Storing Christmas Memories

If you’re like me you have hundreds of pictures from Christmas, some adorable and others not such great pictures but you can’t throw them away because they have a special memory to you.  And then there’s a special tag that one of the younger members of your family made.  There’s a program from a Christmas play that you want to save and the menu and receipes from your Christmas dinner.  Of course you could make layouts that include all of this memorabilia, but this is a time consuming project and you’ll likely not find the time. 

I have a way of storing all these memories quickly so they’ll all be available when you want them – Scrappin’ Folders.  This way you have an attractive folder that displays some of the great pictures, two pockets for other memorabilia and a CD pocket so all the pictures are preserved. When you want any of these items you’ll know exactly where they are.

You can use any line of cooridinated papers, but Simple Stories papers are always so easy because the variety of coordinated colors and messages allows you to put together pages in the perfect to tell your story.  The Handmade Holiday line is perfect for Christmas.    It is festive, has lots of borders, vellum picture frames, journaling blocks and stickers so it is easy to customize to your special Christmas.   

One of my favorite parts of the Scrappin’ Folder that I made with Handmade Holidays line is the  little matchbooks for notes and little pictures that are attached them with magnets so I can remove to look inside but they always go back in the same place.

To make a Scrappin' Folder, you cover the outside of one folder with paper and the inside of the other.  You decorate each.  I add a couple of pockets to the inside – one for a photo CD and one for a small book I make by just folding 12” x 12” paper to make a book with 4” x 6” pages. You then glue the folders together at the bottom using a permanent and strong glue.  Using Wonder Tape you affix the sides, leaving a pocket on the front and back.  I make a file folder for each of these pockets.

If you prefer, I’m teaching a class at Scrapbooks Plus on  January 12^th from 11:00 – 4:00pm.  In one afternoon, you’ll make a Scrappin’ Folder for either your Thanksgiving or Christmas memories.    In this class, you’ll learn how to make such a folder with just a few supplies.  You’ll use lots of tools and techniques, including the Tim Holtz Vagabond and dies, Martha Stewart Scoring Board, inks, punches, magnets. 

And you’ll leave with either a Thanksgiving or Christmas Scrappin’ Folder.  With your class fee, you’ll get a full Collection Kit (either Autumn Lane or Handmade Holidays), extra paper and instructions.  A sample of each is on display at the store so let us know which one you want when you sign up.  You’ll just need to bring basic tools, a paint brush and a variety of adhesives.

Sign up at the store or by calling 703.263.9503. 

Creating A Great Layout without Great Pictures

The most interesting story from last Christmas in our family was the challenge my son and niece had in putting together a ping pong table for my nephew.  Even though it was an important aspect of our Christmas that I wanted to journal, I did not have great pictures so I couldn’t tell the story with pictures.  Using a little creativity, I created a layout that tells the story in an attractive way with only two small pictures and not great ones at that.  Perhaps this layout can inspire you to tell some stories even though you don’t have great pictures.  Alternatively, you could use this layout  with a large picture in the photo box.

I used the KaiserCraft Just Believe Magic paper for the background and added an almost square piece of Keepsake paper to the right bottom corner.  I punched the left side with  a small scallop edging punch. 

I really like the metallic paper (sold at Scrapbooks Plus in a variety of colors) so I used the turquoise metallic paper for title and accents.  Since I didn’t have good pictures, I made a large title the focus of this page.  I cut letters in three different sizes, three fonts and two different papers with my Cricut.  To add a graphic representation of their rush against time, I added an alarm clock cut with the Tim Holtz Sizzix Movers and Shapers.  I made a photo mat using a 6” square of metallic paper  and a slightly smaller square of Keepsakes.  I added two small photos and a subtitle using the line’s Alpha Sticker set. 

I printed the journaling on a 2 ½” x 11” piece of Hymm paper.  I punched the bottom with the same edging punch used on the background.   To add some focus, I added a strip of the metallic paper at the top of the journaling and punched the bottom with the edging punch.  I added the label strip from Keepsakes paper to the metallic strip and added natural-colored small rickrack at the top.  To add the final touches, I added the date from the sticker set and ½ of one of the journaling blocks from the Collectibles set.

