Recently Maymay acquired a collection of papers that came in a rather interesting container. Interesting as it started her thinking, planning, creating.
Check it out:
What I love about this:
it is made of things I already have on hand
is not complicated to create, and because Maymay has developed designs for many sizes,
I can customize to suit my needs and space.
Check out her YouTube channel to see the complete series of videos for this idea/project and then dive in to create some of your own.
I’m a long time fan of Pootles Papercrafting on YouTube and I am also one of those folks who really isn’t good at coloring on cards. I’ve had a set of Stampin Up watercolor pencils that have languished in my drawer. I am so glad I saw this video showing how to use them!
Everything I Wish I Had Known A Long Time Ago
I’m inclined to add the latest set of pencils to my wishlist.
There has been a little activity in the craft room recently. Some is better than none, right?
I’ve begun the process of pulling out stamp sets I don’t use. I will be donating them with papers I no longer want later. This culling process has given way to engaging the creative side of my brain. You know what they say, out with the old and in with the new! New ideas, that is.
The new Stampin Up catalog will jump start my creativity…I hope. I love seeing new products no matter whose they are, but sometimes that doesn’t make me want to dive in to my craft room. Surely I’m not the only one …
The Idea Book Has Grown
A few years ago I took an old 3 inch 3 ring binder and some dividers and created my first paper crafting Idea Book. I set up sections for the monthly Crafty Al Sheetload of Cards as well as the weekly card projects from other card makers.
Believe it or not, I have had to split that book because it was getting too full!
Crafty Al has her own book now. What I did is get a set of numbered dividers to use as the months (1, 2, 3 etc.) and punch some color paper to use as dividers in between the printed card sketches. This last bit is not necessary but does help me when I flip through each month.
The second book has a collection of basics (color wheel, tips and tricks, etc.) in addition to sections devoted to a collection of card recipes from various designers. I love how some are getting on the bandwagon and making free downloads of their card projects and I especially love it when they get really good at creating these helpful tools.
Each book has lots of room for growth and the ability to clear out and change when necessary. If you have collected similar materials, why not make your own Idea Book?
I’ve also been checking my supplies to see if anything needs to be replaced or updated. Blades get dull, ink pads dry out and often those most used items seem to have found a way to hide when you need them most, right?
Are you getting your craft room (space) ready for more adventures, too?
Great ideas, and a way to not only shop our stash, but discover what is in our stash!
Speaking of our stash, if you don’t have a way of getting rid of items you no longer want or need, the link in the video should be helpful. I don’t have anyone near me who takes on craft items for reuse and I will be investigating that link for myself.
I’ve made cards for a few years now and I do have my favorite sizes to play with. I also have some papers that I bought because the patterns were just so different, or pretty, or unusual, or … Well, you get the idea.
While I do tend to stick with white, black or neutral cardstocks, I actually like playing with different colors. I also love to mix and match patterns and colors. Sometimes putting all of these together can be a challenge.
A few months back, Crafty Al over on YouTube posted a video of her sheetload making mini slimline cards and I had and ‘Ah Ha!’ moment.
You see, I’d purchased some rather bold background papers and wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it. I also happened to have some cardstock on hand that matched the papers. When I saw the sheetload, I thought that I finally had an option to create cards that would make the papers the focus without getting too busy or fussy.
I like the simplicity of these cards. You can really use your imagination to decide how you want to customize the design for your own cards.
Here are my cards:
I will tell you this was my first attempt at using one of Crafty Al’s designs and I can see where I would make changes if I did this again. On the other hand, the cards turned out rather well.
One thing is certain, that paper I wasn’t sure what to do with now has been used, even if only a bit.
Sometimes it is worth dipping your toe in the water of the Unknown to see if a design will work for you. If you don’t like it, that’s okay. It is only paper, right?
I admit that I fretted over my 2021 Christmas cards more than I have ever fretted over any card before. It took months for me to decide upon a design and then, when time was running out, I discovered I did not have ANY Christmas themed card stock or designer series paper on hand. None. Nada. Additionally, I didn’t have enough of the real red card stock I wanted for my bases.
Yikes!
So, what did I do? I got creative.
My Inspiration Design
I’ve been following Call Me Crafty Al over on YouTube for a while now and her monthly Sheetload of Cards series has been fantastic!
Each month on the first, Al posts her newest sheetload card design video and the first set of cards she designed from that sheetload. She also tells you how and where to get all the information for free. On the second of the month, she posts her video showing how she made the cards. Later in the month, she shares cards she received in the mail and the cards her collaborators made from that sheetload.
Lots of great information and inspiration.
Here is the video of the design I chose for my 2021 Christmas cards:
Everything you need is included in the free printable. All you need to do is provide the materials. You can shop for them or pull from your stash. Or both. The beauty of Al’s design is that you have the freedom to adjust it to what you want the end result to look like.
Speaking of End Results
Before I share my cards with you, I want to tell you how I came up with them. As I mentioned, I didn’t have any holiday paper on hand but I did have an old 6×6 paper pack that was Valentine’s Day themed.
The colors were right and the back side of the papers were stripes, polka dots or what I interpreted to be snowballs. <shrug> Depends upon how you looked at it. I also had some gold foiled paper on hand along with some ephemera that I could use to decorate the inside and the outside of the cards.
Not bad if I do say so myself.
I had planned to do some heat embossing on the sentiment, but frankly, I forgot. 😉
The moral of the story is to check your stash to see what you can use. I have to admit, I’ve been looking at that paper pack for quite a long time but it wasn’t until I turned the papers over that I found a use for them. I might actually make a Valentine’s card out of them one day, but for now I’m just pleased I could use them and not spend money on more paper.
Maymay did an unboxing and demo of her brand new Gemini Junior and I had to share it with you.
I own a regular size Gemini and my results were similar to hers but I’ve learned how to adjust sandwiches, etc. Overall, this machine is a great addition to my craft room. See what Maymay has to say about hers:
That multipurpose die that she used to cut all those layers of paper is intended to be used with fabric, so if you are a quilter looking for a way to easily cut fabric, you might want to go over to Crafter’s Companion and check out what they have available. 😉
Last year my focus in the craft room was to find tools that I wanted to use to create cards. I found several sets of edge dies that checked that box.
Step One: Play A Bit
As you can see, I started with the card stock base, folded into an easel, and added the edge die to allow for a border at the bottom. I then took my leaf punches to add interest. The matching leaf stamps were added inside the punches and then along the bottom edge of the card.
Step Two: Play with color and placement.
The great thing about edge dies is that you have complete control over where to place them. This particular one was used on a set of 6 cards and each card came out with a different amount of space at the bottom. I used the same papers, inks, punches, and stamps on all of the cards and envelopes.
I do have to say that the recipients of the cards were very impressed with the results. Something that made me smile.
If you are looking to try new things, I suggest you go back to your stash and see what you have in hand. Can you use them to make something different? What have you tucked back into a corner or a drawer and haven’t played with yet?
I’ll be doing more playing in the craft room this year so keep an eye out to see what I come up with.
