Button Farm Club G45 By the Sea Travel Notebook Kit Release
Hello, Friends! I’m so excited to share my newest Button Farm Club Kit Release with you today! This G45 By the Sea Travel Notebook Kit is loaded!
If you love the sea as much as I do, you are definitely going to want to make this project. I’ve used a G45 Traveler’s Notebook with 3 inserts as the project base. Then I’ve dressed it up with gorgeous By the Sea Deluxe Collector’s Edition papers, stickers and chipboard. Gorgeous Little Birdie Rosalind Roses, ribbons, novelty buttons, paper clips and more make this kit really special.
Here’s a sneaky peek at the inside pages. The individual notebooks inside the album cover have loads of blank pages as well as decorated pages. This makes it perfect to use as a journal, a junk journal, a planner or a guest book for your beach house.
G45 By the Sea Travel Notebook Video Sneak Peek
G45 By the Sea Travel Notebook Kit: What You Get
One of the reasons I love to design for The Button Farm Club is that Laura, the owner, gives me complete freedom when designing a kit. And I packed this kit full of beachy goodies. Here’s what you get in each kit:
Graphic 45 By the Sea Deluxe Collector Edition Kit
3 each of eight double-sided 12 x 12-Inch papers (24 total)
27 die-cut chipboard embellishments
70 cover weight stickers on a 12 x 12-Inch sheet
Graphic 45 Traveler’s Notebook Album with 3 signature inserts
Full-color, printed, easy to follow step by step tutorial written by me
Beach Themed Novelty Buttons
Rosalind Roses (a package with 24 pieces, total…and you’ll have leftovers!)
4 Yards of Ribbon
2 Yards of Burlap String
12 red paper clips
3 vintage style bulldog clips
(2) 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheets of kraft cardstock
It’s basically everything you will need to create the project except your normal crafty tools like adhesive, ink, pencils, rulers and such. And, with this kit, you will have leftover supplies to decorate the inner pages of your album, or make several cards.
The kits are in stock, ready to ship. This is a limited edition kit, so place your order before they disappear.
To purchase your Graphic 45 By the Sea Traveler Notebook Kit, click HERE.
So many of you have asked me to teach a class in your area. This is the next best thing. You’ll learn techniques that you can translate into other projects while creating a beautiful keepsake album. I’m very proud to be part of the Button Farm Club Family. Their kits are an amazing value, filled with high quality product and created by some of the very best designers in the trade.
To see previous Button Farm Club Kits, click HERE.
Exciting News!
Here’s a little tidbit of information that I know you are going to get all excited about! Button Farm Club now carries a large selection of Little Birdie Flowers at amazingly affordable prices! Yes!!!!! you can order these online from The Button Farm Club. How thrilling is that? To see what Laura has in the shop, click HERE.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this month’s kit. And if you have any questions, please add them in the comment section below.
Hello, Friends! It’s Graphic 45 Sneak Peeks week! What fun! The beach is my happy place, so I was thrilled when I was asked to create a mini album with By the Sea. This collection has always been a favorite for me, and I’m thrilled to see it coming back as a Deluxe Collector’s Edition.
I decided to try something new with this Graphic 45 Staples Kraft Mixed Media Album. To shake up my album cover design, I placed the 4″ x 6″ lighthouse image inside a shaker pouch. I just love the way the sequins and beads mimic the look of sunshine sparkling on water. This is probably the easiest way I’ve found to create a shaker element.
Select your image. I chose to mat mine on some blue gingham check to help it fill the frame.
Cut a piece of clear acrylic cardstock the same size as your matted image.
Use a sewing machine to stitch almost all the way around the perimeter of the image. Leave about a 2″ opening in one corner.
Fill the opening with a sequin mix. (use a funnel tray for mess-free filling) These buttons, beads and sequins are a mix called Shades of Chambray from Lilac Lane.
Place the shaker pouch back on the sewing machine, line up the needle and finish stitching.
Back the shaker pouch with a couple of layers of chipboard for stability and to elevate in the design.
Graphic 45 Sneak Peeks: By the Sea Mini Album Details
These Graphic 45 Staples Blue Roses are a perfect color match for this collection. After layering them down the side of the album, I tucked in some altered metal beach charms.
TIP: Paint metal charms with ivory chalk paint, then tap with Graphic 45 Bon Voyage Blue Decades Ink Pad.
Fussy cut shells and real shells come together perfectly with real beach sand. I’ve also painted a Graphic 45 Staples Shabby Chic Door Plate and Knob to match the album.
Dress up the spine with Glory Blue Seam Binding Ribbon, a cluster of beach charms and a Graphic 45 Shabby Chic Clock Key. The lighthouse image was too big to fit the spine, so I carefully cut it in half, pieced it together so that the frame matched up, then adhered it to the base of the spine.
By the Sea Mini Album: The Inside Scoop
TIP: Make a quick and easy pocket for the inside cover. I simply cut my designer paper 3″ longer than the height of the page. Then score, fold and adhere the sides to make an instant pocket. Add border strips to the pocket flap for extra fun.
