Adhesive Tips

As you guys well know, I love my masking tape. However, my love affair with adhesives doesn't end there.

I got asked fairly frequently about what kind of adhesives I use, so here's a video for you guys showing the types I personally like to use for my projects. I would LOVE to hear your feedback on the types you guys use and love! :)

Enjoy!

Fringe Trim on a Snowy Banner!

I have a tutorial to share with you today with a fun technique I used on this "Snow" banner I created using the "Snow Day" collection from Crate Paper. You can find the "Snow Day" collection in the Noel Mignon store. I love the bold, fun colors in this collection that are sure to brighten up any dreary winter day. I hand drew my mitten template and cut the snowflakes out using the Christmas/Noel cartridge with my Cricut. I wanted something to hang across my china hutch and I love that the banner isn't necessarily for Christmas but something I could keep out through January and February and March and April (sometimes winter in Iowa lasts that long, you know?!) (Be sure to click on the images to see them larger.)

Here's another look at my banner and all the fun bits and pieces of ribbon, tulle and paper. 

To keep things consistent, all of the mittens were cut using the "Mittens" patterned paper (aptly named, huh?) I chose to bring out the teal, yellow, pink and green of the patterned paper and used somewhat neutral patterns from the Crate Paper collection to create accordion medallions edged with silver Stickles. The kraft centers were punched using a scalloped circle punch. The chipboard letters are Melissa Frances and I also used mica flakes to add to the snowy look. 

I used the "Shadow" feature on the snowflakes and backed them with kraft cardstock. The Cricut cartridge was Christmas/Noel.

The ribbons are by various manufacturers including American Crafts, May Arts and Basic Grey. 

I strung the banner on a wire and curled it to help hold the pieces of it in place. 

And here's my tutorial on how to create the fringe trim I made on the mittens. The trim color coordinates on each individual mitten with the accordion medallions. As I was putting the banner together, I tried to come up with ways to give it extra dimension and texture. That's how this fringe trim was born! 

First I cut five 1" pieces of Melissa Frances white crepe paper. 

Next, I stacked the pieces on top of each other and then machine stitched down the center. 

I used a fine tip scissors to cut small fringe on either side of the machine stitching. 

The piece should look like this after cutting the fringe. 

Next, I used my fingers to ruffle up the trim and it looked like this when I was finished.

I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist on this particular piece of fringe. I sprayed one coat and let it dry with a heat gun to speed the drying process. Then I repeated this step. 

Once dry, I ruffled the fringe a bit again. 

Here's a look at the fringe on one of the mittens.

And here's the completed banner again...I love the pops of color! 

I can't wait to try this technique out on a layout or card!

Until next time,

Jill

Halloween treat bags

I have a really easy way to make some fun Halloween treat bags. I believe I saw the original idea for this on Jennifer McGuire's blog. I like making fun little treat bags for holidays and the idea I'm going to share with you is really easy. So here's the treat bag:

First I'll start with the embellishments I put on the front of the bag. I took the cute little Halloween stamps that came with the Sleepy Hollow kit, Versamark & some embossing powder. The frame I stamped on black cardstock with Versamark, sprinkled some iridescent embossing powder, then heat set with my embossing gun.

For the skull I did the same thing but used purple embossing powder. Then I cut both images out.

For the bag, take a strip of paper that is 4" x 12". I chose some Pink Paislee paper from the Sleepy Hollow kit. You can use regular cardstock but patterned paper is fun because it already has a design on it.

Score your paper on the long end at 4", 6" and 10". If you don't have a scoring tool you can use your paper trimmer & a bone folder and score right in the groove of your paper trimmer. But don't press too hard because you'll go right through the paper. After you score it your bag will look like this:

You can go ahead and fold the small flap over at the top and adhere. Then, holding all of the top layers together, take a small circle punch and punch 1/2 the circle at the top. This will be the opening for your candy bag to stick out.

Decorate the front of your treat bag, then get a cellophane bag and fill with candy. Be sure to eat all candy that accidentally falls out ;) Most craft stores have cellophane bags but regular 'ol sandwich bags will work, too. Twist the top and put through the inside center of the treat bag & adhere ribbon.  And there you go...fun little treat bag!

