might do something out of the box crazy with my crafting but for the most part I like clean balanced layouts.

Card size is 6.5" x 5" and matted with embossed white card stock on dark green textured card stock. I stamped the four different stamps onto white card stock and inked with Distress Ink (Peeled Paint, Aged Mahogany, Tumbled Glass and Spiced Marmalade) using sponge daubers. Each stamp was cut into 1 1/8" squares and matted onto the same dark green card stock with a golden yellow button added to the center. The striped ribbon is one of my favorite ribbons with all the different colors in it and with a simple knot, it adds just the right touch. Sentiment is stamped using Memories ink pad in black.

Thanks for visiting.

Brenda

Masking

First of all I'd like to give you a link to a site for a very cool tutorial using Distress Inks. Kathy at The Daily Marker has done a wonderful job of showing how to do a very simple and beautiful technique using the Distress Ink pads and a Craft Mat. Please take a moment to view her site here.

Today's blog is inspired by Jill Foster at her Inspired By blog. I used the exact same stamp to try the very same technique of masking that she did to do this card front. However, I used different coloring mediums.

I used Distress Inks to color this page above using the following colors: Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Barn Door Red, Worn Lipstick, Faded Jeans and Tumbled Glass.

This page is colored using Copic Markers: C9, BG05, BG09, B93, B97, BV01, BV04, YG25, YG67, RV02, RV06, Y06 and Y38.

Both pages were matted to black paper and pearl brads were used in the centers. It is quite amazing how different the feeling is to each piece using the different ink mediums for color. I love how these turned out. I encourage you to try this masking technique with your stamps.

Thanks Jill for the idea and I look forward to trying it using my Tombow Markers and maybe some chalks. The possibilities are endless . . . . .

Till next time . . . . .

Brenda

Ciao Bella Book

It's been a while since I posted. I've been working on this book and it took me a bit more time than expected. I hope these photos give you a good idea how well it turned out. The main papers used in the book are from DCWV Ciao Bella 12x12 stack. This paper has some really fabulous designs and a ton of glitter.

The cover has this really beautiful rose and butterfly that is softly glittered to make a huge impact when you see it. I used the Tim Holtz metal plate for the Title space and added a couple stamps to keep a clean uncluttered effect. Did not want to detract from the beautiful paper in anyway here.

To hide and give access to the cover plate brads a canvas sewn bird is used. It was colored using Distress Inks and a metal brad added for an eye. Each inside page holds a tag and will be shown below. This page has a ribbon across it for pictures or tags to be added behind the flower and butterfly embellishment. The bird in flight is part of the paper and has a slight glitter tone to it.

Left page has another tag pocket for pics and journaling with the butterfly added with pop dots. Right page has large area for picture and butterfly is held using a Tim Holtz hat pin.

Left page is a pocket for more pics and journaling space with a fussy cut birdcage on it. The postcard is attached to the background paper and the butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch. The right page is a series of flaps that lift to view pictures/journaling. The paper on the top flap is from the Mariposa 4x6 mat stack. You will see a few of those papers throughout the book in small sections or as cutouts.

Left page is another pocket behind scallop with a brad holding a metal owl charm and a cutout butterfly on the right. Right page is a tag that was colored using Distress Inks for picture/journaling.

Left page is a double slider tag for picture/journaling with room for a picture on top of it and a metal label plate below pic area. Right page has large area for a picture and the label near bottom is raised with pop dots.

Left page has room for picture with the "one of a kind" sticker actually going over the picture space. A "dream" metal charm is hanging from some heavy weight ribbon and a small butterfly is added near top. Right page is a vellum pocket to hold pictures/journaling and can be easily embellished further.

Left page has a Pink Paislee "Artisan Elements Frame" that was inked using Distress Inks. This space can be used for embellishment and a sticker below is added with pop dots. Right page is the inside back cover and another cutout from the Mariposa stack is used to make a pocket. The tag is covered in Tim Holtz Tissue Tape and then distress inked for picture/journaling space.

Back cover is left plain, again showcasing the beautiful paper. There is glitter on this page too but you can't see it in this picture.

You can see the wire used for binding is too small. I will fix when my order with a larger binding wire arrives so the book will lay more flat.

Here's a closer shot at the double slider. As you pull the top, the bottom tag is moved out also allowing for more picture/journaling space. I love this double slider and you can find the instructions on You Tube here.

Tags inside each page are shown below (fronts & backs).

This book was inspired by Laura Denison and her Pouch Mini Album on YouTube. Thanks Laura!

I hope you enjoyed your visit. The book was a lot of fun and I look forward to doing more of them. Thanks for all your comments in advance.