Just Believe Christmas Memory Book

I loved the tags in the KaiserCraft Just Believe line and thought a little Christmas book would be a great way to use them.  As I got started, I found that there were lots of things about this line that worked well in this book, like the reverse side of the labels made great embellishments.  I found so many other embellishments that that I ended up only using a few tags.  I think this would be a great gift for a grandmother.  Just add a few pictures of the kids at Christmas.

The covers and all pages were made with  5” x 8” Tim Holtz Idea-ology Grungeboard, although any chipboard would work just as well.     

To make the covers, cut the Grungeboard to 5” x 7 ½”.  Affix the desired paper to both sides the Grungeboard using a glue stick and a brayer.  After affixing paper, cut the edges with the Tim Holtz Sizzix On the Edge

Scallops die.  (It has two edges and I made the front cover with one and the back with the other producing designs that were different but coordinated.)

 I also used the Grungeboard for the pages, but again chipboard would work.  For pages, heavy cardstock would work.  The pages are  5” x 6 ½” and the paper is applied with glue stick and brayer. 

 Decorating the pages can be done anyway you like.  I decorated each page with a variety of items – journaling items, tag, buttons, bows, die cuts, even the reverse side of the paper label .  I made a fun embellishment for the cover with Spellbinders Spectacular Spin die and a center of Peeled Paint Stickles.  These are really fun to make. See blog for December 7^th to learn more about this.  On each page, I created photo corners with the Martha Stewart Crafts Embossed Punch and affixed them so I could add pictures later. (This makes it really easy if you give the book to someone who is not a crafter.) Once all pages were decorated, I punched holes in each page and used a binder ring to hold together.  On the top outside ring, add  three charms from the BoBunny Rejoice button set on Tim Holtz Charm Clasps.  Tie ribbon between each charm on top ring and on the bottom ring.  Tie ribbon to the rings between each page so the pages lay better. 

For those that want to make one, just like the one on display at ScrapbooksPlus, I’ve included a list of what I used for each page. Except for the items listed below all of the items are from the KaiserCraft Just Believe .  I loved the reverse side of the label strips on this paper and used some of them as embellishments for the book.  The items used that are not part of the KaiserCraft line are: Turquoise Metallic paper, ribbon (red & cream) and buttons, all of which are available at ScrapbooksPlus. 

Part of the fun is using leftovers and having fun so this should be just a guide. 

 

	Paper	Photo Corners	Photo Mat	Embellishments
Front Cover	Winter	N/A		Snowflake square; inked with Silver IncaGold
Inside Front Cover	Starlight	Keepsakes	4” x 6” Keepsakes	Tag w/cream ribbon
Page 2	Starlight	Magic		Friends & Family formed with letter stickers; Snow tag  with cream ribbon inside Snowflake square.
Pages 3 & 4	Wish List	Magic		Strip from Hymm paper; Button
Pages 5 & 6	Remember	Hymm		Poinsettas made with Tim Holtz tattered poinsetta die and Magic paper; Tag; Buttons (leftovers); Tree made with letter stickers
Page 7	Remember	Turquoise Metallic		A small and large tag on left side with cream bow. Strip from Magic paper.
Inside back cover	Winter	Turquoise Metallic	4x 5 ½ Remember	Strip from Magic paper. Tag with cream ribbon horizontal in right corner.
Back Cover	Wish List	N/A	N/A	Snowflake square, Tag, Button

Spectacular Spin in Wurzburg

Kaisercraft’s Just Believe Collection was a great line for a two-page layout on a day in Wurzburg, Germany during a Holiday Markets cruis.  I had a lot of pictures so wanted to design a layout that could be used for several photos.  This one displays five.

