Winter Frost Layout

Have you ever seen some paper that is just so beautiful that you just know that a page is in the works? That is what I thought when I saw this Winter Frost paper at Scraphappy. The cool lime green (Winter Frost Pine) and soft blues and gray (Winter Frost Cozy) are made for each other. There is even a sheet of stickers from We R Memory Keepers that perfectly complement the color scheme.

By adding a darker olive green accent around the photos, the page was given another depth of color to round out the winter feel.

 With this two page set, the placement of the accent strips is offset so that the eye moves around the page. I also like to vary the sizes of the pictures on these pages. This beautiful green page just needed some soft background snowflakes to pull the pages together.

The only problem was finding snow pictures for those of us that live in Florida. Fortunately 10 years of living in Colorado had left me with a wealth of great shots of our girls playing in the snow. Print out some of your favorite wintery pictures, grab some beautiful paper, dig out a set of coordinating stickers and let the cool fun begin.

Cereal Box Journals - The Journal of Champions

I enjoy making cards, working in my art journal, and watching You Tube. On You Tube, Jennibellie shows how to make a cereal box journal using 12 x 12 card stock. This is a way to use all the pretty paper that you have saved in your stash or, if you don't have paper stashed up, that you love and plan to buy.

I used 16 sheets of 12 x 12 card stock, cut to fit, making four signature,which  gives you 64 pages to create on for your journal.  More pages can be added if necessary. This journal was made for embellishments to be added. (although that does make it bulky). 
It can be used as a scrapbook, journal, art journal, memory journal, cookbook, or really just whatever you want. The options are endless. In this journal, I put a pocket in the front and back of the journal to keep items  to be used or to hold some art markers.

This picture shows the four signatures and the cover.
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 Tim Holtz distress Inks, Gelly Roll- clear star pen were used to create the cover. The first set of holes were punched for the first signature to be added.

This is the forth signature being added to the journal. A red American Crafts precision pen was used to mark where the holes will be made. I did this to make sure the signatures lined up. Washi tape was used in the crease of the cover. Twine was used to sew the signatures to the cover.

Stickers were added to complete the Journal.

Make sure to head to Scraphappy for all your Scrapping needs and, while you're there, check out this finished Journal.

 Christy and Stephanie are always happy to answer any question you may have.

Wood Veneers - What Do I Do With Them?

Happy New Year, World!

I hope you all had a very safe and fun New Year's holiday this year, and that you had time to spend on our beloved Crafty Hobby! This month I decided to talk to you about wood veneers. Have you seen them online or in the store? Do you wonder what you're supposed to do with them? I mean, they're cheap. They're cute. They come in many imaginable shapes. And they're little (usually). So what is their purpose? Why are so many manufacturers making them? Why are they so popular? Well, lucky for you, I have an answer: They're FUN. They're CUSTOMIZABLE. They MAKE A BIG IMPACT on your project. Want to see a few examples?

First up: Use them straight out of the package, just as they are. No altering. No fussing. Just adhere and go (a little tip: glue dots and liquid glues like Glossy Accents work best). 

2. Emboss: Cover the surface of your wood veneer with versamark or other embossing ink, sprinkle on the embossing powder of your choice, heat with a heat gun, and watch the magic occur!

 3. Colorize with your favorite ink or cover with glitter. In this next layout, I altered the veneers with Tim Holtz Distress Stain, let them dry, then covered them with a thin layer of Rock Candy Distress Stickles.

4. Stamp on them.
5. Paint them.
6. And most importantly, come into Scraphappy and find the inks and paints, glitter, and embossing powders you want to play with, pick up some wood veneers, go home, use your imagination, and HAVE FUN!!!

Supplies:
Patterned paper - Basic Grey, Simple Stories, KI Memories, Heidi Swapp
Cardstock
Spray ink - Studio Calico, Heidi Swapp
Mask - Studio Calico
Rhinestone stars - Jenni Bowlin Studios
Wood veneers - Studio Calico
Letter stickers - Heidi Swapp
Stamps - Studio Calico, Technique Tuesday
Embossing powder
Stickles
Distress Stain
Stamping ink - red, green, Versamark
Washi tape

DIY Light Switch/Outlet Plates using Washi Tape!!

So.. I MAY have gone a little washi-tape happy over the weekend! This was such a simple, yet fun, little project to do that makes such a difference in a room!!!

First of all, you'll need your favorite washi tape colors!
As you can see, my favorite are the bright green and pinks.. love love love them!

Scraphappy carries all different colors. Each color comes with 2 different patterned 

rolls, for only $3.99!

Then you must decide what pattern you want to lay your washi tape.
Luckily, washi tape lifts up sooo easily without tearing! I must have pulled these pieces of tape up 15 times. I couldn't decide if I wanted this light switch as a chevron, or diagonal pattern.. Finally I just went with a horizontal. I used black in between just to give it a little extra "UMPH"! :)

Last, I used an exact-o knife to cut out a little hole for the switch. I found that by making a little "X" cut inside the opening was the easiest.. All you have to do is fold over the extra pieces and VOILA!



