Happy Memorial Weekend!

Hi!

It's Cindy here checking in. Are you more than ready for this holiday weekend? I am. Even though it's starting out a little cold and rainy. No matter. I see it as a cozy reason to stay in and do a little crafting.

I originally posted this on my blog in April of 2011 which was Stress Awareness Month. I approached it by saying that the best way to beat stress is something called “moving meditation”. Did you know that focusing on an enjoyable repetitive movement can bring your heart rate down? For some people, it may be knitting or crocheting. For me, it’s paper piecing and making mini books. So, today, we’re going to revisit the making of a Birthday Reminder mini book with a little paper piecing thrown in.

We need to start with a pretty pad of double sided 12x12 papers, a bone folder, paper trimmer, adhesive, an office double-hole punch, label maker, stamps, ink and bling.

Step #1: Take a 12”x12” sheet and score at 6” all the way down, then turn and score at 6” again. Fold in on both score lines and open flat. Now, as seen in the photo, bring in both corners on one end to meet in the middle.

Step #2: Fold them both up to form pockets. Fold again, use adhesive to hold them together and punch double holes using the office punch. Use your bone folder to make all the folds crisp. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each of 5 more papers. You will end up with 6 pages or 12 pockets.

Step #3: To make the front and back covers of my mini book, I’ve taken one 12”x12” sheet , scored it down the middle and then cut it in half, so that I end up with two 6”x12” panels that have a crease in the middle. Fold each panel in half, glue shut, and punch with office punch. Smooth crease with bone folder.

Step #4: After cutting 12 – 4”x5 ½” cards from the paper set and stamping each card and page with the month, it’s now time for the paper piecing fun. I used a flower stamp that has several layers in the image. By stamping it several times on two different patterned papers, I can cut out the various layers and build a unique flower image as seen in the photo. I’ll add a coordinating flower to each page.

Step #5: Paper piece a flower for the front cover but use foam dots between each layer to give it more dimension. Pop a rhinestone on top for a little glitz and adhere it over a stamped stem. Assemble the pages and covers with binder rings. Add a title with a label maker and you’re done. (Ribbons on the binder rings would be another way to dress up the mini book, if you wish.)

I hope this inspires you to experience a little moving meditation of your own!

Now, wouldn't it be fun to win your own little mini book? I'm going to make a similar one to give away to one random commenter. I'll even throw in my stamp set. But wait! After commenting below, increase your chances to win 5 times by leaving a comment when you: (1) follow us on Networked Blogs (see link on sidebar), (2) tell a friend about our giveaway, (3) tweet a link to our giveaway, (4) "like" us on Facebook and, finally, (5) share a Facebook post about our giveaway. That's six separate chances to win! You have until Thursday to leave comments. Random drawing will be announced on Friday, May 31st. Good luck and....

Cindy

SUPPLIES

Paper: Life Stories (My Mind’s Eye)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Garden Green (Stampin Up)

Stamps: Flower (Now & Always by Ippity), months (Messy Dates by Autumn Leaves)

Other: Rhinestone (Jolee’s Boutique), Label Maker (Dymo), Foam dots (Ranger), Gluedots

Happy Birthday Cards

Hey Everyone,

Anna here this week from www.stampanna.com.

Hope you had a great week-end! This week end was my nieces birthday and we spent pretty much all day Saturday at her party.  It was also my nephews birthday in California and he had a party on Saturday.  Since it was a "Birthday Week-end" for me- I figured I would share with you some Birthday Cards that I made.

A few weeks back I had a stamping session with a dear friend of mine.  (Hi Darlene!) These are only 4 of the 9 cards we made that day.  We each made 2 of each design with each one slightly different.  We did have fun just stamping all day. (I can't wait to do it again soon!!)

The stamped images are from Tim Holtz Blue Print Collection.  Let me just say---- LOVE LOVE LOVE them.  :)  I should  have purchased more designs.  (I suppose there is still time right?) {SMILE} The sentiment is from Paper Smooches. (The little "wish big" is from Papertrey Ink.) Paper Smooches is another stamp company that I LOVE LOVE LOVE.  :)  (Shhh,  I need to add more to my collection)  With great stamps and Tim Holtz distress inks and copic markers.  It just makes my heart go pitter patter.

Let me share some close up pictures with some details:

 I would have to say this one is my favorite.  I think the pink is what did me in.  :) The candle is stamped again on a separate paper, colored in and cut out.  I added it to the card front with foam dimensional. 

