December Daily - Binding

To see how I created the cover for my December Daily album, see this blog post.

Donna Downey's canvas album, which I am using as my base, comes with grosgrain ribbon for binding together the pages. However, the ribbon binding didn't seem like it would work with the paper, acrylic, and chipboard pages I plan to use in addition to the page protectors and canvas pages that come with the album.

My solution was to refit this album with rings.

Here is how I did it (super easy!). I used 2.5-inch binder rings. 2-inch rings were too small, and 3-inch rings were too big, but the 2.5-inch rings fit just perfectly.

Step 1 - Open the ring completely and feed one end through one hole in the back of the album.

Step 2 - Close the ring mostly, and then feed the same end back through the other hole, from the front of the album.

Step 3 - Close the ring and rotate it so that the hinge is at the back of the album, on the outside.

Step 4 - Feed a ribbon through the space between the ring hinge and the album and even up the ends. Ribbon is approximately 18 inches, but less can be used.

Step 5 - Wrap each end of the ribbon around the ring once.

Step 6 - Tie a knot and a bow.

Step 7 - Trim the ribbon ends at an angle.

If you want to try this, and can't find the 2.5-inch rings, I have some for sell in my Etsy store. Also, if you like the torn music fabric ribbon, it is also available in my Etsy store.

Vintage Christmas Tags

I've added these canvas tags, printed with vintage images, to my Etsy store. These tags are No. 5 in size (~2.5 x 4.75 inches). The edges of these tags are sewn with 20 gauge (thick) variegated brown thread for a wonderful textural look and feel. The tabs are made from torn music fabric and vintage brass eyelets.

Painting Halloween

Winners!

Winning comment #1:

scrappinmomto2girls said... love it!! I would love to get these for my girls! September 12, 2009 5:45 PM

scrappinmomto2girls, you have won $20 worth of merchandise from my new Etsy store plus free shipping domestic shipping for one order. Please send me an e-mail with your name and e-mail address.

Winning comment #2:

lwarren737 said... My daughter (Beth Warren) referred me. I love the tags, very very cute, and I'd love to see some with vintage dog/cat images or vintage children images, that can be used for non-holiday layouts. (if you need vintage postcards to copy, please email me) September 13, 2009 5:12 AM

Beth Warren, you have won $20 worth of merchandise from my new Etsy store plus free shipping domestic shipping for one order. Please send me an e-mail with your name and e-mail address.Thank you everyone who left comments!

Grand Opening!

I'd like to invite you all to the Grand Opening of my Etsy store, Serendipity Scraps! Items will begin to be uploaded tonight and will continue to be uploaded through the weekend. You will have until midnight (EST) tomorrow (Sunday, 9/27/09) to comment on the Esty posts here to qualify for my Etsy Giveaways. I will post the winners of the giveaways here on Monday (9/28/09).

As always, feedback is appreciated. Thanks for coming along for the ride!

Etsy Item #16

See this post for information on my Etsy store GRAND OPENING and associated GIVEAWAYS!
Serendipity Butterflies - These butterflies are diecut from collaged layers of scrapbook paper, handmade paper, vintage music paper, and fibers embellished with ink, paint, embossing, and Stickles. The collage is built upon sturdy watercolor paper for strength and cohesion. The butterflies are approximately 3 inches tall and 4 inches wide, the wings are scored on the back so that they can be folded upward for dimension. This lot of butterflies was created in a blue/green color scheme, but other color schemes will be available (along with other motifs). Die cut shape is by Sizzix, stamped images are by Unity Stamp Co. and Tim Holtz.

Christmas Calendar Swap

I made these embellished 2x2 squares for a cookie sheet Christmas countdown calendar swap on 2Ps.

Trying to resist the urge to add dangly bits (like Maya Road's chandelier crystals).

Etsy Items 9 through 15

See this post for information on my Etsy store GRAND OPENING and associated GIVEAWAYS!

I first posted this star ornament as Item #1 (in the fabric pattern third from the left). See this post for a full description. Well, here are the other six fabric patterns available! Let me know your favorites. The third and fourth from the left (red berry and red pattern) and the second from the right (gifts) are my favorites!
Remember, you can click on the photo for a larger image.

Thinking of Christmas

Maybe because I'm making Christmas ornaments for my Etsy store, I've already started thinking about my 2009 December Daily Album. The December Daily album is the brain child of Ali Edwards. You can see my 2008 December Daily Album here.

