Happy 2009 Everyone!!!
Over the years I have learned that just making "resolutions" always seemed to end in no results at all. For me I find that reflecting on the past year and setting new goals is useful. I have learned though that I must write my goals down. This year I decided to do something different and so yesterday I created this little book. Rather than having a slip of paper that could easily get lost I will now know where to find my thoughts and goals Ü
As a teacher I learned to outline what it is that I wanted to teach, then teach it and then recap it. No wonder my posts get incredibly LONG! So today's is yet another lengthy dialogue - LOL!
Today I actually have three goals for this post:
- share how to create a book that uses only one side of a die and each page is a different length,
- share how to create a "tissue-like" flower embellishment,
- and, share once again how to print on the twill tape that we carry in our store. (I taught this a long time ago on my Simple Dreams blog, but I believe by the comments, that we have a lot of new readers and so I thought this would be a good idea to review.)
I adore the Basic Grey Granola collection. Thanks to all of you we are completely sold out at this time and we will not need to count it Ü The reason I absolutely LOVE these collections is that they coordinate so perfectly - no need to worry about what "goes together." When I create something of this magnitude I typically use a combination of stamping and patterned paper to keep my work time manageable.
These next few steps are the most important in creating this book. I selected the largest Label One die to use for this project. To begin I cut five pieces of Craft-a-Board to the size of 3 5/8" x 9 1/2". This allows you to insert the craft-a-board underneath the cutting edge closest to your die cutting machine as shown above. The trick is to know when to stop rolling it through the machine. I have found that when I use the Big Shot it really helps me to "feel" this moment precisely. As soon as I catch that edge and feel it cut I reverse my cranking and send it back out of the machine the same direction as I began.
(For those of you who do not know what Craft-a-Board is you can read more about it in these posts. Essentially it is a material that is an appropriate thickness to be used with the low profile of the Spellbinder and Quickutz Dies. Sometimes you will need to snip remaining bits with your scissors, but typically if you cut and emboss the material it will leave you with a stiff enough surface to create beautiful projects.)
Next measure the length of each piece and mark your cut line with a pencil. For this book my smallest piece measures 5" in length. With each section I added an inch - thus making the remaining pages 6", 7", 8" with the back page being 9" in length.
Next I cut my decorative patterned "end pieces." This will make more sense when you view the completed pages below. These began as 3 5/8" x 3" pieces. I was able to cut two at a time. Once again I placed the paper pattern side up under the first die edge and then threaded it back up through the die. as shown above. Crank this through your machine only until it catches and then back it out again.
TIP: I found that the easiest method of getting these cuts on the end straight, was to insert the paper through the die and align it with the Big Shot grid I created. (you can find one here - print it out and place it beneath your clear cutting mat to help with alignment)
Align the right hand side of your decorative paper with one of the straight lines below it. Hold this paper firmly in place using only one finger. Then with my other hand I reposition the die, moving it ever so slightly beneath my firmly held paper and aligning it with the grid pattern. This method really helps ensure that I get precise, well aligned cuts.
Flip the patterned paper and die over (shown above is a longer piece that I covered one of the interior pages with). Place your tan embossing mat over the top and once again only roll the end of your die in; then reverse it so that you emboss only the end of your paper.
Next I set the gauge on my Bind-it-All so that I would be able to cut all pieces the same. You can read a tutorial I wrote regarding how to use your Pink Bind-it All here.
To create this flower I used the Flower Creations 3 die. My talented friend Susan Tierney Cockburn makes THE most gorgeous flowers with her punches. As she showed me how to create these little beauties, she shared a resource that most of us have readily available. I felt that this medium would make the ideal flower for the cover of my book. I'm guessing many of you have figured it out by looking at the picture above. Yes, simply use your coffee filters!
I used my Copic Markers to add color my using a a combination of different strokes, colors and airbrushing. Starting at the center of the flower I made sunburst like strokes to the edge. It takes a VERY light touch to complete this, being the paper is so absorbent. I then went around the edge with my primary color, B41. Then I lighly airbrushed the entire flower with E55 being I did not want the white to show through. Last, using the brush tip of my sketch marker to splatter in B39.
I topped it off by sewing the layers together using a button as the center. Beneath the flower I placed to felt leaves cut from an embossed camel color felt. These were all attached to my cover using Glue Dots.
I'm not certain how many of you remember how to print on the twill we now carry in our store. It is SO simple. Start by preparing the text you would like to use and printing it on regular paper. Then as you can see I added a strip of adhesive using my ATG gun.
I then use my light table to guide me in the placement of the twill.
Tape the very top edge down using removable Scotch Tape and simply send through your printer. Voila - custom message twill tape Ü
I am going to share a series of photos that I took of the inside of the album, with little tidbits regarding the items that I used to create each. I hope that this will help give you a few ideas for your own book creations. I chose to keep with a coordinated grouping for this album being it seems to define my personality. I will be experimenting with the more "collective" look of some of the mini-albums I have seen other's create in this new year, being I am excited about the possibilities of creating my own "funky" album. But for now I will stay all coordinated - LOL!
I have found that the We R Memory Keeper Pewter Hardware coordinates beautifully with the Antique Silver O-Wire. As you can see I created a little pocket on one end and inserted a tag in to that pocket.
This next page uses the wonderful Golden Brown cardstock we carry. It coordinates beautifully with the Granola paper. The floral piece on the left side is free from the brown making the back side useable to write a message (I like to tuck my messages away out of sight sometimes Ü.) I also used some piercing to help add texture and interest.
A couple more tags, attached only at the base, on which to write thoughts and ideas.
A second little "booklet" attached with a clip is added on the left and more tags can be included on the right.
Finally the back of the album. Working with a 9" piece using 6" paper can be tricky, but being these all coordinate so beautifully it was easy to create the back cover as well.
I hope this project encourages you to reflect on your life over the past year and set some goals for this new year. There are so many things that I reflected upon as I created this book. Things that have occured over this past year - some that have brought a sense of happiness and peace, and others that have created great stress in my life. I once again thank YOU for the beautiful comments and compliments you have shared with me over the last few days as you leave answers to the questions. The questions I ask are because I am looking for ways to see what it is that I (we) do well and in so doing figure out what it is that we can improve upon. As I take on the full responsibility of running a retail business in this new year I want to be certain that I am treating those who help me operate this business and those who support us by shopping at our store with kindness, honor, respect and integrity. YOU have given me a renewed spirit - a renewed determination to continue to do my best in all that I do.
I cannot tell you how many times over the last couple of months I have felt that perhaps this isn't my destiny - perhaps I need to move on to doing something else with my life. Now I read through your comments and they have given me a new sense - perhaps I am doing what I it is that I was destined to do. For that I thank you!
I wish each and every one of you a year that brings you happiness, one in which you and your family stay healthy; a year in which you are able to manage the stress levels that life brings. I wish you a VERY happy new year!