Scrapbooking- Month at a Time

While I no longer remember how I found Debbie Hodge, but I want to share a great scrapbooking resource I found popping up on Facebook.  I know at some point in the last week, I liked her blog, but I must be having a senior moment, because that liking moment is gone from the data banks! Anyway....she is doing a great challenge this year, and doing 1 month at a time.  I love this idea because it means you will always stay current for the year, and at the end in Jan 2012, you can go get your book printed, if you are working digitally, or you can start all over again if working traditionally.

So... here is her challenge page on her blog,  but she also has some incredible design ideas and resources that are worth browsing around on her site.  I will be playing with a few of her sketches tonight as I work on January 2011.

This image is actually from December and I have scrapbooked it already, but in a  different format.  I decided I really do want to stick with 12x12 for Family scrapbooking.  I love to use lots of pictures, and that really gives me plenty of space!  I experimented with one of her sketches for a 2 page spread.  I am pretty pleased with what I was able to create last night.  My title is a little hard to read though, gotta work on that.  At any rate, I love the Duplicate mirrored feature in My Digital Studio.  It made the creating process easier for me!!

Inkspirations Blog Tour

 

WHEN: Friday 17th December 2010

WHERE: Inkspirations Challenges Website to begin and then many other fun places along the way!

The Blog Tour will display all sorts of 3D Christmas gift ideas, and we would love to see what you have been making this year for you all your Christmas cheer, gift and surprises. 

If you landed on my site from the tour, then your next stop is Penny's blog, otherwise, start off at the Inkspirations website, and move through the blog tour list. A list of the participating sites is listed below.

We were focusing on 3d Gifts, and I decided to make a little coaster and hot cocoa mug gift set. 

I started with my Candy Cane Christmas Designer Series Fabric and my clear Square Scallop die.  I cut out 2 scallops, and some fusible fleece,  I ironed them, then took my linen thread and did some small stiches in the corners of the scallops to hold them together.  I did that part at a workshop to show it could be done with very little sewing!  I think next time I will use my sewing machine though.  I also attached one of our new big designer buttons in the corner with thread.  Coaster complete!

Next step, the mug.
I got this at the dollar store, and cut out one of the Decor Elements.  I carefully mounted this on the mug.  Because my surface was tapered, I had to finesse the decor element strip, seperating the elements slightly so they would mount on straight. 

Finally, I made the cocoa packet.

I took the small clear cello bag and filled it with mix, then tied that at the top securely with some ribbon.  I stamped, colored, and punched out my ornaments, mounted them on a scallop and adhered them ot the cocoa bag with a mini glue dot. I added a piece of fabric torn to give it a fun edge, then tied into a bow as well.  On the other side I added a simple To From tag so you can identify yourself.

Hope this makes your gift giving easier this year!  This was a simple project to do, and I will be making lots for teacher gifts!

Senior Inkspirations Design Team
Keesha - http://www.makeeshabyl.com.au/

Cindy - http://cindymajor.typepad.com/encre_papier_ciseaux/

Kristy - http://kirstyscardnscrap.wordpress.com/

Renee - http://www.reneevs.blogspot.com

Design Team

Brandi - http://www.brandiwiggins.com/

Carrie - http://artisticavenger.wordpress.com/

Helen - http://h2designs.blogspot.com/

Ilina - http://ilinacrouse.blogspot.com/

Lee-Ann - http://www.leeannebarry.com/

Marisa - http://rosemary-reflections.blogspot.com/

The Blog Tour Participants

Julie LeBlanc - kewlstamps-n-more.blogspot.com

Jess Doyle - jesscraft.blogspot.com

Jasmin Owsley - www.wildflowerscraps.com

Gardenia Pepworth - http://alittlelessuseless.wordpress.com/

Denise Willerton - www.chezmoicreations.blogspot.com

Nicole Derendorf - http://stampingdownunder.wordpress.com/

Andrea Lowcock - http://andrealowcock.wordpress.com/

Belinda Tubby - http://stampinbuzz.com/ 

Karyn Schultz - http://karynscraftingobsession.blogspot.com/

Rebekah Stevens - http://wecraftalot.blogspot.com/

Kim Badelt - http://kimsstampingspot.blogspot.com/ 

Deb Speijers - www.stampandscrapwithdeb.com

Maureen Rauchfuss - www.crazystampinglady.blogspot.com 

Karen G - http://cardsbykareng.blogspot.com/

Tracey - www.photovidal.blogspot.com

Heather Pilz (you are here)  - http://scrapingandstamping.blogspot.com

Penny Hanuszak - http://pennytokensstampinspot.blogspot.com

Louise Ryan - http://stamp2it.com/

Grad Gift Card

I started worked on a stash of Graduate gift cards for my graduating nieces and nephews this year. I was excited to see the Go Graduate Stamp Set in the Summer Mini Catalog! I wanted to make something that could work well for cash or a check since I never know what they will really need for a graduation gift and like sending something mailable in an envelope!

I used my ink pads as watercolor palettes and a brush to paint in the feet stamp. It took a little time since you need to make sure each touching section is dry before you paint with it or the colors will run into one another. Doing gowns, then shoes, then legs works well for that purpose.

I used the layout challenge from the Stampin 411 Blog and the watercolor technique from the Just Add Ink Blog Hop. I really like the tutorial for watercolors for Just Add Ink. I went to art school and majored in illustration, but never really thought about using some of my watercolor skills directly in stamping. It was absolutely the right technique for this stamp set! This was a great reminder about how much fun that can be, as well a fantastic set of instructions for anyone who has never attempted watercolors. The watercolor paper by SU is great, but Stazon is a must for this!