Color Schemes

Here's a great website link to help you with color schemes.  http://www.colorschemer.com/schemes/.  

Making Journals - The Blank Journal

Gather a few supplies:
     22" x 30" watercolor paper, 140 lb hotpress, Fabriano Artistico from Dick Blick's works fine
     #18 needle
     good metal ruler
    polyester thread approx. 3x the length of the journal spine

Tear the sheet into 10" strips.  Fold one sheet in half.  The other two sheets will be folded at 8" and 16".
Fold left to right.  Fold over that extra 6".  Do this to both sheets, then nestle them oppositely to each other.  The sheet you've folded in half will have a couple of extra inches of paper, fold those in so they are even with the other pages.

Mark the holes in from 1 1/2" at the top and bottom of the spine and then mark a hole in the middle.  Sew from the center hole inside to outside center, go up through the top hole in the spine, carry your thread all the way over the inside and go down through the bottom hole on the spine.  Go back up the center hole and tie strings in the center.  Be sure to secure the long thread with the knot from the threads coming up from the center.

These are my notes and supply list I've had written on a post it note for quite a while.  When I figure out where I was when I took the notes, I'll will give credit where credit is due.  (Oh, and my notes state "don't use Arches paper - don't know why - too stiff maybe.)  I would take a picture, but all I have is white paper, haven't threaded the journal or painted it yet.

Paisley Prints - Sneak Preview

Received my new designer paper from the new Idea Book & Catalog and just had to make something new.  I used the Embossing folder, paisley prints paper, new frame punch and coordinating fun frames set.  We will be making some Mother's Day cards, get well cards next weekend at  my Women's Fellowship group.  It's  so much fun to gather together and make cards for those who are sick or live alone.

Altered Stampcase - Notepads

     Turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.  I used SU!'s Stamp Cases #119105, 4 cases to the pkg, to make a customized notepad holder for my friend's birthday gift.
     I really enjoy making unique gifts for my friends...so much fun to create something special.  For this one I photocopied some old Italian ledger paper I purchased at the flea market in Arezzo, Italy, as well as a few pictures reduced in size.
     The small print reads:  "Tuscany, Signora, is a state of mind."  So true, but I can't wait to take another trip to Italy.

Here is the outside:                                                

And the inside with a little envelope for receipts and such:

Paris Cards

A day late but here are the cards I made to go inside the upcycled gift bags.

I used the Artistic Etchings Set, Item 118517 and Scallop Trim Border Punch, Item 118402, both in the
2010-11 Idea & Catalog.    

UPCYCLING

I did a little Christmas shopping at Sephora for the Delightful Divas of my family.  I just couldn't toss out the really nice and sturdy bags so I transformed them from this:

to this:

I had an old stash of Paris cards of only which only a few remained.  

Fortunately, I do have some similar SU! stamps which coordinated so tomorrow I'll take a picture and show you the cards I made to include with the totes.

Redlead Swap

Oh what fun it is to play in the Redlead Swap today!  I signed up for two Christmas Swaps, one a card and the other a garland.  I hope you like them.  Such a cute vintage stamp and so versatile.  The first one is the card in forest green and the second the garland - lots of red glitter and snowflakes.