Mini Wrap Journal Pictorial

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

I've shared a number of mini wrap journals recently, and as mentioned in one of the posts, I did get around to creating this pictorial for you.  Of course, by its nature, the post is image heavy, but I hope you'll agree the process is really easy.

What you'll need...
Card: (Shown in image one) Covers (two) 5 3/8" x 6", Spine 1/2" x 6", Center panel 4 1/2" x 6"
Papers: Various folded sheets (I used 5), cut 1/4" smaller than the covers
Twine: Approximately 42" (though the first time you make one, it's better to keep it on the reel until you're sure how much)
Adhesive: Strong glue or double sided tape (I used both Tombow glue and double sided tape)
Optional extras: Additional card for cover elements, inks, dies etc (Distress Inks, my favorite Birch Press Delfina background die, and an SU Timeless Textures stamp used here)

This image, or at least the notes on the post its, is a little confusing, as I mention the front cover twice.  Sorry!  I just found it easier to cut the front 1/2" wider, then cut the spine from that...

Decorate the card pieces as desired.  I used the same direct to paper technique for this one as I have with the others, but kept the front of the front cover plain, so the detailed die cut piece would be the focus.

Score both front and back covers at 1/2" and 3/4" on the short side.  I did this after adding the die cut piece to the front (and trimming 1/8" off the height of everything to match the die cut)...

Attach the covers to the center panel using adhesive of choice.  Because I inked everything, the join is near enough invisible, but if you look closely you can see it...

And the join is clearer on the reverse, where you can see the uninked front...

Not for long though, as it's now time to add the spine piece.  You can use glue, but I used tape for added strength...

Now it's time to wrap the twine around the center panel allowing a little wriggle room.  If you're thinking this is where the journal gets its name, you'd be right.  I wrap mine 3 times, but it's up to you, and another reason to not cut the twine before creating the first.  I tie mine at the bottom, then move the knot as shown...

We're almost done.  All that's left now is to slip the pages into the twine on both sides...

And admire your work...

What do you think?  Will you be trying it, in this or another size?  It's pretty handy as it is, but could be made any size you like.  If you do, I'd love to see your creations.

Challenges...
Create your own Background at Incy Wincy (created the inked background before cutting with a background die for the cover)
Linky party #46 December at Crop Stop
#431 Crazy Egg (AG) at 4 Crafty Chicks

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Tower Card Pictorial

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

After posting my tower card earlier this week Kate asked how they are made.  So, while I tried to explain in a reply to her comment, it's much easier to see visibly.  By its nature the post is image heavy, so sit back and enjoy!

The card can be made in a number of sizes, but all mine fit into a 5" x 7" envelope.  So begin life as a 7" x 9" card, which is then scored on the long side at 1", 2", 3", 6", 7" and 8"...

Fold both the 2" and 7" lines back.  You can also fold all others forward at this point, but for ease of photography I left that until later...

Using a ruler and pencil, mark each side every 1/2".  You can use a stylus to do this, but using a pencil makes cutting with scissors easier...

Mark the cut lines to the center (3" and 6") scorelines...

Keeping the sides under, cut all lines through both layers of card to the center scores...

It was at this point which I burnished the other lines, and this is what it will look like opened up...

Erase the pencil lines and carefully push alternating cuts to the back.  It doesn't matter whether the bottom is in or out because it will stand both ways...

View from above to show the towers which give the style its name...

The card can now be decorated as desired.  Although I've not added a solid layer to the center, the offcut piece is perfect to use for this or another such card...

Card: SU's Thick Whisper White, Sweet Sugarplum and Blushing Bride
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for CE Bora Bora from the Pacific Ocean collection, SU's long retired Petite Petal punch, and unbranded rhinestones

Challenges...
#200 AG at Artistic Inspirations
#166 AG at Crafty Gals Corner
#151 AG at Inspiration Destination

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Spectrum Noir Marker Storage Pictorial

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

I received a lot of Spectrum Noir markers for Christmas, and didn't want to store them in the original packaging, but didn't want to buy a unit either.  Instead I took inspiration from SU demonstrator Sam Donald, AKA Pootles and created my own.

Each triangular pod uses 1 sheet of card and holds 6 Spectrum Noir markers, so the amount of card needed will depend on how many you have (I needed 16).

Cut the card to 7 1/4" x 8" and score on the long side at 2 1/2", 5" and 7 1/2", then notch at 3 3/4".  Turn and score on the short side at 2 1/4"

From the notch, score diagonally down to the scoreline.  This will form the back of the pod

Fold and burnish the scorelines, then cut off the other squares and apply tape as shown

Assemble the pod beginning with the non-tabbed side, then tuck in the tab and adhere by pressing a ruler inside.  Here I've filled it for ease of final assembly

Depending on the number of pods you need, design the desired stepped layout and use wet glue (I used Tombow) to adhere them while filled.  My assembly has  5, 4, 4 and 3 from the bottom up, with each layer stepped back about an inch.  Here they are seen before I organized the markers.

