Tutorial - Paper Doll

Finding unique ways to use patterned papers can be a real challenge so I was delighted when a very dear friend of mine, Lisa Valentine, showed me this fabulous little trick. This is going to make you look at your patterned papers in a whole new light. For those of you with dress making experience, this will be a unique way to put those skills to use.


Supplies
Cardstock
Copy paper
Marker
Patterned paper
Pearls
Flowers
Glitter glue
Ink

Step One: Gather all your supplies. Draw an image of a female silhouette on some copy paper with a marker. Add some dress and hat details. Remember to keep the design simple because you have to be able to cut your patterned papers to the design.

Step Two: Cut your design into pattern pieces as shown.

Step Three: Use these pieces as you would a cloths pattern. Place each piece on your selected patterned paper and trace and cut the exact shape. Use a variety of patterned papers to add interest to your design.

Step Four: Rearrange your newly cut pattern pieces on a piece of cardstock and paste each piece down.

Step Five: Trace the outline of your design with some stickles or glitter glue to add definition. This will also help hide any imperfections in the lining up of your pattern pieces.

Step Six: Once the stickles has dried, embellish your dress design with some pearl flourishes and flowers.

You now have a beautiful and unique embellishment to add to your layout or card. If you ever day dreamed about being a fashion designer one day, now's the perfect time to bring those great designs to life.

Tutorial - Tattered Hibiscus

Homemade flowers are a passion of mine. I'm forever looking out for new ideas and every now and then I'm lucky enough to come across a real gem. One of those rare finds is the brilliant Lisa Gregory's paper Hibiscus flower. I'd like to share my version of this stunner with you.


Supplies:
Cardstock
Glimmer mist
Ink
Paint Brush handle
Tattered Floral Die
Mini sun punch

Step One: Gather all your supplies together. Cut 3 of the large flowers and 3 of the medium flowers using your Sizzix Tattered Florals die. Cut small slits between each petal of the medium flowers.

Step Two: Mist all the flowers. I used a combination of Tattered Angels Candle Light and Chocolat Creme glimmers mist

Step Three: Ink the edges of each peatl while the petals are still damp. I used walnut stain distress ink.

Step Four: Place a paintbrush handle in the center of each flower and scrunch the petals up and around the handle as shown above. Use a thinner paint brush handle for the medium sized flowers. Leave these one side to dry.

Step Five: Once the scrunched up petals have completely dried, unfold them carefully. Use the handle of the paint brush once again to now curl the flower petals. Twist the petals of one large flower in opposite directions. Curl the petals of the second flower backwards and then curl the petals of the third flower slightly in. You can curl the petals of all three medium flowers backwards.

Step Six: Layer the three large flowers with the twisted petals at the bottom then the outward curled petals next and the inner curled petals on top.

Step Seven: Layer the three medium flowers on top of each other. Fluff up the petals.

Step Eight: Place the medium flowers in the center of the larger flowers as shown above.

Step Nine: Cut out three sun shapes using a punch. Mist these with some Chocolate Creme glimmer mist.

Step Ten: Layer the three sun shapes on top of each other and srunch them inwards.

Step Eleven: Place the scrunched sun shapes into the center of the flower.

These make a perfect embellishment for any layout or card. You can also play around with the petals for some variation or use multiple colour mists. The starburst punch also make a great center instead of the sun shapes. This is what Lisa used in her version.

Tutortial - Adding some Vintage Flare to Hardware Store Bought Hinges

It always amazes me how much we paper crafters are willing to fork out for embellishments that catch our fancy even though we could probably make them ourselves with a little effort at a fraction of the cost. I'm first to admit that I'm a scrapbook shop-a-holic and can't wait to buy the newest and latest of everything. But occasionally I like to make something myself that will be completely unique. Surprisingly, the hardware store is a great source of inspiration for DIY projects. They're filled with hundreds of items just waiting to be magically transformed into something really beautiful. I'd like to share a few tricks on how to add some fabulous vintage flare to an ordinary mini hinge you can pick up at your local hardware store for next to nothing.


