Saturday, August 16, 2014

Under the Stars-how to

 
All the kits are ready for this workshop and Danielle and Vicki are here working on their books and George is here making my day even sunnier!
That leaves me one more task to get done this week.  I have to get this tutorial up online for those of you who skipped class in favor of a day in the sun!
 
Constructing your Cover
 
In your kit you will find two book cover pieces...notice I have taken the spine off the book..there is a reason for this and I will explain.  By happy accident my book spine came apart before I got a good start on this project.  I took it apart and voila a new technique!
 
1 Ink the edges of your book covers, 
2.  Put the decorative paper on the front cover.  Ink the edges.
3.  turn this piece upside down and glue the inside paper to  the inside cover...This is going to be much longer but just keep going and it will all make sense!
 
 
Now glue the other cover to the bottom of the paper...keep your edges even and make sure everything is inky.
The next step is the outside cover.
Get out your corrugate...Ink the edges.  Glue the edge of the corrugate just over top edge of the front cover...You really must use 3 in 1 Glue for this.  Now glue it down over the rest of the cover.  You will have some left over.  Trim off all but leave 3/4 of an inch to bring around to the inside.
 
Let's work on the inside now.
 
 
 Inside back cover:  You have a corrugate piece and a plaid piece in your kit.  I left them large for a larger picture but you can trim them to any size...it is all up to you
 

Inside front cover:  You will wrap green twine around two kraft mats...I used the larger of the kraft mats.  Glue them in place at a little angle.
 
 
We are going to work from the left set of pages to the right set of pages
 
Left 1:
Your first page is this little card.  You will cut it out of the sheet with all the cards. 
You have in your kit six manila cards - three have tabs and three are plain.  These will be the bases for some pages...I will let you know which ones!
 
So your first page is the little trailer card.  The second page (pictured below) is built on one of the tabbed pieces.  It is plaid on the front and a word print on the back.  I stapled a long piece of ribbon around both sides leaving a little loop on the outside edge.
 
 
 
Page 3
next you will add the little Take a Hike Card and the piece of brown embossed cardstock.  Glue the little strip "Happy Trails" from your strip sheet to the bottom of the brown cardstock.  On the other side of the brown cardstock glue or pop up the little card that says Happy Trails.
 
Page 4

You are using another tabbed piece for this page.  On the front you will glue the little lantern piece and the backpack border across the bottom....DO NOT CUT THE STRIP OFF!...Glue the multi color equipment patterned paper to the back side.  Wrap that border piece around and pop up the acorn square at the end.
 
Page 5

Use the embossed green card stock for this page.  On the front is a border of hedgehogs (love them).  On the back is a small corrugated mat and another decorative card that is popped up.
 
Page 6


This is the last page built on a tabbed card.  On the front use the burlap printed paper and add the tree border across the bottom.  On the back use the paper shown above and the smore border across the bottom.  I treated the smore border as a pocket to hold pictures, favorite camping recipes and what ever else you have.
 
Page 7

Use the blue embossed cardstock for this page.  On the front add the border of lanterns to the bottom of the page.  On the back use the rest of that strip across the top and then add the small lantern card to fill in the empty space.  Pop up this element.
 
Sleeping Bag Pockets
 
You will be making two of these sleeping bag pockets.  Using the little bag in your kit put the bottom of the bag to the left.  Open the top edge from top to bottom with your scissors.  to get the right curve put the piece of paper you are covering the front of the card  with insde the envelope and trace the curve..you may be trimming off some of the side as well...use pinking shears to cut the curve.  Glue the zipper inside the open edge.  Add a little corrugate mat to the front and back.  You have a kraft cardstock piece for the tag inside the bag.  Ink it well.  Find the little pillow piece (I have drawn a pillow for you to cut out).  Cut and ink this piece.  Pop it up on the top edge of the tag and put it in your sleeping bag.
 
Repeat this for the other sleeping bag but when opening the side keep the bottom of the bag to the right.
 
Right side of the book
 
Page 1
f
First piece on this side is the Mountain Explorer card.

 
This page is built on one of the plain cards.  The front is one of the patterned pieces.  You will glue it in place and then add a small mat and the Campfire Stories card.  I popped up the card.  The back side is covered with a piece of burlap printed paper.  The card at the bottom is popped up!
 
Page 2
First add the tree card.


This page is built on the orange embossed cardstock.  You will find a strip with foot prints along the bottom in your kit.  This strip goes along the bottom of this page.  On the back side you have a small strip along the bottom and a embellishment square with feathers popped up.
 
Page 3

This page is built on one of the blanks...The front is burlap with a plaid strip and a narrow strip over it along the bottom.  Pop up the compass in the lower corner.  On the back site take the smaller piece of plaid and glue it in place.  Add the tree border to the bottom.  Add the small piece of corrugate to the side.
 
Page 4
This page is built on the piece of red cardstock.  Your corners are not included. They have to be punched from the leftover strip of wood grain.
Glue the strip of wood grain across the bottom of this page.  Staple a piece of ribbon to the bottom of that.  Punch the corners and glue them in place to the back of that page.
 
