Cosmo Mini

Recently I purchased some of the Tim Holtz binder rings and thought little minis would be a cute item for me to make for RAKs and gifts. My challenge was to use up things that I've had in my stash for more than 6 months. I accomplished that with the Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday paper collection, Prima packaging, Prima hydrangeas, scrap paper, ribbon remnants, Bloomers, Cardstock, and beads. Nothing in this album except the binding rings was new - NOTHING.

I decided to use Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday collection because of its bright colors and ledger styled "B sides".

On the cover, I bound the book with cardstock, and used 4x6 panels of the paper collection to decorate. I used Pink Paislee packaging to die cut the book plate, and hand wrote "A Story". Butterflies were punched from scraps and Prima Hydrangea flowers were used with buttons as centers. Webster's Pages Bloomers and eyelet lace soften the spine. I used two mini binder clips from an office supply store, and attached charms and a chain for the perfect closure.

Prima packaging was used to make a double pocket. For extra notes, I ripped some paper from a small notebook, and placed it in the pocket. I included 2 small tags in the upper pocket. On the right the banner at the bottom was printed on the bottom strip of the paper collection. Remember to look for embellishments on this strip that is often tossed.

On this page, the mini page with the tag, is Prima packaging that I sewed together to make a pocket. I love that this paper collection matches the ledger style packaging so well.

Again Prima Packaging was used to create the pocket on this page.

I used a glassine bag as a pocket on this page, and used the strips at the bottom of the paper collection as an embellishment.

On this page I used washi tape on the left page. To mimic the same look on the right I used some of the Pink Paislee Packaging cut in the same style on the right.

I always buy buy buy when the products are new, I'm so excited when I get home. Then I place them in a drawer where they are horded forever. I'm trying really hard to use the items that I have purchased, and it seems that I'm falling in love all over again.

Thanks for stopping in today

Upcycled Packaging

I think we have a huge responsibility to protect our environment as much as possible. When I first saw Marion Smith from Prima Marketing, Inc. use packaging in her mini albums and as journal spots on her layouts a few years ago, I began saving mine for the same purpose. I want to share with you today how I have been "upcycling" my packaging in scrappy projects.

In this example I made a mini album using 4x6 photo sleeves as sheet protectors and the Prima packaging was used for photo mats.



Here I used my Tim Holtz & Nestabilities dies to turn Prima's beautiful inserts into embelishments.



Here is a photo showing one of these cuts used on a card:

I also used the blister packaging from Tim Holtz embelishments as a shaker box card.

Watch video on how I made this card

I hope this gives you plenty of ideas on how to turn your trash into keepsakes.

Thanks for stopping by today,

Shake It Up

Have you ever looked at the packaging from some of your Prima Trinkets or Tim Holtz Idea-ology lines and thought "that has to be good for something. I'm gonna save it!" Some of them have really interesting shapes.

I had to make a birthday card for a friend, and I pulled out my stash of blister packages and made the cutest shaker box on the cover of my card.

From Flamingo Scraps: Prima Reflections Collection Caravan Paper, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Tea Dye.
Other Products: Ribbon, Flower, Party Confetti, Micro Beads, and Chunky Glitter

Inside the shaker, I added confetti from the party store, a few microbeads, and chunky glitter, backed the shaker box with recycled packaging to keep the parts from falling out, and then I glued paper around the outside. To finish the card, I accented the box with ribbon and a flower.

For a complete step by step watch this video.

Recycled packaging never looked so good.

Altered Storage: Box for Primas!

Now I never thought I'd hit a critical storage problem with my Prima stash.... but really.... I should have predicted that!!  :)

Earlier this year on Julie Fei-Fan Balzar's blog, I saw this post and filed it away in my mental to-do list.  And then this weekend... I had some storage issues and I remembered her solution.   So I cut out one big rectangle and I had this:

Of course, I couldn't just leave that postal box alone.... now don't get me wrong, I really love the special kind of love only a trip in the mail can give to a box..... but it definitely needed a makeover! So I grabbed three pieces of patterned paper, decorated that box, tossed it on the shelf and loaded it up with some goodies from the store:

Julie is right, it's the perfect size for those fabulous Prima packages!  I decided to use a hot glue gun to secure the flaps in lieu of duct or shipping tape.  Worked like a charm! :)  I loved it so much, I made another to use as a catchall for my pictures waiting to be scrapped and mini albums in progress.  I know I'll definitely be making some more!!

Perfect way to recycle those fabulous postal boxes that transport your scrappy mail from Flamingo Scraps... don't you think?! 

