Cosmo Mini

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Recently I purchased some of the Tim Holtz binder rings and thought little minis would be a cute item for me to make for RAKs and gifts. My challenge was to use up things that I've had in my stash for more than 6 months. I accomplished that with the Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday paper collection, Prima packaging, Prima hydrangeas, scrap paper, ribbon remnants, Bloomers, Cardstock, and beads. Nothing in this album except the binding rings was new - NOTHING.

I decided to use Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday collection because of its bright colors and ledger styled "B sides".

On the cover, I bound the book with cardstock, and used 4x6 panels of the paper collection to decorate. I used Pink Paislee packaging to die cut the book plate, and hand wrote "A Story". Butterflies were punched from scraps and Prima Hydrangea flowers were used with buttons as centers. Webster's Pages Bloomers and eyelet lace soften the spine. I used two mini binder clips from an office supply store, and attached charms and a chain for the perfect closure.

Prima packaging was used to make a double pocket. For extra notes, I ripped some paper from a small notebook, and placed it in the pocket. I included 2 small tags in the upper pocket. On the right the banner at the bottom was printed on the bottom strip of the paper collection. Remember to look for embellishments on this strip that is often tossed.

On this page, the mini page with the tag, is Prima packaging that I sewed together to make a pocket. I love that this paper collection matches the ledger style packaging so well.

Again Prima Packaging was used to create the pocket on this page.

I used a glassine bag as a pocket on this page, and used the strips at the bottom of the paper collection as an embellishment.

On this page I used washi tape on the left page. To mimic the same look on the right I used some of the Pink Paislee Packaging cut in the same style on the right.

I always buy buy buy when the products are new, I'm so excited when I get home. Then I place them in a drawer where they are horded forever. I'm trying really hard to use the items that I have purchased, and it seems that I'm falling in love all over again.

Thanks for stopping in today

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Hidden Hinge Binding - March Journal

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Last week I promised a tutorial on how I bound the March Journal book.

Here is a video explaining, the binding and the cover construction.



Thanks for stoppping in today,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

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Distress Pens

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So I finally got a chance to play with my Distress Markers from Tim Holtz that I purchased from Flamingo Scraps as a pre-order.

These markers are so much fun, they have a watercolor quality - but react a little different than water colors since the colors replace each other rather than contaminate.




The flower on this card is a Prima stamp that I colored with the TH markers on the Ranger stamping paper. Coloring took some getting used to, but I like how the design looks like I colored it with my Copic markers.

I decided to use the image on a card.

From Flamingo Scraps: Ranger: Tim Holtz Distress Markers, Ornamental Die, Distress inks: Tea Dye; Prima: Rose Stamp, Antques Stamp, packaging (So Happy banner); Graphic 45: Bottle Stamps; Webster's Pages: Trims, Misc. Laces; Pink Paislee Packaging, Frame stamp - Soree, Stampendous: Frantage - Shabby Blue.
Other: Tonic Punch: dotted scallop, Cherry Lynn Designs: Doily Die, Studio G: Stamp "Delight in the Little Things", Spellbinders: Label 5, My Mind's Eye: Tea Pot stamp.

I used the packaging from a Pink Paislee stamp set as the background, I also used packaging from the Rose Prima stamp set for the banner that says "So happy". I love upcycling the packaging when I can.

The bottle is from Graphic 45's new stamp Curosity Shoppe Perfume Bottles. I stamped it with Archival Ink on transparency, then warped it with my heat gun to make it look dimensional.

The tea pot was a My Mind's Eye stamp that was embossed with the new Frantage Embossing Enamel, and the cup was actually another stamped image from the tea pot, but I cut it down to make it into a cup.

To create the sign behind the vase I layered a Prima Printery stamp for the words and the Frame from a Pink Paislee - Soree stamp set.

The clock was cut from a piece of scrap paper on my desk. The table cloth was a punch scrap.

Then I added Lace and Trims to the bottom, and stamp that says "Delight in the little things" as the sentiment.

I hope you enjoy this card share today,

Thanks for stopping in,

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March 2012 Daily Journal

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WOW - March's 2012 Daily journal is CHUNKY, 3 inches to be exact! I had a great time working with these awesome designs available for purchase at http://www.marionsmithdesigns.com. This month's color inspiration was:

I'm loving all the colors and details in this month's book. And these colors are some of my all-time favorites.

I decided to try a different method of binding. It is called a hidden hinge and I love it! Binding the book this way, allowed me to include embellishments on every page. For embellishments I used several of the motifs on the page in reduced or enlarged sizes, then fussy cut them out and added some vintage Prima flowers.



Look for a video soon on how I bound the book. In the meantime, here is a walk through video of every page.



I hope you enjoyed this project. Are you working on Marion's Journals? If so, please be sure to tag us in Artsy Addicts so that we can see what you have created.

Thanks for stopping in today,

Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

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Cupcake Pin Cushion

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I have a friend who is an amazing artist. She recently sent me some items that she had hand crafted, so I wanted to make something special for her as a thank you gift. I decided to make her a pin cushion in the shape of a cupcake, and adorn it with butterfly stick pins.