 This one above is a nice masculine card.  I don't know if you are like me and have a hard time with manly cards.  But I have the hardest time putting it together.  So I am really happy with this one.  ~The image was stamped an extra time on a separate paper, colored in with copic markers, then fussy cut out.  After you cut it out run the image through the big shot with an embossing folder.  Use your foam dimensional to adhere to card front.  

 This one is Stamped and colored in with copic markers.  Then I added Crystal Stickles to the bow for a little shimmer.

Another "Manly" card.  This one is colored in with copic markers.  The "Party" is stamped on a separate paper and then cut out.  Adhered to the card front with foam dimensional.   I added stickles for more dimension to the card.

If you are not already on our fan page 

CLICK HERE.  

HINT HINT:  You never know when a comment on any post (blog or facebook) may be a random drawing of a prize.  (Punches, stamps, or anything)  

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blog Candy...Congratulations To...

Tina!   You are the winner of our blog candy this week.  We hope you enjoy your bracelet!   Please email me your address at haverivi@yahoo so I can send you your goodies.  Thank you to everyone who commented this week. Vi

Crafty Party Decor

Hi everyone! Hoping you are all having a crafty week so far! Did you see the awesome bracelet Virginia is giving away this week?? Love it!!!

Anyways - I was lucky enough to travel out to my cousin's daughter's First Communion Party last weekend. Kristin did such a wonderful job decorating for Kari's party and I just wanted to share some great ideas she had.

Loved this dessert buffet table - it was the talk of the party! Simple personalized banner and tissue paper pom poms hanging above. 

Layer in apothecary jars and mason jars filled with pretty candies. Use decorated boxes for height and visual interest. 

Personalized and hand-painted frame for the guest of honor that was purchased from an Etsy shop. Congratulations again Kari!

Plain tags purchased in the craft store with a sticker added to it. This would be great to personalize for any occasion. Also love the glittered sheer fabric that my cousin purchased by the yard and cut into large squares to drape over the pink tablecloths. Made everything look very custom and chic!   

She also filled a trio of mason jars with fresh flowers and tied tulle around them to create the centerpieces.

Overall the effect was beautiful! Hope you are as inspired by some of these ideas as I was! 

Happy Mother's Day and Blog Candy

For over 20 years my sister has hosted a Mother's Day luncheon at her home.  It is a time to gather with our families as well as celebrate and honor our Mom who is no longer with us.   After lunch we usually take family photos in the yard with the beautiful backdrop of my sister's garden.     I wanted to make a little gift for all the Mom's today and decided to make these little treat cans.   I found the mini paint cans at AC Moore decorated them with a Martha Stewart punch strip, Offray ribbon, Jolee's dimensional flower and EK Success circle and scallop circle punches.    The colored Hershey Kisses added an extra pop of color.   Making a dozen of these was quick and easy.  I hope you like it!

I also have a little Blog Candy!  My friend, Karen, donated this handmade bracelet for me to giveaway this week.  It is a Memory Wire Bracelet with eyepins, connectors, magnetic clasps and lots of Swarovsky Crystals.    It fit perfectly around one of my mini paint cans.  I found a blinged Jolee's flower in my stash and added the silver wrapped Hershey Kisses.     Leave a comment on our blog by next Friday night at midnight and I will draw one lucky winner next Saturday. 

National Scrapbook Day Blog Candy Winner!!!

We have a WINNER....

I went to random.org and it drew the number "4".

GEORGIA PEASE 

Georgia, you are the 4th person to leave a comment on the NSD post and you WIN the Blog Candy.

Please send me your mailing address to:  thecraftingjournals@gmail.com I will get these goodies to you early next week.

Let the Good Times Roll

Hey Everyone,

Great News....  It's Friday!  Which means in a short few hours we will be drawing for the prize for our National Scrapbook Day Give-a-Way!  Be sure to CLICK here to enter.  Drawing closes at Midnight tonight.  (That is Eastern Standard Time)  

Today I want to share with you a card I made using Paper Smooches Stamps.  I am going to be honest and tell you that I didn't make this recently.  I don't remember exactly when it was made, but I do know it has been a little bit.

I love the old jukebox in this card.  I colored the image with my copic markers and added some glossy accents to give it some shine.  As I remember (not that I am that old) old jukeboxes is that they are very SHINY.  The paper is from a 6 x 6 paper pad in my stash.  and just regular card stock as a base.  The card measures at 4 x 4 square.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great Friday.

Happy National Scrapbook Day!!

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to our blog.  :)  We are so excited to be here and to share with you our passion for all things craft related.