Guest DT Tonya Gibbs: Self Challenges

I wonder how many of you have a room full of old products that never get used, and yet, you find yourself buying up everything as soon as it is released. My hand is raised, guilty as charged. Well a few years ago, I created a self-challenge to help with this problem. For every new thing I use in a layout, I MUST use something old. All of these products inspired me or I wouldn’t have bought them. So it is time to stop hording and start using. As Cari from Prima would say “We are only going to keep coming out with more great things…use up the old stuff.”

A few weeks ago I purchased the Wonderfall Collection by Webster’s Pages from Flamingo. I walked endlessly around my room trying to find something “OLD” to use as accents. I was very pleased to find out how easy it was to match things with this paper. This paper is sooo versatile. From one set of papers, I was able to complete 2 projects and still had paper left for another layout.

From Flamingo Scraps: Websters Pages Wonderfall Collection; Prima bling, flowers & recycled packaging

First up is this layout of my kids. The stickers in the title were from my stash and were copyrighted in 2004 by Stico, now EK Success. I thought they complimented the titles printed on the paper. I didn’t have enough “S” to spell out Days so I improvised and used a “Z”. I think it works because of the age of my kids (and they would have spelled Days with a Z anyway). The banners are made from recycled Prima packaging and fiber remnants. By making the title a banner, I was able to take dated product, and turn it into something trendy. The bling is Prima corner adornment that I cut apart, and it has been in my stash for a year. The roses are Prima and were random flowers I had from previous projects. The journal spot was punched from an EK Success punch.

My second project was this gorgeous Gratefulness mini album. This past year was a healing year for me, and a time to reflect on the things that matter. So I wanted to create an album that I could fill with the things that remind me of all the things I’m grateful for. This paper collection was intended for School and fall activities. I love the color pallet and decide it would be perfect and I could work around the “kid” art used on some of the papers. Self-Challenge number 2 use things for something other than their intended purpose. I have multiple things in this album that fulfill this challenge, from fishing spinner hooks, to paper doilies.

Sticking with my original self-challenge, the frame on the cover was one of the OLD laser cut frames from My Mind’s Eye dated 2004. I covered it in bead gel medium and painted it with a pearl paint. The sentiment on the inside of the frame was an old Daisy D velum title that I spritzed with Wheatfield Glimmer Mist. Again, by using trendy techniques, I was able to re-birth dated products. For a closer look at this mini, visit my YouTube channel explaining the products on each page.

I think these challenges inspire me to push past my ordinary mindset and step outside the box.

More of Tonya's work can be seen here on her website or here on her youtube channel!

Guest DT Jill Sarginson: You Talkin' to Me?

Hello!  It's Jill here with my first guest design team member post.  When Flamingo Scraps contacted me to be a GDT member, I was giddy with excitement because I am so in love with the products they carry and it presented the perfect opportunity to create some projects using the fabulous lines they carry.  My first layout is of my daughter at her one year photo shoot.  She was not very interested in this task and was trying to do anything but the photo shoot.  I was flipping through the photos the other day and this one jumped out at me ... I had to scrap it and I knew it would be with Webster's Pages and Prima Products.
 

Product List: Webster's Pages: Life's Portrait - Reflections, Postcards from Paris Alpha Stickers; Prima flower; Prima packaging; brown ink; edge distresser; Martha Stewart lace punch; lace doily

One of the things I love about Webster's Pages is their beautiful design - always so soft and delicate yet very intricate.  To be honest, I used to find their papers very intimidating to use; I was afraid to ruin the paper. I find one of the best ways to use this paper is to cut along part of the pattern with an exacto knife to allow for layers to be inserted. This also ensures the background paper is not covered up by other layers or photos and it keeps the overall design smooth.  I did that with this layout and added several layers and my photo.  To add some dimension and interest to the layers, consider using different techniques on each layer.  For instance, I inked one, distressed another and used a border punch on another.  
 
When scrapbooking, I try to reduce and reuse as much as possible.  I try to get as much out of my paper and packaging that I possibly can so I tend to create embellishments using the paper that I already have.  In this case, I cut one of the elements out of the pattern paper and used it as a date tag and I made the three smaller flowers using this technique. In addition, I used the Prima packaging for a scalloped layer along the top of the photo and I also cut a circle out of it and added it to my cluster. Speaking of clusters, they are fairly easy to do - you can cut different sizes of circles and ink them, distress them or pop dot them, arrange them on the page and then place your flowers (or other embellishments) on them and you have a beautiful cluster.  Paper doilies are also a great addition to your page, particularly if you are using Webster's Pages.  They compliment the paper very well and you can probably pick them up at your local dollar store. 
 