TIP: The vellum pages in the album are so beautiful…but delicate! To prevent them from tearing, stitch the vellum to a piece of heavy kraft cardstock. Fill the space between the pages with more of the sequin mix for a fun surprise.
TIP: Make quick pockets by adhering just the top, bottom and one side of patterned paper to the album page. Now you can tuck in photo mounts. Decorate with fussy cut images from the signature page.
By the Sea Mini Album: Tuck Spots, Inserts and Flaps
I removed several pages from the album before I began this project. Then I cut and scored them to create pocket inserts throughout the album.
Border strips make great tuck spots! And you can easily create a space for pull out elements. Just adhere sides and bottom of your patterned paper, leaving the top edge open.
TIP: Create a watery background on the vellum pages. Apply Bon Voyage Blue Decades Ink directly to the vellum. Spritz lightly with water to activate the ink and make it move. Heat dry. Then stitch the pages together as before.
TIP: Create tuck spots by adhering just the outer edge of a journal card to the album page. Photos can tuck behind, and you have a lovely spot for journaling.
TIP: To create a quick and easy side pocket, cut patterned paper 2″ wider than the page. Score, fold and adhere.
By the Sea Mini Album Tour on Youtube
Here’s a little video tour with tips and ideas:
I’m so excited that this album will be on display in the G45 Booth at Creativation this week. I hope I’ve shared some tips and tricks that you can adapt for your own mini album making adventures.
This is my 2nd post today. Please scroll down to find the RRR Blog Hop Post.
Fun with Graphic 45: Fancy Fold Cards Video Tutorial & First 2017-2018 Brand Ambassador Post
Hello, G-45’ers! Welcome to my first official post as a Graphic 45 2017-2018 Brand Ambassador. I think all the card makers out there are really going to enjoy today’s post as it is all about cards! Today I have 3 different styles of fancy fold cards to share with you, all using fabulous papers from Graphic 45. I’ve prepared a fun Fancy Fold Cards Video Tutorial for you, so you can follow along at home and learn how to make these clever interactive cards.
Graphic 45 has lots of exciting plans and big changes in store for the 2017-2018 term, and I’m just thrilled to bits to be designing for this wonderful company for a second year. One of the changes made is that the design team is now called Graphic 45 Brand Ambassadors. I have had a little preview of the fun things coming your way, and I can honestly say I think this is going to be the best year ever for lovers of the Graphic 45 Brand.
A Little Bit About Me
Before I dig into the fancy fold cards video tutorial, G45 asked that we share a few fun facts about ourselves to kick things off. Many of you have been following me for a long time now, so feel free to skip on down to the “meat” of this post. But for new followers, here are some things you might like to know about me.
I live in beautiful North Carolina, USA, with Dale, my darling husband of 40+ years. We had theprivilege of raising 5 fun and fabulous children. Now we have the immense pleasure of beinggrandparents to three precious girls whom we call “The Littles.”.
Most days you’ll find me in my sunny little studio making cards, dabbling in mixed media, designing mini albums, folios, paper pretties for my ETSY shop and enjoying all the many adventures that the fabulous world of creativity affords. I also love to bake, spendtime with “the Littles”, cook big meals for our family, walk on the beach, go junkin’ and read.
Although I have a passion for all kinds of crafty adventures, I have no formal art training. Cards are my favorite thing to create. I especially enjoy creating interactive cards and put as much work into the insides of my cards as I do the outside. Adding tags and pockets, sweet little treats like tea bags or chocolates and surprise panels in a card really gets me excited.
I like to stay up to date with what’s going on in the crafting world. Color, pattern and design fascinate me, so I try to pay attention while reading magazines or even looking around in stores to see what colors and patterns seem to be trending. Is there a new technique? I want to learn it and I enjoy taking online classes when time permits.
For our first Brand Ambassador Challenge, Graphic 45 asked us to research trends in paper crafting and find a technique or trend that interested us. The next step was to prepare a project that represented that trend and share it with you. And that, my friends, is how this Fancy Fold Cards Video Tutorial came into being.
Card Making Trend Alert: Fancy Fold Cards are Where It’s At
In preparing for this post, I learned that in the world of cards, there are several trends that excite me. Fancy fold cards, shaker cards and pop up cards are getting a lot of attention right now. Adding buttons to cards is also making a comeback. And metallic elements are hugely popular. I decided to take some time to learn a few new fancy fold cards to share with you here today. I’ve incorporated some of these other fun trends in the designs. There are lots of photos, tips and information to follow, so you might want to go grab a cuppa and a snack to sustain you.
Fancy Fold Card #1: Bathing Beauties Double Gatefold Card with Place in Time July Papers
One of the great things about fancy fold cards is that they really bring the WOW factor to any project. The other great thing is that they really are fairly simple to make. They look impressive and complicated, but I’ll show you in today’s video tutorial just how simple it is to add that WOW factor to your next card making session.
