Day 222: Elements of Style

Tonight I started working on some anniversary cards for friends and family. I used the roses stamp from the Elements of Style stamp set by Stampin' Up! (SU) I stamped the image on white card stock (Georgia Pacific) using Rich Razzleberry ink from SU. I layered it onto a slightly larger piece of Rich Razzleberry card stock from SU. I was inspired by how a friend (MF) had layered two different size ribbons together on one of her cards, and I did that on this card.  I layered a sheer ribbon over a satin ribbon, then tied it around the image. I then layered it on top of a base card made from Rich Razzleberry. I made three of these tonight, but still need to make four more.

Day 64: Candy Land Title and Cards

I wanted to place the title "Candy Land" on the first page of my two-page layout, and at first I thought about using some colorful primary alphabet stickers I had in my stash; but then I decided I would really like the title to use the same letters that are on the Candy Land game itself.  I wanted to work on this layout now, and not have to search the internet and then wait to receive something in the mail days from now, or run to area scrapbook stores to see if they had a Candy Land title.  So, I copied the letters on the cover of the game box, reduced the size, printed them out  on white card stock from Georgia Pacific using my HP Printer, and then fussy-cut them for the title.*  I ran the letters through my Xyron adhesive machine. I punched out nine 1.25 inch squares with a punch from EK Success using Real Red paper from Stampin' Up! and attached the letters to the squares. Then I punched out nine 1.375 inch white squares with a punch from EK Success on card stock from Georgia Pacific and attached those to the back of the smaller red squares.  I edged the squares in Real Red ink from Stampin' Up! to make it look like there was another layer of red beneath the white.  I thought there was not enough contrast between the white squares and the white background paper, but I did not have the next larger size square punch, so this was my quick fix.  However, that still didn't give me enough contrast.  I really wanted a red title strip to go underneath the letters, but the only red paper I had was 8.5x 11 inches and my scrapbook pages are 12 x 12 inches.  I have seen where people paint or ink acetate plastic, so I decided to do that. I have a stash of acetate plastic I have collected from product boxes, so I found a piece that was longer than 12 inches, and cut it to the dimensions I needed to make a title strip for my page (1.75 inches wide by 12 inches long).  I inked the acetate plastic with Blazing Red StazOn Ink by Tuskineko and left it to dry overnight. (StazOn ink is permanent on plastic or other slick surfaces, but drying time varies depending on what you are inking, so leaving it to dry overnight was a precaution so I would not smudge the ink.)

I began critiquing the second page and decided that the two matted photos, one embellishment from Jolee's and my journaling block were not enough, and that the page needed more. I decided to copy some of the playing cards and print them out and mat them and then lined them up down either side of my photos.

Satisfied with my progress, I decided to leave this and come back to complete the assembly of the pages tomorrow.

*Advice on cutting out the letters A and D:  to cut out the middle of the letter D: there is a slight separation where the D starts and stops at the top left of the D.  Using scissors with a very small, fine blade, cut along that separation and then cut out the center part of the D, following the inside of the D until you get back to the beginning.   Advice on cutting out the letter A:  make two copies for each A; then cut out the crossbar of the A on one copy and set aside; then cut through the crossbar on the second copy, following the lowercase "n" or upside down "u" shape; glue the crossbar on top of the "n"/ upside down "u" shape.

Day 21: How to Make Notepad and Pen Sets

Like yesterday, I continued to make notepad and pen sets for the Walk to Emmaus spiritual renewal program. I will tell you how I made them.

Supplies:

*tape runner or other adhesive

*3" x 5" scratch pads (no front cover)

*.25 inch wide double-sided tape ( I recommend Terrifically Tacky Tape by Provo Craft)

*.50 inch wide double-sided tape ( I recommend Terrifically Tacky Tape by Provo Craft)

*scrapbooking paper of your choice

*ribbon that matches your scrapbooking paper, about .5 inch wide

*Pentel R.S.V.P. pens

*white cardstock (by Georgia Pacific, available packaged at Wal-mart for about $5 for 15o sheets, so don't pay by the sheet at the scrapbook stores).

Directions:

Notepad:

I purchased blank scratch pads (no front cover) from an office store that measure 5" long x 3" wide. I used a 3-inch long piece of half-inch wide double-sided tape along the top edge of the pad, and folded the excess onto the cardboard backing. Then I cut a 3" wide strip from an 8.5" x 11" piece of white cardstock. The length of the white cardstock strip will cover the front and back covers of the notepad and help to strengthen it. Remove the liner of the double-sided tape from the top edge of the notepad. Place the bottom of the white cardstock strip at the bottom of the notepad, creasing it and pressing the creased portion onto the double-sided tap when you get to the top edge of the pad. Cut a 3" wide strip from your scrapbook paper. Cut it to 5.5" or 6" in length. Use another piece of the double-sided tape on the edge of the white cardstock cover and remove the liner. Line your scrapbooking paper up at the bottom of the notepad, and fold the excess over the top of the notepad onto the back side. (I did this so I could make covers for two notepads from one 3" strip of scrapbook paper.) Cut a 3.5" piece of ribbon to make the loop that holds your pen. Put a small piece of double-sided tape (about .5 inch") on each end of the ribbon (one side only). Take the liners off the double-sided tape. Wrap the ribbon around the pen to gauge how big of a space is needed for the pen. Leave that amount of ribbon visible on the right side of the notepad and hide the rest in between the white cardstock and the brown cardboard backing. (The double-sided tape should be facing the white cardstock on one side of the ribbon and facing the cardboard backing on the other side. I also put a small piece of the double-sided tape in between the two ends of the ribbon to create a tighter hold.) Use your adhesive to attach the white cardstock to the cardboard back and to attach the white cardstock to your scrapbook paper cover. Trim the excess cardstock and scrapbook paper from the bottom of the notepad.

Pen Insert:

Cut a strip of scrapbook paper that is .75 inches wide and 3 and 5/16 inches long. On the back side of your scrapbook paper, attach a piece of the .25 inch wide double-sided tape to one long side of the strip. Leave the liner on. Fold the scrapbook paper over the double-side tape, and then repeat, so you have three sections of the paper. Remove the liner from the double sided tape, and attach the 3rd section of scrapbook paper (design side out) to the double-sided tape, creating a small tube of your scrapbook paper. Remove the black end of the pen by unscrewing it. Take out the pen insert and slide it into your scrapbook paper tube. (This will help open it if it folded flat.) Then slide the pen insert and paper tube back into the pen and replace the black end of the pen. Voila...a matching pen and pad set!