Thank you so much for stopping by!

To view more of Jill's work, please visit her blog!

Because 3 is a Magic Number...

Three it's a magic number
Yes it is, it's a magic number
Because two times three is six
And three times six is eighteen
And the eighteenth letter in the alphabet is R
We've got three R's we're going to talk about today
We've got to learn to
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

I just love this song by Jack Johnson!  It gets stuck in my head all the time so I thought I'd blog a bit today on scrapbooking and recycling and some alternative sources for scrapping materials.

Amanda knows the value of reusing........Here is an altered snack box that Amanda blogged about some time ago.

Do you ever go to Lowe's or Home Depot with scrapping on your mind?  Suzanne and I love to shop at home improvement stores for some fun scrappy supplies.  Drywall tape can be inked and used on a layout.  It's a fabulous embellishment and it's got adhesive on the back!

I used two pieces of drywall tape on this LO.  One is just above the photo and the other in the lower right corner.  I also unraveled the drywall tape in the lower corner

Or how about fishing swivels?  You know those little brass things that you attach your bobber or sinker to?  They are great for hanging charms on your project.  Keys, hinges, washers are all great elements to sand, distress, ink and add to those Steampunk projects.

Next time you buy some new clothes, be sure you look at the clothes tag with a discerning eye before you rip it off.  Many time clothes tags are cut in interesting shapes and can be gessoed and painted and then embellished.

Prima Marketing changed their packaging a few years ago and has been advocating reusing their packages.  This Prima blog is all about going green with Prima.

Prima Packaging

 Here's a video of Prima Marketing's Cari Fennell demonstrating a mini album using Prima packaging

Now I know you are asking yourself, why would a scrapbook store show me ways to reuse and recycle?  Aren't they in business to make money?  Well, yes we are.  But we also realize they most folks are on a budget and we hope that if we can share some ideas to stretch your scrapping dollars, you'll come and shop with us with some of those dollars you saved.  Won't you leave us a comment on ways you make your scrapping budget go farther?

Recycling Dryer Sheets

Ordinary Dryer Sheet

I don't know about you, but I spend time each day picking up those pesky dryer sheets from the laundry room floor.  How about a way to recycle them and use them in your scrapping?

I saw this technique  on a Tattered Angels blog post and just had to try it!  It's very simple and quick.  Waiting for the Glimmer Mist to dry takes the longest time of this whole project.

I grabbed a couple of my favorite Glimmer Mist colors and started misting my dryer sheets. 

The Misting Tub

 Awhile ago, I found some big metal planters on clearance at Target and bought every one they had. Two of them are on my deck growing basil and mint but the third one is our misting tub!  Stray drops of Glimmer or Maya Mist stay within the confines of the tub and off of the floor and walls.

Dryer Sheet After Misting

I had an old package of some Prima Centers and used one of them for my Dryer Sheet Flower.  This is a great way to use up leftover bling or brads!

So here's my first Dryer Sheet flower - not too bad for a first attempt and the bonus is these flowers smell good too. 

 I just love that I can make something useful out of something that would just get thrown away!  I hope you will share some recycling ideas with us.

Altered Storage Box for E-Line Bling

So I am totally and hopeless addicted to these:

Sea Salt Caramel & Almond Granola bites.  More like mini heavenly bites in my mouth.  If you haven't tried them, I strongly suggest grabbing a box next time you are in Target!  You will thank me.  (Then again, you may curse me for your new addiction!)  I've been snacking on them for a while at work and in my crafty room. 

One night is suddenly dawned on me that one of these would be the perfect new home for my Prima e-line bling stash! 

A piece of patterned paper and a few scrap embellies later and I had this:

From Flamingo Scraps: pink paislee 365 degrees collection patterned paper, pink paislee ambrose expressions alphabet, Webster's coco bloomers and Prima e-line pearl bling.

The perfect home for my bling. 

Pardon my scrappy table mess... trying to pack, scrap and blog all at the same time is messy work!

Start to finish, the whole project took me less than 10 minutes.  A totally quick and easy storage solution.  I'll definitely be making a couple more of these.... At least I'm going to use that as an excuse to justify buying at least a couple more boxes of these! :)

PS - If you want one of these fabulous boxes, but don't want to tempt yourself with a new addiction.... you just let me know (I certainly have plenty) and for the mere price of postage, it will be on it's way to you for crafty recycling and storage!