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Journal Junk

July 16, 2009 Crafts, Guest Bloggers, Paper Crafts, Trends No Comments

Returning Guest Blogger, Lia Kent, from the blogs “Journal Junk” & “Art Junk Girl“.

Journal Junk

I love using recycled materials and scraps in my journals and other collage work. The background behind the girl here is from our free hotel room coasters that I picked up/saved on a recent trip. The background papers are from a discarded wallpaper book from the hardware store. The word “home” is from a magazine. I believe I got the image from the altered abbey. Anyhow…just wanted to share the elements I used on a random page. I usually keep a shoebox or Ziploc baggie to put “stuff” in that I want to use in my journal. Then I grab through it randomly when journaling. It’s nice to have things that I like available.

You don’t have to buy lots of “stuff” to make your pages…experiment with what you already have…raid your junk mail or just work out of your favorite magazine. Cut out words and images that appeal to you. It’s fun to just relax and see what happens. I love art journaling because sometimes I can say what I want to with images and colors and not a lot of words. The process is very relaxing and the result is often colorful and fun to look at. Before you know it, you have a book filled with images and color and thoughts and words. Then you can flip through it and see new things all over again.

Happy Journaling!

To read more from Lia, visit “Journal Junk” & “Art Junk Girl“.

What’s a Glue Book?

June 11, 2009 Crafts, Guest Bloggers, Paper Crafts, Trends No Comments

Welcome Guest Blogger, Lia Kent from the blogs “Journal Junk” and “Art Junk Girl“.

Glue Book

What’s a Glue Book?

I decided to answer this question on the journaljunk blog after receiving several inquiries via email. I answered directly to those who asked, so they could “get gluing!”, but I wanted to share the answer here for those who were too shy to ask!

1. A gluebook is simply a notebook/journal of any sort that you glue magazine and junk mail clippings in. Many people call them their “inspiration” book. I’ve kept a gluebook with my favorite decorating ideas/etc. for many years. It is a very relaxing activity, and also a good way to record your favorite ideas, visually. I must say that a “gluebook” is also an excellent thing to have on hand for those of us who have a hard time throwing away movie tickets, special notes from the kids, etc.

2. Resources for gluebooks:

Lisa Vollrath also has a Yahoo group (membership must be approved) with prompts, challenges, etc. It’s called Gluebooks: the official home of the “gluemonkeys“.

If you want to know what book I use, it’s usually a black composition book (you know, the one’s the kids buy for school), but sometimes I glue in my old dayplanners.

One more thing. You can also use a gluebook to glue in some visual’s that will motivate you to reach your goals. I started doing this several years ago when I read the book, Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. So, it’s kind of like an inspiration board, just one page at a time…

Happy gluing! Remember your gluestick….don’t leave home without it…

Glue Stick

~Lia

To read more by Lia, visit “Journal Junk” & “Art Junk Girl“.

Scrapbook Layout Ideas

June 4, 2009 Contests, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking, Techniques and Mediums 2 Comments

Yesterday we announced the winners of this year’s Scrapbook Layout Contest by CreateForLess. We had so many creative entries that we had write another blog post to show them off!

By Connie S. from Lakeland, FL.

“I made this for my husband for Father’s day. I found the poem online and just loved it. As we know they grow up way too fast, our son is now 26, yikes”.

Supplies Used:
Bazzill cardstock
Flair patterned paper
Prima flowers
WRMK large eyelets
Making Memories brads

By Iris W. from Palatine, IL

“The Prince Himself: This page really does not need much more character than Jonah! Polymer clay embellishments were adding by using clear stamps on the clay, baking and highlighting with stamp pad ink. Cutting letters out of textured clay sheets using a stencil gives you endless possibilities for scrapbooking. Tags are popular and versatile accents to adorn pages. Here, I used ribbon and yarn to add color and texture. Coordinating color patterns, clay, and a cute little birth announcement tag really tie this page together - or maybe it is that smile!”

By Kathi K. from Lawrenceville, GA

“My mom’s high school graduation photo (photo taken Fall 1948) and she graduated in June 1949. This has always been one of my all-time favorite photos”.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Archivers
Pattern Paper: Daisy D’s
Alphas: Making Memories
Flowers: Prima
Stickers: Stampendous
Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Epoxy: K&Company Life’s Journey
Ink: Clearsnap
Punch: Stampin’ Up
Font: Times New Roman
Other: Trim; Gemstone from class ring
Techniques: Distressing, inking, fussy cutting, and embellishment collages.

By Julie S. from Swisher, IA.

Commemoration page to celebrate the life of a dear friend who passed away from breast cancer in 2005. It was given to her a few weeks before she passed away and displayed at her funeral. I wanted to celebrate all the roles she filled in other people’s lives, daughter, sister, friend, and mother.

Supplies Used:
Pink & white cardstock, black Swiss dot paper, black velvet paper, black/white dotted ribbon, pink/white stripe ribbon, word stickers, Making Memories metal eyelet quote tag, Pressed Petals scrap metal pressed metal letters, making memories pink plastic letters, pink heart brad, breast cancer ribbon tack pin, “someone special” metal coin, pink/black/silver fibers, Pink petals/white brad, making memories page pebbles, pink scroll heart button. K&Company 12×12 Scrap’N Frame

Scrapbook Layout Contest Winners

June 3, 2009 Contests, Crafts, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking 1 Comment

Congratulations to Amanda P. from Savannah, GA., the 1st place winner of our Scrapbook Layout Contest and a $150 CreateForLess shopping spree! 2nd place and a $100 shopping spree was awarded to SuAnne P. from Apache Junction, AZ. And 3rd place went to Brandy, H. from Belton, KY. who will receive a $50 shopping spree.