Brenda





SFYTT March Sketch

I've been wanting to try some sketches for a while so here is my first attempt using the March sketch for SFYTT at I {heart} 2 Stamp . . . .

Decided to clean up my craft area today and used many of the pieces parts of papers I had laying around to make this card. I try so hard to not throw out every little piece of paper and to reuse them later. Yep, doing my part at keeping it out of the landfills as much as possible.

Till next time.

Brenda

Vellum Embossing

Whether you call it vellum embossing, parchment craft or pergamano it always looks great. I love that soft elegant feel of vellum. This card is just a simple embossing over a template I found in a book you can find here.

I traced over the template page with a small embossing tool, shaded in the areas in the flower for more dimension and then added the pearl centers. It's amazing to me how elegant this card looks and the embossing only took me about 20 minutes in total. Thanks for visiting!

Brenda

Homemade Paper

This card is special to me because it's the first pattern paper I made - Way Back When. Yep, the background is a paper I made a couple of years ago and just hadn't used until now. It's a mix of inks, chalks and versamark along with two different stamps. The colors I used on the paper remind me of butterflies so of course I had to use my favorite butterfly stamp. The butterfly is colored with Tombow markers and a piece of wire was used for the antennas. I've still got more of this paper so I'm sure you'll see it used in another way in the future.

The paper was made by following an instructional piece in a book. The book is Magenta Style - Paper Magic. It is my favorite book for inspiration and I highly recommend it for anyone into crafting. You can find it here. Thanks for visiting.

Brenda

Hello everyone! Here's a card that was so cute that I had to share it. It was designed by Kathy Racoosin and you can find her blog here. She is the guest designer on the Penny Black Blog today and oh so talented. I hope you'll take the time to visit her blog and be inspired.



That's it for today, I'll be back tomorrow with something new to share with you. Have a great day!

Brenda

Sweet Love!

Just a quick card to use my new stamp of these adorable little birds. The dotted paper in the background is my favorite one in the Linen Closet Matstack by DCWV. It has just a hint of sparkle to the paper (although this photo doesn't show it). The birds are colored using Tombow markers and two silver Robins' Eggs "Dew Drops" are used in the top corners along with a silver and turquoise button on top of the ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Brenda

Cute Giraffe

This cute stamp of a giraffe is one of my favorites. I just love to color this little guy using the Tombow markers. If you haven't tried using these markers, you don't know what you're missing. I love my Copics but many times I find it easier to blend my colors using the Tombow markers and a water pen. I don't remember who I bought the stamp from but I'll update later if I should find that information.

Happy crafting to everyone!

Brenda

Distress Ink Techniques

First, let me start by saying that I am in no way trained or paid to talk about Tim Holtz Distress Inks. However, I love working with them and there are two different looks I will talk about here today. The first one is a leather look. I found this look completely by accident when playing with the colors.



Ink entire tag using the Ink Blending Foam applicator inked with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink making sure to have it slightly darker in some areas. Then add an even layer of Vintage Photo Distress Ink. Depending on the tone you like, you could stop there or as in this photo, add another layer of Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink to tone the orange color down a bit more.


The second look is a Burnt Paper look. I actually learned this technique from a friend.



Ink entire tag evenly with Ink Blending Foam applicator inked with Antique Linen Distress Ink. Then frame with Vintage Photo Distress Ink coming not quite into center, then frame with Walnut Stain Distress Ink moving further out to edge for that graduation of ink. Apply Black Soot Distress Ink direct from pad to edge of tag. Place the tag on a craft sheet or scrap paper and pull ink from edge to center with blending applicator. Distress edge of paper and add more Black Soot as needed for the look you want. You can choose to burn the edge of paper instead of adding the Black Soot.

 While there are many other techniques that I love to work with, these two seem to get the most "Ooooo Ahhhh's" when seen. I hope you'll try them out if you haven't yet. Let me know how it works out for you.

Brenda

Dream Tag

Tags are one of my favorite things to make and use in my scrapbooking. Tags can often make or break a scrapbook layout. I've seen some of the best tags in a "tag swap" and can't wait to join one of those swaps sometime soon. Here is a tag I did last night starting with my favorite Distress Inks on the background. After inking the background with Dusty Concord, Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress inks , stamping with the cursive writing rubber stamp by Stampers Anonymous over the background, I then misted the tag with some Perfect Pearls for that soft shimmer. The butterfilies are punched out of some background papers that I had made using Alcohol Inks (in blues & greens). The fibers were dyed using some Smooch Spritz in Emerald Sprinkle and Electric Blue. Then using some of the supplies on hand I put this tag together. 



Tag size is 6.5" x 3.25"



Embroidered flower with pearl brad in center.

Clock face is acrylic with clock arm and fancy brad for center.

Thanks for visiting!

Brenda