Now I know some people don't do Halloween stuff, so I also made a little treat bag using some goodies from the Sweet Sue & Seaside Cottage kits.

By the way, these are fun little treat bags to give to teachers!

From the Ground Up

Hi everyone! Today I am going to go through the process of building a layout with the Sleepy Hollow kit (sorry sold out). First you will need your kraft cardstock and spray a bit of mist on the top and bottom of the cardstock. I used Licorice from Maya Road.

Next cut out the middle portion of the Pink Paislee paper. Also cut out a big enough section of The Girls' Paperie paper to cover the numbers on the Jenni Bowlin card. You could also leave them uncovered but they were too distracting for what I had in mind.


Choose two cards from the Making Memories paper and cut them out. Place them behind the Boo card. Also punch out the orange die cut frame and place it over the spider to create a "picture frame" so to speak.

Choose 5 photos and adhere them across the center of your page.

Layer the Pink Paislee text border and the striped die cut strip under your row of photos.


Lastly, add a few finishing touches to complete your layout. To complete your picture frame, attach one of the Girls' Paperie metal charms to the die cut frame. Then use a piece of string to tie a bow and adhere it to the top of the metal charm. Here is what my finished layout looks like.

Let me know if you have any questions about how I created this layout.

Happy creating!
Diana

Dimensional butterflies!

Hey there! I have a fun technique to share with you today! If you know me well.....you will know that I have a "thing" for butterflies. I think almost every LO has at least one......somewhere. It is a slight obsession I have. Don't know what to put in that corner? Plop a butterfly there! LOL! This LO of my sweet 90 year old Gram uses several of these cool, embossed butterflies and the Sweet Sue kit. (only 4 left!) One is a larger version and two are somewhat tiny....so you have to kind of look for 'em!

Here is a close up! In real life they are quite shiny and sparkly!

Want to make some of your own? OF course you do! : ) I used this old set by PC where it comes with the die and embossing folders. But you don't need these to do what I did. All you need is to die cut your butterfly from ANY System and then find a cool embossing folder you want to use!

You will also need clear embossing powder and Versamark.

Be sure you have already die cut your butterflies and set them aside. Open you embossing folder and Versamark one side of it. Slip your diecut butterfly inside and crank it through your BigShot or Cuttlebug machine......whatever you have!

Open up the folder and take the butterfly out. It will have the Versamark on only the recessed areas! This will serve as a sort of "resist" when we Glimmer Mist it in a bit! You can also try it the other way where the raised parts grab the Versamark.

Dump your clear embossing powder on top and shake excess off. Heat it up.

Now the butterfly is shiny on the recessed parts of the embossing.

Ooopps! Forgot to insert the picture of my Glimmer Mist!!! OK GRAB YOUR GLIMMER MIST!!!!! (or something comparable to it!) Spray away until you reach your desired colors!

Dab excess off with a Kleenex. (Yes, we are very high tech around here!)

Once your butterfly has dried, you can shabby it up a bit by inking the edges a bit in brown.

Dress up your butterflies with buttons, gemstones, pretty stick pins and such!

Here are a couple of little wall plaques I created. You can see how different embossing folders give it a different look!

I would love to try this technique with letters for a title, or other die cut shapes!

I hope I've inspired you to try something new today! Have a fabulous week!

Banner Crazy!

Heya! So today's post is a quick tutorial on the wonder of half-banners. Or at least that's what I call them. I did them on this layout and had so many requests to show a tutorial on how to make them, so here we are! I had originally planned to post this last week (on Labor Day) but this dang satellite internet is just so not working with me! I'm getting very familiar with my local Starbucks as a result. And all hyped up on caffeine, too!

Half-Banner Tutorial from Brittny Lejeune on Vimeo.

Seriously...I love that my tank is all lopsided. And you can see my bra. Classy, very classy.

Well, I hope I didn't scare you too much! I'll show you the banner I made with this piece in a bit. Assuming of course I ever finish it!