Ali mentioned in a recent post that she was considering using Donna Downey's canvas album this year for her December Daily. I thought that was an awesome idea and this is what instantly popped into my head:

Here's how I created the cover:

(1) I printed 5, 4, 3, and 2-inch stars from my computer onto cardstock. I cut the starts out and used them as masks with Scarlet colored Glimmer Mist. I misted in several layers so that some of the starts are more subtle than others.

(2) I painted the binding of the cover with red acrylic paint.

(3) I stamped the swirl pattern onto the binding with white StazOn ink.

(4) I accented my stamping with Xmas Red Stickles.

(5) I repeated the same steps on the inside of the cover, I just wasn't able to take pictures because the Stickles on the front are still wet.

Look for future posts on my 2009 December Daily album as it comes together!

Ask, and ye shall recieve....

A couple of people have left comments asking for the opening date of the Etsy store. Well, I can now tell you, it is fast approaching. I am hoping by the end of this coming week. Keep watching for an announcement. In the meantime, I have yet more items to post in the coming week! Thanks again!

Etsy Item #8

See this post for information on my Etsy store GRAND OPENING and associated GIVEAWAYS!

Fabric Flowers. These flowers are made from two layers of colorful fabric, gathered for texture and topped with a button. Each flower is 2-3/4 inches in diameter. These flowers are perfect for adding to scrapbook layouts, cards, home decor, even clothing! Flowers will be available in a variety of color groupings, pink is shown above.

Etsy Item #7

See this post for information on my Etsy store GRAND OPENING and associated GIVEAWAYS!
Four fabric stars. These stars are made from Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding fabric line made by Moda. The stars are 5, 4, 3, and 2-inches tall, double sided, filled with 1/8" extra stiff batting for stability, and stitched with green variegated thread. These stars are perfect for your scrapbook pages, cards, or holiday decorating. These stars will be available in two color sets: primarily green/blue and primarily red.

Thank You!

I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful comments you've left for my Etsy items and other projects, and all the wonderful encouragement you've given me. There's more to come and setup of the store is underway! Soon, I promise!

Etsy Item #6

See this post for information on my Etsy store GRAND OPENING and associated GIVEAWAYS!
A second star ornament. These stars are made from Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding fabric line made by Moda. The stars are 4, 3, and 2-inches tall, double sided, filled with 1/8" extra stiff batting for stability, and stitched with green variegated thread. A silver eyelet has been added to the top star to allow hanging (from a decorative swirly hanger, included). The beads are hung on clear beading filament. Each bead cluster includes two silver crimp beads, two clear glass beads, and one red velvet bead. Whole ornament is approximately 12" long including hanger. This ornament will be available in different fabrics.

Method Playground Design Team Application

Alright, I'm putting this out there for everyone to see...

I'm applying for Method Playground's third(?) Design Team. Method Playground is a technique based challenge blog. If you're not familiar with Method Playground, check out the link over to the right in my "Blogs I Frequent" list. I'm creating this blog post so that those doing the deciding over at MP, only have to look in one place to see a bunch of my work.

Required Submissions: 3 Layouts

I created this layout specifically for this application. I wanted to showcase my artsy style. This layout was ENTIRELY created from scraps left over from other projects. The background was created using the layering technique I provided step-by-step instructions for here. The blue wave below the photos was cut from a SKIRT! magazine (and sprayed with Archival Mist). The title was created by stamping on scrap canvas.

This is a layout I created a couple of months ago. I believe it still showcases my artsy style, but shows how "artsy" can also mean "graphic" not necessarily messy or layered. To create the background I sprayed Glimmer Mist over a paper flower and removed the flower. The word "invisible" was cut from an office supply transparency with my Cricut. The journaling lines and journaling are done by hand.

I am including this layout for two reasons 1) it does not include a photo and 2) it showcases a number of techniques. This layout was created for a kit club I was a design team member for, so I had limited supplies to work with. To create the background, I stamped torn cardboard cut from the box the kit was shipped in (hey, that counts!) with bubble wrap and red ink. I then brushed some off white paint over the cardboard. The title was created from the outlines of letter stickers and the letter stickers themselves (sanded for texture). The rubon behind the word "box" was actually part of the rubon company's logo. The frame and wings were all one piece when I received them. I removed the wings from the frame, painted the frame black, and sanded the frame for a distressed look. "like no one is watching" was part of a rubon quote that I borrowed for my own purposes.

Not Required Submissions, MP challenge layouts (2):

This layout was submitted for challenge #30. The challenge was to create dimensional layers. The post describing this layout can be seen here. I actually won this challenge.