Supplies
Brass mini hinge
Alcohol ink
Clean felt pad
Mini roses
Pearls
Hot glue gun

Step One: Gather all your supplies together. Open out your set of hinges so they lay flat on your non-stick craft mat

Step Two: Add a combination of Espresso and Rust alcohol ink with a few drops of copper mixative to a clean felt pad. Dab this onto the hinges covering both sides. I suggest that you do not use a blending tool as it makes it difficult to cover all the curved edges. It is easier to used the felt pad as you would a cotton ball.

Step Three: Look through your stash for any mini vintage styled accents that could be added to your hinges. I gathered some mini roses, pearls and brass clasps.

Step Four: If you are going to use your hinge in a way that only one side will be visable then you need only embellish that side. I used two mini roses on each hinge which I attached using my hot glue gun.

Step Five: If you are going to use your hinges in a way that both sides will be visible then have some fun and embellish both sides with a combination of flowers and pearls or any other vintage style trinkets you have on hand.

Vintage brads would also be perfect for these and would eliminate the need to the hot glue gun as you could attach your hinges to your project with the brads. You may want something more playful in mind, in which case use brighter colours and playful accents. I always favour vintage styled embellishments but you can apply the basic idea of the technique to your personal style. These would add an extra special touch to your project and at a cost of less than $1 for my set, you can afford to experiment.

Tutorial - Textured Butterflies

I don't know about you but I can never have enough butterflies in my stash. I seem to be drawn to them everywhere I go. I love them on my pattered papers, ribbons and any other embellishment I can find. I'm especially loving all the new metal butterfly accents available. I was browsing through my LSS the other day and found this butterfly stencil which I obviously just had to have. Once I got home I started playing and decided to try something new with my newly aquired stencil


Supplies
Butterfly stencil
Molding paste
Paint
Pearls
Gems
Glitter Glue
Scissors
Cardstock

Step One: Gather all your supplies together. Place your stencil over a piece of white cardstock. Use some masking tape to hold the stencil in place.

Step Two: Using a palett knife, spread some molding paste over each butterfly image.

Step Three: Once you have covered each image evenly start adding details to each individual butterfly. You can add some gems and pearls to imitate the butterfly body as well as some accents on the wings. For extra details on the butterfly wings there are several options.

Step Four - Option A: Starting from the center or body of the butterfly spread the molding paste outwards in a fan like motion.

Step Four - Option B: Tap your finger up and down on the paste to create these peaks. Once dried this really is a gorgeous textured finish.

Step Four - Option C: Use a toothpick to draw designs on the wings of each butterfly. Remember to always duplicate the designs on each wing. The perfect symetry of the butterfly wings is an important part of their charm.

Step Five: Once the molding paste has completely dried, use some shimmery paint like Creative Inspirations or Shimmerz to paint each butterfly. You can also add some fine glitter at this point if you like.

Step Six: Once the paint has dried, lift the stencil off the cardstock and cut each butterfly out carefully. You can use some Ranger stickles to outline the wings of each butterfly.

You can be playful and paint your butterflies multiple colours or if you favour a more whimsical style then use some soft pastel shades. Adding glass beads to the paste is another great way to create colourful patterns without using paints.

Tutorial - Faux Perforated Postage Stamp

 Stamps...who would ever have thought that an everyday item like a postage stamp, which was never given a second thought before now, would become such sought after scrapbooking trend. These are especially popular with those scrappers who favour the steampunk style. I'd like to share a little trick with you today on how to make your own faux postage stamps using images from your favourite patterned papers.


Supplies
Clipart image or patterned paper image
Eyelet tool

Step One: Print a clipart image on some cardstock or alternatively cut an image from a piece of your favourite patterned paper. I used an image from some Graphic45 paper.

Step Two: Turn your image over onto the back side and draw some lines the depth you'd like your faux perforated edges to be.

Step Three: Using your eyelet tool punch half the diameter of your tool along the edges using your drawn lines as a guide. Remember to keep even spaces between each notch.

Step Four: Do this all the way around all four sides and then turn your image right side over.

I chose to ink the edges of my faux postage stamp with some vintage photo distress ink and then cover it with a couple of layers of beeswax to add to the vintage look. I used my stamp on an steampunk style ATC but these will make a perfect addition to any crafting project. The best part is that you get to choose your own image and size stamp.

