Graphic45 Matchbox Cover Book

Hi everyone!

I love making books - all kinds and all shapes.  Here's one that I made from the cover of the G45 8X8 matchbook Box.  The sturdiness of the box cover makes for a super durable album cover.

The pages of the album are sewn into the spine. And I cut a hole in the spine so I could see the lovely different patterns of the papers.

If you'd like to have fun building this book.  Here's a tutorial that you might find helpful. :)

SUPPLIES USED:

Graphic45 Supplies

Staples:

1. 8x8 Matchbook Box

2.  Ornate Metal Key Holes

3. Stamped Metal Brads (large)

4. Metal hinges

French Country Collection

1. Grandeur

2. Montage

3. French Country Banners

4. French Country Chipboard 2

5. French Country Chipboard 1

Curtain Call Collection (papers)

1. Tour de France

2. applause

3. Pantomime

Stamps

1.French Country

2. Olde Curiosity Shoppe

Other Supplies

1. kraft card stock - American Craft

2. String and lace - my own

3. black stripe ribbon - May Arts

4. Alphabet Stickers - PaperMarket

A Simple Book and Tutorial (Graphic45)

Minibooks and notebooks don't always have to be complicated. In fact, if you are planning to make them as gifts, its good to keep them clean and simple so you can make lots of them! :)  I always have people asking me how to make books that don't involve stitching and complicated binding but are still interesting.  So I thought I'd share this quick simple book with you that's made from the 8X8 paper stack.  It will work with any stack, but I chose French Country for this one:

Here's a tutorial so that you can make lots and lots of these sweet simple notebooks to give away!  Enjoy! Spread the scrappy love!

GRAPHIC45 Design Team Finalists & Tutorial

Hi everyone!

Its an exciting day on the Graphic45 blog today!  The list of Design Team finalists is out!

And my Stack Book and Tutorial are featured too:

Here's the tutorial:

Hope you enjoy your visit!

Secret Garden Canvas

More Secret Garden!!! hahaha....everyone is really in love with this new collection!! And I'm sure you can see why!  But I wanted to try to use it in a different way and see how it worked out in a mixed media project...what do you think?

Secret Garden works great with EVERYTHING! haha!

Secret Garden - the book....sort of

Graphic45's super lovely collection Secret Garden actually reminds me of the old book I read as a child, (and is incidentally the name of a Korean drama serial - which I haven't watched)... so what better project to work on with this collection than a book...

An altered book, that is...

This used to be an old book....but its now a new "Secret Garden" book... here's what happened:

I love books.....for reading AND for creating... don't you? ;)

Graphic45 Star Book Tutorial

Hey ho!

Today is tutorial day!  I have a fun project to share with you today.  Its looks like a simple mini album from the front:

But it opens up into a fun star shape:

This is really fun to make, so I made a tutorial so you can make one of your own too:

And, here are all the individual panels, just in case, for your reference....or in case you like seeing more pictures of the Critters...heh..

Be sure to hop on over to the Graphic45 blog today as well, because there's a fantastic giveaway going on!! Cheerio!

Love 365

Happy valentine's day!! :)  All over scrapping blogland,  everything is turning up red, pink, and full of hearts.  So, let's 'heart-it-up' for Valentine's day, Graphic45 style! 

Every year, at midnight, hubby and I always tell each other "I'll love you in...[insert relevant year]" - That inspired this mini envelope book, that will be a place where someone could write love notes to their loved one each month....'cos, after all, love should be all year round right?

I used Graphic45's Place in Time collection for this project (I really like that the February papers are 'vintage' valentine, rather than covered in super cute pink hearts - heh)

Here's what it looks like inside:

I used different papers for each page,  matching the month, (had to combine some months 'cos there weren't enough pages), and used stamps and other embellishments to  say "Love you in March" (etc).  There's also a space for a photo from that month, and best of all, the Graphic45 large tags fit perfectly into the pockets!!

Now to go fill it with some love!

SUPPLIES USED:

Graphic45 Supplies

1.  Place in Time papers - one each of each month's cut-aparts, one extra sheet of the February cut-aparts

2.  Sentiments

2.  Black Policy Envelope Staples

3.  Large Tag Album

4.  Trim Staples

Other Supplies

1. flowers - Petaloo

2. Chipboard Alphabets - American Craft

3. Alphabet Stickers - October Afternoon

4. 'LOVE' stamp - Unity

5. kraft cardstock - American Craft

6.  White gesso

Tag! You're It!

Hey ho!!!  Over at the Graphic45 blog today, we're featuring tags that the design team made for display at the CHA booth!  Maiko, Tara and mine are up.

What I love is seeing how all of us use pretty much the same supplies and colour schemes and all come up with different ideas.

Here's my tag:

It's got a mini 'shadowbox' in the centre made from G45 packaging and metal butterflies with key bodies:

Supplies:

Papers from Olde Curiosity Shoppe Collection (8X8)

1.  Mercurial Masterpiece

2.  Genuine Article

Staples:

1.  Ornate Metal Keys

2.  Ornate Metal Label Holder

3.  Metal Butterflies

4.  Stamped Metal Brads

5.  Trim Staples

6.  Alphabet Sticker Staples

Others:

1.  Place in Time Stickers Alphabet

2.  Tags

Do check out the different tags on the blog today - inspirational!

Opposites Attack!

We're starting a new series on the Papermarket blog! Its super fun!! Every wednesday, Mer and I will be doing this:

Secret Garden Card

So many people are in love with the new Secret Garden collection from Graphic45 - me too!
And if you haven't seen it yet, here's a small taste...

front of card....

 opens to reveal...

 and another panel...

 card fully open...

Simple and sweet....Now, who shall I give this too....hmm...

Long Time Since the Last Layout...

Feels like ages since I last made a 'traditional' 12X12"....been making lots of mini books and things lately... but there is still something fun about capturing a small moment / memory in this format:

Here's one for the girls:

I really like this effect: (gesso over patterned paper with blended ink and crackle stamped in grey)

and also the collection of 'junk' hanging from the top:

And here's a layout for the boys:

love this series of photos....and also the faded chipboard embellishments

It's back to mini albums and altered art for February....

Deconstruction of a Matchbook Box

 Once in a while I get quite 'contrary' and try my best to use things in a way they weren't necessarily intended for - keeps the mojo fresh! haha.  So....the 8X8" Matchbook box gets seriously sliced up...and the Place in Time papers get used NOT as a calendar.

Deconstruction deconstructed:
I removed the upper half of the outer cover leaving only the bottom portion and decided it would make a cool holder for paper and pencils.  The idea evolved from there and so I ended up with a Family Mail Box - a place where family members can leave notes for each other - complete with little mailboxes for each person and a place for papers and pencils too!

Supplies:

1.  8X8" Matchbook Box

Papers from Place in Time Collection

1.  July Cut Aparts

2.  August Cut Aparts

3.  August Foundation

4.  September Cut Aparts

5.  February Cut Aparts

6.  November Foundation (8X8)

7.  Various foundation papers (cut up to make note paper)

Embellishments

1.  Ornate Metal Label Holder

2.  Trim Staples

3.  Chipboard Button Staples

4.  Alphabet Sticker Staples

5.  Place in Time Stickers Alphabet

Others

1.  May Arts

2.  Paint - Liquitex

This One is For Me

A messy journal filled with random thoughts about God and life and such....  I think the messiness of all the paint and mediums matches the state of my headspace....yes, it is very messy in there.

Messiness is very liberating... you can't tell which ones are 'mistakes' and which ones are 'designs'

Mess is Best...