Happy Thanksgiving!

We here at The Crafting Journals would like to wish 

You & Your Family

A 

Wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 5: Fall, Thanksgiving and Gratitude Hooplah

Hello Friends,

Here we are at the end of our week long "Fall, Thanksgiving & Gratitude Hooplah".  We hope you enjoyed the things we have shared and we are truly Grateful to you for stopping by for a visit.  

For today's post I am going to share with you a pumpkin I altered with scrap paper and mod podge.  

I am also going to share with you some cards I made:

Thanks for visiting us here on the blog.

Day 4: Fall, Thanksgiving and Gratitude Hooplah

Hi, it's Carla with some fall-ish cards for our Thanksgiving week of fun and craftiness!

I like to customize the cards I make according to the occasion and the recipient. It's definitely not the most efficient way to make cards, though. I end up designing a new card each time because I don't want to mass-produce the same card -- and designing a new card each time is pretty time-consuming. 

Lately I've been playing with a solution to this dilemma. I call it modular card-making. The idea is to create my own card components so I can put together a custom card quickly. My main components are card bases, stamped sentiments, patterned paper, and embellishments. I find that with those things, plus a punch or two, I can assemble a pretty good little modular card kit. Then, whenever I need a specific kind of card, I have all the pieces ready, and I can put together a custom card in just a few minutes.

Here are three simple cards I made using this idea.  I dug into my extensive stash of leftover paper scraps and pulled out colors that would work for my fall card-sending. I made three card bases, all different sizes, according to the sizes of scraps I had. Then I added a bit of patterned paper. I found three stamps in my stash with sentiments that would fit in my circle punch. I punched and layered circles and scalloped circles, punched some fall leaves in different colors, and then I was ready to mix and match! 

For this Hello card, I added a few punched leaves and a couple of tiny flower embellishments.

To the Thinking of You card, I added a couple of leaf punches and a bit of ribbon.

For my Thank You card, you guessed it -- more leaf punches, plus my Martha Stewart Crafts Punch Around the Page maple leaf set.

And here's the whole little family of fall-colored cards.

You can see that any of these sentiments and embellishments could have gone on any of the cards. Even the patterned paper could be mixed and matched. I'm looking forward to putting together some more modular kits like this!

Have you done something similar? Tell us about it!

Day 3: Fall, Thanksgiving and Gratitude Hooplah

Hello everyone….Darlene here!

I decided to make some place cards for Thanksgiving this year using the most adorable digital stamp from Sassy Cheryl Stamps called, "What's Up Turkey?" I like to use my Copics as a base color  on my images and then I work with a combination of Prismacolor and Faber Castell pencils to color my image. Sometimes for blending my colors I will use some odorless mineral spirits but only in moderation. Once I was done coloring, I cut my image out and matted onto several pieces of cardstock in coordinating colors. The base of the place card measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/2 ".  I printed out my guest's names onto white cardstock, trimmed and matted it. With the use of glue dots I adhered the guest name to his hands while popping the name up (see photo #3) as this helped add some dimension to the place card. Isn't he adorable?

Day 2: Fall, Thanksgiving and Gratitude Hooplah

Hey Everyone! Elizabeth here with today’s TCJ Fall, Thanksgiving and Gratitude Hooplah submission. 

I really wish I could take credit for this Chevron Monogram Sign, but alas I can’t. This entire project ... as is the case with about 85% of all the DIY projects in my home ... was envisioned, supplied and directed by my dear friend Jane. Pretty sure the only two elements I completed on my own were the bow and the wire hanger.  

My name is Elizabeth Barboza and I’m a co-dependent crafter.  

So before I show off the details, and especially in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly thank my DIY partner-in-crime for all her generosity of time, talent, and truckloads of wood scraps! Thank you Jane! You’re the best!

Ok ... enough sappiness ... on to the project.

Jane and her sweet hubs constructed the sign from regular fence boards straight off the shelves of Home Depot.  Yes. No pallets were harmed in the making of this sign. 

Basic construction steps: 

• cut fence boards to desired length 
• line five lengths up side by side
• glue scrap wood strips to boards
• add finishing nails to keep boards from shifting while glue dries

To hang the sign, I made a wire hanger by attaching eye hooks to the top strip of scrap wood then running picture wire in between.  

Basic décor steps: 

• stain front of sign
• use chalk paint and a hand-cut template (ours was made from that very elite and expensive medium called Poster Board) to create the chevron pattern
• distress paint as desired and needed using sand paper
• add monogram letter and bow

I wanted to be able to change out my monogram ... different colors for different seasons ... so I attached my letter with those “easy to remove adhesive strips” ... the hooky kind.  

Well, there you have it ... Jane’s Chevron Monogram Sign.  Mine is hanging on my front porch and each time I open my door to greet someone, I am reminded of the wonderful friendship I am blessed to share with Jane!  

And thanks dear readers ... for sharing your time and interests with us here at TCJ! Have a terrific Thanksgiving!

DAY 1: Fall, Thanksgiving and Gratitude Hooplah

Hey There Friends,  

Anna here from St@mpAnna Designs and I am here to share with you the First day of our Fall, Thanksgiving, and Gratitude Hooplah. We are sharing ALL week this week different things that revolve around Fall, Thanksgiving and Gratitude.  So be sure to check in EACH DAY to see what everyone has to share. 