This Double Gatefold Card started with 2 simple 5” x 7” side fold card bases. I overlapped the cards, added a couple of extra score lines, and voila! Double Gatefold card magic!
A belly band holds this Double Gatefold card shut, but you could also use ribbons to tie the gates closed.
And when you’ve slipped the belly band off the card, it’s just like watching the curtain rise at the theater.
As each panel of the card opens, there are more and more goodies to look at. Finally, the postcard pocket in the middle pane takes center stage.
The July images and prints from A Place in Time work really well with By the Sea. I’ve added some journal cards from that collection to finish the inside of my card. The vintage postcard from A Place in Time makes a great pocket, too.
Tips and Tricks for Making Double Gatefold Cards
Tip: Always remember to use your bone folder to burnish the score lines on a Fancy Fold card. Crisp fold lines are essential when you are making a card with special folds.
Tip: To create a quick and easy pocket, use a postcard! Just glue the sides and bottom edge to your card base and then slip in ephemera cards, journal cards, tags or other goodies. Everyone loves surprises!
Fancy Fold Card #2: By the Sea Beach Rules Step-Out Card
Step-out cards are just loaded with dimension. They also provide you with lots of nooks and crannies to decorate with pretty papers like the patterns and images in By the Sea.
One great thing about Step-Out cards is the fact that they fold flat for mailing
Then you can pop it open for display. How fun is that?
Tip: Be careful when gluing images to your card front. You don’t want to get glue on the back layers of the card, or it won’t open properly. To prevent this from happening, turn your chipboard piece upside down on the card front and make pencil marks so you’ll know where to place the glue.
Tip: I used a craft knife and ruler to create the center slit that allows the step out mechanism to work.When using a craft knife, there are 2 important things to remember. First, always test your blade to make sure it is sharp. A dull blade will not cut cleanly. Second, I find that if I cut my paper on a glass surface, the knife glides through the paper like a hot knife goes through butter. You can use the glass from an old picture frame, or a glass cutting mat like the one I use in the video tutorial.
Tip: To add realistic beach effects to this card, I scribbled on the card base with Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive then sprinkled with real beach sand. Do this over a sheet of paper, so you can tap off the excess sand once the glue dries.
Supply List for Beach Rules Step Out Card
8×8 By the Sea Paper Collection (retired)
By the Sea Decorative Chipboard
By the Sea Tags and Pockets
Colorbox Decades Dark Cashmere Ink
Fancy Fold Card #3: Portrait of a Lady Fanfare Card/Folio
This is probably my favorite fancy fold card design because it is part card, part folio, part pop-up. It looks like a really complicated and fussy design, but the truth is, It’s all just straight lines! Isn’t that a relief?
Begin with a standard 6” square top fol card base made from heavy cardstock. Because of the weight of the fanfare fold, you need a really sturdy base to work with.
The front cover of the Fanfare Fold card opens to reveal a beautiful hidden folio.
I decorated this panel with a pretty pocket and tag combo, then topped it with this gorgeous chipboard element to add even more dimension to the design.
Tips and Tricks for Making Fanfare Fold Cards
Tip: Cut sentiments from a collection’s text pages for picture perfect color matches. I snipped the word “Beauty” from the 8×8 “Grace” paper then glued it behind the G45 Staples Ornate Label Holder.
Tip:Use a scallop corner punch to create the pretty shaped edges on this card.
But Wait….there’s more!
This lovely design also opens like a standard top fold card. Decorate the inside of your Fanfare Fancy Fold Card with decorative papers, journal cards and sticker elements. This is a great style of card to present for weddings, bridal showers, baby showers or birthdays, as photos from the event can be stored in the folio. It’s like getting a card and a gift in one neat package.
Fun With Fancy Fold Cards Video Tutorial on YouTube
Are you ready to get started making your own Fancy Fold Cards with Graphic 45? Join me as I create all three of these card bases in this video tutorial. I’ll also share tips and tricks for the finished cards you see here.
As you saw in the Fancy Fold Cards Video Tutorial, these cards are much easier to make than you might think. I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks and techniques that you can use in your own crafty adventures. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.
By the Sea Beach Rules House Shrine for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts
Hello, Friends! I don’t know about you, but my soul has been longing for the sea. Summer is such a busy time around here with visits from dear friends, family birthdays and lots of deadlines for work. There’s no time to escape to the coast, unless I do it on paper! Luckily for me, I had a wonderful little Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts House Shrine Box to work with, and I immediately thought “beach cottage!” I pulled out my Graphic 45 By the Sea papers and went to work building this darling little Beach Rules House Shrine to share with you today.
Putting this one together was almost as good as a day at the shore, minus the sand in my shoes and wind in my hair.
The finished box measures 4″ x 8″ x 1.5″. The depth gives you lots of room to add lovely layers and 3-D embellies. I put together a Snapguide tutorial for you so that you can follow along and see how this all came together.
I’d like to thank Gina Hubbard of Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts for inviting me to be her guest designer this month. I’ve had such a lovely time creating with these gorgeous, high quality chippies! I hope you’ve had fun with me!