The left and right backgrounds almost identical.  Each is made using four pieces of paper (both sides of Hymm & Magic paper)  On the left side, they are  squares of 12” , 11 ½” , 10 ¾” and 10 ¼”.    On the right side, I made the Magic pages just a little smaller (10 ¾” x 10 ½” and 10 ¼” x 10”) and added a 10 ¾” x 1 ½” strip from Glisten that has an interesting design that coordinates well with the other papers. On the second side of Hymm, I punched two sides with a stamp around the page punch so that they meet in the middle.

A few of the die cuts from the Just Believe Collectables added some charm, but the real highlight of this layout is three embellishments made with the Spellbinders Spectacular Spin die.   I saw this die at ScrapbooksPlus and knew I had to use it.   What is unique about these dies is that you cut out the design with the die, then you fold certain parts and tuck them so they stay.  The result is a fun design that looks kind of like a quilt square.  I used the Keepsakes paper, producing a nice contrast with the red on one side and a white with green on the other.  The sets includes three dies (1 ⅝”, 2 ⅝” & 3 ¾”). I used one of each in the layout, adding a button for the center and putting some light cardstock on the back as I used them in places that I didn’t want the background to show through. 

The title was created with the Winter Wonderland Cricut cartridge using Keepsakes for the shadow and Hymm for the letters.  I wanted to show what I purchased so I added a little arrow cut with Tim Holtz Sizzix Movers and Shapers die and wrote “My Purchases” on it to point from the bag to a tiny picture on a small die from the Just Believe Collectables.  I think it actually looks better without this, but for me telling the story is always the most important part.

Holiday Scrappin' Folders

Harvest Lane Scrappin' Folder

 Using Simple Stories papers is always so easy because the variety of coordinated colors and messages allows you to put together pages in the perfect to tell your story.  Using the Harvest Lane line, I created a Scrappin’ Folder to keep my Thanksgiving pictures, recipes and notes about those special Thanksgiving memories.  Scrappin’ Folders are a concept that I came up with to record special events without having to create a whole scrapbooks or lots of pages to showcase my photos and memories.  I create a folder that is appealing to look at, has space for a few pictures and a pocket for a CD so I can keep all of the pictures, lots of space for notes and other memorabilia.  The Harvest Lane line was great for this.  In fact, I liked my Thanksgiving one so much that I created a Christmas one using the Handmade Holiday line.  It is festive with two files for lots of notes and extra pictures, etc.  One of my favorite parts of these Scrappin’ Folders is that I made little matchbooks for notes and little pictures and attached them with magnets so I can remove to look inside but they always go back in the same place.



Handmade Holiday Scrappin' Folder



Rather than putting the pictures and memorabilia someplace intending to scrap them later and then usually not being able to find everything when I have time to scrap, now I put everything from an event  in a Scrappin’ Folder.  In a few hours, I have an attractive showcase that I can easily pull it out and enjoy it time and again and all my memoires from the event filed in one place.  And if I have time, I have everything in one place to make the scrapbook pages of the event

To share this concept with you, I’m teaching a class at Scrapbooks Plus on November 24^th.  In one afternoon, you’ll make a  Scrappin’ Folder for either your Thanksgiving or Christmas memories.    In this class, you’ll learn how to make such a folder with just a few supplies.  You’ll use lots of tools and techniques, including the Tim Holtz Vagabond and dies,  Martha Stewart Scoring Board, inks, punches, magnets. 

And you’ll leave with either a Thanksgiving or Christmas Scrappin’ Folder.  With your class fee, you’ll get a  full Collection Kit (either Autumn Lane or Handmade Holidays),  extra paper and instructions.  A sample of each is on display at the store so let us know which one you want when you sign up.  You’ll just need to bring basic tools, a paint brush and a variety of adhesives.

Sign up at the store or by calling 703.263.9503. 

See you on the 24th!



Matchbooks Held in Place with Magnets



Halloween: Spiders, Ravens & Costumes

Using the Chillingsworth Manor line, a piece of Authentique Spooked and some black cardstock,  I created a fun one-page layout to include a fun picture Hall`oween picture with one pregnant women and two pretenders.  For the background, I put an 11” square piece of Chillingsworth Manor Spider Web Polka Dots on a piece of Authentique spooked. 