Challenges...

#195 AG at 613 Avenue Create

#149 AG at Crafting from the heart

#174 AG at Artistic Inspirations

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Teepee Pictorial

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

As promised on Friday when I was so incredibly honored to have taken part in the International Blog Hop, here's the pictorial for the featured teepee card. By its nature this post is very image heavy.

Three 4" x 4" squares of card for the base (Sweet Sugarplum used here)
Two 3 7/8" x 3 7/8" squares of DSP OR card (Whisper White card used here)
Adhesive of choice (Tombow used here), and Velcro dots OR magnets (Velcro dots used here)...

Using your Stampin' Up! Trimmer OR Simply Scored and Diagonal Plate OR ruler and stylus, score the 3 base pieces of card diagonally...

Lay 2 of the pieces down as shown, with their points together in the center...

Lay the third piece over it and mark the position on the lower pieces with a pencil...

Lift the upper piece and apply adhesive within the marked area from the diagonal fold, leaving a gap...

Attach the upper piece, ensuring the lower fold is clear. Repeat with the other lower piece. Here's what it will look like when flipped over...

Cut both pieces of DSP or stamped card diagonally. You only need 3 triangles, so keep one of them for later use or another project. I used 2 of the Playful Backgrounds stamps here...

Using adhesive of choice attach the triangles to the base. (NOTE: you can work right to left without issue)...

Lift the card and form into a triangle, with the plain piece underneath the other end, and gauge the position of the Velcro/ magnets. Attach the 1st to the underside of the decorated panel, as shown here...

Attach the other half of the fastener and the completed base will look similar to this when fastened...

Open out and decorate as desired...

Here's a reminder of my card...

For full details of the card, please refer to my original post. For all my other pictorials, please click here. Thank you!

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Watercolor Wings Mini Easel Card Pictorial

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

I'm never one to break a promise, so today I'm keeping the one I made to you in Monday's post, to bring you the pictorial for my butterfly mini easel card. By it's nature the post is image heavy, so grab a beverage of choice and take a look. I promise it will be worth it.

Card: Soft Sky, Regular Whisper White (envelope) and Thick Whisper White
Ink: Soft Sky, Pool Party and Lost Lagoon (soon to be retired, Bermuda Bay would also work with this color combo)
Stamp sets: Watercolor Wings
Tools and embellishments: Butterfly and Bold Butterfly thinlits, Simply Score Board and stylus, Envelope Punch Board
Adhesives: Tombow and Sticky Strip (retired, for envelope)

Card: 5 1/2" square of regular Whisper White (for envelope); Soft Sky 3 1/2" x 4 1/2", plus a scrap for smaller butterfly; Thick Whisper White 3 1/2" x 2 1/2"

Inks

Begin by scoring the 5 1/2" square of Whisper White on the EPB to create a 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" envelope. Stamp the base image from Watercolor Wings in Soft Sky ink on both the Thick and Regular Whisper White (see later pic)

Add the Pool Party accents with the Watercolor Wings stamp set

Stamp the butterfly body in Lost Lagoon ink onto the envelope piece

Die cut the other butterfly and then stamp the body using the same ink

For the easel base, score the 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" piece of Soft Sky card at 2 1/4" on the long side

Fold and burnish, then lay the butterfly die on the card as shown below

Open the die cut up and score one of the butterflies through the narrowest part between the wings

Fold and burnish

Apply Tombow to the lower section of the folded wings

Die cut the detailed butterfly from Soft Sky card and attach to the stamped butterfly. Attach the topper to the base

Fold and burnish the scored envelope piece and adhere with Sticky Strip or other strong tape

While I've included a lot of photos, the card is really easy to create. I think it's stunning. and I'm not the only one. I'm humbled by the response of those who received the swap and by your comments.

Challenges...
#107 AAG at Creative Fingers
Make it Girlie at Simon Says Wednesday
#53 T is for Texture or Teal at Butterfly Challenge (teal)

GIVEAWAY TIME!
I have to say that the photos truly don't do the card justice! I have ONE more left and as a thank you, I'd like to give it to one of you! To enter, leave a comment on THIS post before 10:00 am ET Friday, April 29, 2016. That's it. Just do what you usually do and I'll then use a random number generator to pick the winner, who will be announced later on the Friday. Entry is open to everyone worldwide.

Whatever you're doing this weekend, have a great one. I'll be back on Monday with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.