SNR - August submission date coming up

Would you like an opportunity to have some of your work published? Why not submit to Scrapbook News and Review  30th July. You never know until you try.

SNR are open to submissions  for all skill levels and paper crafting styles. There are some fun calls to choose from or you're welcome to simply submit something under the "Strut your stuff" category which is open to all styles.

Some of the calls for August are

 Scrapbooking
Camping/The Great Outdoors
Color of the Month: Yellow
From a Childs Perspective
Just the Two of Us
On Stage

One Word Title: IF

Party Time/BBQ
Summer

Cards
Bingo/Crosswords
Cartoon Caption/ Monsters
I Love You
Paper Tricks

Stamps - These can be added to any project type.
Harlequins & Paisleys
School Elements
Summer Play

Maybe you'd like to have some fun with some Mixed Media projects. Here's the themes for August
ATC's - Vintage school or Strut your Stuff
Tags - Love and Romance
Inchies/Twinchies - Dry Embossed bg
Mini Albums - Strut Your Stuff

For the Digital Scrappers this is what's up for August
Circles
My Summer Vacation

Two-pagers

Style: Photo-less pages

For details on each call please go HERE

If your project is accepted for publication you will receive a free subscription to the magazine to view your work.

Hope to see some of your work in the next issue.

Tutorial - Vintage has Your Number

While browsing through the hardware store I found yet another treasure. These "mailbox" metal numbers looked like just the perfect item to add a little crafting magic to. Why not take a break from the usual chipboard or sticker numbers and create your own unique numerical embellishment that will serve as more that just a title letter.


Supplies
Brass number from your local harware store
Espresso and black Alcohol ink
Copper and gold mixatives
Roses
3mm organza ribbon
Hot glue gun

Step One: Gather your supplies together. Lay your metal number on your non-stick craft sheet. This is a messy project so it's advisable to work on a craft mat or use something to protect your work surface.

Step Two: Randomly add several drops of the espresso alcohol ink directly to your metal number. Do not use a blending tool or felt pad as this will not provide the best coverage and soak up all the ink.

Step Three: Now add several drops of pitch black alcohol ink to the number. These drops should fall between the espresso drops. While wet, you can't really tell the difference between the colours, but once dry they become more defined.

Step Four: Shake the copper mixative bottle well before use. Add two or three drops to the number. The mixative spreads widely so only a few drops are required.

Step Five: The last of the colours to be added is the gold mixative. Again, just two or three drops are required. The colours will blend into each other while wet, which is exactly what we want.

Step Six: Set your number aside to dry. Because you have quite a thick layer of ink, it may take some time so use your heat gun if you want to speed up the process. You'll notice that the metallic mixatives dry with a matt finish which makes your number appear aged and rusted....perfect!

Step Seven: Turn your number over to the backside. To begin wrapping your ribbon around your number, take your piece of 3mm organza ribbon and glue one end to the back side of the number with your hot glue gun.

Step Eight: Once the glue is dry and the ribbon is secured to the metal, begin wrapping it around the body of your number as shown. Apply a small amount of hot glue intermitedly to secure the ribbon in place.

Step Nine: Continue wrapping the ribbon until your reach the opposite end of your number. Again, use some hot glue to secure the ribbon before you begin wrapping the ribbon in the opposite direction.

Step Ten: Now wrap your ribbon in the opposite direction criss-crossing it. Remember to add some hot glue on the back side intermitedly to keep the ribbon in place.

Step Eleven: Add some roses to the opening allocated for the screws using your hot glue gun.

Step Twelve: Last but not least, what would vintage be without some gorgeous pearls. Add some self adhesive pearls to the areas between the criss-crossed ribbon and you're done.

Don't be afraid to experiment. Because you're using alcohol ink as a colour medium on metal, all you need to completely remove the ink is some blending solution. I first tried using a combination of stonewash blue and clover green ink. I wasn't crazy about the result so I removed the ink and started all over.

You now have a beautiful numerical embellishment perfect to use as part of a title on a layout. Think of all those birthday cards your could make using gorgeously embellished numbers.