From Flamingo Scraps: Webster's Pages: Hollywood Vogue - Spotlight paper, Rangger Glossy Accents, Mini PomPom trim, Prima: Rosebuds in pink, and prima fairytale roses in white. Other: My Favorite Things small spiral rose die, felt, Pins, Pearls, Charms, Glass beads, candle stick, candle plate, doilie.

The cupcake stand is made from a flat round candle plate and a candle stick that I put together using glossy accents. Then I placed a doily on top of the plate to give it the look of a platter or table top. The cupcake wrapper is made from the Spotlight paper from Webster's Page's Hollywood Vogue collection. I dressed it with mini pompom trim, pearls and Prima roses for added interest. For the cupcake I made tiny spiral rose buds from felt. I also made clay rose stick pins using polymere clay.


I just love how elegant this came out. I can't wait for her to recieve it.
Thanks for stopping in today,

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Rustic Layout - Using March Journal Pages

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So you guys know how much I adore Marion's designs. Today I want to share a tip with you for making layouts using the Monthly Challenge downloads. When I started putting my journal together I began thinking that these images were so beautiful, I would love to make a layout. But my layouts are always 12 x12 and these pages are around 5x7. Sooo this is what I did.

First - decide which designs to use. I used Days 1, Day 1 Insert, Day 2, Day 10, and Day 22. Photos of these days are below.

So Day 2 was the day I decided would make the prettiest paper for a layout. I openned the file in Acrobat. Then chose Document > Crop Pages or (Shft + Ctrl + T or Shft + Cmd + T on a Mac). This dialog box appears.

I adjusted the settings in the circled area until I acheived the crop that I liked. Chose to return to the document.

Then in the Printer Panel I chose "Fit to Printable Area" My pages printed 8x8. (Well maybe 8.25 x 9 depending on how you cropped the file, and how much margin your printer will allow for.) but you get the idea.

My final printed document looked like the preview in the above panel.

Then I began assembling my layout using Coordinating cardstock, punches, lace, twine, antique book pages, and flowers as accents. I spritzed the entire layout with wheat fields, hola hoop, and antique brass Glimmer Mists. I used a Prima resin bird that I painted black with the Folk art Metalic Black & yellow - I love how he matches the bird in the artwork.

The rustic look and warm colors of this layout is going to make it a fav for a long time. I hope this has given you options for reusing your Journal downloads once your journals are finished.

Are you making other projects with your downloads? If so, please post them in Artsy Addicts, and make sure you tag me so that I can see what your projects look like.

Thanks for stopping in today,

Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Sources:
Marion Smith Printables - March 2012 Pages 1, Page 1 insert, Page 2, Page 10, and Page 22.
Tim Holtz: Picket Fence Distress Stain, Gathering Twigs Distress marker.
Tatterd Angels Glimmer Mists: Hola Hoop, Antique Brass, Wheat Fields
Prima: Resin Bird, Mini Roses (white) I painted them yellow to match the paper.
Twine, Lace
Paint: Yellow, White, light blue, Black Magic
Vintage Book Pages.
Cardstock: Mustard, Light Blue
Zutter: Donna Salzer Corrugated Cardboard.

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Sew Cute Card

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Wednesday, I received the new Maya Road Sew Cute and Still Sew Cute chipboard pieces from Flamingo Scraps, and I couldn't wait to use them.

Aren't these the cutes little shape? I needed to make a birthday card for a friend and she LOVES dress forms and sewing themed items. Her favorite colors are pink, lavender, and black so I reached into my stash and pulled out the Hollywood Vogue paper from Webster's pages, and whipped out this card. I'm so addicted to making these easel cards. They are super easy and I love how they are easily displayed.

From Flamingo Scraps: Maya Road: Sew Cute Chipboard Pieces, Still Sew Cute Chipboard Pieces, Webster's Pages: Hollywood Vogue - Shine A Light Paper, Tim Holtz: Baroque Die. Other: Trims, Recollections: Roses, Stampendous: Fran-tage, Lace, MFT Doily Die, Sewing Pattern

So, you may be wondering what I did to achieve that awesome rustic look on the sewing machine and the dress form. Well it is embossing enamel called "Fran-tage" from Stampendous and after seeing this demo - "The Big Pink Bird" has decided to carry it. So look for it in the store in the next few days.

Fran-tage Enamel is a unique blend of chunky embossing enamal, glitter and mica. Each color has a multi-colored effect and when melted mimics marble, and granite.

The dress form was embossed with "Shabby Pink" and it is a combo of Pink and White Enamel with gold glitter. I love how the glitter is fused into the embossing enamel and doesn't rub off. The sew machine was embossed with Aged Silver which is a mix of Pewter, Gold and Flat Black.

I can't wait to play with these, and share more awesome techniques. I know I will never run out of this in my stash - EVER!

Thanks for stopping in today,

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