First off..  Happy National Scrapbook Day!  Hope you have a Fun and Crafty Day!  Be sure to check out all the way to the bottom of the post.  We have something fun for you.

Secondly, we would like to say thank you to Tiffany at Tiffany Kuehl Designs for the awesome design she did for us here on the blog. You can find her by clicking here.

A little about us:
The Crafting Journals began as a conversation between friends who wanted to share our work with others.  There are a total of 8 of us right now.  We met each other through the craft industry in one form or another.

You can read more about each of us under the "Contributors" page at the top.  It is still in the process of getting updated so please check back.

To get things started here on The Crafting Journals, I asked each contributor to share with us their favorite layout that they have created and tell us why it was their favorite.

This is what they said...

Darlene Kearns Said:  "This is one of my favorite layouts and not because of the design or layout in particular but I love this photo. This photo was a very casual shot while having a conversation with my son and the lighting was perfect. To top it all off-it was a beautiful location in an old barn with some farm tools in the background. I certainly need to pay attention to taking less posed photos and take advantage of the casual moments."

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Cindy Wallach Said:  I actually had a dilemma choosing. But this one is so sweet, it won out. My children are now 21 and 18 but this layout captures the long ago memory of a special birthday party. I had fun combining dies (scallop border), punches (hearts), rub-ons (alphas), twine, distress ink, time-saving collaged patterned paper and heartfelt journaling. This layout is evidence of my love of the use of lots of photos and a linear design.

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 Anna Zuniga Said:  "I love this layout because it was a fun time spent with my sister at Disney Land as well as a new experience for me as part of the EK Success Brands Creative Artist Team at CHA.  I also am a NEW Project Life Scrapper.  I love how easy it was to pull this together with just a few cuts and just slide in to your page protector."

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Elizabeth Barboza Said:  "Because the only scrapbooking I have done in the past eight years has been for EK Success, I naturally chose one that I had created for a past assignment. I love this LO for these three reasons: the soft colors, the technique driven flowers that ended up just the way I had imagined them in my head (a completely rare occurrence ... esp because the inside of my head is a scary crazy mess) and, most importantly, the pictures ... a sweet moment between my husband and I that was miraculously caught on "film". Every time I see this LO a smile instantly breaks out on my face. Yep. It's love. Truly. Madly. Deeply."

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 Lenore Bremner Said:  "This is one of my most favorite layouts because it just makes me happy! I love the photos and was able to get all 14 photos on the page - a record number for me."

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Tracey Pagano Said:  "Choose a favorite layout. Hmmmm, how do you choose just one when you have 12+ albums to dig through? Well, it took a while, but I did find one and it’s an oldie but a goodie. I love this particular layout a teeny bit more then most of the others because it captures my dad in his element and my daughter learning from him. That’s the sentimental part. Creatively it captures my love of texture on layouts... from the water colored, clear embossed die cut fish, to the rope anchoring the title and the fish net across the bottom of the page, it has a lot. But it still works without overpowering the photos. Yes, this is definitely a favorite... and timeless. I will use these techniques and ideas again for sure."

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Carla Sylvester Said:  "I love color, but very often I find myself falling into a habit of using the same colors over and over on my pages – green, blue, brown.  I like this page because I was able to step away from that and use bright, cheery colors.  This page was published many years ago in a special issue of Simple Scrapbooks featuring layouts based on page sketches.  There’s almost no embellishment here, just a little ribbon.  Instead of writing my journaling as a narrative, I jotted a list of my impressions in a sort of free-verse poem.  This farmers market is still one of my favorite places, and I love that the timeless look of this page makes it as current today as it was when I created it eight years ago."

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Vi Haverick Said:  "I picked this layout because it reminds me of all the reasons I started scrapbooking.,,,to capture the memories and the moment. My son is now 11 1/2 and to go back and look at this special time I am so happy to see and remember the things that he did when he was 4 1/2. I love that there is a lot of journaling, i used simple embellishments (die cuts and brads) and yet I was able to use mixed media materials (acetate and paint) to accent my page."

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Now for a Give-A-Way in Celebration of National Scrapbook Day we are giving away a Punch around the page set, with a card making kit, Glitter and adhesive.  All products in picture has been generously given to us by EK Success Brands.  

In order to be eligible for our Drawing you must do each of the following:

1.  Go to our Facebook Page and Like our Fan Page:  CLICK HERE

2.  Leave a comment on this blog post.

That is it!  :)  

Comments for drawing will close on Friday at midnight EST.