Fun Tip Friday with Marie Ramirez

I am always looking for little containers and things to organize my scrap space. I love using mists but dont like having a big box just for that. I also didnt have one handy, ran to my kitchen and found a metal roaster pan.

It isnt lovely, but it works really well.




Place whatever it is you want misted in and spray your little heart out. The cool thing is that it doesnt absorb into the metal (like a box) sooo you can do all kinds of cool things with it!




Now I think I will have to try to find a old roasting pan, just cuz it looks prettier haha!



Have fun trying this technique!

Fancy Pants & American Crafts Papers - 4 for $1.00!!!

Just use code SALE3 at checkout, and you will automatically get

ALL Fancy Pants and American Crafts papers on sale 4 for $1!!!

This sale code also applies to 50% off almost all other items in our store (except a few of the already cheap AMM trims & findings and Echo Park's Victoria Garden).

Enjoy the sale! Oh! Also, if you spend $25, you will get

FREE rubons from Lily Bee Design

(while supplies last).

What's Up Wednesday with Jennifer Longenecker

This week we are going to focus on Blocking. Blocking is a form of scrapboooking where the Creator will design their LO around a group of pictures that are in a similar shape. For my LO I chose to use a hexagon shape.

Step 1: Start by cutting out several shapes, some smaller than the others, then lay the shapes out on your page and get an idea of where you want everything to go. This is a good time to mark where you want everything to go.

Step 2: Start placing some embellishments on and around your shapes.

Step 3: Once you have determined the placement of your elements take your pattern paper shapes and add texture with paint, ink, and distressed edges.

Step 4: Now take each shape and adhere it to your LO. Next treat each shape as its own LO and add embellishments. I used a little trim, some chipboard, and some rub-on's. I also added a little doodling on a few pieces.

Step 5: To finish off the LO outline a few of your shapes with some embroidery floss then add your title and journaling and your done.

Member Monday with Ro Philippsen

This weeks Layout of the week was chosen by Ro Philippsen. She chose this LO by Jennifer Findlay:

"In the Bubbly Afternoon" by Jennifer Findlay

Here's what Ro had to say: "Jennifer's layout is so happy and so colorful... I love the colors, the pictures and the grid is gorgeous! Congrats sweetie, you deserve the Member Monday!"

Congratulations Jen. Thanks for sharing your work with us! You too could be featured on our blog. All you have to do is upload a LO to our gallery and each week one of our designers chooses a LO to be featured.

Fun Tip Friday with Nayda Rocha

Today I am going to walk you through how to make a flower from tissue paper. Check it out...


Step 1: Take a piece of tissue paper of your choice. Fold it several times. Using two different sizes of circles (in this case I used chipboard), cut the tissue paper with scalloped scissors or other tool you have at home.




Step 2: Drill a hole through all the clippings and attach the smaller circle on top of the larger circle with a mini brad.




Step 3: Use your fingers to soften the tissue toward the center. Ready! Now just use the flower made of tissue paper on your next scrapbook project!



Kisses, Nayda!

What's Up Wednesday with Marie Ramirez

Today I am going to show you how to make a glowing paper lantern with tissue paper. Gather all your supplies.

Supplies needed
scissors
mod podge
tissue paper
jar
paint brush
candle

1. Choose your tissue paper colors. You can also add splashes of light weight paper and crepe paper to your lantern.




2.Cut into long strips.




3. Start painting on your mod podge to the outside of the jar. I wouldn't do the entire jar as it dries fast-ish. Work with a designated area.




4. Start laying down your strips of paper where you placed your mod podge. This does not have to be perfect. It is fun to over lap edges.




5. To add a little more texture I cut a heart out of streamers and used both the inside and the outside of it for my lantern. Paint over the paper with the mod podge and adhere your extra bits.




6. Let dry.




7. Pop a tea light in and viola easy paper lantern. The kids would really enjoy this one also!

Member Monday with Jennifer Longenecker

This weeks Layout of the week was chosen by me. I chose this LO by Rebecca Keppel.