Check back tomorrow to view more of our Scrapbook Layout Contest Favorites, as well as a description of the layout from the desginers!

Flower Patch Bouquet

May 19, 2009 Craft Professionals, Floral Crafts, Guest Bloggers, Paper Crafts 2 Comments

Welcome Guest Blogger Jennifer Pebbles from the blog “Making Memories”.

Since its 1997 inception, Making Memories has become one of the nation’s fastest growing manufacturers of craft and scrapbooking supplies. Jennifer Pebbles is a paper crafts deisgner, to read more of her blog entries click here.

Flower Patch Bouquet

If you check out your favorite scrapbook magazines, you will see this project featured in Making Memories print advertisements. This beautiful Making Memories Flower Patch bouquet was created by the talented Jennifer Pebbles.

To create this paper craft, follow these steps.

1. Cover a Styrofoam cone with Making Memories’ Flower Patch paper (Jennifer used the die-cut scallop paper).

2. Attach a ribbon loop, using your favorite Making Memories ribbon, to the back of the cone.

3. Cut various sizes of craft wire (approximately 6″ to 8″).

4. Adhere a Flower Patch Layered Flowers and/or Flower Patch Dimensional Flowers to one side of the craft wire. Jennifer added two flower stickers on each piece of wire (front and back).

5. Stick craft wire (with Flower Patch flowers) in Styrofoam cone.

TIP: You may want to use an additional adhesive (besides the self-adhesive that comes with each flower sticker) when adhering flowers to ribbon to ensure the flowers are secure.

To read more from the blog “Making Memories”, click here.

Let’s Take a Stroll on…Abbey Road Part Deux

May 13, 2009 Crafts, Guest Bloggers, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking No Comments

Welcome Returning Guest Blogger Julia Sandvoss, from Bo Bunny.

Hi again! We’re back with more Abbey Road! We just had too many beautiful projects to pack into one day! So I thought you’d like to see some more ideas for how to use this beautiful line in your scrapbook projects!

Natural Beauty

Natural Beauty
Guest Designer: Emilie Ahern
Abbey Road Truffle, Abbey Road Vine, Abbey Road Combo Stickers, Abbey Road Flowers, Sadie iCandy Brads

Abbey Road Family Frame

Bo Bunny Flowers

Family Picture Frame
Designer: Julia Sandvoss
Abbey Road, Abbey Road Dot, Abbey Road Vine, Abbey Road Combo Sticker, Memories Cardstock Stickers, Double Dot Wasabi Cardstock, Sadie icandy Brads

Designer Tip: This is a frame I purchased. It had a large, not too cute metal flower on it that I pulled off. I cut two of the same flowers out from the papers and then layered then with foam adhesive on top of one another. Stickles glitter is a perfect accent.

Happiness

Happiness
Designer: Kristen Swain
Abbey Road Truffle, Abbey Road Sky, Abbey Road Stripe, Abbey Road Combo Stickers, Abbey Road Memories Cardstock Stickers, All Stuck Up Flowers- Brilliant Blue and Apple Green, All Stuck Up Buttons- Brilliant Blue and Apple Green, Abbey Road Cutouts

Happy Mother's Day Card

Happy Mother’s Day Card
Designer: Shanna Vineyard
Abbey Road Cutouts (scallop card base), Abbey Road Combo Stickers (letters & flourishes), All Stuck Up Apple Green Flowers

Castle

Abbey Road Embellishments and Stickers

Castle
Designer: Carole Janson
Abbey Road Sky pattern paper, Abbey Road Vine pattern paper, Abbey Road pattern paper, Abbey Road Stripe pattern paper (reverse), Abbey Road Dot pattern paper, Abbey Road Truffle pattern paper, Abbey Road Memories Cardstock Stickers, Abbey Road Combo Stickers, Abbey Road Cut Outs, All Stuck Up Licorice Buttons, All Stuck Up Brilliant Large Flower, Bo Bunny Green Ribbon

Did you notice there was a common themed used over the two days? It wasn’t even intentional but I believe Abbey Road just brings it out of everyone…..Happiness! Three layouts used Happiness in their titles…interesting isn’t it? (one card used Happy too!) Thanks for joining us today and a special thanks to our Guest Designer Emilie Ahern too!

Julia
Bo Bunny Blog & Design Team Coordinator

Special Thanks to Bo Bunny for sharing their ideas and layouts. Get more Bo Bunny craft ideas from their blog.

Let’s Take a Stroll on…Abbey Road

May 11, 2009 Crafts, Guest Bloggers, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking No Comments

Welcome Guest Blogger Julia Sandvoss, from Bo Bunny.

Get some great ideas for scrapbook layouts and cards from their new collection Abbey Road. Bo Bunny is the premier designer of paper craft products including paper, stickers, embellishments, die-cuts and more. Their new product lines are the Abbey Road, Alissa, Love Shack, Grease Monkey, U Bug Me, Pet Shop and It’s my Party collections.

We want to share, inspire, share some more and inspire you a little more! We hope you enjoy it and keep creating Gifts of Love!

Abbey Road Collection

It’s finally time to share with you what I think is one of your and definitely one of my favorite new lines. Abbey Road! Not only is Abbey Road an amazing collection of beautiful prints, stripes, flowers and more..but the colors are perfection!

Today we have Emilie Ahern joining us as a Guest and I’m sure you’ll agree…her Abbey Road layouts are perfection! And because Abbey Road is so popular…tune in later for the second part of the post sharing even more layouts and ideas using this amazing line!