I framed my main photo in a circle of black cardstock and a slightly larger circle of Orange Floral Damask.  I made a photo frame from black cardstock, but cutting a circle out of the center, rounding the corners and adding a little scallop strip on the top.  I added a Orange Floral Damask circle between the photo frame and the bottom strip.

A strip of black cardstock is added on the bottom.  A 3 ½” x 11” strip of Damask Stripe affixing just on three sides with WonderTape to form a pocket for a journaling tag.

For the two spiders on paper, I traced over the legs on the paper with an embossing pen.  I then embossed them with Zing Black Embossing Powder.  After the legs cooled, I made the spiders body with two rhinestone-type embellishments of two different sizes.  I made a 3^rd on a scallop circle except I drew the legs rather than tracing and I glued a piece of black memory thread before affixing the body.  After gluing the circle I attached the other end of the memory thread to the top of the photo mat.  I added a “Best Costume” sticker and a little ribbon over the top. 

For the journaling tag and the decorative label, I cut out labels from the Apothecary label section and added ribbon.   

I added a  few little strips of different paper and varying sizes on the side.

The year was added on a little lable cut with a Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Styled Label die cut and accented with stickers from the Alpha Stickers sheet.  The stickers on here are great and you can use them for a variety of projects.

The title was made with Tim Holtz Alpha Parts Newsprint letters.

I hope this gives you some ideas of the wonderful things you can do with these great papers!

Halloween Layout with Lots of Pictures

If you’re at all like me, when the kids are dressed up you take a bunch of pictures, but then what do you do with all the pictures?  As I was trying to select two to three pictures for a layout from the dozens of pictures of my nephew dressed up as a gangster, I enjoyed the pictures which showed him “acting the part.”  It occurred to me that it would be fun to do a timeline.  So I picked out the one that I thought showed him and his costume the best and printed a 6” x 4.”  Then I printed a series of small ones (2 ½” x 2”) that seemed to tell a story.

To add even more focus on the large picture, I framed it with the Chillingsworth Orange/Tan paper and then black cardstock.  Keeping with the gangster theme, I framed the small pictures, which I had printed with a white border, with the black cardstock.  Using the Chillingsworth Paper Pumpkin for the background, I added a strip ompletely across both pages for  the small photos with a piece of  Chillingsworth Dictionary paper  that was the same height as the pictures.   (I inked this and other paper with Black Soot Distress Ink.)   Although, I was mostly sticking with the black and white theme, I added a little color by cutting out the tags from Apothecary Labels paper  After placing them across the bottom of the strip, I added small strip from the Green/Grey paper across the bottom and the grey strip from the Apothecary Paper with a spooky message across top.  I used a loopy black ribbon from ScrapbooksPlus across the green strip that addes some texture and downplayed the green.   I added the large picture and the one small one that looked  like a mug shot.  The final touch was adding the title.  I used Tim Holtz Idea-ology Alpha Parts Newsprints letters and I just put them across the top of the pictures, going up and down as the pictures did.

I was really happy with the results.  It would work great with any of those pictures where you have a lot of pictures that are similar – i.e. all horizontal or vertical, same subject, approximately same size image. Then you just adjust the background and colors you’re use to fit the theme or colors of your pictures.  If you have more than one child, you could do a  page for each, making them the same but using different colors.  If you have a girl dressed in frilly things, you might want to add some glitter, rhinestones or other glam.

Here’s an idea!  I bet you know what your child/grandchild is being for Halloween this year already so head over to Scrapbooks Plus and get the supplies you’ll need.  You can make the page and the day after Halloween you can have the pictures scrapped! 

Halloween Card

Since most people email these days, people really love it when they get something in the mail.  And it is even better when it is a handmade card!  Once I have the idea, making a card is a snap.   So use this one or take a look at the Design Team Wall for lots of other ideas.  The instructions to make this card follow.