I told ya that I went a little washi-tape crazy..

I may or may not have done every switch in our store. :P

Enjoy!!! What are some of your favorite washi tape projects??

Hotel Options for the Gulf Coast Crop-n-Shop Weekend!!

To check out more information on our
Gulf Coast Crop-n-Shop Weekend, CLICK HERE!

FOR VENDOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE!

This is a list of a few of the hotels/condos near the Emerald Coast Convention Center. There are a ton more!! If you are interested, we have a hotel guide at Scraphappy that you are more than welcome to stop by and check out!

The Ramada Plaza Beach Resort and Four Points by Sheraton are directly across the street from the ECCC.

Four Points by Sheraton
Rooms starting at $150/night
www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/destinfwb

Ramada Plaza Beach Resort
Rooms starting at $159/night
www.ramadafwb.com

Emerald Coast Inn & Suites
Rooms starting at $80/night
www.emeraldcoastinn.com

Destin West Beach & Bay Resort
To check out different villas, please visit:
www.destinwest.com

Waterscape Condominiums
Condos starting at $170/night
http://www.wyndhamvacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/florida/northwest-florida/fort-walton-beach/complex/waterscape-condominiums

Hampton Inn on the Gulf
Rooms starting at $143/night
http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/hampton-inn-ft-walton-beach-FWBHHHX/index.html

Sea Spray Condominiums
To check out different available condos, please visit:
www.seaspraycondos.com

Best Western Beachfront
Rooms starting at $135/night
www.bestwesternfwb.com

Suffering for My Art!

As I nursed my slightly singed thumb at card class last month, my mind ran to all the different kinds of injuries suffered for the sake of our art. Knowing that misery loves company, this blog was born. Tools of torture or creative necessities? You decide…

Hot glue gun – fingerprints may have been permanently altered

Xacto knife sliced thumb – paid particular attention not to smudge blood on newly created book pages

Glitter everywhere (including the eyes)

 

Paint brush cleaned in your coffee cup (do not try this at home!)

 

Beads swallowed by pet (hopefully not by you), stepped on with bare feet or fingers pinched with jewelry tools

 A Bead headed pin / Styrofoam creation turned out great - loss of feeling in finger tips only lasted for a short while

Sewing needles found with fingers, toes and the occasional tuchus

A wide assortment of cuts; pretty paper turned on me, newly sharpened scissors slipped, overly industrial paper trimmers, etc.
Fumes and burns from hot encaustic wax and spray sealants
Tiny glass slivers from glass cutting mosaic scraps
Slight skull injury from sliding the piercing tool behind ear (missed again)

So remember to carefully pack your basic tool kit; scissors, glue stick, black ink pad, bone folder, several band aids, Excedrin for eye strain headaches, etc…  Instead of scaring me, reading this reminds me of some great projects. So be careful... but if you feel that creating is vital to your existence and a little pain is worth it, you might be an artist!

 

A Sunshine Christmas Mini

Using the Lawn Fawn "Sweet Christmas"- clear stamp set on Miss Caroline paper gave this cottage a weathered beach look.  I then drew a palm tree on white card stock and used Tim Holtz distress markers with a water color brush to create the palm tree. To give the palm tree the look of lights wrapped around it a Gelly Roll Clear Star pen was used.

For the cover I used a 12 x 12 thin acrylic sheet. 

This page was added to the front of the album using washi tape.

 We R Memory Keepers - "Waves", was used to create the pocket for tags or keepsakes.

On three side of this Polaroid tape was place to create a pocket.  A tag was made using Lawn Fawns "Sweet Christmas" clear stamp set and then colored with Tim Holtz distress markers.

In this photo a white Polaroid was used then stamped with Lawn Fawns" Sweet Christmas". It was then colored with Tim Holtz distress markers. A few touches were added with the Gelly Roll pen. Bakers Twine was added around the Polaroid.  *Using the washi tape was fun! 

Supplies:

-We R Memory Keeper - DOWN THE BOARDWALK - Coastlines - Waves 

-12 x 12 - Thin acrylic sheet - *These sheets can be embossed 

-6 x 6 My Minds Eye - miss caroline

-6 x 6 Authentique - Festive

-Fundamentals - tags

-white cardstock

-Lawn Fawn - Sweet Christmas

-We R Memory Keepers - clear stamps - Seashells

-Rangers - Archival Ink - black

-bakers twine

-Tom Holtz - Distress Markers

-Gelly Roll - clear star

-American Crafts - Paper trimmer - tape

Stop by Scraphappy to see the finished mini and pick up your scrapping supplies.

And as always, Christy or Stephanie are happy to help you with any scrapping questions.

Merry Christmas!