Page 5
 

This is built on the last of the bases.  Cover the front with the patterned paper shown.  Add a mat and a little strip to the bottom of the mat.  On the backside find the paper with the campfire and add a photo mat.
 
Page 6

Make the other sleeping bag.
 
You have all your parts and pieces ready and in order.  Punch each page with the zutter...I centered each page.
 
Punch the cover on the sides and put your book together.
If you need help with zuttering the book come to the shop and we will help you.
 
Enjoy your book and enjoy camping this summer!

 
 

Back to Nature

We have favorites!

Yes it is true we do have favorites and one of those favorites is teaching the folded and bound workshops.  There are things that make this such a favorite and here are my

 
TOP 5 REASONS FOLDED AND BOUND IS A FAVORITE WORKSHOP
 
5. 
I love seeing everyone learn to use their paper trimmers for more than just cutting paper.
 
4.
I like all the chatter at the tables as students help one another through the tricky stuff
 
3.
I love the variety I get to choose from in preparing a project for this class.  I always feel challenged to do something new or a little unexpected for class.
 
2.
I love (LOVE) the look of success when everyone sees what they have done...such great energy for a teacher!
 
1.
My favorite part is knowing that I get to do it over and over again!
 
 
So on September 13th we will be teaching the FOLDED AND BOUND - Back to Nature Album.
 
This is different for a number of reasons but it is a Don't Miss It Workshop
 
We won't be using the Zutter this time...we are building this book in an old ledger folder including the old binding clip!  So Cool!
 
We are creating 12 pages of varying widths (another new technique), loads of pockets and flaps and a little flower tutorial.
 
You will love every minute of this workshop...it is our final summer workshop before we get busy with fall, Halloween, and Christmas.
 
Join us for this truly beautiful workshop
Sept 13th
11:00 am
$34.95
 
Bring the following supplies to the workshop
 
Paper trimmer
bone folder
chalk pad
ruler
pencil
adhesives
 
That's about it!
 
Now don't delay!  These classes fill so quickly and I cannot take more than 12.

One last thought...I did create a kit option for this class but seriously you have to be here to learn these techniques...don't order kits unless you are going to come to class and want an extra!

always,
michele
 


Back to Nature

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Sleeping Under the Stars




What would happen if you took an old book, some beautiful papers by Adornit, o-wires by Zutter, some ink, some glue, zipper, ribbon, and some odds and ends mixed them together with a paper trimmer, a stapler, a Bind-It-All and a little imagination. Now just play with it for a couple of hours, sprinkle liberally with foam tape and throw in some fun just for good measure.

Something really fun and interesting might just come out of all that like a great little album to hold a summers worth of pictures and family memories!
You might just have a little camping book called Under the Stars!


And because I love the idea of documenting those precious family moments we will be creating just that album Saturday August 16th at 11 am at Girlfriends.  Cost for this workshop is $34.95


 

This is something I am calling a double hinge album because I don't know the proper name for an album that opens on both sides.  The pages interweave from left to right and there is enough space for all your pictures or at least the best ones!




There are delightful journaling cards to record your favorite parts of your trip and tabs to help you move through the book easily.  Every page can be filled front to back with your happy times! And there are even a couple of sleeping bag pockets to impress your family with!



If you would like to join us for this workshop or if you want a kit to work on at home please call the shop at 734-8592 or follow the link below to purchase your kit and register for class below.  Hope to see you this weekend at Girlfriends!


Always, 
Lisa and Michele
 
 

Under the stars

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

definition of Junque

Definition of Junque
 
junque:  noun; jun-k!
 
1. all the priceless bits and pieces you have collected over the years that everyone in your home thinks is trash
 
 
I am a collector of little bits and bobs and parts and pieces that I just cannot let go.  There are bits of book pages, laces, fabrics, trims, buttons, twines, papers, envelopes, etc...etc....etc.  I love all those little things and because I want to use them in some way special I have come up with an idea.
 
This Saturday August 8th I am going to bring my little bits and pieces, my inks and stains, my watercolors and stamps and pens....lots of pens! and we are going to make a Junque Journal.  I think this will be loads of fun because this is where technique meets creativity.  I am not giving you a sample to copy...we are creating together.  WE will all start with a couple of pieces of chipboard, a few pieces of paper and some tags then we play!







This workshop requires you to bring your paper trimmer, your scissors, your adhesive, your chalk pad and or a blending tool and distress Vintage photo and Walnut stain and a bit of creativity and curiosity!

I will get us all started and then you will take off on your own path.  If you have your own inks and stains please bring them.  Bring any little fabric, lace or ribbon scraps to share.  Bring odd ball papers, book papers, ledger papers, anything you think you might like to play with.  Share with all of us...I will have stuff here to play with but more is ummmmmm.....WONDERFUL!

This is an impromptu workshop we can really get inky, creative and funky with!  Cost for the day is just $24.95 and will start at 11 am and go until 4:00.  I will be the one with my inky overalls on so come and play with me!

And by the way life{365}for August is ready to be picked up!


Have a wonderful week and we hope to see some of you on Saturday for this Funky Junque Journal!
always,
michele