
Friday, July 30, 2010
Gothic Arches Challenge

Tag Tuesday

Thursday, July 29, 2010
Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #7

Color Challenge at Gingersnap Creations

where there was a resist technique shown using inked text paper that was then clear embossed, then inked with more brown ink to make the resist stand out. I always love clear embossed resist techniques, but usually do them with white or ivory paper, so this was a fun variation to try. I used all Glimmer Mists in my piece: Lemon Zest, Oriental Poppy, Candy Apple Red, Lilly Pad - I know that's not yellow, orange or red, but my card looked funny without the green leaves!, and Tattered Leather as the brown overspray after clear embossing the flowers.


Stamps used are from Oxford Impressions and Stampers Anonymous. The challenge is open until Aug. 22 so you have plenty of time to submit your piece!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
And the winner is......
Friday, July 23, 2010
Compendium of Curosities #6

Thursday, July 22, 2010
Sunshine Acrylic Banner

Sunday, July 18, 2010
My fabric covered altered journal


My pages are tea dyed watercolor paper stamped in areas with a Stampers Anonymous scroll stamp. This page has a beautiful napkin I received from Marie at Lost Bird Studios adhered to it.
As it happens, stitching is the theme this week at the Lots To Do Challenge - I think my cover qualifies!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Piano Hinge Book Tutorial and a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!
One of my favorite books to make is this piano hinge type which is made with two ceramic tiles for the covers. If you’ve arrived here from Gingersnap Creations, read on to see how to make the book. If you’ve arrived from elsewhere, the first part of this tutorial where I show you how to make the tiles for the covers can be found at the post HERE on Gingersnap Creations. Supplies you’ll need include two ceramic tiles, cardstock for the pages, 5 bamboo skewers, waxed linen thread, a pencil, scissors, a bone folder, wire cutters, liquid glue like Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive, heavy liquid glue like the Ultimate, and a glue stick like UHU.
For the book covers you’ll need to make 2 tiles. You can make them both the same or just alcohol ink the back tile to coordinate with the front and don’t add stamping. I would recommend that you add a piece of tissue paper to the back tile regardless of whether you choose to stamp it or not. As discussed in the first tutorial, the tissue paper can change the ink color just a bit, so by adding it to both covers they’ll match.
My tiles are 4 1/4" square and I’ve made a template for that size that you can download and print out on cardstock to use. Click HERE for the pdf. It’s easy to create a template for any size tile. The height needs to be the same as your tile, and for the width, take the size of your tile, double it, and add ½". For my tiles that means my page size is 4 1/4" x 9". You will need to cut 4 pages this size. Next make a spine template. Mine is 4 1/4" x 1 1/2" and I folded it in half and then scored lines 1/4" on either side of the center line. I then divided it into 5 sections each of about 3/4" to 7/8" and cut a V notch at each mark. The point of the V touches the 1/4" score line. (If this is confusing, it will all make sense when you look at the downloadable template and cut out the spine template.) To create a spine template for any size tile just divide it into equal sections (or as close as you can get them - you'll notice mine aren't exactly even) so that you will have an odd number of tabs and an even number of V notches.
Score all 4 pages at 4 1/4", 4 ½", and 4 3/4". (Basically, score at the middle and 1/4" on either side of the middle.) Fold each page in half.
Place your spine template over each page and mark the notches with a pencil. Cut out all the notches making sure that the point of each V reaches the 1/4" score line.
As shown in the picture, fold each tab in, then make each page have tabs 1,3 and 5 out, while tabs 2 and 4 remain folded in. By folding all the tab hinges in and then out, it makes it easier to weave the bamboo skewers. Stack the 4 pages together so that they all match.
Now for weaving the piano hinge with the bamboo skewers! Hold the pages together as in the picture. I’m right handed, so I’ll be placing the skewer from the right to the left, and I’ll number the tabs 1, 3 and 5 from right to left. For page 1, place the skewer through tabs 1 and 5.
With the second skewer, place it through tab 1 of the second page, then tab 3 of the first page, and finally tab 5 of the second page. This locks the two pages together.
Continue weaving the sticks in the same pattern until all pages are attached. The fifth skewer goes through only tab 3 of the fourth page.
Next you’ll need to cut off the pointy ends of the skewers. I find that it’s much easier to weave the skewers when they have pointy ends, so I cut mine off after weaving. You do need to be careful when cutting - the ends can fly! Adjust the skewers so the non-pointy ends extend about 3/4" - 1" beyond the pages. Place a pencil mark on the other ends also about 3/4" - 1" from the pages and cut off the excess.
To hold the skewers in place, I use waxed linen thread. Hold a 2-3" tail piece with your left thumb against the pages and starting from the second or third skewer from the left, wrap it under and over back and forth until you have at least 3 rows. Tie the thread in a double knot and cut the ends leaving them long for now. Repeat for the other side.
At this point I like to glue together the six inner pages using a glue stick giving me three sturdier pages - I like to create lumpy pages! Mark an X on the outside of the first and last pages so that you don’t glue them to each other - I am speaking from experience here! You certainly can choose to skip this step giving your book more pages.
Using liquid glue, add it over the top of the woven waxed linen thread including the knot. Set aside to dry. If you’ve glued your pages together, it’s helpful to place a heavy book on your pages while all the glue dries. Set aside to dry.
Once your inside pages are dry, clip the excess thread close to the knot and now you’re ready to attach the tile covers. Use a heavy thick glue and spread it out evenly onto the back of the tile.

Place your front cover tile in the direction you want your image (always double check - it’s easy to put things upside down!!) and lay your page down onto the tile with the X marked side down.
Press the page into the glued tile well - especially near the spine.
Flip the book over and again press firmly against the spine. Attach the back cover the same way, then place it under a heavy book while the glue dries and your book is done!
As you can see, I have made many of these books - I love the weight of them in my hand and the sound the ceramic tiles make when they close against each other! I hope you’ll try making one, and I would love to see pictures of books that you make - post a picture on your blog and let me know about it. So how about a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!! How would you like to win the book I made as the tutorial sample? Leave a comment on this post making sure I have a way to contact you either by a link to your blog or an email address and I’ll pick a winner in a random draw next week on Saturday July 24th. Good luck :-)
For the book covers you’ll need to make 2 tiles. You can make them both the same or just alcohol ink the back tile to coordinate with the front and don’t add stamping. I would recommend that you add a piece of tissue paper to the back tile regardless of whether you choose to stamp it or not. As discussed in the first tutorial, the tissue paper can change the ink color just a bit, so by adding it to both covers they’ll match.













Place your front cover tile in the direction you want your image (always double check - it’s easy to put things upside down!!) and lay your page down onto the tile with the X marked side down.



Friday, July 16, 2010
Tutorial Teaser

Compendium of Curiosities #5

Here's a tag using Distress Embossing Powder for this week's Compendium of Curiosities Challenge. Stamps used are from Donna Downey @ Unity Stamps, Hero Arts and Purple Onion Designs.
Tag Tuesday - Hearts

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Gingersnap Creations - markers challenge


Saturday, July 10, 2010
Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #4

Friday, July 9, 2010
Summer Heat

Monday, July 5, 2010


Sunday, July 4, 2010
Tag Tuesday - Summer

Saturday, July 3, 2010
Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #3

Friday, July 2, 2010
Even more exciting news!

So excited!



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