First off we here at The Crafting Journals are all THANKFUL for each and every one of our Readers.  Thank you for stopping by our Blog.  :)  

Today I am sharing with you a little Gratitude book.  This book measures approx 3 3/4 inches high x 6 1/4 inches long.  

On the cover I used some of my HORDED Grundge Board Alphabet by Tim Holtz to create the "MY".    Then I used various flowers and ribbon from my stash.  All the paper that is used, I am not sure of the brand but it is all FALL related for my book.  The Stamp "Gratitude" is by Inkadinkado.  I used some Tattered Angels Glimmer mist on the Gratitude.  

 The book is created "accordion" style.  So it doesn't necessarily open like a book.

I cut some chipboard and then wrapped it up with pattern paper to create the cover, the spine and the back.

I used these Coin envelopes from Staples for each of the pockets.  I cut off the flap that closes the envelope so it stays open all the time.  I wrapped each of the pockets with pattern paper and then glued each together and glued them to the cover and the back of the book outer area.

I used large shipping tags for the inserts and then decorated each with left over pattern paper and scraps of ribbon.  Each tag is sprayed with Tattered Angels-Glimmer Mists for a touch of color.   I numbered each tag 1-10 with stamps from my stash and there is plenty of room for some journaling.

Before I leave today I took some pictures of my past years books I have made.  (Only two of them) I hope you enjoy.  

Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to check in tomorrow for Elizabeth's post.

This book here is made from old CD's that we used to get in the mail.  Just put a large Flower on the front and I used circle punches for the "FALL" and attached to different pages through out the book.  

  

This book is the same as the first one I shown today.  It just isn't that many pages.  

Artist Spotlight: Cindy Wallach

Hello Everyone! Anna here and it's that time again!

It's Artist Spotlight Time!

If you are interested in being featured as one of our future Artist Spotlights please send an email here:  thecraftingjournals@gmail.com

This month I have the pleasure of introducing you to our November Artist Spotlight.  She is a dear friend of mine (and the others here on The Crafting Journal's Team) her name is Cindy Wallach. Cindy, like many others, does quite a few crafts.  Between Crocheting, Filo-Fax Journaling, Scrapbooking and card making are just a few.  Now, Lets not forget that she is quite the shopper or shall I say quite the enabler while she is out shopping or even the normal stroll through the internet.  Saying all this, we wouldn't have her any other way.    

Thank you Cindy for being our November Artist Spotlight!

Name: Cindy Wallach

City & State: Northern New Jersey

Your Craft:  Cards, Scrapbooking, Crochet and Filofaxing

Social Media Info

*Blog: http://www.thecraftyfrugalista.blogspot.com

*Twitter: @scrapcollectr

*Instagram: @scrapcollectr

Please tell me a little bit about yourself. 

I'm a native Texan living in NJ with my college sweetheart/husband of 34 years. It's a great marriage because he is 99% okay with my obsession to try and own every craft supply item that's been sold in the last 15 years. We have two grown boys that loved having access to those supplies when they needed to make something for school. But seriously, after working 11 years in Florida and NYC, I traded it in for a life of managing my household and finding time to be creative.

Questions:

1.  How long have you been crafting?

I've been tapping into my creative side since childhood. I grew up drawing, sewing and doing needlework. I didn't follow that path in college (kinda wish I did) but as they say, everything I did, led me to here and I like where I am.

2.  What got you started in Crafting?

I've always liked making cards. I remember making change of address cards and party invites with whatever supplies I could find. I came across a bin recently that once held the few rubber stamps I started out with. I've collected quite a few more since then. Lol. Like a lot of people, I got into scrapbooking when a friend invited me to a Creative Memories party. I left there with their largest kit! Between that company and discovering QVC, I was on my way. I've since had some layouts and cards published and wound up with lots of like-minded friends. That led to spots on design teams, most recently on the Creative Artist Team at EK Success for several years. A dream come true! I recently branched out to a couple of other hobbies: crochet and filofax decorating. I love the simplicity of working with yarn and my filofax is where I capture a visual history of my daily life.

3.  What is your most favorite item that you have made?

I made scrapbook albums for my each of my in-laws 80th birthdays. They had to have been 50+ pages each and they illustrated their life stories with old photos and letters that I requested of all their family and friends. The happiness it gave them was priceless.

4.  What is the number 1 thing you can't live with out when you are crafting?

Although nothing would stick without adhesive (and I have enough of it for two lifetimes), I'd have to say my trimmer. I'm kind of grid-oriented so I'm always cutting mats, rectangles or making envelopes. I'm always on the hunt for new and improved trimmers. 

5.  How often do you or are you able to spend crafting in a weeks time?  or a Months time?   How many hours? 

Since I've become addicted to Instagram, I'm crafting something daily. I love making things and sharing them with my followers. That, and I'm a real foodie, so I like to share the places I go.

Is there anything else you would like to add.  

Just that I love that creativity can come in all forms. My mantra is to keep learning and growing and finding ways to stretch the creativity in all things. Especially when it comes to organization and storage. *smile*

Be sure to check out Cindy on one or all of her Social Media links above.  

Shabby Chic Flowers

Hey Ya'll,  

Anna here and I am going to share with you some Shabby Chic Flowers I made using doilies, Cheesecloth, Lace, some fabric and even paper.

 

Here is a close up of the flowers 2 at a time.

I have no plans for them right now.  I just wanted to sit and play with no agenda.  These turned out so cute and I am sure they will look beautiful on a package or even a gift bag.

Look at how I have them sitting in my room.  

  Thanks for stopping by.