This layout was submitted for challenge #5, which was to dress up plain jane embellishments. I chose to dress up plain silver brads. I used alcohol ink, Stickles, paint, and rubons to dress up my brads. I did not win this challenge, but that's totally ok, I had a ton of fun altering my brads. Here is a closeup (sorry, this layout was pre-blog):

Not Required, additional layouts:

Here are a few of my other favorite layouts that I believe speak to my individual style and/or show technique usage:

Thanks for listening!

Etsy Item #5

See this post for information on my Etsy store GRAND OPENING and associated GIVEAWAYS!

Canvas Art Journals. These journals are 9x12 in size and bound with black wire O-wires. The covers are sturdy chipboard covered with raw canvas duck on both sides. The 10 inside pages are made from FINE ART QUALITY Fredrix canvas, primed on front and raw on back. These pages are suitable for any water based paint, including acrylic and water color paints. The inside pages and adhesive used to bond the raw canvas duck to the chipboard covers are acid free, so this journal should last you a long time. The raw canvas edges can be sealed to prevent excess fraying by request, or can be left raw for that worn look.

You will be AMAZED at the low price of these beautiful art journals!

Etsy Item #4

See this post for information on my Etsy store GRAND OPENING and associated GIVEAWAYS!

Christmas Candy Brads. Who can resist these, they make your mouth water. Made with Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding fabric line for Moda and Imaginisce Brad Daddies. These brads will be avilable in sets of six, consisting of three sizes: 16 mm, 22 mm, and 28 mm and five colors: red, dark green, light green, blue, and brown (yum, can you say "chocolate").

Etsy Item #3

See this post for information on my Etsy store GRAND OPENING and associated GIVEAWAYS!

Raw canvas tags printed with vintage Halloween images; #5 sized (~2.5 x 4.75 inches). The edges of these tags have been hand frayed and sewn with thick (20 gauge) variegated brown cotton thread for a wonderful textural look and feel. These tags have torn fabric tabs with brass eyelets.

Esty Item #2

See this post for information on my Etsy store GRAND OPENING and associated GIVEAWAYS!

Sturdy chipboard buttons covered in raw canvas duck. Add a little bit of that "mixed media" look to your pages and projects without the work. These buttons are the perfect background for stamping, painting, and embellishing with other products like Glimmer Mist and Stickles. They are a perfectly sized 1-inch in diameter. These buttons will be packaged in groups of 12 mixed 2-hole and 4-hole buttons.

Look for embellished canvas buttons soon!

Art Journal - Inside Covers

Here are the insides of my art journal covers...
I used cardboard backing and stamped into wet molding paste to get the texture. I love the fact that, even when I'm done with the art journal, it will still be "under construction". You can see the front cover here.

Etsy Item #1

See this post for information on my Etsy store GRAND OPENING and associated GIVEAWAYS!

Is it beginning to look anything like Christmas where you are? Looks more like fourth of July where I am.

Despite that, I making CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS and putting myself in the Christmas spirit early this year. Here is an example:
The star is made from Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding fabric line made by Moda. The star is 5-inches tall, double sided, filled with 1/8" extra stiff batting for stability, and stitched with red variegated thread. Two eyelets have been added to allow hanging (from a decorative swirly hanger, included) and embellishing. The embellishments include a red velvet bead, 1x1" picture frame with glass (ready for your picture), a clear acrylic bead, and a silver bell. Whole ornament is approximately 10" long including hanger.

This ornament will be available in different fabrics.

Ok, it's time....and GIVEAWAYS

It's finally time I spill the BIG NEWS....

Now, if you've been paying attention, you might have already figured it out....

If you haven't been paying attention, well, you're just like me....

I'm opening an ETSY store! I'm planning TWO BIG GIVEAWAYS in conjunction with the GRAND OPENING, so keep reading.

GIVEAWAY #1 -

Stop by here. I'll be posting pictures of items I am making for sale in my Etsy store over the next few weeks. Probably not one item a day, but close. To win GIVEAWAY #1, all you have to do is leave a comment on each post. For each item you leave a comment on, I'll enter you in the random drawing, up to one comment per item please. The prize is $20 of merchandise from my new store plus free shipping of your purchase to you (domestic only; reduced international shipping).

GIVEAWAY #2 -

Tell your friends. For each person who drops by and leaves a comment on an Etsy item and says she heard about my blog from you, I will enter both of your names in a separate drawing, once per commenting person (you can recommend to as many people as you like, but each person can only claim you told them about me once). The prize is $20 of merchandise from my new store plus free shipping of your purchase to you (domestic only; reduced international shipping).

Grand opening of the store will be towards the end of September. I'll announce a final date soon.

Art Journal Cover

Created on the cover of my newly handmade CANVAS art journal.