Cut a 9“x 6 ¼” piece of Authentique Glowing paper and score it to make a 4 ½” x 6 ¼” card. 

Stamp three images on Chillingsworth Orange/Tan  paper with Stazon black ink.  I used  Stampers Anonymous Tm Holtz Stamps Mini Blueprints CMS 136.  This is a great set that has four images for each Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Cut out the stamped images and ink edges with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink. Affix these to black cardstock that is just slightly larger than the piece with stamped image.  Affix two of the images to the outside of the  card with pop dots and one to the inside top (not with pop dots).

Add  a 1 5/8” x 6 ¼” strip of Authentique Glowing paper (Herringbone side) on bottom of card.  Stamp message on a strip of Orange/Tan paper with VersaMark and  emboss message with Zing Black Embossing Powder. Affix to top of  Herringbone strip.  Affix ribbon to the top edge of strip.

On the inside, add a rectangle of Orange/Tan piece, inked with Spiced Marmalade & Black Soot Distress Ink so  you have a place to write a message.

Affix ribbon across inside along fold line and on outside.   Tie bow on left side

Mini Coffin Boxes (for Candy, Gift Cards or Other Small Items

Last blog, I described how I made a coffin candy dish.  I was so enthused that  also made a set of mini coffin gift boxes.  I started with a cute set of paper mache coffins.  Although my goal was to cover them with paper, I found you couldn’t close them once you did, so I covered all of the coffins except the part of the lid that goes over the edge of the bottom and the part of the bottom that is covered by the lid.  I painted the inside edges of the lid and the outside edges of the bottom.  It is good to paint the edge of the lip on both so if your paper doesn’t quite make it to the edge then it looks great.  Then you simply cover the remaining surfaces.  I affixed the paper with Ranger’s new Glue n’seal.  (If you need tips on this see blog from 10/7.)  The 6” x 6” pad of paper works great on these small coffins as the designs are smaller.  

Each of my coffins is made with different papers and I used a few of my favorite techniques to add a little extra.  Here’s a few of the extras, I used.

 

• I added a stripe of black glitter all around the outside of a coffin decorated with black and white paper.  This is really easy.  Put a 1/8” strip of InkEssentials Wondertape around the outside of the box.  Remove the tape on the other side and roll the coffin in Stickles Black Diamond Dry Fine Glitter.  Even if you don’t like using glitter with glue, try this technique.  You get perfectly straight lines.  And to make it even better if you don’t like getting glitter on things, ScapbooksPlus has a cloth that picks up all the pieces of this glitter.

• On a coffin lid that was covered with  the small version of reverse side of Grey Damask paper (from the 6 x 6 pad), I put little dots in each diamond with Orange Peel Stickles on the top and along the lip of the lid.I glued a strip of small ribbon  around the lip of the lid on one. 

• I stamped a skull using Stampers Anonymous Tm Holtz Stamps Mini Blueprints CMS 136 inside the lid of one.  (Check out this stamp set.  It include four stamps for each Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

• I stamped the spider web from the Mini Blueprints on a piece of solid paper.  I tore the edges, glue it to another piece of paper, tore the edges and glued to the top of a coffin. 

• One that I thought turned out well, I distressed the lid.  After painting it black, I sanded it and inked it with Forest Moss Distress ink, which made it look old. (The top of the lid and inside bottom were covered with paper, so it was just the edge of the lid that was distressed.  On the bottom of this coffin, I used stickers from the Alpha Sticker sheets.  (This sticker sheet is fabulous – it has all kinds of things, letters, words, and insects.)

The final  step was sealing the surfaces by painting the entire coffin inside and out with Glue n’seal. 

I really had fun with these and didn’t want to stop making them.  Everyone I know may be getting a coffin for Halloween.  Your options are almost endless.  You could make all your coffins with the same paper, but add different accents.  You can make them with different papers, but the same colors.  Or you could make them all with the same accents.  One option I didn’t use was adding rhinestones or buttons.  I encourage you to  make some coffins! Now that’s something I never expected to say.