I love the simplicity of this LO and how Rebecca worked her title.

NEW Echo Park is Here (and more stuff)!

I love most of what Echo Park produces, but the Victoria Gardens line is by far my favorite to date! It has the perfect mix of vintage flowers and smaller patterned papers that just make scrapbooking, cardmaking or any project SO amazing. You can find it all HERE.

Prepare to drool here!

We also have some really pretty new vintage trims, flowers & buttons in stock this week. Look for them in the A Million Memories section of the store.

PLUS ---- Yes there is more!!! Pretty much EVERYTHING in the store is 50% off! Just use code SALE3 at check-out! The only things not included are some AMM items (which are already discounted) and the new Echo Park Victoria Gardens line.

Here is a super cute kit called "School Day Love" that is 50% off! Check out all of those goodies!!! It's a $34.95 value and you can have it for $14.99!!!
Have a great weekend my crafty friends!!!

Fun Tip Friday with Ro Philippsen

Today I'm going to show you a fun way do a quick and easy paper quilting project. All you need is 2 different styles of patterned paper. I used a floral and a yellow.


First cut 3 squares of each paper. Then cut one square diagonally from each color forming triangles like the picture below.




Distress each piece with a brown stamp pad.




Put your pieces together to create a fun quilt paterrn.





Use this technique for cards, tags or scrapbooking pages.

What's Up Wednesday with Nayda Rocha

Hello, this week we are going to be focusing on Paper Quilting. I will explain step by step how to do a scrapbook layout using this technique.


Step 1: Cut several squares of paper scraps, then cut them into triangles as shown. Edge some of the triangles with ink and apply 3D adhesive to others.




Step 2: Adhere the triangles to your LO as shown then add photos.




Step 3: Add your title and embelishments to decorate, then draw few lines with a pen to highlight a few areas of your LO.




Step 4: To add a fun element to your LO using string use glue to doodle a loop-da-loop to two corners of your LO and then add string to the glue.




Okay, here's what your finished layout will look like.

Member Monday with Marie Ramirez

This weeks Layout of the week was chosen by Marie Ramirez. She chose this LO by Marcia Elisa Marques Ferraz.



Here's what Marie had to say about the LO: "I love how big the pictures is. It makes it the focal point instead of all the paper and embellishments. I also do love the circles and tags and boarders. They make the picture pop that much more. Great job!"

Fun Tip Friday with Jennifer Longenecker

Today I'm going to show you some of my favorite ways to add texture to your page elements with a little paint or ink. First grab your supplies. You will need some of your favorite paint colors, a can, some inks, a clean dish, a dish full of water, and a few flat tipped paint brushes.


Paint Technique 1: Cup Stain.

To achieve this look with out the cost of a stamp simple add a little dab of paint to your clean dish and then add some water to your paint with your paint brush.

Next paint the bottom rim of your can and stamp in place. Don't worry about the paint being a little runny ... it's a good thing if it is because your image will look more natural. You can re-stamp several times to get varying degrees of color.

Paint Technique 2: Edging with Paint

In stead of adding water to paint this time you are going to add paint to your water. Starting with a clean dish of water add a drop of of paint to the water and then stir with the tip of your paint brush.

Next using just the tip of your flat brush add the paint to the edges of your element. Allow the paint to dry and then add more paint for a more vibrant edge.

Paint Technique Step 3: Paint Mat

For this step you are going to add water to your drop of paint just like you did in the first technique. Then just brush across your work area to create a mat for a photo or other page element. The watered down paint dries with really cool variances in the texture.

Paint Technique 4: Making your own mist/ splatters

If you use a particular paint a lot it might be a good idea to turn that paint into a mist. To do this you will need a small spray bottle, some water and some paint. Add paint to the bottom of your bottle and then add water and shake to mix. Keep adding paint until you achieve thee color you are looking for. To create splatters dip your paint brush into the bottle, hold the paint brush over the area you want to splatter and then hit the top of the paint brush with your other hand.

You can do each of these techniques using any kind of paint or ink. One of my favorite inks to use is walnut ink.